Happy Lemon vs Kung Fu Tea:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Kung Fu Tea had more branded searches than Happy Lemon among bubble tea chains in the United States. Kung Fu Tea had about 301,000 branded searches, while Happy Lemon had 110,000. Kung Fu Tea made up 32.4% of all bubble tea chain searches we track, and Happy Lemon accounted for 11.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bubble tea chains, Kung Fu Tea appeared in all four answers and Happy Lemon in two. Kung Fu Tea was mentioned before Happy Lemon in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Kung Fu Tea, about 3 searches for every 1 for Happy Lemon
Who does AI mention more?
Kung Fu Tea, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Kung Fu Tea, named ahead of Happy Lemon in every answer
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Top bubble tea chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Kung Fu Tea appeared in all four answers. Happy Lemon was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Kung Fu Tea was listed before Happy Lemon in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Gong cha1st- Kung Fu Tea2nd
Sharetea3rd
Happy Lemon4th- Feng Cha5th
The Alley6th
Tiger Sugar7th
Boba Guys8th
Presotea–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Kung Fu Tea4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Gong cha3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Sharetea3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Happy Lemon2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Feng Cha2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- The Alley2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Tiger Sugar1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Boba Guys1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Presotea0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about bubble tea chains
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best bubble tea chain in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which boba chain in the US has the best milk tea?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most popular bubble tea chains in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bubble tea”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“boba near me”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 23, 2026.
Is Happy Lemon or Kung Fu Tea more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Happy Lemon and Kung Fu Tea by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine bubble tea chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Kung Fu Tea, Happy Lemon. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Kung Fu Tea | Gong cha | Happy Lemon | Feng Cha | Sharetea | Tiger Sugar | Boba Guys | Presotea | The Alley |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 30.5% | 30.5% | 11.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 32.3% | 26.4% | 11.9% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.29% |
| Dec 2025 | 36.9% | 24.7% | 11.1% | 9% | 9% | 6.1% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.26% |
| Jan 2026 | 32.2% | 26.4% | 11.8% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 6.5% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.35% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.8% | 29.8% | 10.9% | 9% | 10.9% | 6% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.8% | 24.6% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 6% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.33% |
| Apr 2026 | 36.9% | 24.7% | 11.1% | 9% | 9% | 6.1% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.28% |
| May 2026 | 31.4% | 25.7% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 6.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.28% |
| Jun 2026 | 33% | 27% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 9.9% | 6.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 28.7% | 28.7% | 12.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 7.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.31% |
| Aug 2026 | 28.7% | 28.7% | 12.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 7.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.32% |
| Sep 2026 | 32.4% | 26.5% | 11.8% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.35% |
How has the Happy Lemon and Kung Fu Tea comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Kung Fu Tea was ahead of Happy Lemon in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Happy Lemon’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States moved from 11.2% to 11.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 110K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kung Fu Tea’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States moved from 30.5% to 32.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 301K.
How did search popularity change for United States bubble tea chains in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Kung Fu Tea overtook Gong cha to become the leader among bubble tea chains in the United States, with 32.4% of the searches.
In September 2026, Happy Lemon lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 12.9% to 11.8%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Happy Lemon’s and Kung Fu Tea’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Happy Lemon
1 branded search term
- happy lemon
Kung Fu Tea
1 branded search term
- kung fu tea
Other head-to-heads among bubble tea chains
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