Highly recommend for having authentic Vietnamese food. This place is must go for family dinner. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Dessert - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

They should be more careful when holding any hot soup to the customer. I lost my appetize. The burn was bad. SMH. Aside that we didn't even enjoy our lunch. They are lucky I am asian and not other races woulda sue them. The food is okay and the price are very high compare to other restaurant around there. read more

food 5/5 strawberry matcha ($8) was very good. the strawberry puree was fresh. flavors went so well together and i will stop here just to get this again. chicken vermicelli was SOO GOOD. only critique was that it came on a plate. i like to mix my food together, so food was falling off. portion was great. chicken was cooked really well and had lots of flavor. veggies were fresh and the sauce was perfect. service 4/5 this is a small family run business and you can tell everyone is pulling their weight. service is usually a little slow, but i don't mind because the food and drinks are really good. ambiance 5/5 restaurant was clean and tidy. they have lots of small snacks to bring home, which is a great addition. parking lot is TINY, though not far from a bus stop. prices are a bit more than competitors in the area. i feel like the unique drink menu alone is worth stopping by. overall, i love this place and will be visiting again. read more

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The matcha with ube foam was super smooth and rich, with a strong ceremonial style matcha flavor underneath. The ube foam itself was very creamy with a nice nutty sweetness that paired really well with the matcha. The banana foam version tasted a little artificial banana wise, but it was still creamy and enjoyable overall. I do wish they used less ice since we finished the drinks pretty quickly. Would definitely come back to try the food though. The cafe has a very calm atmosphere, perfect for getting some work done or grabbing a quick bite. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Matcha latte + banana cream foam - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I stopped in to grab a Matcha in the morning right after they opened as I've been on the hunt for the best matcha in Seattle and heard good things about this place. I ordered a Matcha latte with no flavor. I saw that they had an einspanner Matcha and a banana matcha which I'm eager to try. I didn't want anything too sweet so I went with the traditional latte and didn't know if it was going to come sweetened or not. It turned out to be absolutely delicious and very lightly sweetened, which was perfect and exactly what I look for in a Matcha. It was earthy and delicious. I saw that they also served lots of Boba toppings, but I came so early that they weren't serving them yet so I would love to come back and try their Boba. They also have tons of food, which I didn't try but would absolutely come back for. There is plenty of seating and the staff is so friendly :) read more

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This. Place. Hits. So. Hard. You know a place is good when it's packed and there's a line but you know an Asian place is good...when it's full of Asian people. Ordered a bunch of things to try and they were all good- except for the Bún Bò Huế Tacos because they were NOT Bún Bò Huế Tacos (Flour tortilla, cheese, beef topped with basil, beansprout onion, cilantro, and onions served with spicy beef noodle consommé) it was a pho broth and the meat was 80% just fat, no cheese, nothing. The banh xeo was incredible- crispy, full to bursting....just like Vietnam. The Banh Uot tower was also well worth it, lots of filling and the option of proteins is extensive. Some of the plates were hard to get out of the rack. Super vibrant inside and fun. All herbs and lettuce were fresh and clean, if you know, you know. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wow, I'm impressed by how extensive the menu is here! Typically, when a menu is this large, the food tends to be below average, but everything we ordered was actually pretty good. Especially the cháo lòng -- it's better than most places I've had in the area. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes. read more

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My friends and I all tried their same matcha latte, and we noted how it was smooth and well-balanced. We were curious in their Asian-inspired selection of rice krispys, including a pandan rice krispy. It was a fun treat, that had a strong smell of pandan and a slightly weaker taste but still delicious hint of pandan that added a subtle, fragrant, sweetness. Would love to try some of their food dishes in the future! read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Aside from finding a hair in my bún bò Huế, it was honestly just okay. I also tried the banana matcha latte and the strawberry matcha latte, and those were amazing definitely the highlight of the meal. I totally understand that mistakes happen, but there was a long strand of hair in my noodles, which was pretty off-putting. I will say the staff handled it well though. They noticed, apologized, and brought out a fresh bowl for me, which I appreciated and ended up enjoying. (It's better if you ask for more mam ruốc and add a little more chili oil.) I also enjoyed the bánh cuốn tower, which I didn't take a pictire of because I devoured it. All things considered, I'd probably still come back. And to be real, I might've just kept eating it if the server hadn't seen me pull the hair out lol just kidding. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Bun Bo Hue - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Super busy, but we still found a seat right away. Everything was delicious and really fresh, the drinks were amazing, and the service was warm and friendly. Even though it was packed, it didn't feel overwhelming. Cute space, quick service, and we felt really well taken care of. Definitely coming back, especially for the banana matcha! read more

