When I first saw this store before it opened. I thought it was going to be a banh mi shop. Man I was like shoot, only coffee and cake. So had to go with the flow. Usually here in afternoon for a chocolate chip cookie and coffee. Tried expresso, latte and cape sua da. All drinks were very good. The chocolate chip cookie was delicious with a balance of salty and sweet. Wish they would make a cape den da. That's black coffee with no milk. Have sat at window seats but seems a lot more people are visiting store. And they have tables outside storefront also. Pretty amazing coffee and dessert spot. Service is always friendly. read more

4/5 is spot on. My mother is a Nguyen, so I'm exactly half Vietnamese and originally from San Jose. As such, I really struggled to find some authentic Vietnamese cafes and foods in NYC. Looking for the Banh Bo Nuong and pandan flavors in NYC were really difficult a few years ago. Pandan as a flavor is staring to become trendy and ride a similar popularity wave akin to the matcha craze. I hope my Pandan flavoring won't become gentrified as many did to matcha :( I love Kinhfolk and Banh by Lauren. Larry's Ca Phe sadly closed and I have yet to try La La Bakery. These are the core Vietnamese cafes that come to mind when I am feeling more in tune with my roots and crave Vietnamese coffee or pandan goods. Banh by Lauren gets a 5/5 for her Banh Bo nuong honeycomb pandan cake. For reference, I tried to make this Banh Bo nuong honeycomb cake at home the other day (also tried to scan all of DoorDash and UberEars for it and it was nowhere to be found) and it turned out too eggy and smelled a bit like a weak pandan fart or a weird pandan omelette :( It also didn't have the beautiful honeycomb texture that she produced. Ultimately she definitely she gets a high level of praise from me! I try to cook a lot of Vietnamese dishes and desserts at home as it's hard to find a centralized Vietnamese community in NYC, but I have a found a piece of it inside Banh by Lauren. One small feedback I have is for the pandan chiffon cake as it was a little too dense for our liking. Even though it looked small and delicate at first glance, it felt more heavier as we're eating. Overall: 5/5 for the Banh Bo Nuong 5/5 for the Pandan Latte 4/5 for the Pandan Chiffon Cake Would definitely come back! read more

I tried their chocolate chip cookie and it really deserved to be on the list of NYC Chocolate Chip Cookie Power Ranking by The Infatuation NYC. Bánh by Lauren's cookie came out on the 9th place. It was really big and round when I got it. I loved how it had a smaller layer on top of the bottom layer around the edge. It looked like 2 cookies stamped together. The cookie was very soft and doughy. The chocolate chips in the cookie were very soft and melted in my mouth. Surprisingly it had sea salt rocks on the cookie. So I was tasting semi salty sweetness. I loved and enjoyed it so much that I'll be sure to get it next time I come in. The next pastry I loved from Banh by Lauren is the Banh Bo Nuong. It looked so cute when it was served to me. The slice was very thick and had a nice loaf of bread cut. The whole slice was very green like neon green. It looked very spongy and chewy. When I bit it for the first time, I was immediately astounded at the texture. It was somewhat spongy in a good way that gets you wanting more of it. Too bad the slice was very small and I finished it really quick. The edges were semi sweet and crunchy. This is a definite recommend pastry. I also tried their cheddar, chive, and sausage scone and it was very delicious and savory. The sausages were a hit! I loved how they added a lot of flavor and I loved those sausage pieces a lot. A very fragrant aroma in my mouth. The next pastry I tried from Banh by Lauren was the chiffon cake. I had the Pandan Coconut, which looked very neon green. It was very soft and lightweight in my mouth. Very airy like I was in heaven. The next flavor I had was the Thai Tea and that one was a bit sweeter than the Pandan Coconut. It was still good though. Besides the pastries, I loved their Pandan latte and cannot get enough of it. Too bad the cup of latte always comes in a small size for my liking. I wish it came in a bigger size. Their drinks are in one standard size only. I always finish the drink fast. Sometimes I try to drink it slowly to savor it all when I'm with my laptop working remotely on one of the tables. The place as always was very clean and modern. The tables and chairs were very clean and beautiful to use. It was just a clean and peaceful environment to do work with coffee and pastries. The bathroom was especially very clean and relaxing to use. It did not even felt like a bathroom and acted like a cozy bedroom. It was that clean and fresh inside with a dimmed setting that felt really intimate to be inside. I loved it a lot. Banh by Lauren will always be my to go place for Vietnamese pastries and a nice place for me to work remotely. There are outlets all the way in the corner with small plants on the window sill so I enjoy that a lot. read more

