Caphe Roasters

There are a few elements of this J Street cafe's vietnamese coffee that lure us back for more: the sweetness from the condensed milk, watching that frothy milk get stirred into the coffee behind the long countertop, and the caffeine kick from the Vietnamese espresso beans roasted on site.

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

They don’t just sell egg coffees at Càphê Roasters, though—they also have crispy fried chicken bánh mì that are covered in a light gochu glaze, and jalapeño-topped tam gia vi potatoes that we eat like popcorn. It’s a comfortable spot to chill with a book (there’s plenty of natural light from the tall windows and several mini bookcases if you forget your own), or get some work done over a sesame matcha latte and fried banana mochi. Many of the dishes here are great for takeout too, which comes in especially handy when you have to speed to Tioga Station but still want to start your day with a steamy cup of corn tea and a toasty fried egg sandwich.

Food Rundown

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Crispy French Fries

Sometimes the fries are tossed with a peppery rub, sweet tamarind (our favorite), or simply sprinkled with pepper and salt. No matter the topping, they always have a nice crunch. It's the side you should sprint to when a sandwich alone just won't do.

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Bánh Mì

Ordering the bánh mì here is like avoiding Kelly Drive on a rainy day: an absolute necessity. They slather a creamy house mayo on a fluffy, chewy baguette and stack it with crunchy fried chicken. Outside of the light sugary glaze on the meat, the pickled carrots, cucumbers, and jalapeños are scattered on the sandwich for a tangy kick.

Ba Ngoai’s Porridge

This warm bowl of broken rice porridge is more comforting than wearing fuzzy slippers on a chilly night. As soon as you take the lid off, you’ll be hit with the earthy smell of squash, scallion slices, and crackly shallots. This smooth veggie soup is one of the few things that get us excited about a weekday morning.

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

XO Egg Sando

This is not your basic sausage, egg, and cheese. The Chinese sausage they use is smoked, the eggs are fluffy, cheddar cheese drips out of the sandwich, and the garlicky aioli brings everything together to make one of the most stellar breakfast sandwiches in the area.

photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO

Soft Serve

If you want a sweet pick-me-up between meetings, they have soft serve with a silky vanilla flavor and super smooth texture that’s made from condensed milk. It's perfectly sweet, and you can get it topped with chili crunch or rainbow sprinkles.