Milwaukee’s newest bubble tea shop has softly opened its doors at 1259 N. 10th St., the former home of the short-lived Boiler House Cafe, which closed early last year.
Bon Bon Boba Tea is the name of the new business, which offers up a varied menu of boba drinks, a small selection of coffee-based beverages and a variety of pastries and desserts.
The business is owned and operated by husband and wife team Sai and Dominique Yang. Dominique debuted the business last summer, offering their milk tea at various farmers markets, including West Allis, Menomonee Falls and Oak Creek last year.
More big plans
The Yangs also signed on for a brick-and-mortar location in the SoNa Lofts and Maker’s Row development on 66th Street in West Allis. However, construction delays have made the opening date for that location uncertain. So, in the meantime, the couple decided to pursue their first shop in the Brewery District.
Inside the shop
“It’s a beautiful space,” notes Dominique Yang. “It’s so close to Fiserv Forum and the UWM building is right across the street from us.” She says she hopes that guests will see Bon Bon as a comfortable place to gather, work on projects and enjoy their menu offerings.
The 1100 square foot space, which was once the boiler house for Pabst Brewery, still showcases a modern industrial feel with beautiful exposed brick walls, rustic cement floors and large windows on both the north and east sides.
The Yangs have further enhanced the space with seating at both high top tables and multicolored lounge-style seating along the windows.
On the menu
As for the menu, it features a wide variety of boba offerings including their signature milk series (brown sugar, cookies and cream, lavender, lychee, mango, peach, rose and strawberry) additional milk tea flavors like coconut, thai tea, tiger tea, taro and matcha; and fruit tea (dragon fruit and lychee, lychee, mango, passion fruit, peach, pomegranate and strawberry). Pricing is $6 for regular and $7 for large.
Guests will also find Dalgona, the internet-famous drink featuring a cream base with a frothy, whipped topping, is available in flavors including coffee, matcha, chocolate, brown sugar or strawberry ($7-$8).
Smoothies are available in coconut, lychee, mango, passion fruit, peach, strawberry and taro for $7-$8.
Guests are welcome to customize their drinks by combining flavors and adding items like tapioca pearls ($0.50), crystal boba, strawberry or mango popping boba, and strawberry or mango jelly ($1 each).
“We use freshly brewed tea for our boba drinks,” notes Sai Yang, who says he learned a great deal from his brother, who operates a bubble tea shop in Chicago. And we use as much fresh fruit and fresh products as we can.”
In addition to boba tea, Bon Bon serves a small menu of coffee drinks including Americanos, mochas, lattes and iced coffees ($3.50-$5.50) and a selection of pastries and desserts including muffins, brownies, macarons, tiramisu and creme brulee.
Guests can also peruse a selection of shelf-stable French and European snacks including Crepes Dentelle, Kinder Country bars and a variety of Lu products including Prince Chocolate Cookies.
Adorable boba tea-scented candles are also for sale.
Sai notes they are still planning to open their shop in West Allis. In the meantime, fans can keep an eye on their social media channels on Facebook and Instagram for details.
Bon Bon Boba Tea is currently open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
