Visit Date: Spring 2026 | Overall Rating: 4/5 ⭐️ | Location: Upper Floor, 5000 Hwy 7 Unit 2224, Markham, ON L3R 4M9 (CF Markville)
Markham’s bubble tea scene has just recently blown up, with unique franchised stores springing up left and right like HEYTEA, Palgong Tea, and what seems like an increasing number of stores each year. The day that CHICHA San Chen (吃茶三千) opened its doors at CF Markville towards the end of 2023, the rush of people was truly unbelievable, especially during the weekend days.
So I did what any reasonable person would do: I waited. And waited. Until the hype cooled down slightly and more bubble tea options opened nearby, naturally spreading customer traffic across multiple shops rather than everyone cramming into one location.
Here’s the thing that made me curious enough to finally visit: CHICHA San Chen is a Taiwanese franchise that’s received awards equivalent to Michelin recognition in the beverage world. That’s not typical bubble tea shop marketing – that’s actually quality claim worth of trying.
After finally visiting once the initial chaos settled, here’s my honest assessment of whether this “Michelin-approved” spot delivers on the premium quality promise.
First Impressions: Spacious Design in a Small Footprint
For a mall location, CHICHA San Chen uses its space remarkably well. One side feature is the seating areas, where you can actually settle down with your drink before continuing your mall wandering – not just grab-and-go counter space, like many bubble tea or coffee shops offer at a mall. The other side showcases an open tea bar where drinks are freshly made in full view, creating that transparency element that makes you feel like you’re getting craft beverages rather than assembly-line production.
The Interior Aesthetic
What immediately stands out are the two tree-like trunk columns integrated into the design. While I am uncertain whether or not they contribute to any structural elements of the building, nevertheless, they certainly make an interesting touch of nature that makes this place different from other commercial buildings without any greenery.
From the overall interior design of the building, one can see that it is dominated by wooden features such as the wooden tables and bench as well as the natural colours that dominate the whole interior design. This interior design reflects both the minimalist and Japanese style of design – creating what feels like a blend of Scandinavian minimalism and Japanese design principles called Japandi (that increasingly popular fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics), this space embodies that perfectly.
One thoughtful operational detail: they have a digital order number display mounted above the door. During crowded periods when calling out order numbers becomes impossible to hear over ambient mall noise and customer chatter, you can just watch the screen. It’s that kind of small operational thinking that shows they have actually considered the customer experience beyond just making drinks.
Mall Hours Reality
Since this location sits inside CF Markville, their operating hours follow mall schedules. This means consistent, predictable hours, but also means they are open at a reasonable time or staying open late like some standalone bubble tea shops. Plan accordingly if you’re hoping to visit outside typical mall hours.
The Menu: Premium Simplicity vs. Overwhelming Options
Here’s where CHICHA San Chen takes a different approach than typical bubble tea shops, and honestly, it was slightly confusing at first until I understood their system.
The Structure
Unlike shops with 50+ pre-set drink combinations creating decision paralysis, CHICHA San Chen uses a build-your-own model with limited tea bases that you then customize:
Left Side (Popular Recommendations):
Pre-selected combinations you can order without thinking – the “trust us, these work” options for people who don’t want to make decisions.
Right Side (Customization Path):
Then finalize with sugar level and ice level preferences.
Three-Step Building Process:
- Choose your tea base (Ding-Dong Oolong, etc.)
- Select flavour additions (honey, milk, passion fruit, & various options)
- Pick toppings (grass jelly, taro balls, & other choices)
Initial Confusion
While this three-stage customization process may seem more complicated compared to the usual ordering process at most bubble tea stores where you simply point at an item from the menu and indicate your preferred sugar and ice content, upon comprehending the system, you will realise that it allows for more customization compared to selecting from pre-defined combinations.
Although having only a few options for the tea base may be limiting compared to your expectations of having dozens of options, it implies that they are trying to do less while doing it better.
