CHICHA San Chen (吃茶三千) brings Taiwanese bubble tea excellence to Wheelock Place basement at #B1-05, 501 Orchard Road, operating daily from 11am to 9pm. Founded in 1998, this Taiwanese brand has spent over two decades perfecting the art of freshly brewed tea beverages, distinguishing itself through rigorous quality standards and brew-to-order methodology.
Unlike chains that pre-brew tea in large batches, CHICHA San Chen toasts tea leaves and brews each order individually upon request. This labour-intensive approach ensures maximum freshness and flavour extraction, though it requires patience during peak periods. The commitment to quality over speed has cultivated a devoted following willing to wait for superior bubble tea.
The signature Dong Ding Oolong Fresh Milk Tea showcases the brand's tea expertise, featuring premium oolong tea from Taiwan's Dong Ding mountain region paired with fresh milk. The Brown Sugar Bubble Milk Tea appeals to those seeking rich, caramelised sweetness, while the Taro Fresh Milk with Taro Bubbles offers both beverage and textural taro experience. The pearls receive consistent praise for achieving the ideal texture: soft yet chewy, avoiding the gummy or hard extremes that plague lesser bubble tea shops.
The Wheelock Place outlet has achieved impressive 5/5 ratings with over 500 reviews on foodpanda, testament to consistent quality and service. The location benefits from heavy foot traffic and visibility within the basement food and beverage precinct. Delivery availability through foodpanda and Deliveroo extends reach beyond walk-in customers. With 29 locations across Singapore, CHICHA San Chen has successfully scaled while maintaining the quality standards that established its reputation.
I would like to highlight a very unpleasant experience with one of your male staff named 展文. When I accidentally threw a tester paper cup into one of the baskets, he made a very clear “tsk” sound at me. This behaviour is extremely unprofessional and disrespectful.
A staff member should at least say excuse me or please, not express annoyance in such a rude manner. This reflects badly on the store and makes customers feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.
Please educate your staff on basic customer service and proper manners. This kind of attitude is unacceptable and should be addressed immediately.
Zana Arshad
waited so long to receive a wrong order.
ordered hot, drink received is cold .
tips for handling lunch crowd, do not mix up drinks with other orders ! The lady who attended to me, skip me and gave the other people who just ordered …. i waited for 15mins?? not good!
Amanda L
The service I’ve gotten here was the worst across all the outlets.
As a long time patron and silent enjoyer of ChiCha, I hope the manager here at least trains their staff to listen to what the customer’s orders are (I had to repeat thrice, and it’s not like I was whispering) and exchange thank yous instead of looking like they don’t want to be there/ serve people (upon collection, we had to self-service our straws and take our cups from the other side of the counter).
Fiona Wu
I drink this bubble milk tea many times in other branches. I went to this branch the second time today. Last time, a young man taught me how to join the member patiently, but today the young lady who received me gave me a bad experience. She didn’t ask me if I need ice or hot drink and ordered a normal iced one which I usually drink hot milk tea and no one made wrong before. Because asking is the normal procedure. When I was surprised that I got an iced one, she said arrogantly “Normal is ice.” I hope CHICHA can improve its staff training to avoid this kind of bad experience.
Positive Reviews
WanderWithWit
Review of Chicha San Chen @ Wheelock Place
Chicha San Chen at Wheelock Place is my go-to spot for authentic, freshly brewed bubble tea. The outlet features a bright, modern interior with a relaxing atmosphere — perfect for enjoying a quiet tea break.
What truly stands out here is their dedication to quality and freshness. Every cup is brewed to order, allowing customers to choose from six different tea bases. I was drawn to their Fresh Honey Milk Tea, and I loved being able to tailor it to my preference. I went with Dong Ding Oolong as the base, and it was delightful — the tea carried a rich, roasted fragrance that paired beautifully with the smooth sweetness of honey and milk. The honey balanced the tea’s slight bitterness, creating a perfectly harmonious flavor.
I also enjoy adding grass jelly as my topping of choice. Unlike chewy tapioca pearls, grass jelly has a silky, slightly bouncy texture that glides effortlessly with the tea. It’s refreshing, smooth, and complements the drink without overpowering it — a wonderful contrast to the creamy tea base.
Overall, Chicha San Chen offers a truly customizable and enjoyable bubble tea experience, where every cup is brewed with care. I’m excited to come back and explore more tea combinations in the future.
Revisit on 28 Oct 2025
This time, I tried the Osmanthus Oolong Fresh Honey Milk Tea, and it was awesome! The Osmanthus Oolong had a light floral note that wasn’t overwhelming, while the honey and milk added a smooth, velvety texture. It’s a perfect choice for those who enjoy a gentle, elegant tea with a touch of sweetness.
Revisit on 31 October 2025
This time, I tried the High Mountain Pouchong Tea (玉露清茶), and it was a refreshing change. The tea carried a gentle green tea aroma that felt clean and soothing — comforting to sip and perfect after a meal, especially for aiding digestion. The flavor was smooth yet distinctive, offering a subtle balance between floral and vegetal notes.
As usual, I paired it with grass jelly, which added a silky, slightly chewy texture that complemented the lightness of the tea beautifully. It made for a refreshing and calming cup — simple, elegant, and thoroughly enjoyable.
4 December 2025
The magical cup has returned for the Christmas season! ✨🎄
It’s still my favourite tea — now with chewy bubbles — but dressed in a festive cup that instantly brings on the holiday mood. Even better, I only paid $4.80 thanks to an amazing ShopBack deal. Affordable, delicious, and perfectly in season. ☕️💚
Flo G
My fav bubble tea joint for their fruit tea usually.
Lots of fresh fruits pieces that goes well with the light tea. Definitely a refreshing guilt free treat on hot days.
No pics to show as today came to redeem a honey tea.
Nice lady showing me the popular tea options and she took the initiative to give me less ice and less sweet options seeing that I’m in my exercise gear!
No queues when I went and I found that this is probably one of the lesser queue outlets.
ShopBack pay to use some rebates 👍🏼💙
Jeffrey Fisher
I always go here for my earl grey milk tea avocado pudding jelly more pearls less ice 50% sugar very yummmy yummy
EdwardInTX
Got it with 50% sugar and it was good. $5.80 for bubble milk tea.
Ayda Sulianti
🍃 A Tea Skeptic’s Happy Detour! 🌸
Confession: I’ve walked past Cicca San Chen at Wheelock dozens of times but never stopped – milk-based drinks?
Hard pass. 🙅♀️
But thanks to a friend’s push, I tried the Highland Mountains Tea(sans milk!) with sakura bubbles… and WOW.
💥 Light, floral, and perfectly refreshing – like sipping springtime! 🌿💧
To my fellow milk-avoiders: This spot’s customizable brews are a *game-changer*. Pro tip: Ditch the dairy and let those tea leaves shine! 🚫🥛
10/10 – My new go-to for guilt-free, blissful sips. 🙌
