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    Chao Cafe

    4.4 (31 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Chao Cafe Photos

    CHAO CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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    Ellie N.

    Very decent Vietnamese dessert place. I like the fruit Che. My friend got a matcha with house milk and it was decent too

    Pandan Matcha
    Angelica L.

    Rating: 3.2/5 We came with a group of 10, so I was surprised they had a table large enough for all of us. The café is pretty spacious and has games you can play which is a nice touch. They have a lot of drinks with unique combos, but unfortunately the ones we ordered didn't work out for us. I wouldn't recommend the matcha here, but I might be open to trying their coffee next time. Passion Fruit Matcha ($7): Of course my husband got this since it combines two of his favorite flavors. Unfortunately, the passion fruit sourness doesn't go well with the matcha, so we didn't like it. Pandan Matcha ($7): This was a bit better, but the flavors were very subtle. It tasted very homogeneous, and nothing really stood out.

    Cafe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced-Coffee)
    Andy D.

    Chao Cafe absolutely has the best Vietnamese Iced-Coffee in Austin! This Coffee shop specializes in Vietnamese Iced-Coffee and has the best tasting (and very strong) coffee I've ever had. Aesthetically designed coffee shop and spacious. Plenty of room for everyone to come enjoy coffee and socialize. Service here is always friendly and speedy. You won't be waiting more than a few short minutes for your drink. Absolutely recommend this place for all my Vietnamese Coffee lovers!

    Matcha taro drink?
    Dora S.

    Decided to try a new drink and WOW DID IT SURPRISE ME!! The selection and quality of the drinks were amazing!! I was sipping so slowly so i could savor every gulp. I will definitely be back to explore more of their menu!! Staff was also so patient and kind when I asked for recommendations!

    Delores L.

    After an hour long fitness class this morning I needed some hydration. Chao's Matcha mango latte to the rescue. This latte was so nicely flavored and ice cold with lots of clear ice. Latte Nirvana!! Chao was quite packed with only male customers. My cashier, Qwen, was quite friendly. Overall, laid-back atmosphere...

    Menu
    Khanh T.

    Typical Viet coffee shop. They're located in the My Thanh market area which is very convenient if you wanna stop by. The space inside is so big with lots of tables to sit at. I got the Hanoi Egg Coffee and it was good. It kind of just tastes like every other Viet coffee you can get anywhere, nothing special. I heard Sip Munch is better though.

    Matcha with Coconut Water
    Macy N.

    This place is yummy! Went on a busy day so there was a 25 minute wait, but it was worth it! Sarah was so nice and pretty (hi Sarah hope you're reading this) and gave me really good recommendations! The coco matcha is sweet and equally creamy. I feel that this coconut water actually came from a coconut because there is pulp and some parts of the coconut in the drink. The vietnamese coffee is strong, sweet, and exactly what you think of when you hear "Vietnamese Coffee." If you are like me and have a hard time enjoying matcha that is not your own, go to Chào Cafe! Yummy matcha and coffee :)

    Pandan Latte
    Stephanie C.

    I got an oat milk latte with pandan foam, it was a classic strong Vietnamese coffee that was great and perked me up. I do wish that the pandan flavor came through a little stronger because when mixed with the coffee I could barely taste it, but on its own, it had a slight taste of pandan. The service was fine, the waitress was very attentive to the ingredients in my order and straightforward about which drinks would be best for someone trying to watch their dairy intake. The only thing I wish would have happened was being greeted, though I was one of four people in the cafe (there was another customer, the person in the kitchen, and the waitress) and said hi three times, I was met with a stare until I began my order. Again, the waitress was attentive when it came to my drink, she didn't really say much which made it feel less welcoming. As for ambiance, it basically feels like the old Bambu, which was nice, since it was chill and had fun music, but the music kept changing at the halfway point of each song, which I thought was odd and ended up just putting in my headphones Good place to work outside of that!

    Menu
    Kenny N.

