Café Beans is described as a cozy, welcoming spot with a cute vibe and consistently friendly, efficient service. Banh mi is the star for many diners, praised for flavor, freshness, and good value, with a spicy kick pleasing fans; the coffee and matcha are often highlighted as authentic and satisfying, though a few iced drinks can feel watered down. Reviewers note a warm, family run feel and a strong sense of community in Chinatown, making it a reliable place for a quick bite or a dessert like cream puffs, and the overall impression is that Café Beans is a gem worth returning to.
I had only been to this place for a coffee before. A promotion on sandwiches caught my eye & I am happy to have tried their excellent spicy classic banh mi (pork belly & Vietnamese sausage) & a refreshing mango frappé. Also enjoyed a chat with both friendly staff & other customers.
I loved the interior of the shop, it was very cozy & unique for cafes I've seen. The service was extremely fast & polite.
Unfortunately the drinks were subpar. We ordered an Iced Matcha Latte that tasted very water & milky, the matcha was very weak & lacking in the drink. We also got a Vietnamese Ice Coffee which was a bit better, the coffee quality was great but not very cohesive, it felt like tasting cream then coffee & was a bit grainy. 1.5/5
tofu banh mi was exactly what i needed in the middle of the day. so yummy & the standout of our order. pork spring roll was also good. vietnamese iced coffee was strong & classic flavor. there are 3 small tables inside to sit at & good AC. if there tables are full inside there are some small benches nearby.
You can tell that the woman in charge is the owner & runs the business. She was kind & clear to me about the menu options.
The classic bahn mi was a bit spicier than I expected from medium heat but a good surprise. The portion was good, the bread was just the right texture for a bahn mi. I liked the flavor & it was great to go on my way to place des art for a snack.
The vietnamese coffee was strong- a very dark roast with the condensed milk cutting the bitterness at the end, which I think is normal for vietnamese coffee. I enjoyed it & anyone who likes a dark roast would probably enjoy it too.
We had the spicy tofu banh mi & Vietnamese coffee. The coffee was really delicious, no complaints. The banh mi was so good, I don't have the words. I ate this sandwich on Monday & I've been thinking about it every day since. The marinade/sauce was so flavorful. It was the perfect a,out of spice. Bread was crispy & soft. The vegetables were fresh. Tofu was firm texture. Ingredient proportions were perfect. This was everything I'd ever want in a sandwich. At the risk of sounding like pretentious, last time I had banh mi this good, I was in Vietnam. Do yourself a favor & go try this place.
Jul 30, 2025
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So glad Chinatown has a proper café! Cozy space & a nice assortment of beverages & food - the cream puffs from Alice & Theo are delicious! They also have good deals on sandwich & coffee combos :)
