Bubble Maineia
15 Temple St, Portland, ME, 04101
Bubble Maineia Menu
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Address :
15 Temple St
Portland, ME, 04101 - Phone (207) 773-9559
- Website https://bubblemaineia.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Charlene M.
Great place for steamed buns. They are delicious! And the bubble tea is always great, I suggest combining chocolate and coconut. The staff are always pleasant, and the prices are reasonable. I just wish they were open past 7 (which I think they might be in the summer time). I am not a huge fan of their actual meal menu items, I usually just go here for the bubble tea.
(4)Becky M.
I haven't had a lot of bubble tea in my life, but I know that I like it here... A lot. They have tons of flavor combinations to choose from and different types of tea. You can also mix and match 2 flavors and get creative. I've only ever had iced tea and always get the option of adding the tapioca beads (bubbles).... Favorites include watermelon, green apple, taro and coconut, strawberry and today I tried ginger green tea as my stomach wasn't feeling so great. They only come in one size but it's fairly big. The food has never been impressive and the atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired. There is no table service or outdoor seating. Today I had the cold green sesame noodles which were sub-par. I've definitely had better. The sauce was pretty good but the addition of lettuce made the dish overly-soggy. No sesame seeds either. Oh well. I'll definitely be back for bubble tea though!
(3)Anita C.
I only came here for a bubble tea to get out of the rain while I was visiting. I immediately noticed upon walking in that the vents in this restaurant were either not on or weren't working. The smell of the food was really strong and clung to my clothes--ugh. The bubble tea was only OK. I got the mango flavor--I'm pretty sure it was powder. The tapioca bubbles though--were really good! If this place used fresh fruit instead of the powder and those tapioca bubbles, this place would be awesome!
(3)Sarah G.
I find that Bubble Mainea is one of the most unknown restaurants in Portland, because every time I go or mention it, nobody knows what I'm talking about. When you want good, cheap Chinese food, this is my go to. I love the daily specials, though be warned: the Friday special is difficult to consume in one sitting! The spicy fried ramen and the wonton pork soup are my favorite things to order here :) don't forget about the pork buns! Those can be a whole meal by themselves. Also: the shaved snow is good, try it with the original and mango!
(3)Sheila D.
I was so happy to find a Taiwanese Bubble Tea Shop & Restaurant in Portland! I must admit, I was quite skeptical when I first walked in, but the bubble tea is actually really good! The boba itself seemed to be marinated in some honey/other sweet syrupy mixture, so even they were delicious to chew on their own. It's got to be the best boba I've had. I've had the green tea bubble tea and the Thai bubble tea, and I thought both were delicious. I've also had the shaved ice, which is very yummy as well. I loved all the toppings, and the large size is perfect for you and a friend. I will definitely have to try the food there soon - hopefully it's as good as the bubble tea!
(4)Gulsher K.
Food was really good. I really like the mango milk bubble tea and chicken buns. My brother ordered mix veg cello noodles. They were really good but the quantity was really less and he had to order one more dish.
(4)Michelle L.
One day I was sitting at my desk. And it was cold. And gross. And all I wanted was a Thai curry. I opened up the Yelp app and looked for curry and open now and near me. The pickings were slim (not that there aren't AMAZING curry options in this town...they're just not a quick walk from my office). So, this is the closest place to my office that sells curry. It's not Thai style, but it will do. The chicken curry over rice here has the following benefits: - Tastes like curry (Chinese style curry that is) - Large portion - Nice texture to the rice The tea I got to go with it was so ginger-y that it was a little too much for me, and the single random baby carrot in my curry kind of weirded me out. That said, this is a solid option for a (very!) quick lunch that will fill you up and chase away the afternoon office blues. Would eat/drink again. The very definition of A-OK.
(3)Penelope B.
