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Pearl Drops Teahouse
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Asian Fusion Coffee & Tea, Asian Fusion [Edit]
422 Willingdon AveBurnaby, BC V5C 5G4
Neighbourhood: Burnaby Heights
(604) 299-8975
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dessert
- Alcohol:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
18 reviews for Pearl Drops Teahouse
18 reviews in English
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Review from Diana L.
5/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I have been here many times. I like this local place coz it's in my old hood. Their selection of drinks is unparalleled. Plus, I'd say they have really taken their marketing to a new level. They are always offering new promotions and deals, and they really cater to a student crowd.
My fav drink is Oasis, which many of my fellow #604insomniacs would agree, is quite delicious. It is a blend of mango, lychee, and passionfruit. MMmmMmmm. They other drinks are just as tasty. They are also very generous. If you stay in, the drinks come in massive beer steins. They also have some very impressive desserts.
At the moment, they have a special deal on their Facebook page. It is a buy one get one free coupon, which is a great deal! Also, if a person becomes the mayor of Pearl Drops on Foursquare, he or she gets the same deal until he or she is dethroned. There is also a special Yelp deal for 15% off when one checks in. Good job for them on using social media to boost sales and to help the regular Joe save some moola!
I go back all the time. If you see a short Asian girl drinking an Oasis in a to go cup, it's probably me (or any other Asian girl that patronizes the store). -
Review from Dru C.
4/13/2012 14 Check-ins Here
This place has gotten a lot better since the old owner left. The new one has established this place and have properly aimed their target market to teenagers though.. LOLs.
I don't mind coming here from time to time, and their drinks are affordable. It is considered to be the only boba place in all of Burnaby Heights area. I only come here to pick up a drink and then leave, as this place doesn't have a welcoming atmosphere to stay and have a drink.
I see the amazing comfortable chairs, but the place is so busy it doesn't make me want to stay and just hang out for studying. It is too loud for that. On top of that, the last time I came here the floors were extremely dirty. Dusty, and muddy, I even asked the people that work here is it okay for a place to be so dirty?
I felt this place could have been better than it was in a lot of degrees since it has been established within the community. I come back here from time to time, as it is easy and close by for me for boba.
I do wish this place becomes popular for the better and become a bit more cleaner than what I stepped into... -
Review from Amy T.
4/8/2012
I'm not a bubble tea person. I think the calorie count is way too high for something that doesn't taste mindbogglingly good. But I may have been converted.
A girlfriend and I were looking for a place to sit and chat so we decided to stop here. The service was incredibly friendly and since it was our first time here, they took the time to explain how to order, what are the specials and what type of fresh fruits they had.
I decided on a Taro Macha Shake. They gave me the choice of real taro or powdered. I knew powdered would be a lot sweeter, but I chose the real taro since it was better for you. The girl who worked there offered to change it if I didn't end up liking it. Another point for customer service. If you haven't tried real taro before, I'm not sure if you'd like the texture because it's really grainy tasting. I loved it since I ate a lot of taro growing up. The shake ended up being not overly sweet, but it was so big I ended up only finishing half of it. Points again for value and taste!
Note - remember to check in at Pearl Drops because they'll give you an additional 15% off. -
Review from Isabelle G.
Vancouver, BC
2/27/2012
It is somewhat out of the way during the week in Burnaby, however. The reason I got this Living Social coupon is that I haven't seen very many bubble tea houses on sale. I wanted to try and get the guy I am dating into bubble tea without scaring him too much with those oversized pearls. He was content with his iced strawberry lemon tea with very cute star shaped mango jelly pieces on the bottom.
I had the caramel tea cream latte. This has to be one of the best lattes I've had. Nice and foamy and smooth throughout. Who would've thought that the best latte I've had in a long time would come from a bubble tea house and not a coffee shop on the drive or on the West end? I was pleasantly surprised.
The strawberry cheesecake was good, your standard cheesecake taste. They win points for having the cheesecake in house made. I was a little disappointed when I came in that the green tea cheesecake was not ready for consumption. This was one of the reason's aside from the Yelp reviews, that made me want to come in. I won't hold it against them, I will just have to come back.
The lady at the cash til was super friendly and took the time to explain the deal. This has to be one of the best coupon deals ever. We got a gift card for the amount of the coupon deal which means that we can use it in multiple visits. Everything is so reasonably priced that it was impossible to use the entire $35 in one sitting for two.
In fact the entire staff was extremely friendly and hip. The barista served our table and even asked if my drink was okay. Normally at bubble tea houses, people don't give a shit about you. It was in pleasant shock.
The shop is small and cramped, not suitable for large parties. The ambience is clean and fresh which is appreciated.
