West Milwaukee welcomes its first bubble tea cafe, Big Straw Cafe, offering a diverse menu featuring tea and fruit-based drinks, smoothies, croffles, and freshly crafted poke bowls. The independently owned shop, soft-opened at The Shoppes of Miller Park Way in December 2023, officially celebrated its grand opening on January 2, 2024.
Chutikul Sricharoen, the mind behind the concept, also operates West Milwaukee’s Spicy Tuna alongside co-owner Matt Jitphungtham. Sricharoen, who co-owned a bubble tea shop in Chicago before relocating to Milwaukee, expressed her passion for bubble tea, stating, “Everywhere I go, I try different kinds of bubble tea. I’ve been dreaming about opening my own shop again for years, but I needed to prioritize my work at Spicy Tuna first.”
Big Straw Cafe features a bright and modern space with a sizable service counter and seating for approximately 15 guests, including two-top tables and bar-style seating along the front windows. The branding and design, including a big bear holding a big straw and a dynamic message board showcasing positive quotes, were personally crafted by Sricharoen to create a welcoming atmosphere.
Proud of her background in pastry, Sricharoen emphasizes that all recipes at Big Straw Cafe are original, crafted with high-quality ingredients, including special imports from Taiwan and Japan.
Noteworthy offerings at Big Straw Cafe include:
Croffles:
Originating in Seoul, Korea, croffles are a hybrid between a croissant and a waffle. Big Straw Cafe offers made-to-order croffles with various toppings, including strawberries and whipping cream, cookies and cream, lotus biscoff, marshmallow, banana Nutella, chocolate almond, ham and cheese, and brown cheese with ice cream, priced from $4.99 to $12.50.
Housemade Layer Cake Slices:
On Wednesdays and Thursdays, guests can inquire about Sricharoen’s housemade layer cake slices, available in flavors such as Thai Tea and chocolate for around $6.50 each. Whole cakes are also available for pre-order with at least 48 hours’ notice.
Big Straw Cafe aims to provide a unique and delightful experience, bringing a variety of flavors and culinary delights to the West Milwaukee community.