My review is for the tea only; I have not had the food here. This is some of the best bubble tea I have ever had in my life. The boba are just a little sweet, the tea selection is fantastic with both hot and iced teas and lots of flavor options. The ginger teas are especially good and have the bite of fresh ginger. If you want stuff in your tea, there is boba and jelly and pop boba. There are also slushies and smoothies if you don't want tea. Options abound! The space is pleasant and well-lit, which is not apparent from the outside. They have games and magazines. It's a nice spot to hang out for a bit if you don't want to just take your tea and walk around.
(5)Katie W.
This place is the real deal. I got the Thai bubble tea, and it was one of the best bubble teas I've very had. The Thai tea was at the perfect level of sweetness and milkiness, and the boba were cooked perfectly. I don't know whether they use honey boba or soak them in something, but they had a delightful sweetness to them in addition to their fabulous chew. I also got a pork bun which was pretty large and tasted authentic. Two of these could make a meal for someone with a light appetite. I also fell in love with their chili hoisin sauce. It was spicy, sweet, and the perfect thing to dip my pork bun in--took it to a whole new level. The restaurant has plenty of seating throughout and seems like a great place to grab a bubble tea and study. I'm thrilled to find a place that makes the kind of food I grew up on, and I'll definitely be back to try the rest of their Taiwanese dishes!
(5)Jamieleigh W.
I ordered the watermelon bubble tea and it was a milk tea and so gross. I changed my order to a black tea with passion fruit and boba and it was delish!!! The ordering process is a bit confusing from other bubble tea places I've been but they made it right with me. Amazing customer service lady.
(5)Autumn C.
This is the best taro bubble tea I've ever had in my life. This place is so awesome and nice inside its a shame I didn't discover it sooner! So many flavors to choose from this is definitely somewhere Ill come to again and again.
(5)Steff D.
You ever walk into a place that you've never been before and just know that everyone else knows you're a n00b? You become self conscious, irrationally paranoid ("ALL THE REGULARS ARE STAAAAAAAAAARING AT ME!", and then when you go to order your tongue stops working entirely. It's embarrassing, but it happens to the best of us. I fully expected this when I walked into Bubble Manieia for the first time, but something miraculous happened... no one else was in the restaurant. So I strolled up to the counter and said confidently, "I've never been here, what should I order? I'm a vegetarian." The girl at the counter instantly smiled and said, "Cool, I'm a vegetarian, too. Here's what I would get." She then proceeded to walk me through each thing she usually orders: "the curry tofu over rice is very filling - I would share it with someone else", "I never regret ordering the veggies with cellophane noodles - they've just been hitting the spot lately," "the vegetable bun sometimes has eggs, sometimes doesn't; it's hit or miss, but I usually get one," "the red bean bun is sweet and smaller," "my favorite drink is the green tea (because it's lighter and more refreshing) with passionfruit and just about any other flavor. Oh, and get jellies at the bottom - they're not made with gelatin, but carrageenan so it's totally safe for us to eat." I was amazed at her genuinely friendly disposition, honesty, and patience. It made my first experience at Bubble Maineia incredible - if I was rating JUST her, this would be a five star! But, the food really does leave a lot to be desired, in my opinion... - Curry Tofu over Rice - This didn't taste right. It was bland, severely under-seasoned, heavy, and just "off" in flavor. The tofu seemed stringy and the potato chunks were enormous. It left a really intense, pungent, and bad aftertaste for hours. Do NOT order this. - Mix Vegetable with Cellophane Noodle - Instead, order THIS. The server wasn't kidding - it really did "hit the spot" (of which I didn't even know needed hitting... does that make sense or does it just sound dirty?). The entire meal was perfectly seasoned, the vegetables seemed fresh, the noodles were long and delicious. I can see myself coming back here for this for lunch! - Vegetable Bun - I'm not an expert on buns, but I found this to be painfully doughy. Like really doughy. Did I mention doughy? The filling was also unimpressive, as it smelled a bit off-putting. - Red Bean Bun - Again... meh. Smaller than the vegetable bun, also dramatically less filling, too. - Green Tea with Passionfruit, Mango, and Jellies - Besides the service, this drink was the other PERFECT thing about my experience with Bubble Maineia! I could drink this concoction all day, every day and will 110% be back for one of these! The tea was light, the passionfruit and mango combination of flavors were ideal for warm weather, and the little jellies at the bottom added an element of fun. I'm nervous to try any other drinks here, but definitely want to now! Basically, what you should leave this review with is the knowledge that you should come for the drinks, come for the drinks, and come for the drinks (and if you have any questions about the menu - just ask - they won't steer you wrong!).
