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    The Vinam Cafe

    4.7 (191 reviews)
    Closed 6:30 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Pastries
    Lauren B.

    The workers are so sweet and kind. The coffee is strong and tasty. There are plenty of seats inside and a few tables outside. There are a few parking spots next to it. They're small so park wisely. When we go on the weekends, it is always packed. Normally a line with people ordering food and drinks. What I really like about this is that people come to get coffee and sit down to enjoy it. It's different than your typical grab and go and you can see the community that supports the business. Everything is brewed fresh so there is a wait when you order your drink. Plan accordingly. I think they could improve their system with brewing to cut down on the wait which is why I gave 4 stars. However, this has become my go to coffee spot on the weekend despite the wait because they are very consistent with their service and beverages. I need to try their food because the last time I went, almost every table had something to eat!

    Caramel Latte & Flan Coffee
    Lan Anh N.

    Such an amazing coffee spot! This was honestly one of the best experiences we've had. The customer service was immaculate--everyone was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and made us feel so comfortable from the moment we walked in. The entire place was spotless and well maintained, which we really appreciated. The coffee was delicious, and the chicken bánh mì was SO good! My husband and I absolutely loved everything we ordered. We're officially obsessed and will definitely be coming back regularly. It's rare to find a place with great drinks, good food, a clean environment, and genuinely amazing customer service all in one. Definitely recommend!

    Mya T.

    Been wanting to try this place and finally went with my sister and niece . I got the mango matcha, my sister got the coco matcha and rhe bbq banh mi, and my niece got a peach tea with shrimp spring rolls. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious and the customer service here is awesome!! I even took a friend to try this place the following week and the energy was the same.

    Egg coffee (back) and Viet coffee (front) - July 2026
    Candace C.

    Service here is so warm and friendly 5/5! There's also seating inside and a few tables out front. It's on the first floor of a shared building to the Plaza Apartments. The Vietnamese coffees were good but the banh mi was on the pricier side for the area. They have a private parking lot but it's very tight and has a handful of spots right as you drive past the shop turn right in. Overall a solid spot and the women working there are super nice, amazing customer service.

    James V.

    Awesome experience! Very friendly staff. Drink was made to order but came out quickly. Nice sized interior. Excellent flavor, very enjoyable.

    Crème brûlée Vietnamese coffee & mushroom pork pie
    Nikki S.

    Vinam Cafe is such a gem! the moment you walk in, you're greeted by super sweet servers who make the space feel instantly welcoming. Their pastries (the pork & mushroom pie and the cheese danish) are absolutely delicious, flaky and full of flavor, and the crème brûlée topped coffee is a standout treat with its caramelized crunch melting into smooth, rich espresso. What makes the experience even more special is the owner's son, who always offers thoughtful suggestions that end up being spot‑on (he might challenge you to a game of Janga if you need a break lol) Between the warm hospitality and yummy flavors, Vinam Cafe has quickly become a place worth returning to again and especially if you're looking for a quite spot to work or study with great food and drinks on hand for those longer days.

    Tina C.

    Very cute and relaxed cafe. I ordered the creme brûlée coffee and it was delicious. Not too sweet or strong. There are assorted pastries to choose from. The pate pastry was good and filling. Service was kind and friendly.

    Pastry with apricot jam
    Komal B.

    Vinam Cafe is a local Vietnamese coffee shop and cafe near SDSU, and has such a creative menu, everything feels unique and thoughtfully made. Their desserts are incredible, especially with homemade apricot and other fruit jams. The drinks are on the sweeter side, more dessert-like than traditional coffee, but still amazing. The food is also fantastic -- I'm vegetarian and they were kind enough to make me a tofu bánh mì, and the butter/spread on it was so delicious. You can really tell this is a family-run business, and the owner is super friendly. The interior is cute with a few tables, making it a nice spot to hang out or get some work done with WiFi. Parking is a bit tight, so I'd recommend street parking or a short walk from nearby spots. Overall, a really charming spot with creative drinks, tasty food, and a welcoming vibe.

    Pedro G.

    Small cozy cafe, located on a very busy street and parking can be tricky. Was craving a bahn mi so I decided to stop by. There was no line when entering but it was still a bit of a wait. Ordered the BBQ chicken bahn mi. Portion size is very good.  I want to say I loved the sandwich's taste but it was a 6/10, best part was the bread, it had a nice crunch. I'd consider giving it another try some other day.

    Pastry display
    Alexis P.