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Food is so good! 2nd time going, I do have to say that the crab udon wasn't my thing as it was a bit boring. But doesn't mean it wasn't good! A must order is the Banh xeo! I would definitely come again for this. The broken plate rice dish is great too. Service is great! All the workers are kind. Btw there is a lot parking that seems to always have a spot when I go. A place that is more busy in the weekend. It was pretty empty on a Monday night. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I come here for the matcha drinks, yes I know surprise! I would've never tried it until my co worker at the time recommended this place. I ordered the matcha with ube foam with extra matcha with no expectations. To my surprise, it was good! Just a warning that if you were to order a few drinks to order ahead as they take a little I'd theyre busy. Otherwise, theyre pretty quick. Drinks are consistent. Service is decent. Ample amount of parking. A lot of tables and seating. I've heard their food is good here as well, the only dish I've tried was their bun dau mam tom, and it was fire. I 100% come here matcha since its really close to me and can always count on it to hit. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is my new favorite Vietnamese restaurant! We got the bun mam, banh canh cua, bun bo hue, and the banh uot tower. Everything was so good and flavorful!!! I definitely want to come back and try their other dishes and also their drinks as well read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - I got the bun mam - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came to Soufend Cafe & Eatery for a second try, hoping it would be better this time, but sadly it was worse. It was busy when we arrived, which is fine, but after we were seated we waited 20 minutes with no service until we had to flag someone down. It then took another 5 minutes to place our order. We ordered: - Fish sauce garlic chicken wings - Broken rice plate - Banh Mi Chao - Sticky rice It took another 20 minutes for the food to start coming out 45 minutes total and we only got three of the dishes while still waiting for the broken rice. The chicken wings were very salty. The Banh Mi Chao had some variety but was burnt and the eggs were also burnt. The sticky rice was bland and tasteless. By the time we finished the three dishes it had been 70 minutes and we still hadn't gotten the broken rice. When it finally arrived it was extremely dry and stale, like it had been sitting for days. The pork chop tasted like rubber and the egg was overly salty. My guest was very disappointed, and so was I. Between the slow service and the poor food quality, this visit was a letdown. We won't be coming back and I can't recommend this place to anyone who's hungry and hoping to get a decent meal in a reasonable amount of time. read more

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I forgot to take a picture of my banana matcha :(( but this visit was disappointing. I came back after a long time and got the banana matcha w/cookie foam (3/5) and it was not the same as my initial visit 8 months ago. The absence of banana chunks was a letdown as it contributed to the in-depth flavor and texture I once experienced. Also, the color of the matcha was not as vibrant and strong and there was too much cookie crumble on top. read more

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I loveeee this place so much! Prices are great compared to other places. The matcha tastes very strong and smooth, almost as good as phe but cheaper. The banana cold foam tastes authentic and fresh, and they don't put much ice. Very good matcha and I must try the other flavors. The coffee is delicious and very strong. Rich in flavor and a must try if you like strong coffee. The avocado toast was delicious! I definitely was not expecting it to taste as good, but it was definitely the best toast I've ever tried. The marshmallow rice treat was good as well! I got it for my brother and he loved it. Tasted just like fruit pebbles. I loved studying there, and got so much work done. The internet was great, and did not expire every other hour like in other cafes. So you can be there as long as you need to and won't get kicked out. There is also free iced water, it's self serve so you can refill as many times necessary. Great ambiance and it wasn't as full which helps study. The service was also quick and the worker was very kind. It's a family owned restaurant which makes the food taste even better, and the service has been great all the times I've been there. Must try! read more

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Second time trying Soufend - went for blended smoothies instead of teas this time. My friend said the mangonada has more chamoy than tajin (more sweet then spicy) and that tajin is chewy. She would have preferred it without boba. Chamoy overpowers the mango a bit. The avocado smoothie was perfect ! Completely smooth and not too sweet. Perfect for wanting to get some protein into your sweet drink. Because both drinks were blended, I think it took longer than usual (~10 min for both). Order was taken really quickly and I was greeted as soon as I walked in. Place is great for small groups. There is table service and free water + outside seating. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Mangonada slush and avocado smoothie - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I went here with some friends for dinner. I was told the green milk tea was tasty and pro tip, they have lactose free milks! The stone pot looked so lovely but my friend said it was about average. And although I was eager to try the lamb hot pot, I waited quite a while for it to arrive. It was the type of hot pot that is super herbal and fresh, leaving you not feeling the heaviness or typical sodium dehydration. I enjoyed it but wonder if it's something I would get in place of other tasty dishes. The staff was really friendly and gave us some che samples at the end. They loaded up the coconut milk generously! read more

