I miss Camellia Rd a lot, and I wish they franchised, but I also high key appreciate the cozy, small local vibe it has. It is truly the best boba by far in San Diego (not just me, most people I talked to in the area agree!), and I can say that with full confidence after exploring the boba scene there for about 3 years.
It was the first boba I had in college, and the boba that I looked forward to getting the most. Camellia, like most of the good food in San Diego, is located around the Convoy street area, meaning that it always took a trek out to get good food, good boba, and good groceries, which just made the occasion to get it more special.
Nostalgic memories aside, I think they have one of the best stadards as a boba shop. Their menu is pretty varied, while not being too big, they have options for everyone, whether it’s straight teas, milk teas, or tea frescas, their boba is fantastic, and ordering is very straightforward. Did I mention that the quality of every item they have is just so good? It’s also a great place to hang out, with a decent amount of seating, and they also offer games for you to borrow.
Chain? No. I wish it were though.
Drinks Tried: Thai Tea, Jasmine Green Tea (#2), Oolong Milk Tea, Hojicha Milk Tea (#2), Genmaicha Milk Tea, Chrysanthemum Milk Tea (#2), Puer Milk Tea, Matcha Milk Tea, Black Milk Tea,
Boba: It’s so good. The boba is perfectly chewy, the boba itself is sweet and has so much flavor and goes so well with the drink.
Price: It’s definitely on a pricier end, especially since every drink comes in a relatively small cup, but it’s also very easy since each drink, no matter the customization (barring extra toppings) is a clean $5. Man is the quality worth it though. Did I mention I want more drink?
Size: One size, comparable to a regular size at most places. I’m always very sad to see the drink depleting, but it is a good size that doesn’t make you too full.
Interior: It’s a cozy shop, with a good amount of seating, and comfy vibes.
Wait: Usually not too much of a wait for such a quality drink! The turnaround rate is also super fast.
Sell Food? No.
Reward System? Not anymore. They used to do stamp cards, but they did away with them after I started going, and I had a stamp card with 9/10 stamps that they wouldn’t accept…
You can always stop by when home! 😉
It’s so far though…but compared to 2.5 bus rides to Sapporo maybe not so