New Vietnamese Cafe Brings Egg Coffee and Banh Mi to Downtown San Francisco

Cà Phê Việt opens with a menu of Robusta bean coffee drinks and Vietnamese sandwiches.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:20pm by

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An extremely blurred, out-of-focus photograph showing the soft, hazy silhouettes of people and objects in a cozy cafe setting, with muted tones of yellow, orange, and green creating a dreamlike, atmospheric mood.The new Cà Phê Việt cafe brings the flavors of Vietnamese coffee and cuisine to downtown San Francisco in a warm, inviting atmosphere.San Francisco Today

A new Vietnamese cafe called Cà Phê Việt has opened in downtown San Francisco, offering a menu of specialty coffee drinks like egg coffee, salted cream coffee, and black sesame cream coffee, as well as a selection of banh mi sandwiches. The cafe is founded by Kiet Truong and John Tran, who are bringing the 'dessert-style coffee' popular in the South Bay to the city.

Why it matters

San Francisco's Vietnamese coffee scene has traditionally been quieter compared to the bustling cafes in the South Bay, so Cà Phê Việt aims to introduce the city to the unique flavors of Vietnamese-style coffee, including the signature egg coffee from Hanoi. The cafe also offers a selection of Vietnamese sandwiches, providing a new dining option in the downtown area.

The details

Cà Phê Việt is sourcing its Robusta coffee beans from the Vietnamese brand Mr. Viet, which sources beans from the Central Highlands and northern regions of the country. The egg coffee, a specialty drink from Hanoi, features a custard-like texture from the combination of Robusta beans and sweetened condensed milk. The cafe also offers salted cream and black sesame cream iced coffees, as well as fruit drinks like dragon fruit and guava. For food, Cà Phê Việt serves four varieties of banh mi sandwiches, including cold cut, barbecue chicken, grilled pork, and a vegan option, using custom-sized baguettes from Oakland's Bui Phong Bakery.

  • Cà Phê Việt is currently open as of April 2026.
  • The cafe plans to add a soft-serve ice cream machine, including flavors like durian, in the next three months.
  • A second Cà Phê Việt location is being built out in Union Square and is expected to open in June 2026.

The players

Kiet Truong

One of the founding partners of Cà Phê Việt, bringing experience from opening restaurants like Berkeley's Unicorn, Green Papaya, and others.

John Tran

One of the founding partners of Cà Phê Việt, who helped select the Robusta coffee beans from the Vietnamese brand Mr. Viet.

Mr. Viet

A Vietnamese coffee brand that is supplying the Robusta beans used at Cà Phê Việt, sourcing from the Central Highlands and northern regions of Vietnam.

Bui Phong Bakery

An Oakland-based bakery that is providing custom-sized baguettes for the banh mi sandwiches at Cà Phê Việt.

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What they’re saying

“This is one of the Robusta beans that we really like because it has a nice, strong bitterness that pairs well with the sweetness of these condensed milks and style of egg coffee.”

— Kiet Truong, Co-founder, Cà Phê Việt

“When we bring in [the durian flavor], it's going to be something that's an experience. It's an acquired taste. So for those who like something like that, they would seek us out.”

— Kiet Truong, Co-founder, Cà Phê Việt

What’s next

Cà Phê Việt plans to add a soft-serve ice cream machine with flavors like vanilla, guava nectar, and durian in the next three months. The cafe is also opening a second location in Union Square in June 2026.

The takeaway

Cà Phê Việt is bringing the unique flavors of Vietnamese coffee, including the signature egg coffee, to downtown San Francisco, filling a gap in the city's Vietnamese cafe scene and providing a new dining option with its selection of banh mi sandwiches.