Kung Fu Tea

I’m a huge bubble tea fan and I get it on a weekly basis. I’ve tried most chains in the city and this location is probably my most frequented for bubble tea, for a few reasons. Kung Fu is really good about getting the sugar percentage consistently correct which is important to me because I hate it when the tea is too sweet. Their drinks do not come with any freebie topping w/​o a deal, however, they currently have a Unilocal check-​in deal which gets you a free topping. Their drinks are usually a little cheaper than other chains, however, so it’s a trade-​off.
They have like 2 seats at the window but there aren’t any actual tables for sitting down, but it’s right next to the park so enjoy it outside. Also, it’s cash only. The employees aren’t particularly friendly but they’re super efficient.
My favorite drink is probably the Pineapple Sunshine w/​bubbles and lychee jelly or the Hot Taro w/​bubbles when it’s cold out. Hot bubble tea sounds a little strange at first but it gets the bubbles all melty and soft and it’s like a thick latte.

The good thing about bubble tea is that it is a drink that mixes sweetness with relatively bland ingredients, and it’s a good drink if you’re not a fan of milk. Even then, you have control over how sweet your drink will be here, and I know a few guys who have one hell of a sweet tooth. Been buying iced tea for a while, and I’d certainly recommend coming here if you need to sate your thirst.

I have been to many Kung Fu Tea’s. Usually outstanding service and teas. However, the female at this 31 Waverly store has a nasty habit of yelling for no reason. Once I asked if they took credit cards… and she started yelling behind the counter in her native tongue. Yelling, yelling, yelling. Then she came behind the counter and gave a fake smile with a nasty attitude like she won some sort of battle. I never did anything. I am never rude. Maybe that’s why rude people think they can say or do anything around me. I have a friendly face. Well that was months ago. Last night I came in at closing and asked if I could PURCHASE the left over bubbles. On cue, she went from quiet to screaming like an old crow in her native tongue. No one else said anything. The male staff looked embarrassed or distant. Then she came to the front and gave me a warm bubble tea with a humph! look on her face. I think she’s mentally unstable. I should know, I have a Psych degree. My first thought was to record her so that my friends could translate it for me. I love living in the East village for well over 20 years. I have many close friends of all cultures, especially Asian, and I even teach at a school that is predominately Asian. Usually this isn’t even my favorite Kung Fu shop… My favorite Kung Fu café is on Saint Marks Place. They are super friendly. They have wifi. They always make perfect tea. It’s like family there. They make friends and family out of the customers there. If I didn’t have a class that night and the other time, I would have never spent my money at Waverly Place café. Saint Marks 28 St. Mark Pl, New York, NY 10 003 is one of the best! That’s why I have been going there, almost daily, for years! it’s worth the trip. Canal Street is great as well. So is the Brooklyn Boreum café. In fact all of the Kung fu cafes in the city is great, just not this one. If you had a bad experience here… just try another Kung Fu café and you will see what I mean!

Forgot to ask about their Unilocal checkin special, punch card, and NYU discount, but an average green tea boba in a tiny space with staff who could definitely be nicer.

Great place to stop in to get your bubble tea fix. It can get crowded fast, especially since the store is pretty tiny, but they always fill orders fast. And they’re always so sweet! Love this place. Just an FYI, it’s cash only :)

I recently stopped by here with a friend for some bubble tea and was SO disappointed. We’ve been to this location before many times last year and got good bubble tea so idk what’s up. I ordered a fruit tea with tapioca and my friend got the original. My drink was so watered down and the tapioca was terribly tasteless. Both of us didn’t finish our drinks.
I’ve had my fair share of good bubble tea and this definitely wasn’t one of them. The location on St. Marks is much better and not much farther.

Conveniently located on NYU campus and pretty decent bubble tea place. Come here a lot to get a drink before heading to Bobst. Oolong milk tea is my favorite! I checked in on Unilocal to get 1 free topping with my drink.
Only con is that this is a cash-​only place.

I like the Taro here, but it really sucks that they don’t take card at this location. $ 3.75 feels a little expensive for a medium with boba. I also like the strawberry slush but it being a little more than 4 is also a stretch for me. Overall the drinks are good, but I just think it’s a bit overpriced and the lack of support for cards also is a bummer.

What the hell is going on with the reviews for this place? I know I’m not the only one who doesn’t think this shop is all that, because the people I work with agree.
I admit to having frequented this joint. I even had a punch card, but I chucked it. I just couldn’t put up with their lame-​assed bubble tea anymore. I’d rather travel to St. Alp’s on 3^rd avenue or Vivi’s Bubble tea on 8^th street and 6^th ave.
The service here is perfectly acceptable. This stores’ employees are Asian and it’s run that way: efficient and fast, if not the friendliest, but I don’t really know how they manage to mess up bubble tea. I’m not a bubble tea connoisseur, but I can tell that the bubble tea here is bad. At first, it seemed nice to have the option of choosing your amount of ice and sugar, but neither improves the flavor. From my three visits I found the flavor of my milk tea bubble tea washed out, even with full sugar and less ice.
You can take it from at least three other people this location’s bubble tea is wack.

