Bober Tea & Mochi Dough are coming to University Place at 3818 Bridgeport Way W. The popular franchise began in Singapore and is known for its patented boba.
“The boba is stir fried daily every couple of hours giving it a slightly different flavor than the typical ones,” Co-Owner Tammy Phan told What Now Seattle in an interview on Monday. “The mochi doughnuts are made same day too.”
Bober Tea shares space with Mochi Dough as part of their business model, which is where the mochi doughnuts come in. They’re little dough balls connected together to form a uniquely-shaped doughnut made easily for sharing as Phan does with her kids considering there are various flavor offerings on the menu worth tasting.
Phan is a self-proclaimed bubble tea connoisseur, which is why she decided to get into business with her “bff,” Van Duong, who already owns a Bober Tea & Mochi Dough location in Northern California. “We are two minority girls trying to make an impact on the community,” she said.
Community is a large reason for their location choice at University Place. They also wanted to be around students so they could provide a good influence. “Bubble tea brings people together. It’s an element of joy,” she told What Now Seattle.
Before her love for boba turned into a business, she began working in the tech industry. Aspiring to achieve the “American dream” and then having two kids, however, she knew it was time for a reevaluation. The work-life balance was putting a major strain on both her self and her family. Enter Bober Tea & Mochi Dough. Phan spoke with passion about wanting to help retire her parents with this new endeavor as well. “My parents have struggled financially due to lack of education and being immigrants. I want to give thanks for everything that they’ve done for me and I don’t want them to worry. This is what I can do to provide for my family and have a good work-life balance.”
University Place’s Bober Tea & Mochi Dough will be approximately 1000 square feet and allow for about 15 customers, according to Phan. It will be “very pink and flowery with an instagrammable area” for bubble tea patrons to get their next viral selfies. Plus, if boba and mochi doughnuts weren’t enough, the franchise is looking into catering and the best friend team wants to fill up their menu with more items made of dough other than doughnuts keeping to the brand’s signature theme. To commemorate the Grand Opening, a Lion Dance is planned to take place with loud music and joyful celebrations. “A Lion Dance comes from the Asian culture which brings luck and prosperity,” Phan explained.
So be on the lookout for the Bober Tea & Mochi Dough signage going up at University Place and have those boba straws handy come Summer 2023.
