Tim Boba has become a staple at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), known as the go-to spot for late-night snacks and boba on campus. Its cheap food, late hours and specialty drinks attract plenty of club meetings, late-night hangouts and midterm study breaks. The bright fluorescent lighting immediately makes a striking first impression. On top of that, the flooring and tiles, all of which are varying shades of grey and silver, give the space a washed out yet seemingly comforting feeling. The leather couches are worn and wrinkled and the shelf with cutlery and straws had a stack of well-loved board games right under it.
But more than anything, it was the people that gave Tim Boba its character. Bustling with students, the whole store was filled with conversation, laughter, ideas and energy. It was clear to us that Tim Boba was loved, but can it be respected? We decided to put them to the test and review their food and drinks.
Paradise Fruit Tea 75% Sweet
Price: $5.50
Rating: 3/5
The fruit tea somehow managed to strike a surprising balance between subtlety and uniqueness. Fresh, fruity and bursting with citrus flavors from the motley of orange, grapefruit and lime pieces mixed in. The tea was very subtle and not overpowering, with the orange syrup creating unique key notes. My one critique is that the flavor of the tea could have been stronger to avoid the drink tasting watery. The ice and fruit pieces were a bit cumbersome to maneuver around but added to the character of the beverage as a whole.
Rose Milk Tea with Aloe Chunks 75% Sweet
Price: $5.50
Rating: 4/5
Rose flavored desserts are often quite difficult to get right. Rose can be an overpowering flavor when not used carefully and can ruin a dish easily. On the other hand, too little rose flavoring and the classic light fragrant taste that you are looking for will completely disappear amongst other components. Tim Boba’s Rose Milk Tea nailed the milk to concentrate ratio. The rose was well mixed into the tea and barely contained the usual bitter aftertaste that comes with rose flavoring. The rose didn’t overpower the taste of the tea and accentuated the natural flavor profile of the tea. The aloe chunks were fairly average, but didn’t ruin the overall composition of the drink.
Fishballs
Price: $9.00
Rating: 5/5
Subtle, soft, chewy and juicy. These fishballs would be the perfect fix to your late night snack craving. Perfectly salted, moist and not overpoweringly fishy, the chewy texture of the fishballs melted in our mouths. The texture provided an extremely satisfying eating experience without the usual drab seasoning or dryness one braces for while trying fish balls. The Thai Chili sauce brings the snack to another level with an added sweetness and a touch of spice. An overall amazing dish to split with friends and worth the price.
Popcorn Chicken
Price: $10.00
Rating: 3/5
If you were craving a filling late night meal to split with friends for relatively cheap, then this popcorn chicken would scratch that itch. However, it is by no means extraordinary. The chicken was standard in terms of quality. It was well-cooked, crispy and juicy. Even though we ordered the chicken at the spicy level, it was not spiced at all, which was somewhat disappointing. That being said, it was salted well and the portion size was well worth the price as it could have easily been split amongst three people.
Tim Boba is undoubtedly a part of our campus’s fondest memories, best laughs and much needed pick-me-ups. In a city that often struggles to support its small business, Tim Boba has thrived not just because of the quality of its products but the home it gives to those who go there. College life can run long into the night and late-night snack spots can be the comforting pat on the back that students need as the weeks go by and the work piles up. Pick me up spots like this become small cornerstones of people’s college memories, and we are happy to say that Tim Boba deserves that spot in the hearts and minds of Highlanders.