(3)Christi S.
Groupon makes everything so much better. I had purchased a Groupon which required me to come here on multiple visits which was not a problem, bc it gave me an excuse to actually come. They have wifi, drinks are good for the area. I wouldn't fly here just to have their boba tea, but since I was far away from home, and in need of a fix. It worked. Food was ok. I had their spicy ramen stir fry. No soup in the ramen. I believe their buns are frozen and they microwave them to heat them up. I'd save my money n trip to Boston chinatown and get the real homemade stuff.
(3)Kendra E.
It's difficult to assess the business as is when you've had better. However, with this being the only boba place in the state of Maine, this is as good as it gets. Recommendations: - Hot almond milk tea with boba PRO's: - Free wi-fi - Hit or miss with the drinks. Sometimes it's decent other times the tea is watered down (i.e. thai tea with boba this past week) - Good service - Hours are decent especially during the weekdays (I believe it's open until 10 or 11pm?? Double check on that!) CON's: - Paying for parking at the garage; arrive after 6PM (M-F) or all day Sundays to park at the metered parking for free - Stay away from their tofu dishes. The tofu has an odd taste and texture. Nothing like other boba restaurants that I've been to. However, I'm not sure of how their other meals are like but that tofu was enough for me to say "no thank you" to their other meal options.
(3)Christine L.
Bubble Maineia is the closest I will likely get to ordering Chinese food in Portland. Their giant frog painting caught my attention. Then I realized they sell boba!! I got drawn in and realized they sell a variety of Chinese snacks/meals. I've only tried the bubble milk tea so far, but I'm sure I'll be back to try their daily specials eventually. The tea is decent, the tapioca balls have varied from amazing squishiness to possibly sitting out and hardening in the middle. Unfortunately, Portland isn't THE PLACE TO BE for boba and I can't expect them to make their fruit flavored milk tea out of fresh fruit. Powder is the way to go. :(
(3)Mike S.
My rating is for the bubble tea -- seriously, its called bubble maineia, its all about the bubble tea! So many varieties and so tasty. I suggest the Taro (taste like sugar cookies) mixed with the almond!! The food? Meh... The buns are pretty decent, the rest is poor... as I was saying.. its all about the bubble tea, skip the rest haha. If I needed to rate the place as a whole, it would be 3 stars and if I was to rate it without the bubble tea - it might be a 1 or 2
(4)Selina C.
I love going to this place for bubble tea! So glad they opened this in Portland. My favorite is the Jasmine Green Tea hot or cold! Their steamed buns are also very good and authentic.
(4)Henry Y.
Awesome place right in the center of Portland. It makes me really happy to see more and more ethnic joints opening in foodie cities like Portland. I can't speak for the food fare offered by Bubble Maineia (the other reviews about the food make me cringe a bit) but the bubble tea was passable. We had an assortment of drinks among the three of us, ranging from coconut smoothie to traditional bubble tea. The fact that it's situated right next to the movie theater makes this place the ideal hangout spot for teenagers and families alike...and that's really cool. Really hope more and more minority restaurants and dessert shops pop up as Portland, despite its growing foodie abundance, is really lacking in food variety.
(5)Cory C.
I first stumbled upon this place a few weeks ago with my friend after the wait at duck fat was really long we just started walking and came upon this amazing tai restaurant since my first visit I have brought my friends in different groups back several times and every time its even better then the last my favorite order is spicy lomien with 2 pork buns and a peach smoothie im getting hungry just thinking about it!
