The Alley

A Cedar Park tea chain's second Austin-area shop just planted its flag west of the Y

The stretch of Hwy. 290 just west of the Y has a new pit stop, and it comes with brown sugar boba and a waffle-croissant mashup. The Alley, a Texas-grown bubble tea chain, opened its second Austin-area location here this spring, and it's already pulling in regulars craving something cold and customizable after a day of errands or a hike out at Reimers Ranch.

The story. The Alley opened March 28 at 12400 Hwy. 290, Ste. 230, with Community Impact reporting the grand-opening weekend came with giveaways and a full slate of drink specials. The brand itself has deep roots — Eater Austin covered The Alley's expansion into the Austin area back in 2024, and the company already operates locations across the West and East coasts, Hawaii and Texas, including Houston, Garland, Plano, Cedar Park and Katy. This 290 shop is the chain's SW Austin/Dripping Springs-area outpost, sister to the original Cedar Park store.

The vibe. It's a small, bright strip-center shop built for quick in-and-out visits — order at the counter, grab a seat if there's one open, and watch the staff press a croffle while your tea steeps. One Yelp reviewer summed up the appeal simply: "it's a small spot, but honestly, I think that's the perfect size for a bubble tea shop." Another newer reviewer liked that the layout keeps things moving without feeling cramped — fast service, clean counters, nothing fussy.

What to order. The menu leans into The Alley's signature "Deerioca" — house-cooked brown sugar boba — paired with milk teas, fruit teas and croffles. Worth trying:

The Ube Taro and the Cocoa Crème Brûlée croffle are the two most talked-about items from the opening push, and both hold up as the easy "first visit" order.

Good to know. Toppings are fully customizable — pick your sweetness and ice level at checkout, and keep in mind the shop only offers baby boba before noon, since the full-size pearls take a while to cook. There are caffeine-free options too, including the Ube Taro Deerioca, which skips the tea base entirely. Parking is shared with the strip center, so it's an easy stop if you're already running errands along 290.