Grab a Free Bubble Milk Tea at Mr. Tea Café’s Grand Opening in Kaka‘ako

Mr. Tea Café opens a second location in Salt at Our Kaka‘ako.

Mr. Tea CaFé Owner George Huang. 

Photos: Diane Lee 

If you’re a bubble milk tea fan, you’re in luck. You can grab a free drink on Saturday, May 7, at the grand opening of Mr. Tea Café’s new location in the SALT at Our Kaka‘ako. 

“We really love the neighborhood,” says George Huang, owner and University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa graduate. “We wanted to be in the heart of Kaka‘ako.” 

The matcha is made from real green tea leaves, not the flavored stuff. 

You’ll find the same drink menu as the Kapi‘olani Boulevard location, except with a more prominent toppings bar at the storefront. Huang, whose family is from Taiwan, uses high-quality ingredients (fresh boba, rolled tea leaves, 100-percent matcha tea and honey) imported from Taiwan. “We tried American honey,” he says. “It just doesn’t taste the same.”

The toppings include custard, cofFee jelly, lychee jelly, chia, grass jelly, taro pudding and azuki beans. 

When the new location opens Saturday, you can help yourself to one regular-size classic bubble milk tea (black, jasmine green, roasted oolong or earl grey). More than 1,500 people showed up for the 2014 opening of the first location, next to the raw, vegan restaurant Greens & Vines.

THE SECOND LOCATION IN KAKA‘AKO OPENS ON SATURDAY, MAY 7.

Huang says his team is ready to give out 2,000 free drinks on Saturday. Parking can be a pain, but there’s good news—you can get free validated parking in the SALT location.

Not sure which flavor to choose? Huang recommends the roasted oolong milk tea, a staff favorite. “It’s free,” Huang says. “Might as well try something new.”

11 a.m.–9 p.m. grand opening Saturday, May 7, Mr. Tea Café, 691 Auahi St., mrteacafe.com