'Bing & Boba' Bringing Bubble Tea, Jianbing To Haight Street

'Bing & Boba' Bringing Bubble Tea, Jianbing To Haight StreetPhoto: Camden Avery/Hoodline
Camden Avery
Published on March 30, 2018

The former home of Crepe Express (1476 Haight St.) will soon become Bing and Boba, a casual restaurant featuring boba tea and jianbing by partners Emil and Maren Mouhanna.

The storefront is currently closed for major renovations, so owners can revamp the space with a new floor plan, said Mouhanna. The space has active permits for interior demolition, electrical work and remodeling, but is on track to open by mid-May. 

Bing and Boba would be the Upper Haight's only dedicated boba shop; Mouhanna said he and his wife wanted to offer the neighborhood something new.

The owners are testing boba drink recipes before their planned May opening. | Photo: Bing & Boba/Twitter

Jianbing are a Chinese street crepe traditionally made with egg, scallion, sesame seed, hoisin sauce, cilantro and chili sauce. In addition to savory options, Bing and Boba will also feature an array of sweet jianbing.

The Mouhannas, who met in Paris and have lived nearby for the last nine years, said they were actively seeking a restaurant space on the corridor when Crepe Express came up for sale.

"I've always wanted to do something on Haight Street," Emil said. Though his most recent experience is in the corporate world, he said his upbringing in a family of Boston-based entrepreneurs inspired him to go into business for himself.

"My parents immigrated from Lebanon," Mouhanna said, "and they had grocery stores and delis and pizza places. That's where I got all of my business and work experience. I've always had this thing screaming inside me to start my own business."