Back in January, we shared that Chahalo, a global tea brand with over 1,000 locations, was making its BC debut.
Well, the wait is officially over.
Founded in 2016, Chahalo has already made its way to Canada with multiple locations in Ontario.
Chahalo is a tea culture-focused brand that aims to capture the leisurely essence of Chang’an (an ancient Chinese capital) in every cup.
It’s all about turning tea drinking into a moment of Zen, because who couldn’t use a little peace with their caffeine?
As of May 26, Chahalo has soft-opened its first BC location at Empire Centre in Richmond, taking over the former Whale Tea unit, and the transformation is stunning.
We thought that things would not be too busy considering it was opening on a Monday, but my gosh, we were WRONG.
And this is without any heavy discount promotion either.
Not only was there a long line spiraling out the door, but also a dozen people waiting inside for their orders.
Just imagine the above photo with all the people gone – you’d be greeted with warm terracotta tones, sleek wood paneling, curated tea displays, and moody lighting that makes even a takeout order feel like a tea ceremony.
It’s modern, elegant, and just the right amount of extra.
The menu leans hard into tea-forward drinks, which have become all the rage in Asia the last couple years.
We grabbed their signature black tea milk frappe, and the tea flavour is rich and smooth, quite comparable to the likes of Chayan at Union Square.
We’re still NOT a fan of the McDonald’s-style stir stick straws (if you know, you know) that all these tea-focused shops are using.
Although there isn’t any type of discount promotion going on, Chahalo is rolling out two limited-time soft open offers:
Soft opening hours are currently 12PM–8PM, so plan accordingly if you’re hoping to grab one of the limited giveaways.
With YO TEA and Molly Tea also en route to Richmond, the city’s bubble tea scene is continuing to remain competitive.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 4600 Number 3 Rd Unit 131, Richmond, BC V6X 2C2