We all deserve a break, and whether you need to catch up on schoolwork, chat with friends or grab a quick snack, Cha Cha N Beans, a cafe in downtown Westborough, has you covered.
While Cha Cha N Beans is most renowned for its bubble tea, its menu offers a variety of other treats that introduce numerous flavors of Asia. From Hong Kong egg bubble waffles to Japanese onigiri (rice balls), there’s sure to be something for everyone. According to the cafe’s website, their “special-tea” is “making your heart go BOBA BOBA.”
Cha Cha N Beans also offers a variety of snacks (candy, parfaits) that welcome those with food restrictions to try, but the selection doesn’t just end at food. They also sell stationery, bubble tea plushies, houseware, store-branded sweatshirts and more.
Cha Cha N Beans is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except for Sundays, when they close an hour earlier. Located on 25 West Main Street, it tends to attract local teenagers. In fact, co-owners Claire (Chai-Ling) Tsai and Liana Hadi originally aimed to provide a comfortable space for local high school students after school when they opened the cafe in December 2022. Four months later in April 2023, they were presented the New Downtown Business Award by the Westborough Economic Development Committee (EDC).
When I visited Cha Cha N Beans, I immediately spotted a student doing school work, as well as a group of friends chatting and playing a game from a collection that Cha Cha N Beans offers for entertainment. Despite the crowd, the cafe remained relatively quiet with soft music in the background. Its atmosphere immediately struck me as cozy and welcoming. The seating arrangement was clean too, which was definitely a plus.
The workers were mostly teenagers, too, since Tsai and Hadi wanted to provide students with a working opportunity, and the cashier was one of the friendliest I’ve encountered. It was a tough choice, but I ultimately requested the cafe’s specialties: the egg waffle with ice cream ($7.99) and large brown sugar milk tea with boba ($7.29).
The egg waffle was served in a paper container and topped with a scoop of delicious green tea ice cream. The flavor of the green tea was strong and tasty but not overpowering, while the crisp egg waffle was the perfect amount of brown-sugar-sweet. However, it was filled with air, making the inside more chewy than fluffy.
The large brown sugar milk tea, although more expensive than the regular large milk tea, had an enhanced flavor that makes it worth the buy. After adding boba to the drink, it came to a total of $7.29, which is similar to other bubble tea shops in the surrounding area. The black, spherical boba was soft, but it had a chewy center that made me go back for another sip (or bite).
Although the tea scent was a little weak, the overall flavor of the drink did not disappoint. The brown sugar gave the milk tea a hint of caramel, but be sure to ask for 0% sugar because the brown sugar by itself creates the perfect balance of sweetness. Any additional sugars might be too much.
Originally, Cha Cha N Beans only offered paper straws to help the environment. However, after issues with piercing the plastic lid, they added plastic straws as an alternative. Still, it’s honorable that they were willing to consider factors beyond store profits.
If there is anything that customers are unsatisfied with, there is a station at the end of the ordering line with a box labeled “SUGGESTIONS.” There are slips of paper as well as pens for customers to insert their thoughts for improving the cafe. Tsai and Hadi look over the suggestions, and they always try to make adjustments as quickly as they can to ensure that everyone can have the best experience at Cha Cha N Beans.
Anyone who’s looking for a comfortable cafe with Asian snacks and owners who truly care about their customers should grab a treat from Cha Cha N Beans. I know I’ll be going back for the egg waffle with green tea ice cream!
