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Purple Kow

Purple Kow

Bubble Tea Shop and Café$$$$
Outer Richmond, San Francisco
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7.0/10
392
ratings
  • Stars
    The milk tea at Purple Kow is a can't miss
  • Tips
    Megan J.
    "Iced milk with boba is an easy thumbs up !"(3 Tips)
    Lan
    "Peach oolong tea crema with boba is my new favorite."(3 Tips)
    Shirley L.
    "Get the iced Oolong milk tea with boba and pudding"(2 Tips)
    Edna L.
    "Love their iced milk tea and milk tea with grass jelly"(2 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon117 Tips and reviews
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  • Eater
    EaterMarch 30, 2017
    The aroma of fried food like chicken wings, nuggets, and cheese sticks make this cafe an Outer Richmond magnet. Matcha milk green tea and matcha crema can be served with fun toppings at $0.50 extra. Read more
  • Ananda D.
    Ananda DestefanoAugust 10, 2014
    Best boba in SF! You can get it however sweet you want it, or with no sugar! Mango smoothie, no sugar with boba and lychee jelly is the bomb. Wait is long but sooo worth it!
  • Andy W.
    Andy WongOctober 22, 2011
    Been here 10+ times
    Worth the wait! They make everything to order so it does take some time. The plus side is, they can customize the drink. They make their syrups and purée in house and they use high quality teas.
  • Gnat B.heart icon on user image
    Gnat BrainJune 24, 2015
    Boba is meh but fantastic milk and tea options. Can't go wrong with custard and grass jelly. Half sweet is plenty sweet. Get one with the salt and pepper fried chicken.
  • David H.heart icon on user image
    David HeiserApril 17, 2016
    Get a D5 with caramel, grass jelly and boba, 50% sweetness.
  • Harriet C.heart icon on user image
    Harriet ChenSeptember 1, 2012
    Been here 5+ times
    Drinks are huge and two people can share! Hehe.. The best part is you can tell them not to make it too sweet and will do free of charge unlike Quicklys. Wait is not too bad if you around 11am.
  • Cody H.heart icon on user image
    Cody HardAugust 27, 2014
    I don't think the ridiculously long line is worth it, but if the line is short, definitely come here. Good bubble tea. Tea is always super sweet normally, so always get at least half sweet.
  • Erin M.heart icon on user image
    Erin MacadaegFebruary 9, 2015
    Iced Milk Drink with Boba and Pudding or boba noodles at micro-sweetness is my fav
  • Jason K.heart icon on user image
    Jason KhooJanuary 14, 2015
    D3 was really good. Maybe get a tad less sweet but it was still pretty amazing
  • Nithya N.
    Nithya NineFebruary 22, 2012
    Been here 5+ times
    I have been ordering the house purrplekow milk tea. I really like it. Wait is crazy...the least in evening is 20min, it could go to an hour.
  • Brian L.heart icon on user image
    Brian LMarch 11, 2017
    The Green Tea Boba balls ("jade gems") are my new favorite twist on boba.
  • takishido n.heart icon on user image
    takishido nekoOctober 3, 2014
    Went in on a whim one night when I saw the line was short, now I'm addicted. Half sweet milk teas with pudding, they will be the end of me.
  • Hopeheart icon on user image
    HopeAugust 22, 2014
    One of the original places to get crema in the bay area but I don't think they're really worth the hype. OK if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way to visit.
  • tina h.heart icon on user image
    tina huangApril 6, 2015
    Been here 5+ times
    my go-to place for iced milk boba drinks. no other comparison! iced milk with pudding+boba. every. time.
  • AJ L.heart icon on user image
    AJ LApril 24, 2015
    The D3 is what dreams are made of... a sweet, sugary experience you have to try! :D
  • Melon L.heart icon on user image
    Melon LJune 11, 2015
    Been here 10+ times
    Roasted oolong milk tea is the best but the wait is erratic and ridiculous. Anywhere from 10-25 minutes. Or more.
  • Holly C.heart icon on user image
    Holly CallaghanJuly 29, 2016
    Get the custard in the tea. Amazing!!
  • T Z.heart icon on user image
    T ZMarch 23, 2015
    D3 and D4 both on point but I digged D4 more. Get 50% sugar. 1 hour long wait was not the life.
  • Pei 👻 W.heart icon on user image
    Pei 👻 WenAugust 16, 2015
    Wait was long. Turn east and you can get equally delicious drinks from ShareTea much more quickly, just saying.
  • Dominic T.
    Dominic T.December 12, 2011
    Been here 50+ times
    Roast oolong milk tea is the best of all "yummy milk teas". Size upgrade is $.95 and additions (aloe, tapioca, pudding, etc) are $.50. 
  • Priyanka L.heart icon on user image
    Priyanka LSeptember 9, 2014
    My fav is D3.Dont forget to ask for their loyalty card if you are a regular.