    I've been to The Vinam Cafe on El Cajon Blvd a couple of times now, and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite spots. Since its located on El Cajon Blvd, parking can be a little tricky, but you can find street parking, and there's also a small lot, so far I have not had any issues with parking. The space itself is cozy and welcoming, with free WiFi, board games to play, and even books for kids, which makes it feel like a great hangout spot whether you're alone or with friends or family. The staff has been consistently friendly, and the girls working there were genuinely so sweet and welcoming both times I visited. On my second visit, I even met the owner and her adorable son, which just added to the warm, community feel of the place. Now the best part...the food and drinks. They have a huge selection of pastries, and everything I've tried has been delicious. On my first visit, I had a pastry with ham, cheese, and egg, and it was seriously amazing, the egg was perfectly runny, and it still held up well even after being warmed up. The second time, we tried the meat pie pastry (which reminded us of dumpling filling in the best way) and a jam and cream cheese danish, both were excellent. Their drinks are just as impressive. I've personally tried the Crème Brûlée Cloudfee and the Coconut Cloudfee, and both were incredible. A friend also had the Purple (Ube) Cloudfee and absolutely loved it. They also offer a variety of other drinks, pastries, and Banh Mi sandwiches, which I'm definitely planning to try next. Overall, this place has everything: great drinks, delicious pastries, a comfortable vibe, and genuinely kind people. This will definitely be my new go-to spot for Vietnamese coffee.

    Matcha latte, strawberry tea and cinnamon raisin roll
    Vanessa T.

    My friend and I got the strawberry tea and matcha latte + a raisin roll. I'm normally not a fan of sweet drinks but the brûlée creamy top of the matcha hit. They made mine with oat milk as well. The barista was so sweet and I am a big fan of supporting Vietnamese-owned businesses! Very cozy, cute, and had parking at the side of the cafe.

    Interior
    Vivian

    I would honestly come back just for the hospitality. A lot of cafes could learn from Vinam Cafe on how to treat their guests. I was expecting a quick surface level grab and go interaction, but the service was beyond amazing from the second we walked in. Two ladies were working and immediately acknowledged us and said they would be right with us. We took a few minutes to look over the menu. They offer food items along with coffee, matcha, and tea drinks. Since it was around brunch time, a banh mi and a matcha sounded perfect. I was hoping for something unique with the matcha because their coffee menu had so many creative options. On the menu I only saw a regular matcha latte and coco matcha, so I asked if they had any other flavors. The super sweet employee mentioned two off menu drinks they can make, mango matcha and strawberry matcha. I went with the mango matcha. My husband ordered an iced Vietnamese coffee. I also added a cold cut banh mi to our order. There is a good amount of seating inside. They even have shelves with games like Uno, Scrabble, and Monopoly if you want to hang out with friends. Our drinks came out in about 5 minutes and the food around 10. The mango matcha was good, but it was a little hard to stir because the mango puree sits thick at the bottom. I wish they offered a stronger straw because the one provided was too flimsy to mix everything together. The matcha itself was not too sweet, which I appreciated. It was topped with a cream layer and a little sugar biscuit, which made it feel fun. The Vietnamese coffee was solid. Not too bitter and not overly sweet. No crazy wow factor, but sometimes you just want a good iced coffee. The cold cut banh mi needs work. It is $9 and the portion felt fair, but the ratios were off. One of my favorite parts of a banh mi is that sharp acidic pop from the pickled carrot and daikon, but there was barely any in mine. I also did not taste much mayo. Instead, the dominant flavor was a very strong, liver forward pate. I usually love a generous amount of pate, but this one tasted homemade and chunky, and leaned very bitter and heavy. It overpowered everything. I had to rely on the garlic sweet and slightly spicy sauce, which I think they use for their spring rolls, to balance it out. It helped but it also masked what could have been a fresher tasting sandwich. Overall, I would definitely come back for the drinks and the hospitality. The banh mi has room for improvement, but maybe I will try their spring rolls next.

    Katelyn R.

    Fresh baked goods daily, banh mi's & spring rolls, strong Vietnamese coffee....... Omg what more could you ask for????? I'm already looking forward to the matcha I'm getting tomorrow! The ladies here are so so soooo sweet and they really feel like they're my aunties. Such a cute cafe and I can see myself studying here once my semester starts. I love flan so I had to get their flan iced coffee. The Vietnamese coffee is sooooo strong! I love it. Coming here earlier definitely made my day 10x better.

    Top of the coco matcha!

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    The Vinam Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

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    The Vinam Cafe - coffee - Updated August 2026

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