BAMBU

To the Young Asian male cashier dressed in black: You need to improve on your waffle-​making skills. Twice you’ve made my waffles and I’ve been disappointed both times. The first time, you made my waffles and forgot to call me to get them. After I noticed that people who ordered waffles after me got them before me, I stepped forward to collect my order. I got four cold soggy waffles. The second time, I watched you make them so that I can step up to collect them the minute they were done. I saw you accidentally rip the waffle, and eat the ripped piece from my waffle. They were not crispy at all. There will be no third time. If I see you at the cash register next time, I’m not ordering waffles.

I love me some good chè. A Vietnamese dessert brings together an unlikely collection of ingredients including legumes, jellies, tapioca, basil seed, fruits, and coconut milk. If an assortment of yummy in your mouth is your idea for dessert, Bambu is for you. Besides Chè, Bambu also offer incredible tea selection, bold coffee drinks and exotic fruit smoothies and juices.
For me, the chè Bambu #1, which included a little bit of everything: fresh coconut juice with longan, basil seed, coconut meat and Pandan Jelly is my favorite there. The entire concoction was topped with shaved ice that kept the chè cool and refreshing from start to finish.
Give Bambu a try. Chè just might win you over.
Note: Cash only. No atm machine inside.

This bambu doesn’t taste as fresh as other
The pink pearl is very hard and not enough coconut milk

Good drinks, but bambu side looks a bit run down and the lady is unfriendly. Prob go to the other location next time.

Horrible service, no one at the register, one person is busy making drinks while the other is busy in the back. There are 4 – 5 people waiting in line for 5−10min, no one came to help us. I don’t know if they just didn’t want our business or what.

This place (as well as its san jose location) has the best almond milk tea out of every milk tea place I have tried. Other places tend to have almond milk tea that tastes powdery or like medicine. But, this one is just delicious. The combo that the lady recommended to me back in 2010 was almond milk tea with pearls and coffee jelly and that is still my favorite here to this day. I have tried some of the other drinks too. Their piña colada and other smoothies are good. Their taro milk tea is just okay. I remember trying the honeydew milk tea a long time ago, and not liking it as much as the almond milk tea.
The CHE here is also good. This place is unique because it is vietnamese, unlike most other milk tea places around here. So, that means they have a wide selection of che.
The Bo Dam (literally smashed avocado) is soooo good.

I can never forget how to say the number three in Vietnamese, because of my favorite dessert from Bambu.
Drinks: I usually get the Che Ba Mau (#3) or the #10 when I want more coconut in my dessert. Drinks are always made quickly, consistent in taste, doesn’t taste as fresh as the Hostetter location, but they satisfy my che craving. They have a few grab-​n-​go items, such as spring rolls or you can order banh mi’s as well (takes a bit longer). If you’re ordering che, I recommend you ask for light ice or the ice in another cup, they’ll give you more of the actual dessert and less ice this way. The pandan waffles are usually crispy, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. My last waffle was made to order, but super soggy. I don’t think she cooked it enough or didn’t let it cool down before bagging it. They’re definitely not as good as the ones at Century Bakery, but aren’t the worst either.
Service: Consistently fast & friendly.
Parking Lot: I have to comment on this lot, because it’s the absolute worse no matter what time of the day. Be vigilant when backing out or parking, because most of the drivers in this lot aren’t!
Price: Super cheap in comparison to boba drinks and other similar desserts. Servings are plentiful.
Ambiance: Casual, clean and small. Few tables inside and outside.
Overall: Satisfies my che craving, but desserts/​drinks aren’t as fresh or as tasty as other locations. Price is consistent and fair and service is great otherwise.

Dropped by here for a quick lunch. I like that they have a variety of things here. The quick grab items like fresh spring rolls (~$ 4) and the wide variety of sandwich choices. They also have the Bambu drinks served on the right side it’s almost like two different mini markets. Also have ice cream macaroons too.
There are only a few tables and it is really hard to park in that crazy lot!
As for the food it took a bit to come out. I thought the meat was good but the portion of the stuff inside could have been better. It was just really dry for me and I wish I had more veggies like the pickled carrots or something. I would come back if I needed something quick to eat again but wouldn’t say it amazingly good.
The drinks seem a bit expensive compared to the other locations I’ve been to. The downside is CASH ONLY…

Cash only!!! They charge for tax which is ridiculous because it’s a cash business. I wonder if they do report their taxes? I am more than willing to do it for them!!! Just want to make sure they were forced to incur taxes «magically».
I don’t think Uncle Sam would like a business to charge the patrons for supporting a business and charge them tax when the business doesn’t report it back.
Working in the area and getting a drink is very normal for me but the last time I went they charged me tax. That’s crap. It was like 2 months ago they started charging. Secretly they tried to sneak it in. They didn’t even put up a sign for the customers to inform them. So park Victoria is pretty close. Maybe I should divert there instead. I don’t like sneaky businesses.
The only reason for the 2 star is because the cashier.
Oh. Drinks are ok. The lychee wasn’t sweet the last time. And the pandan was all stuck together. So I couldn’t use the big straw. However the taro is good because it’s real taro not the powder.
The cashier during the day is really sweet and does really good under the busy peak time.
I miss the macaroons but they were expensive. They don’t serve them anymore.

