The 10 best places for vegan boba in America, definitively ranked

Finding good vegan boba shouldn't feel like detective work, but most chains still use non-dairy creamers with sodium caseinate—a milk derivative that makes "dairy-free" milk teas decidedly not vegan. After researching dozens of shops across the country and talking to baristas about what's actually in their drinks, I've ranked the places where vegans can order confidently without playing ingredient roulette.

1. Boba Guys (San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York)

This San Francisco-born chain earned the top spot for good reason: they take vegan options seriously without making you feel like an afterthought. Both oat milk and almond milk are standard menu items at all locations, not special requests. Their Classic Milk Tea with oat milk rivals any dairy version, and the Strawberry Matcha Latte looks as good as it tastes.

What sets them apart is ingredient transparency. They use organic milk alternatives and make their syrups in-house, so you know exactly what you're getting. The boba itself is vegan, and their fruit tea lineup is extensive. Staff are trained on dietary restrictions and won't give you the confused look when you ask about casein.

Must-try: Dirty Horchata with oat milk, Classic Milk Tea with almond milk

2. Afterlife Tea & Boba Room (Las Vegas, Nevada)

The only 100% plant-based boba shop on this list, Afterlife eliminates the guesswork entirely. Everything on the menu is vegan, from the brown sugar boba to the rotating seasonal specials. They use high-quality plant milks and don't rely on powdered creamers like most chains.

The shop doubles as a community space with board games and local art, making it more than a quick drink stop. Their menu changes every two weeks with new specialty drinks, so regulars never get bored. Owner-operated with genuine care for both the product and the vegan community.

Must-try: Whatever's on the seasonal menu, Brown Sugar Oat Milk Tea

3. Gong Cha (Select US locations)

Gong Cha's vegan options vary wildly by location, which is why they're ranked third despite having solid drinks. Some franchises offer oat and almond milk, while others stick to their standard non-dairy creamer that contains casein. Call ahead or check with staff before ordering any milk tea.

Where they do offer plant milk, the quality is excellent. Their fruit teas are reliably vegan across all locations, and the customization options let you control sweetness and ice levels. The tapioca pearls, grass jelly, and most other toppings are vegan-friendly.

Must-try: Passion Fruit Green Tea (vegan everywhere), Oat Milk Taro (where available)

4. Shaboba (Los Angeles, California)

From the team behind Ahimsa Vegan Cafe, Shaboba combines boba with a full vegan bakery. All their milk teas use oat milk as the base, with flavors like chai, lavender, rose, brown sugar, and Thai. The boba is made fresh, and you can add lychee jelly or aloe for texture.

The bakery component makes this a destination rather than just a drink stop. Pair your boba with vegan cookies or pastries for a complete treat. Limited seating means it's often grab-and-go, but the quality makes up for the lack of atmosphere.

Must-try: Lavender Oat Milk Tea, Brown Sugar Boba with a vegan cookie

5. It's Boba Time (Multiple California locations)

With over 50 locations primarily in Southern California, It's Boba Time offers the convenience of a chain with actual vegan milk options. They stock soy, oat, and almond milk at most locations, and their fruit smoothies and teas are naturally vegan. The boba pearls are confirmed vegan.

The customization is extensive—adjust sweetness, ice, and choose from multiple toppings. Not every location has the same plant milk selection, so ask what's available. Their Tiger Milk series can be made with oat milk for a creamy, caramel-forward drink.

Must-try: Brown Sugar Fresh Milk with oat milk, Mango Smoothie

6. Sunright Tea Studio (Los Angeles, California)

Sunright makes their vegan credentials clear: fruit teas are vegan as-is, and milk teas can be made with almond or oat milk. Most toppings are vegan except for the cheese foam, crème brûlée foam, honey boba, and pudding. The transparency alone puts them ahead of most chains.

Their fruit teas are the real standout here. Fresh fruit gets blended or muddled into each drink, not just syrup. The Grapefruit Green Tea and Kumquat Lemon are both refreshing and naturally sweet without added sugar.