    This place used to be Bambu. I came right when they opened, so no one was there yet. The inside looks the same from when Bambu was here. Tons of tables and open space to sit back and enjoy your drink. Service was quick. I was also the first customer of the day. I ordered the Pandan Coffee. It looks like they use Pandan Milk instead of foam like other places. It lacks the Pandan flavor, but the Vietnamese coffee flavor is there. I believe they are still in their soft open phase as they do not have everything on their menu. I would like to come back and try other things when they get used to everything.

    Charli V.

    Yum! So happy this spot is open and in the hands of someone in the community that really understands what we want and need. Happy to see the vets and fine gentlemen of Austin back in the front congregating over cigs, coffee, and Chinese chess. I got a build your own Che, Halo halo lovers, rejoice. You can build your own halo halo. (missing ube ice cream) The menu is extensive in drinks and coffee. Love this and hope it'll become an integral part of this plaza as it rebuilds with other new coming stores (miniso!)

    Matcha with Vietnamese milk
    Gwen G.

    The match with Vietnamese milk is made with sweetened condensed milk so I got it with 50% sugar and that was perfect, not overly sweet but very tasty. Interior is very spacious and nice.

    pandan coffee
    Minji K.

    I went to get coffee, and I loved it. I got the pandan coffee, and it was cute and tasted great! I'm excited to try the pandan matcha and ube coffee next time!

    Judy C.

    Vietnamese drinks store located in China town. I recommend their Che series. Solid choice for sweet tooth but not too sweet, with a lot of toppings.

    Pandan Waffle

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    2 months ago

    Chao Cafe's serves Amazing drinks. My favorite is the egg Vietnamese coffee and the che Thai cay. Totally recommend.

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    5 months ago

    new ownership but Lychee smoothie and Chè ba màu actually even better than before. try it, yummy!

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    Forthright - Waffle sandwich

    Forthright

    3.9(889 reviews)
    8.6 mi
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    Kinda disappointed to find out that they closed but it doesn't change my review…read more Went here a few months ago with several of my friends for brunch after driving from Houston. Barely any wait and we got seated right away. The service was fast and the server was attentive. Good basic brunch food like eggs, toast, potatoes etc. the presentation was cute on some of the dishes we ordered. We also ordered a pitcher of mimosas too but it was basically only one glass for the 5 of us which was okay. They had various juices to add which was nice. Nothing too special but it was a good experience.

    Forthright is cool! I went on a date with a guy a long time ago who said it was his favorite brunch…read moreplace in Austin, so it's been on my list since. I came around 1p on a Friday and they close daily at 1:30p so bear that in mind, but all I wanted was a drink so they did serve me. I had wanted to try their lavender chai but they were out of chai that day so I ended up getting one of their signature lattes with lavender syrup. It was QUITE good, I really enjoyed it! Even tho I didn't try the food, there were a couple things that looked really good (eg the pork belly Benedict!) and the ambiance inside is really light and airy - I do think this place would be great for brunch. They do have free 1 hr visitor parking at the San Jacinto building which forthright is just inside of (so parking right out front), but bear in mind since it's only an hour you can't dwell too long unless you park elsewhere. Last note - the staff were friendly, quick, and helpful with the drink! No issues there. Bathroom is shared inside the building and very clean/nice as well. Overall will be back eventually, even if just for drinks again. Just wish they were open a little later :)

    Photos
    Forthright - Buttermilk waffles with seasonal fruit and maple syrup

    Buttermilk waffles with seasonal fruit and maple syrup

    Forthright - We proudly serve Sightglass coffee. Sightglass is a third wave coffee roaster based in San Francisco.