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Very cute cafe for a midday sweet treat and coffee. I got the pandan latte and coffee cake. The coffee was good with a subtle pandan flavor. Neither were too sweet, but I do wish the pandan flavor was just a little stronger. The chocolate chip cookie was solid, but enjoyed the other cakes more. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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I have heard that people lined up when it first opened. So I got a chance to visit when I go to Chinatown. This bakery doesn't have the price tag matches the neighborhood. But I understand why. It is because of the uniqueness and the quality. There are many Vietnamese restaurants and cafe but not many desserts/ bakery. By looking at the menu, I really want to try everything. I don't think those are traditional but attractive enough for me. I picked the recommended Banh Bo Nuong, which is the pandan honeycomb cake. I really love the texture and the light sweetness of pandan. One slice definitely not enough! The pandan latte was good too. I ended up purchased a loaf of Banh Bo nuong. It is expensive but gave me some lovely moments. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Banh Bo nuong and Pandan latte - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

The chocolate chip cookie and morning glory scone were absolutely delicious. The scone was probably the best one I've ever had. The garlic flavor was so yummy. Great service and also really clean space. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

I have to admit that I stumbled on this place but I'm really glad I did. We got the black sesame latte, the ca phe su a da, pandas macaroon, a jasmine macaroon, a morning glory scone. I have to say that under no conditions should anyone get the black sesame latte, but ca phe su a da was decent. The jasmine macaroon was good, and the pandan macaroons were amazing, which were one of the staff's recommendations. The scone was actually really good, I just think it would have tasted even better if it was warmer. The ambiance of the place is cute. There is seating inside and outside. read more

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I had the pleasure of receiving a 6-inch pandan chiffon cake from Banh by Lauren as a gift a few years ago, and it was amazing. So glad they have a permanent spot now! My boyfriend and I visited in person on a rainy Sunday and tried: + Coconut cassava cake + Pandan flavored honeycomb cake + Thai tea chiffon cake Honeycomb cake was my favorite by far - the texture omg. Thai tea chiffon cake was decent but doesn't come close to the pandan version. Cassava cake was also good. read more

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I really like their Pandan flavor itself, but that slice of Pandan cake truly left me dumbfounded at how everyone enjoyed it. Barely any of the reviews mentioned that the cake itself is super clumpy, dense, and dry. That's some five day old cake sitting in the refrigerator. Which is really unfortunate because the cream is good! Maybe this was just a really old batch that I got, or their cake recipe just calls for a stiff cake for the cream...but this wasn't edible. At least the honeycomb was fine, but doesn't warrant a return read more

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The honey comb cake is worth the wait and the trek! Lines moved pretty fast in here. It's a very modern asian bakery.

Food/drinks: fresh pandan cake was yum! Nothing crazy or amazing but good for a sweet treat that isn't too sweet Atmosphere: cute, very limited seating, smells yummy cause they were baking! Service: friendly! Price: $$ pricey but normal for New York read more

Bánh by Lauren - Pandan coffee cake - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Beautifully bright bakery located in Chinatown. There's mostly outdoor seating with a few counter seats inside. I ordered my first ever egg coffee. If you're not into sweet creamy coffee this is not for you, but I loved it. The chocolate chip cookie was a top tier cookie for me. The baked honeycomb pandan was a first for me and won't be the last it was phenomenal. The service here is quick and efficient. Want to come back and try more items. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Honeycomb pandan cake - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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We got three pastries and I really only liked the sesame ball with mung bean although the outside could definitely be crispier. I would prefer a sesame ball from one of the Chinese bakeries which is hefty and crunchier. The serving size is very small for what you pay for and I didn't love the texture or flavor of the pandan cake or the cassava coconut cake. Sad because I do really like coconut flavored things. Incredibly cramped inside on the weekend so maybe take your drink and food to go. I wouldn't come back but this could definitely be a personal preference. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Cute bakery in Chinatown right by the bridge. The interior has cute designs and there's a decent amount of seating considering the layout. We got the pandan honeycomb cake. It's a hefty price of $5 for a small price of cake. The cake itself tasted amazing - chewy and soft, not drying at all. Definitely would recommended trying anything pandan as those seem to be the most popular. Workers were friendly and patient which was nice. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Came here while waiting for reservations for a different restaurant, will say the ambiance and service is great which is why I gave them a four star review, but for the drinks they were underwhelming. My coffee was a take on Vietnamese coffee but tasted more like plain espresso, the matcha had a foam which was very sugary. Overall 4/5. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Matcha muoi and Vietnamese coffee - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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V good pandan coconut chiffon cake! I prefer the denser cake layers rather than a light and airy so this is my favorite pandan cake that I've tried so far! The other pastries were delicious but not as outstanding - tried the pandan honeycomb, pandan coffee cake (can you tell I'm a pandan lover) and a savory chinese sausage scone. They're known for their pandan honeycomb which was v yummy and done very well, my second fav! read more

