📍 What to Order

Recommendations based on quality, value, and visitor feedback

Item Price
Classic Milk Tea (Regular 16 oz)
Black tea base with creamy finish and fresh tapioca; locals order 50% sweetness, light ice. Great value if you skip extra toppings.
 $5.75*
Taro Milk Tea (Regular 16 oz)
Silky purple taro blend with natural root-earth sweetness — a campus favorite for study sessions and selfies.
 $5.95*
Thai Tea (Regular 16 oz)
Bold, orange-hued Thai milk tea; popular late afternoons and often requested with oat milk for dairy-free drinkers.
 $5.95*
Fruit Tea (Passionfruit Green, Regular 16 oz)
Refreshing green-tea fruit blend — order 25–50% sweetness to avoid syrup overload; pairs well with aloe or lychee jelly.
 $5.25*
Frozen Boba Slush (Seasonal flavors)
Blended frozen drinks with your choice of boba or agar; reviewers often land on these after staff recommendations when overwhelmed.
 $6.50*
Add-ons: Tapioca / Crystal Boba / Jellies
Single-topping add-ons; regulars recommend ordering 1 topping for sharing or 2 if you want texture without extra sweetness.
 $1.00*
Hot Loose-Leaf Pot (single-serving)
Hot steeped teas available by the pot; enjoyed by visitors wanting a tea-forward option instead of milk drinks.
 $4.00*
* Estimated prices - subject to change

What Diners Rave About

Signature Drinks
Taro, Thai, and the Classic Milk Tea get the most praise—expect bold tea flavor and chewy, fresh boba when ordered mid-day (11am–3pm).
Customization
Full sweetness/ice control plus non-dairy options; staff regularly accept requests like “50% sweet, no ice.”
Dietary Options
Oat and almond milk are on hand for dairy-free builds; staff will swap non-dairy into milk teas on request.
Toppings & Texture
Tapioca and crystal boba are the top picks; add-ons run about $1 each and are ideal for sharing.
Takeout & Delivery
Dine-in and delivery are available; mobile orders are commonly used to speed pickup during afternoon rush.
Payment
Credit cards, debit cards, and contactless payments accepted (NFC/Apple/Google Pay supported).
Wait Times
Expect 5–15 minute waits most weekdays; peak windows (12–2pm, 6–9pm) can extend waits to 15–30 minutes.
Value
Portions are generous for the price level—medium drinks are filling and large is shareable for two with one topping.

✨ The Experience

📚
Big menu, guided
Yes, the menu is a lot—think of it like a candy store for grown-up tea nerds. Staff swoop in with spot-on suggestions, so you’ll often leave having landed on a frozen slush with boba or an agar combo that feels custom-made.
🫶
Rave-worthy quality
People gush—real-deal deep tea bases and fresh boba that isn’t gummy. Dairy-free fans report oat and coconut blends hold up well, so non-dairy swaps actually taste intentional, not like an afterthought.
🎉
Cozy, then lively
The room reads cozy when it’s quiet—perfect for a laptop stretch—but it flips energetic and friendly when crowds arrive. Plan for a buzzy hangout vibe with groups after 6pm rather than a silent tea shrine.
🗺️
Plan your choices
Customization stretches decision time—expect to spend a few minutes choosing sweetness, ice, and add-ons. If you want quiet, aim for weekdays 2–4pm or grab the back window counter for low-footfall laptop time.

📍 About Sencha Tea Bar

Tucked into 224 State St Suite 100, Sencha Tea Bar occupies that sweet spot where neighborhood regulars and curious visitors cross paths over plates that most people leave satisfied.

After enough people have weighed in to trust the consensus, patterns emerge: the space strikes that balance between welcoming and functional without feeling calculated. Whether you're grabbing food to go or settling in for a proper meal, the experience adapts to what you need.

The staff's recommendation-first style helps newcomers navigate a big menu of milk teas, fruit blends, frozen slushes and hot loose-leaf pots. Expect a counter set-up optimized for quick mobile pickup and a handful of window seats for lingering—perfect for pre-class runs or mid-afternoon study breaks.

Accessibility features include a wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating and restroom. Delivery and dine-in options make it a convenient stop for campus folks and downtown workers alike.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget?+
Plan roughly $6–8 per person for a drink with one topping; shared drinks and no-topping fruit teas can be closer to $5. Add $1 per topping and typical delivery fees apply when ordering through third-party apps.
Are there dairy-free options?
Yes—oat and almond milk are available for milk teas and slushes. Staff will substitute non-dairy milk on request; coconut can be spotty so ask if you specifically want it.
Can I order ahead?
Mobile and delivery ordering are commonly used to skip the lineup; orders are held on a pickup shelf by the register for quick collection during busy periods.

🛡️ Area Intelligence

Safety & Crime

State Street is well-lit with steady foot traffic through most nights; downtown police patrols near the Capitol and State Street increase after bar close. Typical downtown incidents are property-related; keep bags zipped and avoid quiet alleys after midnight.

Walking & Infrastructure

Sencha sits on the pedestrian-first State Street corridor—wide sidewalks, curb cuts at Johnson and Gorham, and easy level access from nearby garages. Expect heavy foot traffic between 11am–6pm that can slow pedestrian flow.

Busy Times

Peak windows: weekdays 12–2pm and 6–9pm, plus Saturday afternoons around the downtown farmers’ market. Weekday 2–4pm is usually the calmest window for seating and quiet laptop work.

Parking & Transit

Street parking and garages serve the area; State Street is bus-and-pedestrian focused so use nearby garages for vehicle access. Major campus and downtown bus stops are a short walk from 224 State St, making transit the easiest option.