My first encounter with Vietnamese lovin’ was at the Hostettor location in SJ! The owner is friends with my dad and we used to always get our drink fix there since I was a freshmen in high school! Now I’m 22, the feeling always hits home no matter which location or person owns the shop. Their drinks are thoroughly made, probably with a ton of tendering loving care. Quality service, drinks, desserts, and entertainment. Couldn’t ask for a better time and I will continue to support this franchise because of their quality.

Something wasn’t right with my drink. Ordered coconut water with rainbow jelly. My drink didn’t taste like what I had order, instead it taste sour and rotten.
Overall: Place was nice and service was good. They need to work on making the drinks taste better and quality control.

Vietnamese desert drinks! Love Che but it gets filling so really must save room for desert, or have it as a refreshing snack!
Macaron ice cream — they’re not made I house, it’s by Maverns Creamery. Tried the green tea, straight up matcha green tea ice cream! Yummy but the macaron is a bit stale…
Hazelnut and coffee — coffee ice cream is on point. But again, the macarons are stiff and stale!

I love coming here every week for my Vietnamese iced coffee fix. Close to home and work so it convenient enough. I always get good service from the ladies there. At times it takes a bit longer to get my drink but then I sit and enjoy the music videos playing on the big screen.
The ice cream sandwiches are soooo good too. Great flavor selections as well.

This lady, ELANE, made our Pandan waffles too crunchy, close to burnt. We asked if she can kindly make another one and she says that she can make it ‘harder’. Besides the crunchiness, her customer service was terrible. NEVER coming here again when she’s here. Amazing !!

Che is whatever here. It’s lightweight expensive for the quality. Pandan waffles aren’t great (soggy). And yes, the counters are confusing af. 3 stars goes to the MAVEN’S MACARON ICE CREAM SANDWICHES! Hallelujah.

Thai BAMBU store is okay. It’s a bit confusing where they are taking orders. I found out by waiting in a long by the menu only to find out its for pickup only.
They have 2 TV running video in low resolution which some of videos were not viewable.
However Che Bambu taste are consistent with other BAMBU stores.

I got a pandan waffle, but I’m not entirely sure whether that counts as Bambu or Le Moulin. Anyway, my intention was to get a drink from Bambu, and I actually already ordered Che #2 when the cashier asked whether I wanted a waffle too. I was already debating whether I actually wanted to order a che because the drink I usually order is 50 cents more expensive here than at other Bambu’s. I actually was thinking of getting a banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), but decided against it. I wanted to read Unilocal reviews before getting one, although I thought they were pretty cheap. Anyway, my pandan waffle was okay. The consistency was like pandan, but it wasn’t very flavorful. It was also kind of limp, and sort of tasted like chewy flour. It was $ 1.75, which is okay I guess. I probably won’t be getting it again, and I probably won’t be coming to this Bambu either. I might go try the banh mi though!

½/​15: Tried two drinks here, and both were more flavorful than your typical boba place…
1. Iced Tamarind Nuoc Da Me ($?): Not what I was expecting. I ordered this and told them to add boba, but I didn’t know it was going to have roasted peanuts!!! and sesame seeds already inside! Well, the tamarind juice itself is some of the most concentrated and tart versions I’ve ever had. I always get tamarind juice at Mexican restaurants if they have it, but this one puts all of them to shame. But the peanuts, and especially the sesame seeds I can do without. They also put a ton of ice in there so there really are only a few good sips of juice in there. So, the actual juice is awesome, but need to get rid of all the other junk. ⁵⁄₁₀. (If they could just have the juice it would be ¹⁰⁄₁₀).
2. Black Milk Tea $ 3.25 (+ boba $?): This is really good milk tea. The black tea taste is very strong. At most boba places the tea taste is really lost in all the milk and creaminess. This one you can really taste. The milkiness is a little lighter. The boba itself was pretty soft – maybe a tad too soft. But still pretty good. ⁸⁄₁₀.
They also have tons of other Vietnamese? «desserts» (which are various drinks containing varying foods, nuts, and fruits.) Very large variety. I might want to try the rest someday.
So, of these 2 I’ve tried, their drinks are very flavorful.
⁴⁄₅.
#boba #milktea #pearl #vietnamese

NOT a fan of coconut AT ALL.
So why the 4 stars? I love how you have the option of customizing your own drink here. Every time I come, I basically create my own drink. I always order green tea with lychee, basil seeds, and whatever jelly I’m craving that day. AND it’s always good and fairly cheap ($ 4)! I don’t think I know of anywhere else that does this. Plus they use real lychee, and not syrup, which is a HUGE plus in my books.
Bambu’s outdoor seating area is a great place to kick it and chill, especially in the warmer months. It’s especially great after a meal at TK Noodle :)

Service was quick here so I decided to try something new.
CHE #2 DESSERT: Red bean, white bean, mung bean, taro, pandan jelly and combo jelly and pearl. If you weren’t full reading this, you are now.
This was light and refreshing. Who am I kidding, this wasn’t light! This was a whole meal in itself!
I know there was a boat load of stuff in it, but it wasn’t as good as the other desserts I’ve had at other Bambus. It was still refreshing tho.