Bánh by Lauren - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

I've been wanting to try this place for forever and I was so surprised that it was opened on Presidents Day. Starting off we got the Pandan Coconut Cake to try and the flavors were really good! It was not too sweet so very easy to eat and the cream was extremely smooth. One thing that did catch me off guard was the sponge cake in between was more dense than I expected. But overall, the flavor of the Pandan was so good I couldn't stop eating it. For the mean reason as to why I came, the Honeycomb cakes have been really popular so I knew I had to try it. The Pandan flavor wasn't as fragrant as the cake however the texture of this was really nice. The inside was like a bouncy mochi and the outside kinda had a nice burnt brown sugar taste to it. The place is a little small but it was nice to be able to sit down and there was even a restroom which was perfect since I made the trip from Queens! The service was extremely quick to the point where when we first arrived, there was a huge line in the store and when we were heading out, the store was slowly clearing out. I would definitely drop by another day to try some of their other pastries as well as their hot chocolate (it seemed like a lot of people were ordering it). read more

Bánh by Lauren - Pandan Coconut Cake - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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This review is purely on their chocolate chip cookie. If you're looking for info on anything else, this won't be helpful. I am, what some would consider, a fiend for cookies. Especially chocolate chip cookies. Ideally crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside. Not overly sweet, a little savory for balance. It's been definitely a journey finding the best cookies in NYC that are consistently great. Came to this spot, and wow have I found the best. The cookies are actually so excellent, and they have the exact texture, sweetness, saltiness, and chocolatey-ness that I'm looking for. Absolutely a gem, and I've already been back for more. I will say, if you're ordering a lot and hoping they stay soft for more than 5 days, prolly not gonna happen. But, they probably will be gone before 5 days anyways, like mine were. read more

WHEN: Sat @12pm Since I am a huge fan of all things pandan, a friend highly recommended I try this spot, specifically the: BANH BO NUONG - $5 Honeycomb cake, Pandan coconut flavored, Tapioca and rice flour cake. This...is way smaller than expected. Maybe it appears small because I had made a detour walk coming off the Brooklyn Bridge to come here. Sure it was good, but I sadly feel it is not worth it. Maybe I'm just cheap and my partner was upset at me we made this long walk through Chinatown for one tiny item. Oh well...which my experience was better. The staff was super friendly too! read more

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Awful high-acidity coffee - yike. Rude pushy staff; they believe they own the city side walk. read more

This review is for the Pandan Coconut 8" cake. I had ordered this cake for my birthday. I was disappointed receiving this cake, especially when I paid $144 for it. The bakery was unable to write "Happy Birthday" on the cake and did not communicate they would be unable to. The flavor of the cake was ok, but I have tasted better pandan desserts. The cake itself was dense for claiming to be a chiffon cake. While the cake had about four layers of pandan cake and coconut mousse filling, it was rather small in comparison to other 8" cakes I have ordered. The frosting surrounding the cake was also very delicate and would come off as I was putting in candles. I had bought a slice of the Vietnamese coffee cake for my mother and friend as well. They both said the cake was dense and dry. While the cashier was friendly and apologized for the wait, there should have been two lines: one for pick up and one for ordering. The line for ordering was long and there was only one cashier at the register. I counted three additional workers that could have helped. The cashier had to ring orders by himself and grab bakery items while two baristas were making drinks. Two customers almost skipped me in line since the checkout area was crowded. I did not want to be packed next to the person in front of me. There should be a section on the website to order same day cafe items instead of just bulk items. I would recommend Banh by Lauren for a quick cafe stop, but try elsewhere for birthday cakes. Chinatown has a plethora of noteworthy bakeries that are less expensive. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Stopped in with my family on the Sunday of LDW at around 10 AM. It's a small café but luckily we were able to get some seats and even manage to fit a stroller in there. We ordered a bunch of pastries to share/try: the honeycomb cake, pandan coffee cake, baked cassava cake, and both of the scones (morning glory + chili + garlic + cheddar and Chinese sausage + cheddar + chives). I normally like savory more but the sweets here were better than the scones. I really liked the pandan flavoring of the cakes. The scones were dry and expensive at $8 a pop! For drinks, I had the black sesame latte, which I didn't care for - it was very gritty and the bits would get stuck in my throat. I don't think this is a place I'd come back to, but I'm glad I got the chance to check it out. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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A great edition to a food crawl! We tried the pandan chiffon cake, which was to die for! I am considering this as a potential birthday cake from now on! I came here expressly to try the pandan honeycomb cake, which was nice but I think the pandan coffee cake had more pandan flavor and I enjoyed that more! Overall, can't go wrong! Definitely will be back read more

