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    Yaya Cafe

    3.8 (316 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 8:30 PM

    Yaya Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    YAYA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Yaya Cafe

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    Vietnamese Fried Egg Rolls which i ate and Vietnamese sandwich
    Patrick L.

    Quick tasty fresh and delicious i was fasting since last night i wanted to eat a bear - hit the spot

    Inside pork Banh xeo (bean sprout, onions, pork)
    Charli V.

    Okay this was kind of a hidden gem for me. Not a lot of places do Banh xeo in this area. so when I saw it on the menu, I had to check it out. The parking is ridiculous. So many people camped inside the neighboring stores so not a lot of parking spots readily available. And once you've passed through, you can really turn back around without leaving the whole plaza. The restaurant is quite outdated with furniture and silverware. There's a small tv for your leisure... booths are basically all broken lol Anyway, the owner took my order and was very nice. And personable. Seems like this spot is owned by a husband wife duo. I got the pork Banh xeo and it was perfectly crispy. Char sui pork is used for this protein option but the flavors were not too strong or over powering. The veggie garnishment were fresh and clean. Loved the spiralized carrot. I really enjoyed this dish and would return if I had a Banh xeo craving on the weekdays!

    egg rolls
    Christine G.

    I've lived near this place for a while but never tried it until today. What drew me in was spotting Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crepe) on the menu. The owner was friendly, and the food came out pretty quickly. I ordered the Bánh Xèo and the egg rolls. The egg rolls were great--crispy, flavorful, and served with an authentic fish sauce dip that tied everything together perfectly. As for the Bánh Xèo, I chose the chicken option. I have to admit I was a little disappointed, though I'm not entirely sure if my expectations were off or if that's just how it's supposed to be. The crepe itself is a bright yellow from turmeric and has a subtle coconut flavor. The texture was chewy in a pleasant way. However, the filling mostly consisted of cold bean sprouts, which felt like it stacked up but didn't add much substance. I also wished there was more chicken, and that the chicken had been seasoned better. I did enjoy wrapping bites of the Bánh Xèo in salad leaves and dipping them in the sauce--it tasted good. Still, the overall experience with this dish wasn't entirely satisfying, mostly because of the portion size and balance of ingredients. That said, I appreciate that this item was on the menu, as it gave me the chance to try something different. Overall, I think my unfamiliarity with this dish might have shaped my expectations. I'm open to coming back to try other menu items and see what else this place has to offer.

    Nutty B.

    The service is friendly and fast, the restaurant is clean and well lit. I ordered the egg roll + shrimp vermicelli bowl, it all tasted fresh and the fish sauce was delicious. We will definitely be back next time we are in town!

    Shrimp + egg roll vermicelli bowl
    Stacy P.

    We had such a great experience with the most friendly, smiling host. It was a joy to be in his presence. Our vermicelli bowls were the some of the most delicious we've had. I loved the way the chicken was cooked and seasoned and my friend loved her shrimp. Give this place a try!

    View from the back. Clean and not very busy!
    Omar M.

    Their Pho really hit the spot! A bit on the saltier side, but good nonetheless. My bowl came out quickly and I was slurping down noodles just minutes after being seated. It's been years since I've been here and they didn't disappoint. Pho is just so good on those cool, gloomy, and rainy days. Service was good and quite friendly. It seemed there were quite a few regulars coming and going as the owner seemed to know them by name. The ambiance was decent and the place was relatively clean.

    Green Tea Milk Boba THE BOMB

    I got the best service, food, and the environment was so homey and clean. Truly a one of a kind place I will be taking my family next time. P.s this is the only place that really cares about the quality of their boba and it was PERFECT

    Viet Coffee

    Our server was very kind! The food is delicious! We ate the chicken bahn mi and it was perfect. Flavorful and crisp. I also drank the viet coffee which came out fresh brewed in a tiny drip cup. And it was the best coffee I've ever tasted. Music was at a good volume, and the table was spacious. Totally coming back!

