Amidst our search, we stumbled upon Gong Cha, a Taiwan-based spot known for its signature boba tea. What we didn’t know is that the international chain also sells bubble waffles. Certainly, the popularity of Gong Cha’s bubble tea seems to suggest the potential for a pretty good iron-pressed sibling.
Waffles at Gong Cha come in three different flavors, each of a slightly different shade and scent: chocolate, vanilla and matcha. The waffles are served straight off the press and wrapped neatly into a cone before being loaded with ice cream and drizzled with syrups (or even eaten alone). The logical next question is whether they taste as good as they look.
The texture is gratifying. A crispy exterior breaks into a fluffy core of mildly sweet waffle batter for a nice contrast of crunchiness and softness. The waffles aren’t too sweet, perhaps made to be washed down with sugary beverages. Drinks like the creme brûlée milk tea, flamed with burnt sugar on top, or a mango milk slush, blended with real chunks of mango, are well tamed by a plain matcha waffle.
Any of Gong Cha’s waffle toppings is also a good way to spruce up the sweet snack. Boba pearls can be cooked inside your waffle for a uniquely chewy texture, which is complemented well by a drizzle of chocolate syrup or powdered sugar on top. Cold scoops of ice cream also soak well into a warm bubble waffle.
A creme brûlée tea, sweetened by Gong Cha's signature milk foam cap, makes a nice pairing for the mildly sweet waffles.
Anisha Holla
Gong Cha, 6650 N. Beach St. and 9615 N. I-35 W., Fort Worth. Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
