In an exclusive interview with The Angler, Idrink Boba & Sandwiches discusses topics such as the establishment’s origins, Vietnamese culture, and recommended menu items.

Idrink Boba & Sandwiches is a boba tea and sandwich shop located in Minneola. It is a Vietnamese family-owned business, which specializes in preparing bubble milk tea, bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwiches) and gua bao (white bun with various fillings).

I recently had the opportunity to visit the shop, alongside interviewing Tiffany, the founders’ daughter. She was very kind, and thoroughly provided insightful responses to my questions.

The Founding of Idrink Boba & Sandwiches

Idrink Boba & Sandwiches was founded out of a desire to bring Vietnamese and Asian culture to a place one might not expect to find it: Minneola, Florida. 

“My auntie and mom wanted to create a small, cute business, where we can spread our culture.”

The shop opened on New Year’s Day in 2021 and has maintained its aesthetic charm ever since.  

“What this shop looked like back then, it still looks the same now.”

The shop saw immediate success in the community, and it’s been a source of pride for Tiffany and her family.

“The first week and the first month, everybody came in. Since the shop was founded when I was in high school, everyone of my friends was like, ‘Oh my gosh! Your family owns the boba shop!’”

Embracing Vietnamese Culture

Tiffany stated that the shop incorporates Vietnamese culture in multiple different ways. Their menu’s inclusion of boba, bánh mì, and baos are great examples of authentic Vietnamese and Asian cuisine.

“All of our products are authentic. We always try to stay authentic to Vietnamese culture.”

Besides their menu, the shop also incorporates Vietnamese culture by playing music created by Vietnamese artists.

“We love really good Vietnamese pop songs.”

Additionally, if Vietnamese visitors inquire to speak in Vietnamese, Tiffany’s family will gladly accept their requests.

“When Vietnamese customers come in, sometimes they struggle to speak in English…My family will speak Vietnamese to them, so then we can provide the best service for them.”

Tiffany further explains how kids’ experiences at the shop allow them to enjoy learning about Vietnamese culture.

“We’re introducing our Vietnamese culture to them, and they actually learn a lot too from us. Seeing kids grow up knowing [Vietnamese] culture, that truly makes me happy.”

However, Tiffany has seen older people visit the shop as well. She’s always happy to answer their questions about the shop’s menu, and witnessing their cheerful reactions to tasting their products for the first time.

“To know that I’m not only appealing to younger audiences, but I’m also appealing to our older generations…I like that.”

She mentions her older customers tend to inform others about the shop via word of mouth, which she enjoys and finds it to be an underrated form of communication.

“I think that’s what people should think about more. Not only the younger generation, but about the older generation as well.”

Appealing Aesthetics and Good Vibes

Upon entering the shop, one is blown away by the effort of the visual design. A charming and colorful board of chalk drawings of the monthly featured drinks greets one once inside. 

“A great addition to our boba shop was our board…Once a month, [we] change our board…and do all the art. A lot of people, when they come in, that’s the first thing they see.”

The menu is easily visible on a TV, where every food and drink item is presented in categories with little clip art icons. If one loves pastels, one will be right at home in Idrink Boba. A lounge area with a sofa and potted plants invites one to relax and enjoy the experience, a slower pace from what one might encounter in more popular fast-food chains.

“We decided it was best if we kept the vibes very home, very cozy. With our sofa, we wanted to make sure people feel like they’re at home.”

The music draws one in and enhances the vibes. While I was visiting, Italo-disco played from a speaker around one of the two (yes, two!) photobooths. However, as previously mentioned, the shop also plays Vietnamese pop songs sometimes, which further contributes to the pastel-pop ambiance of the shop. 

“We also thought it would be a really good idea to have a photo booth as well…We also want our customers to have the full-experience. Not only do they get drinks…they can sit here [in the shop] and relax, do their work, or they can take pictures [of] our drinks as well. With our music…we thought, ‘How about fun, upbeat music that can go for any audience?’”

Near the lounge area are an assortment of interactive machines. Examples include an illuminating claw machine and a variety of vending dispensers for stickers, toys, and gumballs respectively.

“With our toy and claw machines, those have been really popular…As they [customers] are waiting for their drink, they’ll play with this [the machines], and it elevates their experience as well.”