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I first went here for plate of nations in 2025 and returned in 2026. The food is so tasty and creatively presented! read more

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I already posted my review on google but i still re-post this again, the reason is i felt very mad today about this experience and i believe if you are the owner and you see my review, you can see the issue and i wish you can improve this in the future: ----- Very disappointing experience. Yesterday afternoon, I waited almost 30 minutes without anyone coming to check on me. No greeting, no update--nothing--until I had to wave my hand to get someone's attention. During that time, I was surprised to see other tables who ordered after/before me receive their food first. If the wait was going to be that long, they should have informed me in advance so I could decide whether to stay. I ordered the crab udon soup, and when the food finally arrived, no one explained the delay or even asked how everything was. Only much later did the chef come out to apologize, but by then it was already too late--the experience was already ruined. I hardly ever leave no tip, and I also rarely write bad reviews, but this time I couldn't. Poor communication and lack of basic service completely overshadowed the meal. Recommendation: Be prepared to wait before getting your food, or make sure to ask the staff upfront how long it will take. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Udon crab noodle soup - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Amazing! The food was really good. We ordered the spring roll plates along with greenery platters and braised tofu. The place felt overwhelming though, especially the staff. There's a lot of people behind the counter and the food took a long time despite how many people were back there. Very overstimulated. The music was too loud, could barely hear the conversation I was making with my friend. read more

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Food is beautifully presented, good flavors and portions, and nice variety of things to try. I also loved that they had a decent sized parking lot which made coming here easy! Rice noodle platter was nice w an assortment of meats - the grilled pork was yummy! Less of a fan of the processed meats - but perfect to share! Beef tacos were interesting w a rich dipping sauce (i made rice noodles at home to turn into a soup w the leftovers which was nice). Mini pancakes were a split in our group - Half felt they were way too sweet but a couple of my friends loved them so took them home. The platter with cheese, egg and pate + bread on the side was different ... a deconstructed bahn mi in a way - Nice to try but would get something different next time. All in all, good and definitely unique and would return to try more things! read more

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Food is great. I ordered the pho & my man ordered the vermicelli plate. We also got a matcha latte & the tamarind mango black tea. Pho was good, broth was a little sweet for me but it was good nonetheless, they are also very generous on the meat, it was a lot for me to eat. Definitely will go back to try other items on their menu. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Soufend has a decent sized parking lot that is shared with Sun Ta Tofu Bakery so you don't need to be too concerned about having to street park. Walking in, the staff were very busy but still welcoming. It appears to be self service for water. The wall decorations looked new. Not necessarily Vietnamese themed but felt more modern. On the food review, I got the broken rice grilled pork plate. The grilled pork was delicious but slightly dry. The shrimp patty was also delicious and fresh. It didn't taste like it was sitting there for a while (would get rubbery if left out for a while). The fish sauce wasn't super salty (just right). The egg meat cake is different than the one I'm used to in California. This one is pan fried while I'm used to the steam one. Overall, it was actually a good amount of food for $20. You can share with another person and you'll both be satisfied. I would come back and try out the banh uot tower. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been wanting to try Soufend Cafe for so long even before they opened - ever since I saw their sign outside the door while visiting the deli next door with my girlfriend. Finally we got the chance to try them out when they were open during Christmas Eve. It was a little busy so we waited at the door for a while but eventually the waitress sat us down. After looking at the menu, we decided to order the Canh Ga Chien (Fried Chicken) with fish sauce, the Bun Bo Hue Tacos, and the Banh Uot Tower. We also ordered two drinks, the Tamarind Mango Black Tea and the Banana Cookie Coffee. Banh Uot Tower - One of the first dishes brought out to us, I love banh uoc it's one of my favourite Vietnamese dishes. Seeing this served in a tower was very unique, first of its kind and an awesome presentation! It also comes with some veggies and you get two protein options to choose from for this dish, so we got it with heo quay (crispy pork) and thit heo nuong (grilled pork). I was really looking forward to trying their heo quay since it's a meat you don't find too often served at most Vietnamese eateries, but unfortunately it wasn't all that good. The thit heo nuong was valid though, flavourful and matched well with the banh uot. Overall the tower was just okay, we didn't end up finishing this unfortunately. Bun Bo Hue Tacos - Another unique fusion dish that I thought would be cool to try. My girlfriend was more excited for this one. It's basically BBH beef and other related toppings inside a taco with a side of BBH soup you can dip the tacos in. We really wanted to like this dish, but it just wasn't doing it for us. The tortilla definitely tasted store bought and the texture was too moist. Soup was good though! BONUS ITEM!! - Us alongside other patrons got a little dessert, it was a banana sticky rice dish with a sweet coating of coconut syrup. Honestly one of the best things we had while we were there. Canh Ca Chien - Well... we never ended up receiving the fish sauce fried chicken. Bummer, but it's okay since we ended up becoming full after the other dishes. We let the guy that brought out the dessert (who I believe is the owner, as I've seen him at the sister establishment Boba Gem) know about it and to just scrap it out ticket. Drinks - Both the Tamarind Mango Black Tea and the Banana Cookie Coffee were SO GOOD. It makes sense that they've got it down since Soufend Cafe also operates another place that serves these kinds of drinks. I finished the tea so fast, and the coffee really got the banana cookie flavor down - worth every sip! Speaking of drinks, there was a whole entire glass bottle of water, but they never decided to bring us any cups until we finally asked for it. My girlfriend and I were really looking forward to trying Soufend Cafe & Eatery, but we left feeling dismayed. Don't get me wrong, I'm so glad they opened as we've been needing a cafe like this in South Seattle. But before they opened, we thought it was going to be more like a cafe that mainly served delicious drinks alongside just few other items. So we weren't expecting this to become a full-fledged restaurant. If I were able to recommend any changes based on our experiences, I would reduce the amount of dishes on the menu and try to perfect the few, while also focusing the cafe more on the drink menu rather than the eat menu. We already have a lot of great restaurants in the South End, but not enough cafes that serve as a great "Third Place" to casually meet up and mingle. I love Soufend Cafe for what it represents, but I'm likely only coming back for the drinks. read more