    Thai tea

    I entered this restaurant urgently needing to use the restroom after much walking before I met my Uber at Yaya cafe; the owner (?) was insistent that I not proceed beyond the service counter to the bathrooms unless I was a customer which to an extent I understand but it was far from a warm welcome. I purchased this tea after I very quickly used the restroom thinking it'd be a simple and safe purchase. I've had a lot of Thai tea in my life and this doesn't taste right, at all. I watched him make it so I'm pretty certain there was no funny business but something about the flavor is off and not in the 'acquired Thai tea' taste manner... maybe the milk, idk, just not good at all. Would not recommend :/

    Orange Chicken over fried rice with an order of (1) Vietnamese eggroll.
    SD M.

    The atmosphere was great. They have electric plugs against the wall so if you want to hang out here and do some work and or be on your computer, this is a perfect quaint place to hangout at. The portions could be a little bit more per servings, but other then that, food was good. The owner is great with great customer service. Would definitely come back again to try the other food on their menu.

    the front of the building
    Jake H.

    YaYa Vietnamese Cafe on 38th had just what I wanted, a delicious banh mi. I got the BBQ pork bahn mi with an avocado smoothie. Very clean inside and staff are super friendly. I definitely want to go back!

    Shaken Beef with Vermicelli and Rare Steak and Brisket Pho
    Jimena E.

    A bit pricey but the quality is pretty high for what you order! I ordered the shaken beef with the vermicelli and it was super refreshing! The service was prompt and welcoming. My only suggestion would be that the shaken beef could've used a bit more beef as there was only a few pieces --however, the veggies and vermicelli made up for it.

    Chicken vermicelli

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    1 year ago

    Delicious! I had the banh mi and spring roll. The owners were very sweet. It's a small business so make sure to check it out!

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    3 years ago

    Could have been good but such a SAD amount of protein. Likely won't go back again just because of this.

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    A new favorite place to eat! It is actually a cafe so you can do work or read without feeling out of place. Top tier comfort food as well.

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Excellent pho, great flavors, quick service, and the owner is very kind. We come here often as it is very centrally located.

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    It's pretty overpriced but for campus food, I think it was great! It was honestly mostly due to how amazing the owners were!

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    1618 Asian Fusion

    1618 Asian Fusion

    4.7
    (4.1k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    After landing in San Antonio yesterday to kick off my summer vacation, the very first thing I did…read moretoday was ask my friend to bring me back to this restaurant. The reason is simple: we ate here two years ago, and it left such a great impression on us that we had been looking forward to coming back ever since. Fortunately, not much has changed in terms of either the quality or the overall presentation of the food. Everything is still delicious, especially the Pho Combo. To be honest, it's far better than most of the pho we've had in Germany. That doesn't mean the pho in Germany is bad--it simply means this place matches my personal taste much better. As for the downsides, they're almost exactly the same as before. Parking is still a major challenge, and I understand that's probably not something the restaurant can easily fix. We also tried calling ahead to reserve a table, but they don't take reservations, whether you're coming with a group of 5-7 people or just 2-3 people. We arrived at 6:45 PM and still had to wait about 40 minutes before being seated, which was honestly quite inconvenient. Coincidentally, there was live music tonight, which was a nice surprise. Unfortunately, the sound system wasn't very good, so it was difficult to hear what the singers were performing. Then again, this isn't really the type of venue where people come specifically to enjoy live music, so most diners didn't seem to pay much attention to it. One thing I did notice was that either the kitchen has made a few changes over the past two years, or perhaps my own taste has changed a little. The food felt slightly saltier than I remembered, and the pho broth was richer and creamier. While that added some depth of flavor, it was a bit too rich for my liking, to the point where finishing the entire bowl of broth felt a little overwhelming. The braised short ribs were incredibly tender--so tender that a knife was almost unnecessary, and they could easily be pulled apart with just a fork. While many people would probably see that as a positive, I actually missed the slightly firmer, meatier texture I remembered from my last visit. That said, these are relatively minor issues. The quality may have dipped just a little compared to our previous visit, but this is still an excellent restaurant. If they can fine-tune those small details, it would easily return to being one of my favorite places. There's a good chance we'll stop by one more time before heading back to Germany.