Recommended Drinks and Sandwiches

Tiffany recommends new customers start with the classic boba shop flavors like taro milk tea, or try any of the Idrink Signature milk teas. It’s also hard to go wrong with a mango or coconut slushy. And, of course, a matcha frappuccino is always an option.

Non-dairy milk substitutes are available for frappuccinos, at no additional cost.

If one would like an “upgrade” to milk tea, then the shop’s specialty milk teas are the optimal solution. Specialty milk teas usually have two toppings, and examples include tiger, tiramisu, and crème brûlée milk teas. Tiffany suggests customers try the specialty milk teas, if they plan on trying milk tea for their first time. The shop’s specialty drinks also include options such as Vietnamese iced coffee and their newest coconut coffee latte.

Specialty smoothies are an alternative as well. Exotic flavors such as avocado, purple yam, and mango bliss are refreshing treats. Additionally, fruit teas are sold too such as the lychee jasmine and kiwi green teas.

Popular food options on their menu include their bánh mì and gua bao sandwiches. Both are served with the customer’s choice of meat (tofu is available as an alternative), and optional vegetables and sauces. Tiffany’s favorites are the chicken bánh mì and the shrimp tempura bao, which are both her personal recommendations for customers to try.

Whatever you choose from their extensive menu, you will enjoy the dedicated customer service of Idrink Boba.

“Customer service is our number one. Even though it [our menu] seems overwhelming, we want to help them [customers] pick their favorite. We know that a lot of people have different tastes, so we’re gonna explain each and every one, until something catches your attention.”

While the menu is extensive, this does not suggest a lack of quality. Tiffany also mentions that their large menu provides customers with various options to try new things and find new favorites.

“When people try something new, I want them to feel surprised every time.”

Should you ever desire to see something new on the Idrink Boba menu that somehow hasn’t found its way there yet, you can always make a request.

“We always try to satisfy our customers’ needs. Somebody asked us if we could add coffee jelly to the menu. Lo and behold, we added coffee jelly to the menu.”

Verdict: Why Should You Give Idrink Boba a Try?

For the final question, when asked why people should come to Idrink Boba, Tiffany’s answer was very informative and passionate.

“We always want to make sure that they [customers] are happy. We’re always so excited to bring them in. I think that’s why people should come here. Not only does it help my family and help us share our culture, but I think it will also help benefit them [customers], when they’re having a bad day, or when they want to try new food. We also keep it [our menu] at a reasonable price as well. If you go to Orlando, and you go to the boba shops there, the prices are pretty high. They’re ranging from $7-$10. As you can tell from our menu, our drinks range from $4-$7. Even though they range from $4-$7, we still make sure our drinks are high quality. Come to our shop! We have good quality, at a reasonable price, and you don’t have to go all the way to Orlando to try boba. We’re here and we’re home.”

Mini Food & Drink Review

After the interview had finished, I tried three of Idrink Boba’s menu items.

First off was their cookies and cream specialty milk tea. The drink was topped with whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumbs, as strawberry popping pearls (which I asked for instead of boba) sank to the bottom. Its creamy and chocolate taste brilliantly replicates the cookies and cream flavor seen in milkshakes, but in the form of milk tea. It’s refreshing, yummy, and the strawberry popping pearls’ inclusion enhances the drink’s flavor, and is reminiscent to the taste of neapolitan ice cream.

Secondly, I tried their chicken bánh mì. As I unwrapped it from its wrapping paper, I was delightfully surprised by its visual presentation. The sandwich’s baguette is clearly toasted and has a visible crispy texture. Once I took my first bite into it, I was immediately amazed by the chicken’s delicious taste. The bread was crispy and had a soft, airy texture that was pleasant to chew on. Typically, I don’t like vegetables, but I really enjoyed the vegetables (carrots, cilantro) on this sandwich. They were refreshing, and the sandwich’s “yum-yum” sauce boosted the sandwich’s overall yummy taste.

Finally, I tasted the shop’s grilled pork bao. Similar to the chicken bánh mì, it also came with the same vegetables and sauce, but its highlights were its delicious grilled pork and very fluffy and warm bun. Both of the aforementioned ingredients truly made the bao a scrumptious treat to eat.

Overall, with their extensive and delicious menu, excellent customer service, and aesthetically appealing interior design, Idrink Boba & Sandwiches provides customers with a blissfully memorable experience.

You can follow Idrink Boba & Sandwiches on Instagram.

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