If you’re a boba person in the DMV, I’ve got exciting news, my favorite family-owned bubble tea shop just opened a second location, and it’s right in downtown Silver Spring. Sweet Bamboo Boba is Maryland’s first DIY bubble tea bar, which means you don’t just order a drink, you basically become your own boba barista and build the whole thing exactly how you want it. I’ve been a huge fan of this spot for a while, so I was so hyped to see them expand into Montgomery County.
On top of the build-your-own drinks, they’ve got bubble waffles (the matcha and the cookies and cream were both DELICIOUS), plus arcade games that had me way too entertained, lol. It’s affordable, it’s interactive, and it’s such a fun hang whether you’re on a date, out with friends, or bringing the kids. Let me put you on.
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What Makes Sweet Bamboo a Standout Boba Spot in Silver Spring
There are plenty of boba shops around, but Sweet Bamboo does something different: it’s set up as a DIY bar, and it’s the first of its kind in Maryland. Instead of reading a menu and hoping your order turns out how you imagined, you walk the counter and build your cup yourself, from the tea base all the way down to the toppings. It’s a mom and pop shop through and through, and you can feel how much they care about the quality and the experience (a huge thanks to Tien and the team for having us).
This Silver Spring shop is their second location, and it moved into the former Moorenko’s Ice Cream Cafe space, a downtown fixture for nearly 25 years, which feels like a fitting torch to pass. If you loved their original bar in Severna Park, this one carries the same energy.
What to Order at Sweet Bamboo
Build-Your-Own Bubble Tea
This is the main event. You start with a tea base (think classic milk tea, brown sugar, taro, Thai milk tea, or a fruit slush), then dial in your sweetness and ice level and pile on toppings like tapioca pearls, popping boba, jellies, or red beans. The best part is that it’s one flat price that covers the cup and all your toppings, so you can go wild without watching a per-topping counter tick up. If you’re not sure where to start, a brown sugar milk tea with tapioca is a can’t-miss classic, and the taro’s a great pick if you like something creamy and a little nutty.
Bubble Waffles
You gotta save room for these. Bubble waffles (aka Hong Kong egg waffles) are made from an eggy batter cooked in a bubbled mold, so they come out crispy on the outside and fluffy in those little pockets inside. I tried the matcha and the cookies and cream and both were SO good, absolutely worth saving room for. They’re the perfect sweet sidekick to your drink, and honestly they’d be worth a stop on their own. If you’re a sucker for a playful Asian sweet like this, Teamania’s souffle pancakes up in Rockville are another one to bookmark.
Also up in Rockville, Molly Tea is a Chinese jasmine tea shop where every cup is brewed from real tea leaves with no syrups, and their snowy jasmine milk tea is a standout.
More to Sip and Snack On
Beyond the build-your-own drinks, they also do milk tea shakes, dirty sodas, sparkling teas, and fruit smoothies, plus a little bakery case with pastries, cakes, and filled donuts. Some of the food has gluten-free options too, which is a nice touch. Basically, whether you want a full-on dessert moment or just a drink to sip while you play, there’s a lot to work with here.
What Is a DIY Bubble Tea Bar, Exactly?
It’s exactly what it sounds like: you make your own bubble tea. At Sweet Bamboo, the team walks you through the dispensers, and you get to sample the base drinks before you commit, so you’re not guessing. From there you choose your tea, your sweetness, your ice, and your toppings, and you assemble your cup like you’re behind the counter.
It takes the pressure off ordering (no more pointing at a menu and hoping), and it makes the whole thing feel like a little activity instead of a quick grab-and-go. It’s genuinely one of the more fun ways to get boba in the DMV, especially if you want to taste before you commit.
The Vibe and Experience
The Silver Spring shop has such a playful, hang-out energy. Between building your own drink and the arcade games tucked inside, it’s the kind of place you linger at way longer than you planned (the arcade got me, lol). It’s super family-friendly, great for a low-key date, and perfect for a group where everyone wants something a little different. Downtown Silver Spring is easy to make an afternoon of too, so if you want a bite nearby, Kook Kai’s serves up some of my favorite Thai food in the area.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 8030 Georgia Ave Ste B, Silver Spring, MD 20910, in the former Moorenko’s space downtown.
- Hours: 11am to 8pm daily.
- What it is: Maryland’s first DIY (build-your-own) bubble tea bar, and their second location after Severna Park.
- How it works: one flat price covers your cup and all toppings, the team helps you build it, and you can sample the bases first.
- Also on the menu: bubble waffles, pastries, cakes, filled donuts, milk tea shakes, dirty sodas, and sparkling teas, with some gluten-free options.
- Parking: street parking along Georgia Ave.
- Good for: families, groups, dates, and anyone who likes a little activity with their boba (arcade games on site).
- Menu: browse the full menu at sweetbambooboba.com before you go.
Is Sweet Bamboo Boba Worth The Visit?
YES! Between the build-your-own drinks, the bubble waffles, and the arcade games, it’s one of the most fun boba experiences you’ll find in the DMV, and the mom-and-pop care behind it makes it easy to root for. It’s affordable, it’s interactive, and it’s a really great spot whether you’re a boba die-hard or just want a great afternoon out in Silver Spring. I’m so glad they expanded up here, and I have a feeling this location’s about to become a regular for a lot of you.
Have you guys made it to the new Silver Spring spot yet, Nomsters? Tell me your go-to boba build in the comments, and if you know someone who’d have way too much fun building their own drink and hitting the arcade, def send this their way.