Photo credit: la.eater.com
Chagee (pronounced CHAH-jee) Modern Tea House, a renowned tea establishment from China, is set to launch its first location in the United States at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles. The shop will officially open its doors to customers on Saturday, April 26, with a ceremonial grand opening planned for May 9. Plans for this U.S. location have been in the works since November 2024, when local blogger Todrick Allen first noticed Chagee’s branding at the site previously occupied by Sugar Factory.
Founded in 2017 in Yunnan, Chagee has rapidly expanded its reach, boasting over 6,400 locations globally, including in China, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. The chain has garnered acclaim for its vibrant selection of freshly brewed and milk teas, which are served in elegant cups reminiscent of high-end fine china. In preparation for the Century City opening, Chagee has filed for an IPO and has begun trading on Nasdaq under the ticker “CHA.”
The new Century City location, conveniently situated adjacent to the Container Store, will offer a diverse array of signature teas. The menu includes enticing options such as a peach oolong tea latte, roasted oolong tea, a jasmine green tea latte, and a blended caramel tea frappe. Specializing in tea lattes that can be made with either traditional or oat milk, Chagee employs a unique, artificial intelligence-driven brewing technique that ensures each cup is prepared in less than a minute, delivering consistent quality with every order. Complementing the tea selection, patrons will find an assortment of pastries sourced from Farmshop, including jasmine tea-infused cruffins, ricotta cake, chocolate chip cookies, and classic croissants.
Inside, the tea house features a minimalist aesthetic with light wood finishes, a mural paying homage to Hollywood on one wall, and a transparent display showcasing the tea brewing process on another. Staff members operate the advanced brewing machines while efficiently managing customer orders for pickup. The venue offers limited seating, with a few tables and cozy couches inside, as well as additional tables and chairs on the outdoor patio. Decorative Noguchi-style lanterns hang from the ceiling, casting a soft light throughout the space, which is further enhanced by strategically placed plant arrangements.
Chagee’s opening is a welcomed enhancement to the offerings at Westfield Century City, which has recently added South Korean dessert cafe Knotted and Emma Chamberlain’s coffee venture, Chamberlain Coffee. The mall is poised for further expansion with the upcoming openings of Super Peach, a new restaurant from the Momofuku group, as well as Katsuya and Casa Dani, slated to debut later in 2025.
Chagee’s address is 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90067, with doors opening on April 26 and the official grand opening taking place on May 9.
Source
la.eater.com