After a long-anticipated arrival, Milksha, a renowned bubble tea chain hailing directly from Taiwan, officially landed in Westwood this past Thursday on May 7, 2026.
It joins a small selection of businesses in the peaceful Broxton Plaza — a community strip which, once open to oncoming traffic, now boasts a plethora of pedestrian-friendly hangout areas stretching across the avenue. Milksha has already established itself as a hallmark within the community, one that is sure to serve countless Bruins to come.
Its grand opening offered a deal of “buy one get one free” on all drinks, along with complimentary merch for the first hundred customers. Lines of people crowded the storefront from the early hours of the morning, filling the block with the excited commotion of a local novelty.
At times the wait totaled upwards of four hours, yet for those who found more luck, it might have seemed to pass by quickly. Bolstering a lively atmosphere throughout the day, music from a DJ at the entrance spurred the conversations of many who waited in line — friends, neighbors and strangers all coming together in a tried and true Los Angeles tradition: standing in an hours-long queue.
“We are very sorry that a lot of people are waiting. We’re still training and trying to improve our efficiency,” said Global Chief Product Officer of Milksha, Young Lee. “Ultimately, our goal is to create a good experience, a space that our customers can feel good about.”
Around us, balloons, standees and other green and white decorations adorned the sidewalk. The free photobooth at the left, fixed with a backdrop and an assortment of props, awaited customers who had already received their drinks.
“[About] twenty years ago, I actually studied at UCLA. Back then, there was only, like, a bowling alley and the theater, of course. So, I really wanted to find somewhere I could just hang out with my friends,” said Lee.
Lee, who majored in Economics, admitted there are more options today than there were back then, but when he and his team found a vacant property on the market just a few blocks from campus, they couldn’t help but jump at the opportunity.
“We came and toured this building a while back, and thought: It’s perfect,” said Director of Development and Operations Kelly Mace.
They signed the lease more than two years ago before the opening of the plaza, and have since been curating specialized menus as well as designing a proper interior for students to study or hang out at. In addition, they have formulated a new marketing strategy for their launch, a campaign led by Evia Huang, Head of Marketing at Milksha, whom I spoke with as well.
One of the drinks they came up with — a Westwood-store exclusive — originally took the name, “Go Bruins,” but was later changed to “Campus Crush,” Lee and Huang said.
Being among the brand’s only two locations in the U.S. (both of which are situated in California), the drink’s name is not only a testament to the store’s proximity but also to its connection with UCLA. “We are just exceptionally proud to be here in Westwood village,” said Mace.
Among the items I tried were the Taiwan Oolong Tea Latte with Honey Boba, the Uji Matcha Jasmine Latte with Cloudy Cream and the Mango Pomelo Smoothie.
Routine quality checks are made each morning so as to ensure that every tea, every ingredient is “gold standard.” And while only one day had passed since their opening, the second day already saw improvements in their operations, though “never at the expense of quality,” Mace added.
Much to my liking, the flavor of the teas came exceptionally strong, with their signature use of whole milk adding a creamy yet refreshing texture. The boba is also house-made and has just the right chewiness, but does not distract from the quality of the drinks themselves. So far, the oolong tea latte has been my favorite.
Milksha’s opening in Westwood marks another success for the Asian American community at UCLA and beyond. From the time Lee attended twenty years ago until now, the presence of authentic, quality shops and restaurants has always been vital to the celebration of our culture.
While we have yet to break through something as large as systemic racism, Milksha represents something much more simple — that, with the appearance of such brands hailing directly from Asia, the zeitgeist has shifted greatly from a time that would have rejected them completely.
Perhaps, as members of the AAPI community, we must celebrate these small changes. They, true to Milksha’s mission, are what give us another place of belonging.
Visual Credit: Alyssa Kim
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