(5)Clark K.
It may not be too authentic , but it is delicious. The steam buns are to die for, and its fun to order something new every time. The bubble tea is great to try some love it others not so much but hey it was cheap! * being right next to a movie theater and parking garage, it makes for great location to grab a bite to eat before or after a flick! * the manager seems very strict and the employees look very well behaved, this makes me more comfortable with the assumption of how clean the kitchen must be.
(5)Keith F.
I have enjoyed this establishment for a number of years and even when they were located on commercial street. It is a must when going to a movie next door. Either hot of frozen boba teas are a great treat at the movies. My girlfriend really likes the steamed dumplings. We haven't tried the other food here maybe in the future.
(4)Petra L.
I loved this place. The staff was so homey and helpful. They weren't just all about business or pushing people through a line as quickly as possible. They took time to talk to us and were kind and funny. We ordered the won-ton noodle soup and the steamed pork dumplings and split both items between us and it was more than enough food. The noodle soup was hot, filling, and delicious and the sauce for the dumplings was the best we've ever had. I will definitely be returning regularly and experimenting with all of their different menu options.
(5)Eliza M.
Great bubble tea. I will forever go back for that. Food was.... how do I say this politely... sickening. Literally. I was throwing up all night. People always claim that it's just an association made - when people are sick, they associate it with what they ate last. I got lo mein beef, which tasted like beef stew out of a sysco can (gross)... I felt ill shortly thereafter and was wretching for most of the night. Sorry Bubble Maineia - I would stick to the tea.
(3)Phi T.
Food sucked!!!! I had better bubble tea and taiwanese food in California. The food tasted frozen and heated up. The staff was really rude! It was 2 ladies and gave us plenty of rude attitudes. If you want good asian food go to the Poms Thai restaurant in South Portland rather than this unfortunate restaurant.
(1)Flora F.
I'm glad I have a place to get boba tea in Portland. The food is only OK, tasty but pricey and not very wholesome. The $7.25 curry tofu noodle soup seems to be made of tofu, baby carrots, potatoes, fettuccine, and curry powder. The steamed vegetable bun did not thrill me either. I'll come back, but I'll stick to the boba.
(3)Kristen W.
First time in Portland and I was wandering around not looking for anything in particular. On a whim decided to stop by for bubble tea and a pork bun. THEY ARE BOTH ONE OF THE MOST DELICIOUS I HAVE EVER HAD. God, I wish we had places like this in central Massachusetts. I'll be back someday.
(5)Zachary B.
i'm a sucker for asian noodle soups. So i tried Bubble Maineia. The girl at the counter was very nice, but the food was absolutely HORRIBLE! I had the beef stew noodle soup. It tasted like the beef was out of a can. The broth was nasty. The noodles were obviously not authentic...they tasted like packaged linguini from Hannaford. It was served in a disposable plastic bowl with a disposable plastic spoon. To top it off, it cost me over $10.00 after tip. I would much rather go to Tahnn Tahnn 2 on outer Forest Ave, and have an authentic bowl of Pho, than to waste my money on that garbage. .25 cent Ramen noodles taste better.
(1)Courtney N.
This was a very cool restaurant. They have a ton of bubble tea flavors (plus other drinks!). I went with the taro and it was delicious. My friend was hungry so we ordered the beef stew noodle plate. They gave us chopsticks but I was a wimp and went with a regular fork and knife. The meal was interesting. It definitely tasted like beef stew made over noodles. It was pretty hard to eat even with the fork and knife. I loved the decor and the general relaxed vibe of the place. The prices were great- I was impressed with how inexpensive the bubble tea was as they are always pricier in my area near Boston. I recommend stopping in and trying one of their teas!
(4)Samantha L.
