7445 S Durango Dr #101, Las Vegas, NV 89113

Every day from Noon – 9:00 p.m.

Credit card, Apple Pay and cash accepted

Grade: A-

As a muted brown building with many other identical ones surrounding it, there was nothing eye-catching about this restaurant. There were no grand opening fliers or bright colors; in fact, I had only heard about Teru Tea Cafe reopening and separating from the Feng Cha franchise through word of mouth and social media advertising. With new menu items, the cafe is now rebranded as an independently owned business. As someone who had tried the old cafe and enjoyed it, I was a bit sad to see that it had closed, but I was still excited to see what new items would be available. Previously, Feng Cha focused mainly on boba drinks, but Teru Tea Cafe has shifted its marketing to cater to matcha lovers, adding an entirely new section on its menu for customers to order from. 

The menu itself is quite large, featuring around 45 different items, and is broken down into separate categories, making it easier to order. They are: fresh tea, fruit tea, milk tea, terunado (a fruit, milk and ice blended drink), specialty, matcha, coffee and dessert.  Drinks can also be customized with additional add-ons, such as boba, sago or lychee jelly for an additional $0.75.

Upon entering the store, it was pretty packed with people who were studying, and nearly every table was full. I was pretty surprised, considering school had just gotten out, and I was expecting it to be emptier. There were around six tables total in the store, and each one could fit between two and four people. While it seems like a cute place to study, I wouldn’t suggest bringing large groups of people, as the seating accommodations were limited. 

Once I was ready to order at the counter, I was most intrigued by the specialty drink items and a new category called “Terunados.” After careful consideration, I chose to order one of each: the Brown Sugar Brûlée Boba and the Mango Cloud Terunado. Additionally, I decided to order the Strawberry Matcha from their matcha section on the menu. I got all of the drinks with regular sweetness and milk, but they can be adjusted according to personal preferences.

All three of my drinks came out simultaneously and pretty quickly, as most other customers had already received their orders. I was seated at a small table talking with my brother and we waited about five minutes for our number to be called, which was pretty fast considering only one barista was working at the counter.

I first tried the Strawberry Matcha ($6.75), which is an item I was both nervous and excited for. As someone who had never had matcha before, I had high expectations after hearing many friends and people on social media hype it up; however, I had heard some people report that it tasted like grass. The presentation was aesthetically pleasing to look at, with the different layers of matcha, milk and strawberry sitting atop each other in the adorable puppy cup. I was sad to ruin the drink by stirring it, but I wanted to taste all the flavors together in my first sip. The matcha had a bitter, yet creamy taste that was perfectly balanced out by the sweetness of the strawberry. It was thoroughly blended and not grainy; I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the taste of it, despite originally being a little nervous to try it.

The second drink that I tried was the Brown Sugar Brûlée Boba ($6.95). I’d tried brown sugar boba many times before, so I was curious to see how the cafe’s recipe would stand out from others. When I tried my first sip, I was hit with a wave of almost unbearable sugary sweetness. I had forgotten to stir the drink. Once I did, the brown sugar flavor wasn’t too overpowering, and the milk had balanced it out. The boba was perfectly chewy and soft, with the crème brûlée at the top adding a slight crunch to the drink as the caramelized sugar was mixed in, which was unique. After a few more sips, however, it started to just taste like milk even after stirring, which was a bit of a disappointment. While the crème brûlée aspect of the drink made it memorable, I likely wouldn’t order this item again. 

The third and final drink I tried was the Mango Cloud Terunado ($5.95). I don’t typically gravitate towards mango-flavored drinks or foods, but this drink took me by surprise. It was perfectly creamy and milky, with just the right amount of mango flavor. It was sweet and rich without being too acidic or tangy. The drink itself was amazing, but I think that it could have been even better with one of the customizable add-ons, such as boba or sago. Still, even without it, the drink was my favorite of the three, and I would definitely come back again for another. 

Overall, the drinks at Teru Tea Cafe were definitely worth it, and my experience was pleasant. The drink selections were not only unique, but also high-quality, and they were set at a reasonable price point. It’s a cute place to study alone or in a small group, but I will probably take my future orders to go because of the limited seating and chatty environment. While I would probably skip out on the Brown Sugar Brûlée Boba, I think the Strawberry Matcha and Mango Cloud Terunado are enough to keep me coming back.