Le Phin

All 52 rated mentions, most helpful first

  • replying to u/chazeichazy: next on my list to try actually - why don't people like it? do you think it's sweet but still bold?

    I tried their phin latte and didn't like it. It tasted "watered" down, like just milk with a hint of coffee. And then I went back and tried just the phin coffee and did like that.

    H3

  • replying to u/elevenpaperairplane: Hien From Vietnam in Manhattan's Chinatown! One-person shop, easily the best in all of NYC Lots of other options too like Le Gaz (LES, good), Lê Phin (EV, just ok), Larry's Cà Phê (Williamsburg/Park Slope, matcha options), Kinhfolk (Williamsburg, didn't personally like but others do), FifthSip (SoHo, kinda trendy), but Hien From Vietnam is easily the most bitter/rich/viscous in the city. Also has decaf strangely. All are more or less equally pricey.   Phê from the people behind Mắm is soft opening and might be worth checking out too.  I also like Artara (UES) for Cambodian condensed milk coffee which is pretty similar

    Found the ca phe sua da to be pleasant and creamy without being too heavy but not as strong w bitter notes as I like it.

    H3

  • Check out Le Phin for Vietnamese ice coffee! They also have normal coffee menu items but it’s a unique coffee shop I think.

    H2

  • replying to u/HalfMetalTwink: I’m a huge fan of Le Phin in the East Village! Very sweet, borderline addicting, and the store itself has a fantastic ambience! I’ve heard of people disliking it, though ;(

    My impression was it’s Vietnamese coffee for white people. It doesn’t particularly scratch the itch for someone wanting real viet coffee

    H2

  • replying to u/squidtrampoline: This is a great response, thanks! Will be stopping by Cafe Katja & Casa Adela for sure as I’ll be in those areas.

    My favorite cafe in that area is a Vietnamese cafe called Le Phin, they make black sesame lattes and pandan matcha lattes- give it a shot if it’s convenient

    H2

  • replying to u/MoreMarshmallows: Le Phin in the east village - not always on the menu so call ahead!

    I was so disappointed with their iced cafe sua da, it’s like they tone down on the flavors

    H2

  • Seconding Le Phin, the pandan matcha rapture is incredible

    H2

  • replying to u/frogtownrd: le phin in the east village and fifthsip in nolita - both have incredible pandan matches

    my gf got the Le Phin matcha with macadamia milk last week and it blew me away

    H2

  • replying to u/LeftReflection6620: Check out Le Phin for Vietnamese ice coffee! They also have normal coffee menu items but it’s a unique coffee shop I think. Fiaschetteria is an amazing Tuscan Italian restaurants that’s from Tuscany. Pretty authentic and worth it even though it’s in alphabet city, not a far walk. Lions bar for the best burger in the city imo La cabra for coffee and cardamom bun Burp castle is a unique beer pub that’s famous for shushing loud customers. Good Belgian beer menu Venieros is an old Italian pastry shop that is a vibe at night time. Nothing crazy good but just quintessential old nyc and fun to go to Garfunkels is a cool cocktail bar that’s a speakeasy

    Check out Le Phin for Vietnamese ice coffee! They also have normal coffee menu items but it’s a unique coffee shop I think.

    H2

  • I like the lattes and the phin coffee at Le Phin, but I did not like the phin latte.

    H2

  • Le Phin and Not As Bitter are also both very cool

    H1

  • Regardless, give local independent coffee shops a try.

    H1

  • replying to u/Expensive_Traffic596: Red beard coffee (their strawberry foam is great). Le phin (Vietnamese iced coffee is a must try!) From Lucie (they have a lovely lavender drink). Oasis (shaken espresso is very good there). Thayer (their honey nut cherrio latte!). Sippy Cafe (this one is in a bodega and is way affordable but I love their drinks. So many syrups!)

    I went to Le phin today and it was SO good!!

    H1

  • replying to u/kmpham2013: Le Phin Got the black sesame latte w espresso and pandan matcha latte Absolute and utter sadness and disappointment. I’m talking I was concerned for my girlfriend at how purely disappointed she was. I was rooting for this place so hard as a vietnamese person at a viet matcha place w rave reviews. We walk in and it’s two girls clearly not happy to do their job.  The black sesame latte is just black sesame paste and milk. like no espresso. So you have to pay 50c for espresso, and when you get it it doesn’t have any taste of espresso at all. What you do get is just gritty sandy milk that tastes slightly savory and nutty because of the sesame. Even if you aren’t wanting a caffeinated flavor I can’t imagine the sesame milk would be good on its own as it was entirely too milky even with the coffee. On the matcha latte, they store it in a clear container which oxidizes the matcha and they use way too little matcha/it’s too weak for the amount they use. That color of the latte is exciting to nobody, as you can tell. Again their syrups/flavorings are ineffective because there was no pandan flavor almost as if they forgot it. And there was a whisper of gritty matcha flavor because it wasn’t even whisked properly to remove the clumps. 

    But sadly I find it really mediocre.

    H1

  • replying to u/MoreMarshmallows: I go there often because it’s close to home and I really want to support them. But sadly I find it really mediocre. They also really lack in pastries/food- just whatever generic stuff all the coffee shops get from wholesale bakery.

    I love their concept but just wish the execution was up to par. I was truly saddened by this experience.

    H1

  • ++++1 so many times for the earlier comment for Le Phin

    H1

  • Le phin, dark matter, FifthSip (no seating tho), abraco (whole milk only)

    H1

  • replying to u/OkYogurtcloset4484: Le Phin has egg coffee?!

    yess it’s so good, only on saturday and sunday tho

    H1