What a pleasant surprise. Their bubble tea has been some of the tastiest I have ever had, and that is saying something. But that goes to show you that they use fresh ingredients. I got a ginger almond milk tea and I could taste the fresh pressed ginger juice. For those who has tasted fresh ginger, it has this inherently biter, bright and almost numbing feel that is at first abrupt then refreshing. I was so happy with it. My cousin got the lychee green tea. Again, a strong green tea presence with the fresh tasting lychee that tasted so nice and absolutely refreshing. The feeling that came about when I tasted it was like this coolness that washed over my body. No exaggeration. Their prices are similar to Boston's. The only thing is their bubbles get hard after awhile. They don't stay tender if let's say you don't suck down your drink in 10 minutes. Also, it isn't that they use a large amount of ice, but when the ice does start to melt the flavor of the drink dramatically changes.
(4)Kathleen B.
I was so happy to have found a boba place in the area since I've been longing for some ever since I moved. This place has such a cool and cute vibe, the staff was friendly and helpful, and had such a variety of boba tea flavors. I was also impressed because every other boba tea I've been to only served boba drinks but this place also offers authentic taiwanese food - such as steamed pork buns and lo mein.
(5)Mandy H.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! First. The offerings might be unusual if you haven't had authentic Taiwanese cuisine. But don't be scared. The bubble tea is a delicious desserty drink. The steamed buns are heaven. Second. The people are so FRIENDLY!!! They'll be happy to explain to you what their best options are if you aren't familiar. Third. Right next to the Nickelodeon! Perfect to come before the showing of your indie romantic comedy to get a sweet tea with your honey, then afterward to get a hot tea for the chilly autumn walk home with your sweetie!
(5)Boo H.
I was super excited to have found this place when I was craving a boba drink.. You can't really go wrong when you live in maine and crave for a boba drink and this is the only place. Also, their BBQ pork buns are not so bad either.
(4)Gloria A.
I love bubble tea and the food is excellent here. We had the wonton noodle soup and somebody else had the beef with rice excellent place to hang out and they have Wi-Fi now. highly recommend it. A great place to hang out with kids. The owner has lots of games to play.
(5)Serena L.
We went to the bubble maineia on temple street as we wanted a quick cheap lunch. The beef stew noodle soup was alright, not really what I expected but not bad. My husband ordered the curry tofu noodle soup and he said it was really good. The sweet and sour cucumber side was good and the spicy chicken side was good, just a bit too spicy for me since I got a few of the seeds. The black milk tea was perfect! My hubby ordered a smoothie with green apple and strawberry which tasted like a creamy apple/strawberry candy! So good! I'd come back but would try other dishes just to see how everything is!
(3)Ver C.
My fiancé and I always love Bubble Maineia but not just for their bubble tea. If you want fluffy, doughy, soft steamed buns than this is the place to come! They offer four different steamed bun choices: chicken, pork, vegetable, and red bean. Personally, I'm not a big fan of pork (unless it's bacon of course!) so I typically go for the chicken. I can't comment on any other food items at Bubble Maineia but I will say that their bubble tea is amazing. They have so many different flavors that it's often hard to choose which one you want. If you don't go for the tapioca pearls they put in the bubble tea, you can ask to not have them put in. Also, did I mention that their steamed buns are only $1.68? Talk about a cheap meal!
(4)Roby H.
I'm telling ya, I had to go and search this place out on yelp because I honestly am surprised by this place. Let me preference that I am a big fan of Bubble Tea; Boba Tea; zhen zhu ni chá, what ever you want to call it. I have tasted this stuff from China to the USA and here it is, this place serves the best I have ever had. I KNOW! CRAZY RIGHT!!! Portland Maine! Who would have thunk! Now mind you the whole concoction was invented in Taiwan and I have not tried it there but I've had it all over Southern California, Arizona, New York City, Beijing, Shanghai, this list goes on, but this is the spot. They actually import all the Taiwanese ingredients from, you guessed it, Taiwan. I'm a big fan of strawberry milk tea with the boba (tapioca) but I have had the bubble green tea, the almond milk tea, and a few others ... all AMAZING. So, if you are a fan of bubble tea, and you find yourself anywhere near this place, do yourself a favor and go, cause if you don't, the next time you are looking in the mirror, you need to think: "I am an idiot who lets the best things in life pass me by." WORD!