Bánh by Lauren - Pandan Coffee Cake and Honeycomb Cake - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Love this little VietnameseCafe right under Manhattan Bridge. Had the Ca Phe Trung and their Honeycomb Cake (Bahn Bo Nuong). The cake had that perfect texture! The pandan flavor is just right: not too sweet. Wish we could make this at home its so good what a perfect snack. First time trying the coffee and man it was equally as satisfying. Cool custard sweetness complementing the contrast of dark strong Viet coffee. Found my new fav. Somehow reminds me of how I feel about affogatos. Nice little spot. Good decor, interesting pieces. They also showcase merch/artworks from local artists. Must go! Enjoyed our time here. read more

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Bahn by Lauren has graced my holidays with their superb creations. This past Thanksgiving I pre-ordered the pandan coconut lemongrass pie. This was so creamy and delicious. The flavors of the pandan and coconut custard, lemongrass whipped cream, and toasted coconut topping worked so well. Personally I would have preferred more custard and less whipped cream, but my husband, who loves all things creamy, enjoyed the balance of all the layers. The petit beurre cookie crust provided a nice crunch to the otherwise very soft and airy pie. This was such an unusual pie unlike anything I've tried before, but it certainly surprised and delighted my family and me. In addition, I got the pandan coconut buche de noel for our Christmas dessert. This was phenomenal. I liked this much more than the pandan coconut lemongrass pie. It looked stunning with the perfect swirls of green and white and tasted fantastic. I love Asian desserts and flavors that are light, creamy, and not too sweet--and this hit the spot. Rich, decadent, and yet with a perfect balance of pandan and coconut flavors. The pandan chiffon cake was light and moist, yet held structure, while the coconut mousse was wonderfully creamy and light. The amount of whipped cream was also just right. The staff at Bahn by Lauren is also amazing. Online the 3" buche de noel came bundled with 6 macarons. However, I only wanted the standalone 3" buche de noel. When I went in-person to the bakery, the staff immediately assisted me and accommodated my request. Previously, for my husband's birthday I had wanted to get him the honeycomb cake. When I was skeptical about getting an end piece, Lauren herself explained the difference between a middle vs. an end piece, and then just gave me a middle piece for free so we could try both. I just love this bakery and plan to try more of their bakery and drinks menu items--and not just for special occasions! read more

Bánh by Lauren - 3" pandan coconut buche de noel $25 - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

TLDR: Banh by Lauren is a hidden Gem for Sweet Treats and More! This is a cute little spot located on the corner of the street full of Asian-inspired sweets, unique flavored treats, and other cool finds from local brands (like really cute/thoughtful cards from a featured company by the display!!) I grabbed a the chocolate chip cookies and a slice of Thai Tea Chiffon Cake. The cookies were $6 each, and were totally worth it. They were warm, soft, and still had that perfect melty, gooey components with flakes of sea salt that made each bite soooo yum. The Thai Tea Chiffon Cake was $13 a slice and was a little small for the price, and the flavor was light, not overly sweet, and packed with a little Thai tea flavor. They also have vietnamese coffee and pandan chiffon cake!! We also picked up some pandan honeycomb cake (believe its called banh bu nuong) and my coworkers LOVED it esp the texture. Overall, it's a great spot to check out for unique finds. There's also a few savory items, but didn't try those / catch my eye. The shop has a small but comfortable seating area, so if you want to enjoy your desserts ASAP, there's some space to relax, sip on a drink (they also have unique flavored drinks and macarons!) and enjoy the atmosphere. I didn't get a chance to try the drinks or other desserts, but I'll be back for another round. The staff here are kind. Overall, this place is a bit of a splurge, but the flavors, are so unique If you have a sweet tooth and love unique, Asian-inspired flavors, delicious desserts, don't miss this spot! read more