    Is it that time of year for another 1618 update? Absolutely…read more After my umpteenth visit, I think it's safe to say I've worked my way through almost the entire menu (minus a few noodle, chicken & vegetarian dishes). My 2025 review still stands, but after so many visits, I've noticed a few items haven't been good as they used to, particularly the chicken wings (and yes, all three of them). The Garlic Wings haven't been hitting quite the same. They've started to taste a little dry, and the saucier wings taste better the next day since they don't have time to steep through once served. The Filet Mignon Pepper Steak is still my favorite dish on the menu, but I still can't justify ordering it family-style anymore. It's delicious, but the portion just doesn't match the price. One of the newest additions--the Truffle Fried Rice is spectacular. It's light, not overpowering with truffle, and the fish eggs really adds the perfect little pop of texture/flavor. I don't think I breathed the entire time I scarfed it down!! 1618 is still one of my favorite restaurants in Austin of all time, but I think it's time for the menu to elevate a bit and dive deeper into less mainstream Asian cuisine. If anyone can do it, 1618 can.

    Photos
    Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice
    Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice
    Cheesecake flambé
    Cheesecake flambé
    Pho Rib - Vietnamese beef broth with Filet Mignon, Grilled Ribs & a Vital Farm Egg.

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    Pho Rib - Vietnamese beef broth with Filet Mignon, Grilled Ribs & a Vital Farm Egg.
    Pho Phong Luu

    Pho Phong Luu

    4.8
    (428 reviews)
    7.2 mi
    $$

    I ordered a regular Pho Dac Biet, and right away, I noticed the portions were very generous. The…read moreThai basil leaves were absolutely ginormous, and they gave us plenty of them alongside very fresh limes, which I appreciated. The bowl itself came loaded with meat--they definitely weren't skimping to save money here. The meat-to-noodle ratio felt great, and every bite actually had substance instead of leaving me fishing around for toppings. As for the broth, I landed somewhere in the middle. It wasn't quite as clear or light as I personally prefer, leaning toward a fattier, milkier undertone that almost reminded me of a Vietnamese pho take on tonkotsu. The flavor itself was undeniably very good, but the richness may have been a bit too much for me personally. One way I usually judge how much I love a pho broth is whether I want to sip the bowl down to the very end, and this one wasn't quite light enough for me to want to do that. I've had richer and deeper pho flavors elsewhere, but I still appreciated the flavor profile here and could absolutely see why this place is so popular. It feels hearty, comforting, and satisfying in a way that clearly resonates with many people. Despite how packed the restaurant was, the atmosphere ended up being surprisingly pleasant. Service moved very quickly, which honestly impressed me given how busy everything felt. Even with the crowd, I didn't dislike the spacing or setup at all--the restaurant still felt comfortable, and the sound of people enjoying their food all around added to the lively, welcoming energy rather than making it feel overwhelming. Overall, Pho Phong Lưu ended up being one of those places where I completely understood the hype, even if it didn't become my personal favorite pho spot. While the broth leaned richer than my preference, I still enjoyed the experience and definitely look forward to trying other dishes next time.

    Updated review for May 2026! Still insanely fast service. It was absolutely packed when we came at…read more12:30 on a Saturday and we were served in less than 6 minutes. Parking is easy in the strip mall lot towards the back. The bathroom situation can get annoying when there's more people since it's singles.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Cha Gio
    Cha Gio
    New inside as of Jan 2023 (gillynova - TikTok)

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    New inside as of Jan 2023 (gillynova - TikTok)
    Bep Co Tham - KN Kitchen