(5)Aris L.
i order the minced pork with rice which is average..the milk tea was very plain..they need to improve their taste for the bubble tea... CONCLUSION = RECOMMENDED!
(3)Kim K.
Bubble Maineia is not only cutely named but is also pretty awesome. Combination ice cream/tea shop, their menu is vast! I got a black tea, flavored with lemon, with tapioca balls. Prices were low and the service was fast. The coolest thing was watching the tea and ice being tossed by a super fast mixing machine. And watching the plastic cup sealer is always cool. My bubble tea wasn't sealed to the server's liking though so she tore the faulty seal off and sealed it again. Nice!
(4)Joseph K.
This place is great. My wife and daughters love the bubble tea (I personally don't like the tapioca pearls so I just have black tea) and the curry tofu (with rice or noodles, doesn't matter) is amazing. Also, do your mouth a favor and order the vegetable (or red bean) buns.
(5)S. K.
This place is pretty cool since you don't really see these kind of places in Maine. I only came in for their bubble tea but it was decent. The tapioca was a little hard for my liking. The place is pretty big and clean. The staff was pleasant. It's kind of pricey though.
(3)Louise M.
Ah, before I discovered the Standard Baking Co just down the street, Bubble Maineia was the light at the end of the tunnel that is the 7 hour trip from NJ to ME my parents were always fond of going on (if only to buy $500 worth of fresh lobsters to take back to NJ). This place is cute. The drinks are affordable and you can make special requests to your drink without having the folks behind the counter freak out on you. They also have a good selection of Japanese candy and snacks. This is definitely a great place to retreat to when the sights and sounds of the Port get to be a little redundant.
(4)Justin H.
I love the fact that you can get the tea hot warm, and cold - I like to get it warm in the winter, because I'm kind of a wuss and most hot drinks you get (anywhere - from coffee to tea) start out too hot. The drink is gone before it get's cold anyway. The chinese steamed buns are also quite good, and at that price you can't beat them for a snack. Don't be afraid to try the black tea or the taro tea - especially if you are not as much a fan of the sacharine sweet flavors. The smoothies with bobas are also quite good. Bubble tea goes really well with one of my favorite snacks, Pocky, which they also sell there.
(3)David L.
This place is absolutely charming, and to be honest I was extremely relieved to see a bit of authentic yet accessible exotic flavor in the area... The owners children were sitting around eating sticky buns and drinking bubble teas, everybody laughed when I made a joke, and to top it off there are lots of affordable delectable treats on offer -- I recommend the taro milkshake and the taro sticky bun, mmm...
(4)Autumn R.
I will never have anything bad to say about Bubble Maineia. I have been going here for about 3 years and their bubble tea is always AMAZING. The tapioca pearls always have a good consistency, which you wouldn't think would be a hard thing to achieve, but for some places it is. The owners are very sweet. Actually from my frequent trips I would make to Portland (more specifically to Bubble Maineia) they started to remember me. I have never tried their ice cream they serve, but their veggie steam buns are delicious. Also to add the location is great. I mean if its tourist season it can suck to find parking, but other than that the location is good. When you do find a place to park you can walk to so many other things as well. So if you want delicious (bubble) tea and great service then go to Bubble Maineia.
(5)Larry B.
Hey, Bubble Tea in Maine. That alone merits three stars, and the cozy and friendly environment gets another. Every place is going to have their own take on boba, this is no different. I hold the Green Tea Cafe in NYC's Chinatown as the Gold Standard, so anything else isn't going to stack up. Nonetheless, it was good, and more importantly - it was available.
(4)Matt S.
It wasn't closed when I was in Portland a few months ago, and the Yelp header said it was then. Maybe it means the short-lived second location, which I think was on Free Street? God, I hope it does, and that Yelp's just mistaken and not lying to me, because I love this place, and that would be cruel.