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It's fun going here more than once especially if you wanna try everything on here! I ended up going back two more times from my last review, and the food is still superb in my opinion! For one visit, I got the banh uot rice roll tower, which is a ton of plates stacked on a rack, along with your choice of meats. They provide mint leaves, bean sprouts, mango slices and other things on the side as well. My friend and I got grilled pork loaf (nem nuong) and crispy pork (heo quay) as our meat choices. I wish that they provided a lot more meat since the plates were small and the rice rolls were pretty huge for each plate. We also got the beef in a skillet, which had more than enough steak. There's been a trend of some Vietnamese restaurants finally serving this breakfast dish, so I'm happy that Soufend does too and that it's really darn good! For another visit, I got the broken rice plate, which is the dish that my friend got when I came the first time. This one comes with a lot of things like grilled pork, egg, shredded pork, and pork loaf. This dish is only $20, which is very much worth given everything on the plate and how filling it is! Plus, the meats are very well seasoned. read more

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South End (Soufend) represent! Love, love, love all of the Seattle decor here. So bright, friendly, and clean, and all the food looks delicious. They have a very long list of specials of Vietnamese food that isn't as common in Seattle. My husband kept raving about the bánh canh cua. I ordered the bún bò Huề, which had the right complex, flavor profile, but I usually prefer this dish super spicy and piping hot. I'm pretty picky about bún bò Huế though, which is one of my favorite dishes. Food presentation is great, it's clear they care a lot about the food, neighborhood, and experience, and it's always great to see a new, thriving restaurant here (they were super packed when we came on Saturday and was also super crowded when I passed by on a random weekday, so plan ahead). It does take a bit for them to make the food but it's worth the wait. I can't wait to come back to try their other dishes. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Bún bò Huế - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Hmm, my experience wasn't that great. I got take out, and it felt like everything was over cooked and dried out. I had heard good things, so maybe it was a combo of an off night and take out. Not sure if I will make another run yet. read more

Excellent com tam. Looks like they added a different fish/pork cake to the dish. Phenomenal service Beautifully cozy dining space read more