  • Glennda H.
    Glennda HouJanuary 4, 2013
    Been here 5+ times
    Their grass jelly is the best I've ever had at a boba place in California so far!
  • Alicia Z.
    Alicia ZMarch 7, 2017
    Very sweet at the default sugar levels - I usually opt for 50%. Pretty good boba!
  • C. Eloise L.
    C. Eloise LimAugust 7, 2014
    Milk tea in a huge cup. Great value! Tea crema is a favorite.
  • Jole P.heart icon on user image
    Jole PSeptember 7, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    The servings here are HUGE so I'd suggest splitting... The qq's are also super yummy!
  • Mischa W.
    Mischa WangApril 7, 2012
    If u have 4 drinks or more to order, call first before lining up!!!!!!! The lines during the weekend is 40 mins long for a drink... So CALL!!
  • Poonam G.
    Poonam GuinnDecember 4, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    Know what you want when you get to the register!!! The lines are already so long, no one has time for you to ask 20 questions.
  • Nancy W.
    Nancy WuOctober 15, 2013
    Got 25% sugar and it was perfect sweetness
  • Michelle L.
    Michelle LeeSeptember 1, 2014
    It has been two years since my last visit. The wait is cray. 1hr for milk tea? Would've been faster to make it at home.
  • Pingheart icon on user image
    PingFebruary 15, 2015
    Love the grapefruit with 25% sugar. Very refreshing.
  • Toji ..
    Toji ...December 16, 2011
    Been here 10+ times
    The majority if the drinks are very sweet, ask for less sweet and youre all good. And for a limited time FREE UPGRADES TO LARGER SIZE.
  • David D.
    David DoanJanuary 11, 2012
    They give lots of tapiocaaa. And black milk tea can be a little watered down..but you can ask to make it sweeter:)
  • Bennett W W.heart icon on user image
    Bennett W WongMarch 31, 2015
    Honey Milk Tea is delicious. The boba is fresh and chewy.
  • Chris L.
    Chris LeeSeptember 21, 2014
    Pretty good drinks, huge portions, long lines. Go here if you have time and tell them to turn down the sweetness.
  • Nikki W.
    Nikki W.October 8, 2011
    Been here 10+ times
    DELICIOUS!! accepts credit card too. try the iced milk drink with caramel, pudding, & boba. :D
  • JCheart icon on user image
    JCJuly 16, 2015
    Been here 10+ times
    Lines can get long. The chicken nuggets are good but not spicy as they claim.
  • shaBOinken (.heart icon on user image
    shaBOinken (`_´)ゞOctober 22, 2012
    Been here 10+ times
    you'll enter the line from the outside no doubt about it (specially at night).. so wear a warm jacket, it's COLD!
  • theSusyness ..
    theSusyness .January 29, 2012
    Been here 10+ times
    If you call your order ahead by phone, be prepared to fight your way at the register to pay and tell them you're picking up. It doesn't save you any time either.
  • Inga C.
    Inga ChenOctober 13, 2014
    You can specify sugar level and they use real tea here!
  • Warren L.heart icon on user image
    Warren LainJune 15, 2015
    Been here 25+ times
    Good Salt and Pepper Chicken! Huge cups!
  • Ryan T.heart icon on user image
    Ryan TamaresFebruary 17, 2019
    Been here 5+ times
    Apple Pay accepted for your boba indulgences
  • Lanheart icon on user image
    LanMay 27, 2013
    Been here 25+ times
    Peach oolong tea crema with boba is my new favorite.
  • Edna L.
    Edna LoSeptember 8, 2014
    Been here 10+ times
    Love their iced milk tea and milk tea with grass jelly
  • Jessica H.heart icon on user image
    Jessica HolcombJuly 15, 2013
    There is a reason there is always a line...its friggin amazing!!!
  • Felicity L.
    Felicity LauMarch 12, 2013
    Free super cup upgrade if you check in on FB M-W this month only!
  • Iris N.
    Iris NgSeptember 8, 2012
    Been here 25+ times
    Try the roasted oolong iced tea, half sweet, with aloe vera. Hmm mmm~!
  • Benson F.
    Benson FungMay 7, 2012
    Been here 5+ times
    Line is long and production is slow. Call Ahead! Takes credit card! Very good tea taste!
  • Ernest N.
    Ernest NgNovember 8, 2012
    The line is always out of control, so don't come here unless you are practicing patience. Waits are typically 30 minutes plus! But the drinks are good, just make sure to get it half sweet.
  • Anna T.heart icon on user image
    Anna TranJanuary 29, 2012
    Been here 50+ times
    Twins QQ jelly = milk tea with egg pudding and grass jelly. Try it! So good.
  • Oriana W.heart icon on user image
    Oriana WenMarch 4, 2013
    Been here 5+ times
    Purple Kow fresh milk drinks have real milk! Other milk drinks use creamer.
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