Top 7 Bubble Tea Chains in Thailand (2026): Taste, Price & Sweetness Control

KOI leads for overall balance. The tea bases taste clean and aromatic, so milk and toppings enhance rather than mask flavor. Pearls are a standout: the signature golden bubbles sit in a light syrup that keeps them glossy and bouncy without turning mushy, even after a commute. Customization is strong, with sugar usually adjustable in fine increments and reliable ice control across branches. Standout cups include Jasmine Green Milk Tea with golden bubbles and classic Black Tea Latte for a more tea-forward profile. Prices run higher than kiosk brands, but the consistency, friendly staff training, and limited melt-down on ice make KOI feel premium without straying into luxury pricing. Best for daily drinkers who want control and true tea notes.

Gong cha nails the sweet spot of price, range, and reliability. Tea bases have enough backbone to cut through milk and toppings, and the menu is easy to navigate for both milk and fruit tea fans. Pearls trend medium-firm with a pleasant “QQ,” rarely overcooked. Sugar levels are typically clear (0–100% with common presets), and ice control is consistent. Highlights include the classic Pearl Milk Tea, Oolong Milk Foam for a creamy cap, and refreshing Wintermelon with pearls for a lighter, caramel-like profile. You’ll find steady quality across malls and transit hubs, short prep times, and frequent promos that lower the effective price. A go-to chain when you want no-surprise, good-value boba nationwide.

Famous for its “deerioca” brown sugar pearls, The Alley brings café-grade tea and indulgent texture. The pearls are slow-cooked, warm, and elastic, coating the cup with syrupy tiger stripes. Tea quality is high across black, oolong, and seasonal picks, and you can usually tweak sugar and ice on most drinks. Note that the signature brown sugar series is less adjustable by design, so choose a standard milk tea if you want full sweetness control. The brand’s aesthetics, from cups to stores, make it an easy date spot, yet service speed remains decent. Expect premium pricing for the craftsmanship and thicker milk mouthfeel. Perfect when you want a treat without sacrificing tea character.

Chiang Mai–born and now citywide, Brown Café wins on housemade pearls and Thai ingredient flair. The pearls are fresh-cooked throughout the day, yielding a soft exterior and bouncy core that stay satisfying down to the last sip. Tea bases, especially roasted oolong and black, are pronounced enough to carry milk and toppings without turning cloying. You’ll find clear sugar and ice controls, plus fun limited editions that spotlight local fruits and cane sugar. The aesthetic skews minimalist, and staff are generally happy to fine-tune sweetness beyond presets. Pricing sits in the mid-premium zone, justified by better texture and thoughtful recipes. A top pick for drinkers who value craftsmanship and seasonal creativity.

Thailand’s iconic Thai tea brand doubles as a budget-friendly boba stop. Order Thai Milk Tea with pearls for that unmistakable spiced, floral kick. While sweetness defaults run high, most branches accommodate “less sweet” and ice adjustments, and the tea remains flavorful even at lower sugar. Pearls skew slightly softer than boutique shops but still hold structure in milk-heavy drinks. Menu breadth is a quiet strength, from rose Thai tea to pandan and matcha, making it easy to rotate flavors. With wide mall and street-front coverage, queues move quickly and prices stay low. It’s the most economical way to add pearls to Thailand’s national drink without losing the essence of the tea.

Kamu blends Japanese-inspired profiles with Thai-friendly sweetness controls. Roasted tea lattes, matcha, and cheese foam tops are standouts, offering depth that doesn’t depend on high sugar. Pearls are consistently cooked, medium in size, with a resilient chew that pairs well with milk-forward drinks. Customization is straightforward, often in 25% sugar steps with full ice control, and toppings extend to grass jelly and pudding for texture variety. Stores are kiosk-heavy, so service is quick, and seasonal collabs keep the menu fresh. It hits a sweet price-quality balance for commuters who want a reliable tea base and predictable pearls without going premium. A dependable daily choice in dense urban areas.

If you crave the dramatic brown sugar swirl, Tiger Sugar still delivers one of the richest versions around. The pearls are steeped in dark syrup, yielding a warm, sticky-glossy texture with a satisfyingly elastic bite. The base is milk-forward rather than tea-dominant, which makes the drink dessert-like, so it’s best for days you want indulgence. Customization is limited on signature items, especially sugar, though you can usually tweak ice. Non-brown-sugar teas allow more flexibility if you prefer. Prices sit at the premium end and cups are best enjoyed quickly to catch the warm pearls at their peak. A destination brand for brown sugar purists and photo-perfect stripes.