They lack in the dessert selection, however, their drink menu is very large with awesome combinations. One the largest drink menus that I have seen at a bubble tea establishment.
Their warm meat sandwich was extremely awesome and fresh. There's nothing I appreciate more than warm meat in my mouth on a Saturday night (yes I am deliberately being sexual). -
Review from B L.
Richmond, BC
3/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Heard a lot about this place and finally had the chance to visit last week.
It definitely lived up to the hype. My standard green apple green tea w/ pearls was def better than most places. I love how this place puts a greater emphasis on tea flavouring opposed to the artificial flavours (says the guy who orders one of more artificial drink flavours). But once u give this place a try u'll understand what I mean.
I love how innovative their marketing tactics are, using things like yelp, foursquare, facebook to promote by giving customers discounts just for checking in.
Overall, good drinks, nice friendly service, parking lot close by. Def worth a visit. -
Review from Ivy C.
Vancouver, BC
2/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The bubble tea drinks are too watery for my taste since the pearls are too warm which melts the slushy. That was for the take-outs. Went back again but too early for the pearls so I grabbed the lychee bits. Definitely much better this time around.
Pretty good cheesecake though.Comment from david c. of Pearl Drops Teahouse 2/14/2012
Hi Ivy, sorry for the warm pearls, the only time that does… More » -
Review from Lina H.
Burnaby, BC
11/15/2011
Love their cheesecakes~tea latte~ very flavorful~
A great place to enjoy time with friends or alone~~
Will definitely come back to try cold beverages in summer^^ -
Review from George H.
10/6/2011
I've been going to Pearl Drops since it was opened approximately 5 years ago. The current ownership group is not the original owners but they've done a great job keeping to the beliefs.
Their BubbleTea can't be compared to anyone else. I've watched them make the actual tea for my drink and I've never seen that anywhere else before. They take the extra time and effort to ensure that your drink will be a delight. I also like their packaging. They don't use the classic plastic seal that other places use, rather a lid that can be removed if you want to slurp up the last few "bubbles".
They recently added desserts to their menu and these are definitely a hit. I watched the owner make the Cheese cake in the back kitchen so you know it's not just store bought and repackaged. Their parfait is unbelievalbe... it's also quite large so I wouldn't recommend trying it alone. Each of the desserts are made to order so it's as fresh as possible.
I recently tried a hot tea since the weather has been getting cooler and it was just as good! I even added some lychee gellies for a different taste! -
Review from Megan M.
4/19/2011
In Burnaby, especially North Burnaby-this place can't be beat. They advertise that they use less sugar than most other places, and I can taste the difference. I also like that I can order it without ice cream on those days when I've already indulged and don't want to feel more guilty. I haven't been to any other bubble tea places that let you customize without flat out declining, giving you a disgruntled look, or completely screwing it up.
I usually order taro with coconut jelly-and it's always thick, well-blended, and tasty. The coconut jelly is not too sweet either (like it is at Bubble World).
There aren't many places to sit, and it does take them a bit more time to make the bubble tea. They take their time, and I see them tasting the teas they make from time to time, so you know they care about quality. I wouldn't go here to stay and relax, but for bubble tea to go it's a great spot. -
Review from Christina D.
Vancouver, BC
5/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Modern Bubble tea place. My favourite place to visit for bubble tea in Burnaby. I love the selection of different types of freshly brewed teas they offered. More than the plain ol' black or green tea. Service was nice and the man offered suggestions.
Menu is a bit overwhelming at first because of the number of choices. I usually pick the special they have a photo of on the counter. -
Review from Lucinda C.
Vancouver, BC
1/8/2011
The non-asian runned bubble tea place is a great place for tea but it needs work on their other drinks. They have other drinks which other bbt places have but it seems to be lacking the taiwanese spark which most bbt places have. They only serve drinks. The place is pretty quiet but busy enough to have a few people streaming in every 10 minutes. Maybe that's why there is only one person working each night.
They seem to like to experiment with different drinks and they use it as their special. It's a hit and miss. I haven't had any of their specials yet. I usually get what is offered on the menu. I had a green apple calipco with coconut jelly one time and it was pretty good. Not too sweet and not too bland. It was just right. I went another time with a few friends and I ordered a tea. My friend ordered a lychee tea latte which I mistakenly drank. It was pretty good. I could taste the lychee. I think I had the jasmine and it wasn't too bad.
I should really try some of the teas at other bbt places. I always forget. At least I can compare it to others that I've been to. -
Review from Tania Y.
Vancouver, BC
8/24/2010
BUBBLE TEA PLACE.
Quick! What comes to mind?
Taro. Slushies. Bubbles. Asian-run - particularly by Chinese people (woot woot!). Milky-tea this, Calprin that. Walk-in. Order. Get served. That's it. (And this point, you either bring your drink to a table to sit, or leave.)
