A Chinese ice cream and tea chain that has exploded across the globe since the late 1990s is setting its sights on Greater Boston, with two shops in the works at 178 Harvard Street in Allston and 451 Hancock Street in Quincy. Mixue Ice Cream & Tea sells cheap soft-serve, sundaes, milk tea, floats and coffee, and the brand has become a familiar sight well beyond its home country in recent years.
Two Addresses, One Fast-Growing Brand
According to NBC Boston, the Allston location is planned for 178 Harvard Street while the Quincy outpost is slated for 451 Hancock Street. The station reports Mixue's menu centers on ice cream, sundaes, milk tea, floats and coffee, the same lineup that has powered the chain's rise since it traces its roots back to 1997, when it was established in Zhengzhou, China.
Mixue already has a foothold elsewhere in the United States. The chain made its American debut in Los Angeles on December 19, 2025, according to Restaurant Dive, which notes the company is 99% franchised and generates most of its revenue by selling food, equipment and packaging to the operators who run its stores. Fox 5 New York reports Mixue opened two locations in New York City this past December, giving the chain an early presence in two of the country's largest media markets before any Massachusetts address was confirmed.
A Budget Alternative To Starbucks And Dunkin'
The Boston Globe describes Mixue as marketing itself as a budget-friendly alternative to the likes of Starbucks or Dunkin', a pitch that leans heavily on price. Per the same account, Mixue is already the largest restaurant chain in the world by unit count, with the paper putting the figure at more than 49,000 stores worldwide. That number does not line up neatly across outlets: Restaurant Business reports Mixue operates 53,000 locations globally, while China Daily reports the company's global store count climbed to nearly 60,000 by the end of 2025, up from 46,000 a year earlier. The estimates range from more than 49,000 to nearly 60,000 stores worldwide.
Whatever the exact total, the scale dwarfs typical American fast-food math. Chain Store Age reports most items are priced between $1.19 and $4.99, with the chain's signature ice cream cone going for $1.19.
Part Of A Broader Wave From China
Mixue's push into Massachusetts fits a pattern playing out nationally. The New York Times reports that a wave of Chinese food and beverage chains has been moving aggressively into the United States, with brands taking root in American cities partly to escape punishing competition at home, where the food and beverage industry is suffering from severe oversupply. The Times points to Heytea, which has opened three dozen stores nationwide since 2023, including a flagship in Times Square.
Restaurant Dive reports Mixue has about 4,700 units across 13 countries outside China.
Mixue has claimed both spaces, though public opening dates and permit filings have not been detailed. Boston's building-permit process, which the city says exists to confirm construction work meets the minimum safety standards in the State Building Code and to protect public health and safety, would typically be part of bringing any new storefront online, according to the City of Boston. For now, Greater Boston dessert fans eyeing Harvard Street and Hancock Street will have to wait for more concrete signs of progress.