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    Anthem - Anthem Smahs Burger and Furikake Fries

    Anthem

    4.4(827 reviews)
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    Fabulous! My friend…read moreTiffany told me about Anthem on Rainy Street. Neither of us had been, and also it's been years since we've been on Rainy Street. So we thought we would make a whole night of it. Tiffany did make reservations for us for 7pm and even though this is a bar hopping neighborhood, even at 7pm it was pretty busy. Streets were full of people. Anthem had a vibe. I felt the energy as soon as I waked in. The cozy booths with the U shaped seating with plush green velvet fabric. Wait staff wore Hawaiian shirts. Sitting up behind me on a ledge was the Easter Island statue. Insert (Night At The Museum) here, dumb dumb give me gum gum. Anthem was our first stop tonight. Just drinks and a dinner. I ordered the Peach Fuzzy drink. Not too sweet, refreshing, peachy, and beautiful garnish of a flower. I ordered the Yummy Fries which looked like a salad. Gorgeous presentation. Fries were actually waffle sweet potatoes. Pickled ginger, sesame seeds, furikake, aïoli and a few other wonderful ingredients. Could not get over how beautiful everything looked. Presentation outstanding. Service delightful. Had a wonderful time at Anthem. We both did use the ladies rooms before leaving. Inside the bathroom there is a sign about safety and if you need assistants. I did take a picture of it. On our way out, Brian the manager, said good night to us and waved. We later saw Brian at another place. And I'll write about that in my review for that place as well. Brian, you're Doll, thank you for your hospitality.

    Came here for happy hour! The restaurant was clean and spacious, with plenty of seating. They also…read morehave a large outdoor patio. The service was great, and the staff checked on us frequently. We ordered the Hawaiian shrimp ceviche, salmon poke, and brisket rangoons. Everything was super tasty, but the brisket rangoons were the star of the show. It's been several days, and I'm still thinking about them!

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    Anthem - Upside Down Pineapple Bread Pudding

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    Moonshine Grill - White chocolate bread pudding

    Moonshine Grill

    4.4(6.4k reviews)
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    I'm so glad we found this spot because WOW... it was amazing! We were going crazy trying to find a…read moregood brunch spot and oddly enough couldn't find one, but honestly I'm grateful because it led us here! We walked from our hotel and were greeted with so much warmth right away. We were seated instantly and had the sweetest server, Sarah, who was incredibly helpful and attentive the entire time! They started us off with popcorn which was such a fun first lol. We ordered the Brussels sprouts appetizer and they were absolutely delicious! My husband got the chicken & waffles with a side of eggs & bacon, and I ordered the chicken fried steak from the lunch menu. Both plates were AMAZING... seriously some of the best food we've had! Then they brought out cornbread and omg... SO good. This place became such a staple of our trip and we already can't wait to come back. There's just something special about finding a cute restaurant with incredible food and even better service. Definitely one of those places that leaves you wanting more!

    We had a group here for dinner and were excited to try it, due to reviews. The ambience is lively,…read moreloud, and buzzy. Looked super fun. Service was good, no issues there. Friendly staff overall. The food fell flat for almost all of us. The salads were fresh and good. However, the ribs were below average. Cornbread was stale and not tasty. Biscuits tasted more like firm bread and not at all flaky/soft. That seemed weird to all of us. Chicken fried steak was soggy and not crispy. Drinks were ok. Not quite sure why the food was subpar, but there were 10 of us who all agreed we wouldn't return for food. There is a swanky little cozy speakeasy in the basement that may be good? We didn't try that.

    Photos
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    Moonshine Grill - Garlic appetizer

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    Two Hands - Avocado Toast and Hash Brown

    Two Hands

    4.2(591 reviews)
    9.3 miSoCo (S. Congress Ave.), 78704 (South Austin)
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    Visited Two Hands on Congress for weekend brunch. It is an Australian restaurant known for fresh,…read moredelicious food, cocktails, and coffee. Parking is challenging as there are only paid parking options. The restaurant was very busy and it was an hour wait to be seated at a table. We were added to the wait list and of course my cell phone battery died so could not be notified. The host was understanding that I kept following up. The wait was a bit long due to weather preventing outdoor seating. They have both indoor and outdoor seating options. We were seated in the indoor dining area. The ambiance is very lively and bright for a happy vibe. Our sever was very friendly and attentive and happy to offer recommendations about the menu options. Started out with The Calm Before the Storm cocktail with smoky mezcal with bright grapefruit and lime, softened by chamomile syrup and a subtle bitters finish. Had a Smokey flavor profile that was still refreshing and complemented my meal. I ended up seeing another cocktail that looked appealing so I ordered the Paloma as well that was citrusy with fresh grapefruit slices. For food, the Breakfast Burrito was packed and flavorful with fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, mushrooms, avocado, jalapeño, and melty cheese. The tomatillo sauce tied everything together perfectly with just the right amount of tang. The standout for me was the Steak & Egg. The seared Wagyu steak was tender and cooked beautifully, paired with a crispy hash brown and sunny egg that made every bite rich and satisfying. Even the mixed greens with anchovy dressing felt elevated instead of like an afterthought. Great atmosphere for brunch, quality ingredients, and cocktails that actually feel creative. Definitely will return for brunch at some point as the experience exceeded my expectations.