The Drink: Premium Quality Meets Personal Preference
What I Ordered
- Ding-Dong Oolong tea base
- Added: Oat milk
- Customization: No sugar, less ice, no toppings
- Total: $8.50 CAD (before tax)
The Service Touch
Before finalizing my order, staff double-checked if I wanted to change anything or add something I might have forgotten. It’s that extra confirmation step that prevents the “oh wait, I meant to add…” moment after you have already paid.
I also asked for a sleeve since holding iced drinks while walking through a mall gets uncomfortably cold pretty quickly. I was genuinely surprised when they handed me a sleeve with an actual handle attachment – a small detail that makes the drink significantly easier to carry while shopping or walking. It’s cute, functional, and shows they’re thinking about the full experience beyond just handing you a cup.
The Flavour Profile
The flavour of this Ding-Dong Oolong was unique to its woody and smoky taste – the type of flavour that would let you know you’re consuming tea, not some sugar-added tea powder. The oat milk used also provided sweetness on its own, eliminating the need for any sugar to be added to the mixture.
My overall thought is that the sweetness was already enough from the oats on their own despite not added any sugar in the drink. The tea taste was not masked by the sweetness at all as I could still taste the tea flavour, and I think that says a lot about their product line.
The Personal Preference Factor
Each individual’s level of sweetness varies greatly. The taste that I find perfect may be too understated for those who enjoy their drink more on the sweet side or too sweet for individuals who favour more pure taste from tea.
For those who order their bubble tea at 50% sugar or above, adding a hint of sweetness would work well for them. For people who enjoy a complex taste from their tea than anything else, maybe just the oat milk would do fine.
The Price Reality: Premium Positioning
At $8.50 before tax for a customized drink with oat milk, CHICHA San Chen sits firmly in premium bubble tea pricing territory. You’re paying notably more than basic bubble tea chains but getting ingredients and preparation quality that theoretically justify the cost.
The “Michelin-approved” branding suggests they’re positioning as craft beverages rather than commodity drinks, and the pricing reflects that premium market positioning. Whether the quality difference justifies the price premium depends entirely on how much you value ingredient quality and preparation standards versus just wanting affordable caffeine and sweetness.
The Competition Reality: Spreading the Crowd
When CHICHA San Chen first opened, they had the novelty advantage and the “Michelin-approved” marketing creating massive initial crowds. Now that CF Markville has added more bubble tea options nearby, customer traffic naturally distributes across multiple shops depending on the day, wait times, and personal preferences.
What is remarkable is that although CHICHA San Chen is facing more competitions, they continue to have their own loyal clientele, customers who look for their product because of what it is rather than something that is available. It appears that these consumers see value in their offerings, not merely fad value.
Worth Visiting?
Absolutely worth trying at least once, especially if:
- You’re already at CF Markville for shopping or errands
- You appreciate quality tea flavour over just sweet drinks
- You’re curious about premium bubble tea versus standard chains
- You need a workspace with decent seating during weekday off-peak hours
- You want to compare “Michelin-approved” beverages against typical options
Less Compelling If:
- You’re extremely price-sensitive and prioritize affordability
- You prefer maximum sweetness over tea flavour complexity
- You’re looking for extensive menu variety rather than focused quality
- You’re visiting during weekend peak hours and facing long waits
My Recommendation
Visit during weekday non-peak hours when you can actually sit, enjoy your drink, and appreciate the space without fighting crowds. Order something with their signature tea bases to actually experience what makes them different from commodity bubble tea chains. Ask staff for recommendations if you’re unsure since they seem knowledgeable and willing to explain options.
The premium pricing means this probably won’t become your everyday bubble tea stop unless you have serious disposable income. However, as an occasional treat when you’re already at the mall and want quality over convenience, CHICHA San Chen delivers enough to justify the visit.
The “Michelin approved” brand indicates that they’re targeting craft drinks rather than commodities in the beverage market, and their pricing is consistent with this high-end positioning strategy. Whether there’s enough justification for the premium based on quality is a matter of personal opinion depending on whether you prioritise drink quality over cost-effectiveness.
Have you tried CHICHA San Chen at CF Markville or their other locations? Does premium bubble tea justify the higher prices for you, or do you stick with more affordable chains? Drop your thoughts below – I’m always curious about where people draw the line between quality and value!
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