(5)Michael L.
After my last boba excursion, I have been craving that silliest of beverage/food items quite often. However, I was in Portlandthis weekend, and I thought "No dice on the creepy chewy drink." I was wrong - there is dice. I called my roommate (a former Portland resident) and asked her if she knew of any places that served it, and she said there was a place just past DiMillo's on Commercial Street, which is pretty specific, actually, if you know Portland (it's not big). This kitchen-sized joint had a very large variety. A whopping list of milk and black teas were for sale hot or cold, with several varieties of boba. They also had tiny little jellies, gummi bears, and other crap you could have thrown in there for good measure, which I did not do. I tapped into my inner femininity (bear-hugged it, really) and got a Honeydew Milk Iced Tea. It was very very tasty, with a subtle flavor of melon that was pleasant but not overpowering. It was a little too sweet though, so I would recommend asking them to back it off a little, which they are willing to do. She got a Rasperry Black Tea, which ended up being a better choice. The bitterness of the tea combined with the sweetness of the raspberry flavor was really well done, and it blended perfectly. I would recommend going for one of the black teas when trying it for the first time, because it tastes more "normal," and better. The drinks were $3.04 each, I don't know why that makes sense, but at least it's reasonable. They also had Boggle (and a couple other games) which we played, and I won. The tea covers had cute little anime characters whose throats we had the pleasure of stabbing our straws through. NICE!!
(5)Lam P.
I've been to a LOT of different bubble tea places all over the place, from Toronto to Orlando, and it's really hard to screw up tea so I would give them all 4-5 stars. I give Bubble Maineia 5 stars because the food is also delicious. I've had Steamed Pork Dumplings, Curry Chicken Noodle Soup, chicken and veggie bun and spicy chicken salad, and they were all very good. The price is reasonable, but not cheap, so do expect to shell out over $10 if you want a dish and something fancier to drink than hot house tea. Cute place, will definitely be going back.
(5)Sarah C.
I love bubble tea. I love bubble tea in Maine. Thus, I love Bubble Maineia. Fast, friendly, clean, good.
(4)Dawen H.
Excellent bubble tea! Taiwanese food is just ok.
(3)Vincent V.
I was shocked to see a boba joint in the middle of Maine. I wasn't even thirsty but I had to stop and grab one for the novelty more than for the refreshment. They have coffee jelly. If you've never tried it, I heartily recommend it. An almond milk tea with coffee jelly can make a grown man weep. Also, give the steamed pork buns a try. At a buck and a quarter, you can't beat the price.
(4)Justin H.
Wonderful chocolate bubble tea and great steamed buns. A perfect lunch treat.
(5)T L.
I've been living in NYC for 8 months and I have yet to come across a bubble tea nearly as delicious as the ones served at Bubble Maineia. I highly suggest a taro/almond milkshake. It's purple! In addition to a being comfortable/chill place to meet friends (there are a few couches and small tables), it is reasonably priced and the owner is super friendly. When I asked her where I could get bubble tea as good as hers in NYC she just smiled coyly and told me that it simply wasn't possible, and I'd have to wait for my Portland visits to get my fix. A crafty lady, that one. If you are living in or visiting Portland, Bubble Maineia is a must.
(5)Dallas T.
This place was very nice. Great folks. Very reasonable prices. The jasmine green tea was great. The boba was a little hard. But, hey, I wasn't expecting to be able to get boba at all in Portland, ME!!! So, I was happy to find this place.
(4)Christina U.
Thanks to yelp i found this place, and I love it. except for the fact the one on commercial street, the owner wasn't open I guess... but it's like I'm already here your willing to lose a costumer plus I didn't even know where the other location was. But over all I love it. I love love love their jasmine green tea boba, Not so much a fan of thai tea boba because it really doesn't taste much like thai tea... and the strawberry milk tea really just tasted like strawberry milk, and the almond milk tea, not so much of a fan of that either. But definitely have to try jasmine green tea milk shake with tapioca, it's the best. over all I love this place. I just wish it wasn't all the way across from where I am. It's located in down and I live almost near westbrook so it's quite a commute for me. but I love it :)
(5)Shaina H.
