Guiji - 龜記

⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (3.5–4 Stars) — Solid new boba spot, but tough SGV competition Another boba shop enters the battlefield of the SGV 😅 — this one is located inside Focus Plaza at Valley Blvd & Del Mar Ave. Parking is actually one of the easier parts of visiting here: there’s plenty of surface parking and an underground garage, which is a huge plus for this area. I heard their grand opening had crazy lines wrapping outside, so I purposely came on a Monday afternoon instead. Still ended up waiting about 15 minutes, which honestly isn’t bad considering it’s still pretty new. The interior surprised me — very calm and relaxing. Nice color palette, clean decor, and a peaceful vibe. It’s actually a place you wouldn’t mind sitting down and chatting for a bit instead of just grabbing and leaving. What I

Truly authentic boba shop from Taiwan - the Grapefruit Green Tea 紅柚翡翠tastes just like it does in Taiwan. Came during their soft opening and waited almost two hours, but it was worth it. They probably didn’t expect such a big crowd, so the wait was understandable. Hopefully things will run more smoothly once everything is fully up and running. The drinks were great, and there were shops nearby so the wait wasn’t too bad.

As my friend says, if you don't like the strong taste of tea, this is the place for you. The 33 king roasted oolong has a nice nutty, roasted flavor and reminds me of the Koan Im from Torotea (which I quite enjoy). I also tried the apple black tea 30% sweet with only 30% ice so it was still too sweet for me. Took it home and added more black tea to my liking. Menu seemed pretty basic. When I inquired about a more unique tasting drink, one worker mentioned that the honey lemonade is surprisingly good. Glad I tried the oolong but nothing about this place would make me want to go back. Got there right at opening on a Wednesday so there were only 5 people in line. Don't think it would be worth waiting in a much longer weekend line.

Came during grand opening and got 20% of my drink! The price was very reasonable even without the discount! Got the peach oolong tea as the staff said it was her favorite. 70% sweet. If you like sweet, just stick with 100% the tea flavor is there. Can taste a bit of dryness when drinking the drink. Overall, drink 8/10! Waiting: I walked in at 4:48, ordered 4:56, got my drink 5:21. Be prepared to wait a bit. Interior seatings can get crowded. The seats are not clean since people leave their tissues on the seats sometimes. They do have a bathroom! Parking: easy as it is a huge plaza! Theres chairs outside for you to sit on too!

• Spacious, modern tea house with no waiting line, even though the shop handles a high volume of online orders • Must‑try drinks: 33 Kings Oolong Milk Tea and Peach Oolong Tea • Friendly staff working nonstop — you can tell they’re tired from the heavy order load, but service remains polite and efficient. • Nice photo corner inside, matching the brand’s clean, minimalist Taiwanese aesthetic that’s trending on social media. • Cons: Tea quality is good but not standout compared to other strong competitors, flavors are solid but not exceptional.