Don’t be shy about ringing the bell at the counter at Boba House.
I’m also paranoid about coming off rude or obnoxious, like some pushy hotel patron demanding to see a manager. But really, it’s fine. The family-run business is small and the staff are usually in the back, prepping food and drinks for the day’s customers.
Before you do though, make sure you carefully study the menu. Boba House may look like the typical fast-order Chinese food venue, but it is packed with more than a few genuine surprises.
The eatery, located in the Western Village Shopping Center on Broadway, is small and compact and brightly decorated. Orders are taken at the counter, where there is a huge menu hanging overhead. I came to Boba House for boba, looking for a sweet fix after a long day, but what I found was a well-rounded menu of favorite American-style Chinese food offerings as well as sundry tea and flavored drink options.
Boba House is not shy about portions, and with a menu where every item is less than $11, that’s good news. Appetizers start at $3 for six cheese wontons and go up to $6.99 for eight pieces of fried shrimp. The cheese wontons are on the smaller size and are very crispy to bite, but they deliver in flavor exactly what you’re looking for in the popular dish. I like that it’s efficiently priced, because you can always have more than one order if you’re sharing with a table. Other items on the appetizer menu include popcorn chicken (served very spicy), pot stickers, and egg rolls at $4.75 for four, which again, is a great bargain.
I know I am a Soup Diva Queen and I always order a venue’s soup to see what it’s all about. Boba House offers egg flower soup (also known as egg drop soup), hot and sour soup, and a house noodle soup I highly recommend. Soups are between $6.25 and $8.99, but they were in hearty portions that justify the price.
To Boba House’s credit, there are a lot of options on their a al carte menu. The “a la carte” in this case is a full (big) serving of an entree item served with a side of steamed rice. That means unlike some other Chinese spots, you won’t get an automatic side of egg roll, wonton, or soup, but honestly considering how cheap the appetizers are, it’s not that big of a deal to add on if you’re really in the mood or that hungry. Because keep in mind, the entree options are large and are priced accordingly (between $9.25 and $10.95).
There are so many good options on this menu it’s kind of hard to single out a few. On the spicy side, there’s Kung Pao chicken, beef, or shrimp, made with a lot of veggies, peanuts, and a healthy dose of chili peppers. It’s a classic dish done really nicely at Boba House, with a good layer of heat coming through a buildup of sweet and salty flavors in the dish. Don’t be afraid to ask them to dial down (or up) the heat either. For this one, I recommend going with the chicken, because it’s such a classic protein for the dish.
If you want to stay in your comfort zone (I feel you), they have a strong orange chicken that will compete with a lot of others you’ve probably had. Lemon chicken, sesame chicken, and sweet and sour chicken are also offered, but if you like those flavor profiles, I suggest trying out the plum chicken. It’s a stir fry chicken dish with plum sauce, which is made with sweet plums, ginger, chili peppers, and other ingredients.
Lo mein and fried rice are also included as single dish items on the menu, in huge portions that you probably won’t finish in one sitting (I didn’t). Both come in options of beef, chicken, shrimp, and combination offered between $8.25 and $9.25.
But it’s really the rice bowls where Boba House excels. I like them because they serve pretty much all the same bowl options as as entrees. It’s a tight meal that offers a good portion of meats and veggies compared to rice. A bowl is a great meal on the go as well, perfect for all you lunchtime crowd types.
Boba House (as you can tell by the name) also specializes in range of boba smoothies and slushies. For those unfamiliar with boba, they are small black balls of tapioca that are added to drinks like smoothies for a flavor enhancement and change of texture. Boba House smoothie flavors include cappuccino, green tea, mocha, and mint chocolate. The honeydew melon is a great option for something on the fruitier side, but my pick is the taro. Taro is a tasty root vegetable that blends into a creamy and nutty flavor that is absolutely one of my favorites.
Boba is entirely optional; adding it to any drink is 35 cents. Although in my two cents, it’s totally worth it.
Arts and Lifestyle Writer Rebecca Rose is very sweet and often sour. Contact her at rrose@santamariasun.com.
• Let’s talk about red ale. Santa Maria Brewing Company makes one called El Camino Real (which has changed names a few times) made from Columbus hops, which gives the brew its signature red color. I love this beer and you will too at 1451 Fairway Drive, Santa Maria.
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• Did someone say lime glaze cookies? Yes, yes they did over at Orcutt Bakery where you can get big ones for $2 a pop. Try some of baker Danielle Gerber‘s unique treats at 4869 S. Bradley Road, suite 112, Orcutt.
• Taco Tuesday at the Far Western Tavern features delicacies like shredded tri-tip tacos at $15 for three. Try them with some of their signature drinks from their bar during happy hour. Check them out at 300 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.
• Norman at the Skyview Hotel in Los Alamos is offering up Oysters Mignonette served with a blood red hot sauce and a lemon at market price. This is a perfect treat to enjoy while lounging by their pool as this unending heat wave slowly melts us into oblivion. Feast on some at 9150 Highway 101, Los Alamos.
This article appears in Aug 23-30, 2018.