I recently moved to Maine and was devastated that I just couldn't find Boba (bubble) tea ANYWHERE! I even had a trip to Boston and was a little disappointed in the quality of the tea from one of the shops there, but low and behold I came across Bubble Maineia and I was soooo relieved to find that their boba was incredible, great flavor, the option to mix flavors (mix any two for free), enough but not too many bubbles, and the perfect size cups! I will definitely be going back!
(5)Christian R.
The entire family loves bubble tea! They are so friendly and with a great selection. If you want something different ask for jasmine bubble tea. It is not on the menu, but it is wonderful. For a sweet treat the red bean steamed buns are great.
(4)Wade L.
Not bad at all. I'm a little slow on the uptake with bubble tea (it weirds me out) but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it when I went there. Also, the price is right (really cheap, that is) for a trip to go and see if you like it. So what the hell, give it a shot.
(3)Bela S.
We walked in at 7:01 fully expecting to be told they were closed, but the gentleman behind the counter was happy to take our order. What a treat! After running in to two places that clearly should have been open (based on posted hours), but were not, we were happy to be leaving with smiles and delicious boba rather than frowns and empty hands. We ordered a ginger milk tea, something neither of is had ever had before. Think Thai tea but with a nice spicy ginger kick at the end. Delicious! And it wasn't over sweetened, which is a risk we take at all of these shops (everyone seems to have a different opinion about how sweet a milk yea should be) The boba was a little overly chewy, but they have plenty of it, and let's not forget we technically ordered after hours, so I won't knock them for that. The ginger milk yea alone was good enough to overcome the added chewiness of the boba. I'm confident that web it's absolutely fresh (read not the last batch to be used that night) it would be spot on. We had kind of a crummy night due to unrelated events, but this brightened the evening just a little bit more. Too bad we don't live in the area. We will be back the next time were around!
(5)Jennifer K.
Yummy, fun, different. If you are looking for something NOT "coffee" or "regular tea" to grab and go (or stay awhile), this fits the bill. The bubble tea is great (may take newbies some getting used to). It is lactose free too which is nice. I recommend the bubble green tea - hot or cold. Smells like jasmine. I usually get it cold in the summer and warm with ginger in the winter. Nothing will warm you up quicker! The food is great too. Very nice and friendly owner and employees! Dog friendly!
(5)Angela J.
This is definitely where I come to get my bubble tea fix. Huge variety and I have to say I'm partial to the smoothie variety with pearls (I'm partial to the honeydew). As for the food.... I can't say that I was that impressed. I've had tastier steam buns elsewhere.
(2)Anna E.
My sister loves this place so we came here for lunch last week. It was my first time and after hearing about it from her, I was excited to try it. We found parking just fine on the street right outside the restaurant but there is also a garage nearby to provide additional parking options. When I entered I realized that it shares a space with the bagel shop next door, only separated by a wall, but with access to and from the other business. The decor was bright, fun, and extremely casual. You place your order at what I can only describe as a small, inviting, Tiki bar-esque window. So many things on the menu looked delish but we opted for a plate of chicken curry with rice and a wonton soup to share. To drink I ordered the Matcha and Sis got the Taro Almond Milk Tea. I'm a huge milk tea fan so I was disappointed when I learned they use powders to make their milk teas instead of boiling tea bags, straining through a sackcloth bag or other type of strainer, and making them Hong Kong style. However, my sister's milk tea drink was tastier than my Matcha drink. I asked for it "not too sweet" so I think they increased the water to powder ratio, diluting the flavor too much. Food was ok. Casual and fast but not as cheap as I was hoping for this type of atmosphere and quality. I'm curious to try their many other beverages though (huge menu) so this probably won't be my last time here.
(3)