In a compact strip-mall boba shop in Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley, red tables line the wall. They could make for an intimate date, or half a dozen teenagers could easily squeeze around one, clutching their bobas with one hand and phones with the other.
The last time I was at this place, in the city of Monterey Park, it was pre-pandemic. I dropped in with a friend while we were waiting for a table at the dumpling spot next door. It was like walking into a popular bar, with people crowding tables, pop music blasting and everyone checking out the menu. My friend laughed and pointed out that someone had written on the chalkboard menu, “boba and chill.”