Bánh by Lauren - Thai tea chiffon cake - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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We shared the chocolate chunk cookie, the Thai tea chiffon cake, a pandan macaron, and the pandan honey comb. The macaron was my favorite item. Perfect texture to the outer cookie. Ultra light and airy with an ideal crisp. Cream was sweet and light. Top tier macaron. read more

Pandan chiffon cake was so good! It was so soft and had good pandan flavor. I was worried the coconut flavor would be too strong but it wasn't at all! I would recommend skipping the drinks though. My matcha pandan and my friend's black sesame latte was mid. Would recommend the chiffon cakes! There are a lot of flavors read more

Bánh by Lauren - Pandan coconut chiffon cake! Super good with pandan flavor. Not a strong coconut flavor - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Everything looks so good in here! The flavors are unique and I just feel like I have to try everything. It's a very small shop, but the service was pretty fast. It was a little crowded at the waiting area, and very little seating area. read more

Cuisine: 6 Service: 7 Decor: 7 Value: 6 Overall: 6 Maybe my expectations were too high, but with all the great reviews, I thought everything would be better than what we received. Sadly, what we had was okay, but nothing was truly memorable. I know they are famous for the Pandan Chiffon Cake, but no one in my group cared for it. We decided to try both the Pandan Honeycomb Cake and the Pandan Coffee Cake, both of which were decent, yet items I wouldn't order again. The Egg Coffee was tasty, but the Sesame Latte was too grimy. Maybe I'll come back one day for the Pandan Chiffon Cake, but I'm not rushing back anytime soon. read more

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Visited BANH for the first time, and it has been such an amazing experience so far. I'm usually very critical when it comes to mocha, but this was honestly one of the best I've ever had -- perfectly balanced, rich, and flavorful. And the pastry? Absolutely incredible. No surprise it's ranked among the top 25 in New York. Every bite was delicious. Definitely a café worth coming back to! read more

Bánh by Lauren - pastry - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Tried the Vietnamese coffee cake and it was pretty good not bad $13 a piece ... will come back try the Pandan flavor read more

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Was in the area and walked in. So glad I did, the service was amazing. The girl behind the counter was super nice and patient. The inside is super clean and bright. Small but cozy. The Chocolate Chip Cookie, was really not too sweet which I like. The dairy free coconut espresso coffee right up my alley, not too sweet and the right amount of caffeine. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Chocolate Chip Cookie, Dairy Free coconut espresso coffee - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Small cafe by the Manhattan bridge on Market Street. I love the interior design of this cafe. There's indoor seating and a bathroom for customers. It's also a couple blocks away from pier 36. I ordered a pandan latte and a pandan honeycomb cake. I think the pandan latte lacked a bit of pandan flavor but, the pandan honeycomb cake was pretty good. I would come back and try other pastries and drinks to reevaluate this place. read more

Cute and friendly bakery, with friendly and helpful staff. The Thai tea chiffon cake is light and airy, with strong (but not too sweet) Thai tea flavor. The jasmine macaron is fragrant, and the pandan honeycomb cake has a nice chewy texture in the middle with a nice bready crust. read more

Banh by Lauren is known for their Pandan flavored items so that's exactly what I came here for! I got their Pandan matcha and their Pandan coconut chiffon cake. I was definitely able to taste the Pandan flavor, especially in the matcha! I really enjoyed both! read more

Bánh by Lauren - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm never in Chinatown but when I am, I swing by Bahn by Lauren. Their Asian inspired flavors are always so good. The coconut iced latte was super refreshing on a hot day. I had it with a caphe chiffon cake (fantastic texture). I wish I lived closer! read more

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The staff was polite and knowledgeable. The shop was clean and felt very spacious. The pastries are a modernized of many traditional pastries and they were delicious, especially the honey comb cake. The Vietnamese coffee however was lacking and did not have the taste of your typical Vietnamese coffee. It was very much coffee with condensed milk. read more

Bánh by Lauren - Honey comb cake Chocolate chip cookie Mochi pastry Vietnamese coffee - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Would definitely go back for more. We had the coffee and honeycomb loaf, both delicious. The baked goods are overpriced but what isn't nowadays. read more

I was looking forward to this place but overall it felt ok. There's not too much seating and I noticed the staff mispronounced "trung" a few times which made me unsure of how the it would turn out. I liked the banh bo nuong and ca phe trung. But I felt like the drink sizes were super small. I had a pandan matcha which was ok. Not sure if I'd go again but seems like a cute place! read more

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