Best Smoothies

The Sweet Booth

This tiny ice cream and tapioca tea stop in Oakland Chinatown serves fruit smoothies made with unique ice cream in flavors like mango, taro root, and jackfruit. Owner Calvin Tong has been operating this joint for fifteen years, and last summer opened a bigger location by the same name on Alameda's Park Street. Pearl drinks range from $2.50 to $3.50, and smoothies are $3.25 to $3.50. The smoothies here are a blend of ice cream, milk, fresh fruit and ice. Try one of the tried-and-true traditional flavors enhanced by Dreyer's ice cream, or be daring and go for the coconut, lychee, or frothy and rich avocado smoothie — a meal in itself. You'll see anyone from children of all backgrounds eagerly awaiting their ice cream cones to downtown professional types stopping in during their lunch break to grab a bubble tea.