Must-try: Grapefruit Green Tea, Almond Milk Oolong

7. Kung Fu Tea (350+ US locations nationwide)

Kung Fu Tea is the largest bubble tea chain in America, but vegans need to navigate carefully. Their milk teas use non-dairy creamer with sodium caseinate, making them off-limits. The regular tapioca boba is marinated in honey, so ask for their "WOW boba" instead, which is cooked in brown sugar and is vegan-friendly.

Where Kung Fu Tea succeeds is accessibility—there's probably one near you. The fruit punch series and classic tea series (without milk) are vegan. Nata jelly, mango jelly, and herbal jelly are all plant-based topping options. Avoid aloe jelly (contains honey) and pudding (contains milk).

Must-try: Passion Fruit QQ (with WOW boba or nata jelly), Mango Green Tea

8. Magik Milk (Los Angeles, California)

This all-vegan boba shop in LA lets you customize everything—sweetness, boba quantity, ice level. The menu spans milk teas to fruity drinks, all made with plant-based ingredients. Pair your drink with a vegan cookie for the complete experience.

The shop is small and often busy, but service moves quickly. They're accommodating with adjustments and happy to explain ingredients. It's a neighborhood spot with regulars who come weekly, which speaks to consistency.

Must-try: Classic Milk Tea, Thai Tea

9. Peet's Coffee (West Coast locations)

Not traditionally a boba spot, but Peet's launched Brown Sugar Jelly that functions like boba in their Iced Fruit Tea Shakers and Oat Lattes. The jelly is vegan, and you can add it to most cold drinks. It's not chewy like traditional tapioca, but it adds texture and sweetness.

This is the most convenient option for people who don't live near dedicated boba shops. Peet's has hundreds of locations, and the brown sugar jelly is available at most of them. The Oat Latte with brown sugar jelly is surprisingly good.

Must-try: Iced Fruit Tea Shaker with Brown Sugar Jelly, Oat Latte with Brown Sugar Jelly

10. Tiger Sugar (Multiple US locations)

Tiger Sugar made brown sugar boba famous, but their vegan options are limited. Most drinks contain cream mousse or dairy milk, and plant milk isn't standard. Some locations offer soy milk upon request, but it's inconsistent. Where Tiger Sugar succeeds for vegans is their fruit tea lineup, which skips milk entirely.

The fruit teas aren't as extensive as their milk tea menu, but they're made with quality ingredients. The Lychee Black Tea with popping boba is refreshing and naturally vegan. Just avoid anything with "cream mousse" or "milk" in the name unless you can confirm plant milk is available.

Must-try: Lychee Black Tea, Passion Fruit Green Tea (where available)

What to watch for when ordering vegan boba

Non-dairy doesn't mean vegan. Most chains use creamers with sodium caseinate, a milk protein. Always ask specifically about plant-based milk options.

Honey shows up unexpectedly. Regular tapioca boba is often marinated in honey. At Kung Fu Tea, ask for "WOW boba" (brown sugar) instead of regular boba. Some shops also use honey as a sweetener in drinks.

Cheese foam is never vegan. Despite the trendy appeal, all cheese foam contains dairy.

Pudding contains eggs. This popular topping is made with egg custard at most shops.

Fruit teas are your safest bet. When in doubt at an unfamiliar chain, fruit teas are almost always vegan. Just skip the cream foam or yogurt-based additions.

Final thoughts

The boba landscape for vegans is improving, but slowly. For every shop like Afterlife that's 100% plant-based, there are dozens of chains still using non-dairy creamer with hidden milk derivatives. Your best strategy is sticking to places with actual plant milk or ordering fruit teas at chains that haven't caught up yet.

The good news: once you find a spot that works, the drinks are just as satisfying as their dairy counterparts. Oat milk has the creamy texture that makes milk tea work, and fruit teas at quality shops use real fruit instead of artificial syrups. The shops that cater to vegans tend to take quality seriously across the board—better ingredients, fresher fruit, more transparency about what goes into each drink.