    Super cute inviting diner/cafe. They have light delicate cocktails that pair perfectly with their…read morelighter fare. I really liked that it wasn't a huge and heavy menu. The sandwich was just a really well made basic sandwich. Nothing fancy. So a little pricey but also nice that it's smaller portions and seems to use really fresh ingredients.

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    Two Hands - Inside - Seating

    Inside - Seating

    Two Hands - Salmon Quinoa Bowl

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    Paperboy East - cheddar hashbrown

    Paperboy East

    4.5(1.4k reviews)
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    Thank you to Hannah who made our last stop in Austin one to remember. From the recommendations to…read morethe hospitality, our brunch was one to remember because of Hannah. I had the classic breakfast but subbed the wedges either the cheddar hash browns

    Such a cute place for brunch. I been wanting to try this place since the last time I was in Austin…read more I'm glad I got to try it this time. This place does get busy due to how popular the place is. They don't take reservations, so you have to there to put yourself on the waitlist. While you wait you can order a drink. We didn't since there were other coffee shops I wanted to try. Since everything looked so good on the menu, we asked our waitress what's the most popular. He recommended the chicken & biscuits, cinnamon toast, & the b.e.c sandwich. I ended up getting the b.e.c. sandwich & it was yummy. The sesame challah bun was soft & toasty. The bacon was smoky & crispy. The bacon, pimiento cheese, jalapeño jam, sunny egg, & arugula in the sandwich was the perfect combination for a breakfast sandwich. The potato wedges that it was served with were crispy, well seasoned, & not salty as all. My boyfriend ordered the chicken & biscuit & it was yummy as well. The chicken was crispy & juicy. Paired with the hot honey made it better. The biscuit was fluffy, but I wished it was more buttery. Overall, everything was so good. I'm definitely gonna try the cinnamon toast & other foods the next time I'm in Austin.

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    Colleen's Kitchen - Shrimp and grits

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    4.0(693 reviews)
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    I had a lovely brunch with my family at Colleen's Kitchen. They have a nice patio area that is…read moreshaded in the morning and seats inside that make you feel like you're in a southern home. Service is quick and good. The biscuits are AMAZING. Highly recommend trying. I also had the half portion of shrimp and grits. It was too salty in my opinion. Dishes are decently priced and the restaurant is never too crowded. They offer 3 hr parking validation in the garage!

    Really disappointing experience from a place we have supported for years…read more We have lived in the neighborhood since 2019 and have been to Colleen's many times. This visit started off well. A manager kindly helped seat us at the last table that could fit a high chair, and our server was perfectly pleasant. Then we watched an older Uber Eats driver ask for an update on an order after being told it would be ready in five minutes. More than ten minutes later, when he checked again, the assistant manager was openly rude and dismissive. He told the driver he could not make the kitchen move any faster and then said, "Why don't you leave and come back then if you're in such a hurry." That interaction was bad enough that we canceled our food order, paid for our drinks, and left. When asked why, I explained exactly what we had witnessed. The response: "Don't worry about that, he's just an Uber driver." That told us everything we needed to know. We do not want to support a business where management treats people that way and then defends it. We will not be back. John, you should be ashamed of yourself.

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    Colleen's Kitchen - Long table

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    Chao Cafe - coffee - Updated May 2026

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