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My mom and I stopped by to check out this new eatery close to where I grew up. Looking at old photos, this strip mall has seen major improvements. Since it's a new place, we stuck with our go-to's. The food was good. We really liked the fish sauce wings and the flavorful fried rice. The duck vermicelli soup was a special listed on their board in Vietnamese. I would not have known about it if I didn't see the dish come out of the kitchen. Be sure to ask about the specials! The All-in Bún was good in concept, which contained a generous variety of proteins, including sliced pork, egg rolls and bo lo lot, which was on the bland side and could have used some more seasoning. The accompanying nước chấm was lacking acidity, chili and/or garlic ...we're used to a little more punch. I realize Soufend just opened and they need time to fine tune their menu and service. I look forward to returning to see how they're doing. read more

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Decided to try this cafe Friday with my dad it's on the way to his place and fairly new to the neighborhood. Next to Sun Ta Tofu. Dad went with one of the specials on the board believe it sad Phnom Penh rice noodle soup it had shrimp, liver and pork. Very generous on the protein portion. I had the shaken beef was tender. Saw the beef stew on the specials menu when we were paying would definitely try that next time. Order at counter and they deliver to your table. Friendly staff added a mango slushy when paying wasn't sure how it would be since it's not really mango season but was very tasty and had diced fresh mango in it. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Interior facing main counter - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Located literally in the Soufend, right on MLK & Graham. It's in a shared plaza with Sun Ta Tofu and has some parking spots but if it happens to be packed, you can park behind it or across the street. The inside has a lot of nostalgic decor that really embodies childhood growing up in the south side of Seattle. It is cafe style so they will come take your order but do expect to grab your own water which in my opinion, is a lot more convenient. There's also a good amount of seating for different party sizes. The fried chicken wings are my go to each time I come here and they're packed with flavor. Each order gives a generous serving of wings. The Rice Roll Tower is a fun experience and comes with everything you need to serve rice rolls for 5 people. You get the option to choose different meats for it as well. Overall a really good spot to bring people to if you want some authentic Vietnamese food with a modern twist. Their Specials Menu also has a lot more traditional options if that's what you're looking for! read more

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Food was very good. We ordered quite a few dishes to try and did not have enough space at our table. Food was flavorful and fresh and very authentic. If there was one thing I'd come back for, it would be the rice roll tower, you get to make your own rolls and can custom to what fillings you want in your roll. The soups were on the saltier side thought because after we had to drink alot of water. The downside is that this place was super busy when we came on a weekend, it was very chaotic and disorganized. People that were also in front of us got seated even though we had been waiting for a while. It was due to the fact we had 3 people and they had 2, but it was the same size table that they sat us at. And we had so much food that our dishes were literally sitting on the edge of the table. read more

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In short- -Banh Uot Tower -Loaded Rice Plate -Banh Khoc And customer service absolutely exceeded our expectations. Everything is fresh (herbs, steamed rice, rice crepe) perfectly cooked proteins, delicious fish sauce and fragrant rice. Order it all- you won't regret it! -------- Traveling from Atlanta with my parents and American fiancé, looking for good Vietnamese food and happen to stumble upon this place after searching for Banh Uot. Let me tell you- it's very difficult to find amazing Banh Uot and is usually a hit or miss . THIS THOUGH- hit all 3 criteria (tasty fish sauce, good protein, and fresh steamed rice crepe) I got the crispy pork and it was the crispiest I've ever had and didn't need to add additional protein. - Banh Uot Tower w/crispy pork - 10 out of 10! The portion sizes are very generous and every dish at the table was delicious. -Banh Khoc had coconut cream and the bean paste blended so well together with the crispy base , (10 out of 10) Most Banh khoc you get turned off by the dripping grease. Again- best I've ever had. I saw their specialty menu board and is very impressed by the authenticity and varied selection. -Rice plate was loaded with all the proteins and dad loved it! The meats were cooked just right, rice was fragrant, and fish sauce was delicious. The portion was huge. (10 out of 10) From a family of foodie travelers, we were impressed by the quality and our satisfaction of everything dish we ordered. Really looking forward to frequently visiting this gem each time we are in town. The parking situation was also very convenient and easy to access. Ambiance is nice and casual. I left a personal belonging behind mistakenly and they went above and beyond to go out of their way to get it back to me. Customer service here is impeccable!!! read more

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Please get the Ube matcha boba!! It's so good! I've been here twice already and everything was pretty good! My favorite was the shrimp salad. I also tried the rice roll tower and it came with a lot of the rolls. I wish it came with more veggies though instead of having to pay for extra. A good honey, Vietnamese spot! read more