Well let me tell you about this one experience at Pearl Drops that well, blew my bubbles away. When I walked up to the counter, I was greeted by a large selection of drinks.... and a person! He gave us a few minutes to glance over the menu, but after some time he could tell that we were having trouble.
And the conversation begins....
He welcomed us to the store and started explaining their tea - the vast variety they have, the benefits of some, the way they steep it and he threw in some recommendations as well.
I was definitely surprised by the great service and his knowledge, and the bubble tea was yummy as well.
Get your bubbles taken away. Have a pearl drop. -
Review from Reena M.
Updated - 6/6/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Aww... the flavour of the bubble tea here completely changed!
They still use fresh ingredients. It's obvious, you can taste it right away. But they subtracted an ingredient of some sort that they added into the fruit slushes because the strawberry slush we go this afternoon tasted different. It wasn't bad... it just wasn't the same great flavour we were used to. It wasn't as sweet and the pearls tasted undescribably different. I know this isn't the most helpful review but I am a little disappointed that my favorite bubble tea joint has changed.Listed in: Best Desserts in Vancouver
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/5/2009
I've been told that this place has been sold so that the original owner, Phong, can spend more time… Read more »
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Review from Claudia L.
Burnaby, BC
11/8/2008 1 photo
They say: Contemporary Asian tea house. Hand-crafted brewed teas at your service.
I say: I like the tea guy behind the counter, he is a fervent tea drinker so he knows his bleep. First place to pioneer wide selection of pearls and jellies in the lower mainland (e.g. strawberry jelly).
i.Heart: Anything matcha. My fave rave is Matcha Redbean Milky Shake with pearls (yes, with pearls :P).
Food: Never tried it but it looks okay.Listed in: SFU Burnaby Student Eats
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Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
After having gone here twice, I feel confident in finally reviewing this place. For a bubble tea house, this place is modern-looking. The friendly guy behind the counter has been helpful in entertaining my questions with regards to ingredients and food preparation. The not-too-sweet drinks could have been perfect if only the accompanying pearls were sweetened.
The good:
- Friendly service.
- "Fresh" ingredients really means fresh, not canned.
- Matcha madness in whatever combination they can come up with.
- Clean, cozy place to sit and chat with friends.
- Stamp cards are available.
The bad:
- The pearls despite being fresh, soft and chewy are definitely not sweetened. It's the reason why this place doesn't deserve 5 stars.
- The snap-on lids are prone to spilling especially if you plan to take more than one home. (Versus the traditional heat-sealed covers).
- Stamp cards were not readily being offered.
- Pricey. The most expensive bubble tea house I've been to so far. -
Review from Simon K.
10/29/2010 8 Check-ins Here
Fresh and real is what comes to mind having the bubble tea here at this place. They are very well knowledged in the ingredients used to make all their drinks, from the fruits to the tea leaves, the staff they hire definately goes through a crash course in regards to the product sold. You usually think that entering one of these places, you will be greeted and served by an Asian (Chinese person), that is definitely not the case here.
It's a tiny little place, with only 5 tables, as most people just pick up their stuff and run to the next destination. So not much seating, but an ok place to hangout with some real good drinks. I remember they use to have food, but I think they took that off their menu. A place out of the norm, and located where no other bbtea places are. A little pricier than your standard places too, but I guess your paying for quality. -
Review from JJ L.
Vancouver, BC
9/4/2011
When Pearl Drops first opened and I desperately searched for bbtea in the area, I was happy to find this place. When I tried the matcha milky shake, it was the best bbtea I had. When I tried the taro matcha milky shake, it was the new best bbtea I ever had. This was several years ago. It sounds like Phong, the original Asian owner no longer owns it. This makes sense because I have noticed the quality has gone a bit down. The prices seem to have increased. Phong used to make freshly made grape jellies - o.m.g. I just get the pearls usually now. The drinks are still one of the best I have tasted, but I think quite pricey when compared to Bubble World or Green Leaf. I used to go every weekend and found it strange that the staff made no attempt to make conversation and notice regulars, unlike my other fave place Green Leaf on Fraser & 41st - where they know me by name :)
In summary, delicious drinks (although quality has gone down and some fruit drinks tasted watered down), quick service, not the best customer service, and more expensive compared to other bbtea places. -
Review from Bill X.
Burnaby, BC
12/22/2010 2 Check-ins Here
A welcoming breath of fresh air when it comes to bubble tea joints. While other places try to put out as many bubble teas as they can, Peral drops favours quality over quantity. Each time I've been there, the tea was made with care and apparently fresh ingredients. (I'm not so sure anymore, most of the bubble tea is now made in the back room) The taste hasn't changed, and overall I'm still very satisfied.