Pretty decent milk teas. Only reason they’re super popular is because they’re on NYU campus. Prices are pretty normal as compared to other milk tea places.

This is my less preferred of the two Kung Fu Teas in the Astor Place area (the other is at 28 St Marks Pl). The menus are the same at both places, but the staff just seems a little friendlier at the St Marks location. Additionally, the St Marks location takes credit card for purchases above a certain threshold (I want to say it’s $ 6), whereas this location is cash only — which can be a little inconvenient.
If you are getting a drink here, though, I highly recommend the matcha bubble tea. It’s a great mid-​afternoon boost without the jitteriness or difficulty sleeping that late afternoon coffee can induce in some people.

Okay, I’m from LA where boba is superfluous and high quality, but Kung Fu tea blew me away. Their matcha milk tea was super smooth and thicker than what I’m used to, but I loved it. The boba was just right too. My friends both ordered milk teas, and they were extremely happy with it. I went to Kung Fu Tea three times during my week in NY and will definitely miss it when I’m gone. Service was quick and friendly too.

Smack dab on NYU territory, craving for something sweet that’s not coffee. Okay why not?
That’s my thinking every time I have to go to NYU and have to walk past this place. Like another Unilocaler mentioned another bubble tea place. At least you don’t have to walk any farther when taking classes or whatever you’re doing when you’re at NYU.
The staff is not the most amiable of people, but they’re okay. I did have a mishap when I ordered jelly not bubbles and then she took a guy’s order next and he asked for bubbles. So she ended up putting bubbles, not jelly in my drink. Having worked in the food industry, I didn’t even bother to tell her and just accepted it. Even though on the label it clearly said jelly. I was just not in the mood to wait all over again. Besides that, my experiences have been okay.
My personal fav right now is the peach lychee oolong tea that comes with actual pieces of peach. Best with jelly not bubbles.
Happy drinking bubble tea before the weather gets cold! Have yet to try the hot kinds…

Standard bubble tea place!
The menu has a good selection… I went with the passionfruit green tea with boba which was made well and quickly. The boba was nice and chewy and not overcooked. Also, they have a great location right near Washington Square Park where you can enjoy your tea!

Kung Fu Tea is my favorite boba/​bubble tea joint in the city. This location is my go-​to before or after a stroll through Washington Square Park.
My favorites are the milk tea, jasmine milk tea, and matcha milk. I like their wow milk options because they use Lactaid milk (yay for lactose intolerance). I’m pretty sure every drink is non-​dairy. I usually like to add boba, pudding, grass jelly, or all of the above. The texture of their tapioca balls is consistently sweet and chewy.
I dig it.

Woman at the register was rude.
They’re strawberry milk slush tasted like water. First time at Kung fu tea after hearing amazing things and it was nasty.
Definitely won’t go to this location again.
Giving two stars because people tell me it’s good, so I’ll just try a different spot. If they didn’t have a good reputation I would give them 1 star.

Aside from it being cash only, what’s not to like?
Closest bubble tea to campus
Hot and cold options
Sugar and ice level options
Never had bubbles that were too soft or hard, they are on the sweeter side though, so I would suggest less sugar.

Had been here quite regularly in the past and I hadn’t had any bad experiences.
Drinks:
Taste like other Kung Fu Tea’s, which are decent and satisfactory in general
Service:
Friendly, minimal wait, I could usually get out under 5 mins; but it could get crowded sometimes, nevertheless, the process of ordering and receiving was organized
Space:
Tiny but clean, with about 4 – 5 seats, probably not an ideal place to loiter inside
Overall:
A solid and convenient choice if you have classes around and don’t want to pop to St. Marks for other selections. There are promotions from time to time so I usually keep an eye on them when I walk past

This is your standard bubble tea place. Location wise was meant for NYU students and those who are lost around NYU.
Service was friendly and on point.
Bubble Tea wise, it was a bit off. I’ve never considered Kung Fu Tea on my list of best of the best but they do well to satisfy your bubble tea craving. The Earl Grey Bubble Tea I ordered tasted extra herbal. Not sure if that means the tea was just that amazing or something else. I got the bubble tea in less than 20 seconds upon ordering it. I like mines without sugar and without ice as to taste the bubble (s) [tapioca/​glutton balls] in its truest form.
If you are around here, need that bubble tea in your life. This will do.

Small, quick, and convenient! My sister was craving bubble tea the other night, and we were around this area. We’ve been to other kung fu tea shops before, but it was our first time coming to this location! We actually wanted to sit down, drink tea, and have a chat. In general, most tea shops have adequate seating for the customers to stay, but this one is more of a grab-​and-​go type! There are two chairs by the window counter, and luckily, we were able to snatch those seats, which was wonderful. If you want to guarantee seating, I would recommend you to check out a different location.
During our visit, we saw quite a bunch of people and NYC students coming in and out for bubble tea, so this place can get pretty poppin’! Despite of the crowd, the lady is very fast and efficient in taking orders and making the teas!
I love Fung Fu Tea’s menu selection and flavors! It’s very organized — they separate it into different flavors, toppings, sugar level/​sweetness, and ice content! I never get disappointed here :)