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Came back for the rice roll plate. Was quite a wait, but overall it tasted delicious. Plus they also gave us a free white bean sweet dessert! read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Bun Mam - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I was very excited to see this new eatery open up in a neighborhood I grew up in, which is fondly known as the 'Soufend' or South Seattle. I fell in love with the amazing art pieces that Soufend commissioned for their space by up-and-coming artists justin x caitlin truong (IG: @_justxcait). The art pieces are nostalgic and pay tribute to this community! My favorite is the one of paper Metro Transfer Tickets, which many people like myself, used to collect in a shoebox. As for the food, I was extremely interested in trying the Bún Bò Huế Tacos on their menu. The tacos were filled with ingredients you'd find in Bún Bò Huế and wrapped in a flour tortilla. The dish reminded me a lot of birria tacos with consome. I also ordered garlic fish sauce chicken wings, which had the perfect crunch. For the price for the tacos, I wish there was more food, which is why my rating is a little lower. But I would still be interested in going back to this eatery to try other dishes and some more of the drink options. I also acknowledge that I visited them on Day 2 of when they had just opened, so they are still working out things. I wish them all the best and very excited to welcome them to the neighborhood! Soufend sits on a remodeled lot on MLK Jr Way S & S Graham St, next to Sun Ta Tofu & Bakery. They share a parking lot. So far, Soufend is open Monday thru Friday: 7:30am-8:00pm & weekends from 9:30am-7:00pm. Follow them on IG @soufendcafe to stay updated! read more

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Cool space with a cool name. I ordered their broken rice plate and the tamarind mango black tea. I will say that the best things here are the drinks. The broken rice plate was okay but bits of the grilled pork tasted a little too charred. I do want to come back and try other things though. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Broken rice plate with mango black tea - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Still on the fence about this place. Service wasn't that great. It's not that they were rude but they messed up a couple of things in our order. The price is a little bit more expensive than other Vietnamese places. The flavor wasn't bad for my Bun Bo Hue and my friend's chicken vermicelli but their coffee was great. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I really want to like this place more but I have mixed feelings. I came here for chicken rice. They have parking, that's a bonus. They have a vast menu. The specials board alone had 15 or more items on it. Many things I want to try. But I came here for Hainanese chicken rice. Their's is pretty good, but didn't quite hit the level I was looking for. I partial to Singapore style which is exceptional where mom and pop places specialize in it. Thai style comes a close second. What they serve here honestly looks better than it tastes. I'm not saying it's bad, but I have high expectations for chicken rice. The abundance of fried shallot was a nice touch. The rice according to the menu is seasoned with ginger and onions. The bed of rice is GENEROUS portion. It's more flavorful than your average plain bowl of white rice, but I didn't get any sense that it was cooked in the chicken stock from poaching the chicken. It's just not chicken rice unless the rice has that luciousness from being toasted in chicken fat and then cooked in the liquid used to poach the chicken. So disappointing on that front. The ginger sauce was both sweet and vinegar-y. I was not expecting that either. I prefer the sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) and/or ginger scallion sauce. Their ginger sauce was more like a salad dressing category of flavor. Also, you can tell the chicken needs to be re-warmed since it's one of those things that by necessity needs to be cooked ahead of time (unless it's the only thing you serve and you serve it all day, every day.) However, mine was still cold in the middle. And the flavor of the chicken itself just wasn't that amazing. I know this was my first visit, so I'm not mad or anything. However, it's a bit confusing if you are supposed to order at the counter or from a server at your table. There is a small sign that says "order here" at the register, but not sure if that is for to-go orders or everybody. There was a long line at the counter, which seemed like a mix of people waiting to pay after eating and people ordering coffee drinks to-go. Even when I asked a server what the routine was, I still wasn't clear but the server came to my table. Not sure if that's the norm or what. Beware, it's a loud space. Partly the music is at too high a volume (I had to find a table in the furthest, quietest corner I could find). A small group came in after me and actually asked them to turn the music down. And they could use some wall and ceiling treatments to reduce the sound reflections. There was a tiny baby cyring normally like a baby does, but it might as well have been a fire engine with sirens going full blast because of the acoustics. The restaurant was only half full. I can only imagine how loud it gets with a full house, even without babies. It's a hip and trendy place but seems like the hip and trendy stuff gets in the way being a comfortable place with the noise level. And that gets in the way of very authentic flavors and menu choices. I'll be back. I want to try the duck congee, chicken wings and their version of avocado toast. But I might actually bring earplugs or earbuds to keep the noise down. read more

Soufend Cafe & Eatery - Chicken rice. Looks better than it tastes, but the fried shallots are nice touch. - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington