Taichi Bubble Tea (1050 Woods Mill Plaza) recently opened its first franchise location in Missouri. The fast-casual concept debuted January 24 in Town and Country and offers a variety of drinks and Asian-inspired food options. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Atmosphere and Menu
The 2,100-square-foot space, which previously housed Bright Idea Toys, includes 38 seats. “We have a modern-style café that balances comfort with clean lines, flexible seating, and a slightly industrial edge,” says manager Brian Gohil. “It’s a laid-back environment where people can sit down, relax, and hang out.”
The design utilizes natural materials such as wood alongside greenery, neon signs, and panda plushies. A house playlist shuffles modern and classic rock songs with occasional classic movie scores and soundtracks. Guests can order via a digital kiosk or at the counter, where beverages are prepared.
For sushi burritos, poke bowls, and salad bowls, customers can make selections via paper forms. “The cards are there for the building of your poke bowl and sushi burritos to offer the most customized way of creating your bowl or burrito,” Gohil says.
Ramen bowls include such bases as tonkotsu, miso, spicy mala, and vegetarian tomato, with a choice of pork, vegetables, tofu, beef, shrimp, or chicken. Rice boxes come with options such as pork, chicken, beef, and eel. “We have a large diverse menu with quality food choices,” Gohil says.
Drink options range from milk teas and fruit teas to tea lattes and specialty series drinks such as Zang Zang—sweet purée and a choice of iced almond, soy, or whole milk. “Our Taichi original and brown sugar milk teas are our classic drinks and use Assam tea that is grown in the valleys of Assam, a region in northeast India,” Gohil explains. Toppings include a variety of fruit popping bobas and fruit jellies.
The Backstory
Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Taichi Bubble Tea originated in 2015. Today, the brand spans 60 locations across the Northeast, West Coast, and Midwest, with a much more extensive menu than when it started.
“Taichi Bubble Tea is so much more than just a bubble tea store,” says Gohil. “It started out as a bubble tea and social café environment and expanded into poke bowls, sushi bowls, ramen, and Japanese-style rice boxes. It is now positioned as a fusion hybrid café that emphasizes customization and consistency with the food choices.”
With about 30 years of collective experience at Chinese restaurants in the St. Louis area, franchise co-owners Maggie Cheng and Wendy Chen are longtime friends who hail from Hong Kong and Fuzhou, respectively. “They decided to open Taichi Tea to offer a more modern approach to traditional Asian cuisine in the region,” says Gohil, who is longtime partners with Cheng and has worked in the foodservice industry with her for more than 15 years. The team trained together in Rochester to become familiar with the brand, its equipment, and how to make the teas. “That was challenging as well as a lot of fun—learning what they have to offer and how we can bring that brand to this location here,” Gohil says.
“It’s a privilege to support this historic suburb and provide a place for families and people of all ages to come in,” he adds. “We’re open seven days a week and are happy to provide plenty of healthy choices to this community.”
Taichi Bubble Tea
📍 1050 Woods Mill Plaza, Town and Country
📞 636-438-5098
⏰ 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon–Thu; 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Fri & Sat; noon–9 p.m. Sun
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