    Bep Co Tham - KN Kitchen

    4.5
    (59 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    I've ordered their sticky rice from here multiple times for takeout. It's nice and savory, features…read moreplenty of processed meat like pork floss and Chinese sausage slices. But it also has egg and scallions and pate; overall the combo is satisfying. Separate from takeout, we decided to go for an early dinner. Their Crab Vermicelli Stir Fry is surprisingly sweet, with sweetness as a prominent flavor. It features plenty of crab bits. I also grabbed a Skillet Combo. It came with two runny side up eggs, pate, two types of cured pork, beef gravy, and a handful of cilantro. The baguette came on the side, as did the mixed salad of lettuce and tomato. The salad had some dried shrimp, fish sauce, and a slightly sweet dressing. The restaurant itself is located in the Chinatown Center on N Lamar. It's a small corner shop. Lots of mirrors and glass. The staff are friendly enough. Unfortunately, they've closed, and it looks like another restaurant will be opening up in its place. The situation leaves me unsure about where to go to satisfy savory sticky rice cravings.

    I've visited this place several times, and each experience has been great. Plus, it's a…read morefamily-owned business, which adds a genuine touch to the dining experience. I recommend giving it a try. Food: The authentic Vietnamese cuisine they serve is truly comforting. Some menu items I like more than others. So far, my favorites are: A1. Grilled Pork Spring Rolls S1. Combo Banh Mi N5a. Char Siu Egg Noodle w/ Wonton (w/ soup on the side) N8a. Shrimp & Squid (w/ sauce & pork broth on the side)

    Photos
    Banh Xeo - Pancake
    Banh Xeo - Pancake
    Goi cuon - Spring rolls
    Goi cuon - Spring rolls
    Mi xa xiu hoanh thanh - Charsiu + wonton egg noodle

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    Mi xa xiu hoanh thanh - Charsiu + wonton egg noodle
    Sunflower Vietnamese Cuisine

    Sunflower Vietnamese Cuisine

    4.3
    (304 reviews)
    9.6 mi
    $$

    I've been to this place many times and every time, I love it!…read more First of all, I just love coming here the seating and the space is so relaxing and such a perfect place to eat and talk. And honestly it's better than any fancy restaurant out there. I love the amount of plants in the space and the TV plays cooking videos and it's so nice to watch while waiting for your food! Speaking of waiting for your food, the food comes out super quick! Within 1 minute of ordering my drink, it came out! And a couple minutes after follows the food. The service is amazing as well, the servers are super sweet and are very quick to serve you and get what you need. The menu offers a bunch of things, appetizers, main dishes, desserts, and the drinks! I love how the desserts and drinks are also Vietnamese (most of the time I notice restaurants tend to have the basic selection of fountain drinks and desserts, but this restaurant has a wide variety of drinks and desserts so you can try something new every time you come here!) Most of all, there's a bunch of vegan dishes which I absolutely love. The food is always delicious I've been trying the vegan dishes recently and I love them a lot (as someone who doesn't like vegan dishes normally)! The chicken pho is also so delicious it tastes better than I make it at home! So much flavor. The drinks are so good as well. They also give you a big portion and I normally have leftovers, but the portion size is amazing for the price that you pay. It's definitely more affordable and such a bang for your buck. This is definitely a spot to try and trust me, you'll probably fall in love! If I was an Austin tourist I would definitely hit up this restaurant. I could go on and on about this restaurant.

    We got a lot of food here and family styled everything. Everything was delicious! The standout dish…read morefor me was the salt and pepper calamari! SOOOO good. Probably the best calamari I've ever had. Great flavor and fresh tasting. Would come back just to get this. Service was just ok - we had a large group and we took up 2 tables that were sitting back to back. The server kept walking back and forth between our 2 tables and kept bumping into my chair/bag which was really annoying me. Other than that, I'd just like to point out that their prices are on the higher side for Viet food. It gave bougie Viet food vibes from the prices, which I thought was unreasonable since the ambiance wasn't anything special or over the top. Probably wouldn't come back unless I was craving their calamari.

    Photos
    View from the door (my lunch visible in the brown bag)
    View from the door (my lunch visible in the brown bag)
    Banh xeo
    Banh xeo
    My favorite  #vietnamesecoffee

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    My favorite #vietnamesecoffee

    Yaya Cafe - vietnamese - Updated July 2026

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