Ineffable Cà Phê

This place is a hidden gem! The coffee and Thai iced tea were spot on rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a lovely spot to unwind, sip your drink, or get lost in a good book. A peaceful little escape from the everyday hustle.

It's a very nice looking spot, lots of seating outside and inside with a trendy style. Ordering is done at the counter and then your name is called to retrieve the order. Orders offer a default tip of 15% for the service of accepting your order, maybe making your coffee if you ordered that, and calling your name, which in my opinion is a reinforcing a toxic tip culture. Your employees, who are not servers, should be paid properly such that customers aren't requested to leave server level tips. They were out of chicken curry and the only soup they had for a side bowl was vegetable, which was not flavor packed, but tasted watered down. The Vietnamese coffee also seemed watered down. We ordered bahn mi, which were served with all vegetables pushed to one side meaning bites were 1/3 pure meat, 1/3 mixed properly, and 1/3 vegetable only. This led to a soggy bahn mi as the vegetables did not form a barrier against the sauced meat, an easy fix in preparation, but a miss that significantly lowered the quality of the sandwich. Pho options did not offer a great selection and did not include authentic options. Is a trendy place to grab a coffee, but not a great place to have a Vietnamese lunch.

I tried the chicken bánh mì sandwich here and it was pretty good. Service was friendly and quick. They have plenty of seating options, both outdoor and a spacious indoor area that works well for larger groups too. Parking is available, and the restaurant is attached to the Enson Market, which has reopened. Overall, a nice spot to grab food and hang out!

Positives: the Thai tea was on point and not overly sweet. Negatives: food was mediocre at best and portions didn't make up for it. The banh mi had good flavor but almost nothing in it, definitelynot woth $15. The chicken pho was bland and generally disappointing. While the staff was friendly, we didn't hear them call or order out and they never tried again.

Such a cute spot! Great selection of beverages. Smaller food menu but very good. Highly recommend the build your own boba :)

Oh my God this place has a vibe! So beautiful and great place to connect with others or work. Will definitely be coming back for any meal or occasion! The pork belly rice bowl is super yummy!

I’m actually mad at myself for discovering this place so late. I have to say this is probably going to become my number one spot to work from. The reasons are pretty clear. Space is extremely large, and there are multiple types of seating where you can work solo or with a group. There is free Wi-Fi as well as plug points. The coffee is delicious and they have Vietnamese coffee, which is one of my favourites. The banh-mi was delicious and although not entirely traditional, it was extremely tasty. Everyone was becoming and nice. Will be back again for sure.

Lovely space; good, affordable food; tasty coffee. Plus, I'm a sucker for thoughtful layouts and I love the intention that seems to have gone into the flow of the cafe--the decor, charging outlets everywhere, the amount and variety of seating, a rental workspace in the corner. Will be back.

Stopped by this cafe after seeing it on Instagram! It is a very great space for enjoying a coffee, meeting with friends, or sitting outside on the patio. They serve Vietnamese coffee, bubble tea, sandwiches, and bowls. The employee explained that I could only have the Sunny bowl with no sauce. It was not much substance due to the modifications. Wish they had a gluten free soy sauce! They do not have any gluten free bread options which I was surprised by. The vanilla latte was great! So if you are looking for coffee or bubble tea I would recommend. Food not so much. Hoping for some added menu changes in the future! Celiac note: I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2023 and have been on the hunt for safe and delicious gluten-free spots around Pittsburgh ever since. Everyone with celiac has different comfort levels when eating out, so I always recommend doing your own research and choosing what feels right for you.

I loved the space that they've created; hole in the wall vibes on the outside with a deep and homey interior. The people there are so kind. The coffee was subpar compared to other Vietnamese coffees I've had before. Compared to some spots in NY, I found their salted egg espresso to be a little bitter, which I assume must be attributed to brewing method or maybeee could use more condensed milk. Anyway, maybe better for a basic coffee and a spot to curl up and read.

one of my absolute favorite Vietnamese spots ever. I visit Pittsburgh 5-6 times a year and I eat here at least once every time. Those breakfast bahn mis HIT like nothing else. I live 10 hours away and have been dreaming of them the last week. The mayo is so good, the flavor profile of each sandwich is perfect, there's a lot of places that try to make fancier versions of something classic and fail. Ineffable is not one of those places. I adore the signs that give individual credit to staff who made certain menu items that day or week. I'd love to see a little more resources put into their baked goods (my apologies but the bagels are lackluster), and I would love to see specials that are new/rotating additions to the menu .... Like a breakfast sandwich with peanut sauce ? Can't wait to stop by again!

Banh mi was flavorful and had a good crunch. The ambiance is very nice and is a good study spot. The place is so cute and well decorated.

I supposed got grilled lemongrass chicken sandwiches and Vietnamese coffee. Ended up grilled chicken looks like 3days leftover fridge chicken (see pic) and my 1/3 cup of so called Vietnamese coffee (tasted like water). Coming from West Coast and this place should sell Vietnamese food if you can't make it right.

Ineffable remains a great place to grab a bite to eat and a drink while working on your laptop. I danced in my seat to the music while completing what otherwise might have been deadly dull paperwork. I needed to plug in, but outside they have tents set up if you want to enjoy the fresh air. Thanks for being you!

Stopped in for Saturday breakfast. There was a ton of seating available both inside and outside. The decor was inviting. Tons of string lights and warm wood tones. The staff were friendly and the drinks and food were out in no time flat. I had a delicious bubble tea, black tea with passion fruit flavor and boba pearls. My friend ordered a latte and asked the barista to surprise her on flavor. I tasted the latte and it was great! Had a little coconut flavor and was not too sweet. I added bacon and an additional egg to the sunny bahn mi and it was pretty tasty. I wish the sandwich was bigger. I would definitely come back and try some lunch options or maybe work a few hours remotely here.

I got a Vietnamese iced coffee and a banh mi thit kho(braised pork). The coffee was strong and also not super sweet. The banh mi had a good baguette and great pickled carrots and daikon. The pork was sweet and tender. The mayo felt off on this banh mi, it felt a bit more liquidity than other typical banh mi sandwich and was missing a certain saltiness to it. I The sandwich was $13 and coffee was $7. Overall a solid brunch/cafe spot I would probably just come back for a coffee not the food. Food: 6.3 Staff/service: 7 Overall: 6.6/10

This is such a unique space! Serves pho + coffee and both are delicious! It is also such a great place to work or study.

This place is so cute and well decorated! I love the vibe and there was lots of seating to choose from. My orange cardamom latte was so delicious and flavorful and the bahn mi was also quite good. You pay at the front and then go back up to get your food once your name is called. They were quick and efficient and everything was good quality!

Ineffable Ca Phe is a loungy cafe serving Vietnamese cuisine. Enter thru the door on the side of the building, place your order at the coffee counter and pick up food at the kitchen window. The bahn mi sandwiches are well balanced. Soft crunchy rolls and fresh cucumber, cilantro and carrots with your choice of protein. The chicken was good. The pork belly bahn mi was ok. Pork belly is naturally very fatty and on the sandwich it felt more like a spread than a protein. I'm sure if they added more pork belly it would feel unbalanced but I probably would not order it again.

The food was mediocre. The pho noodles were thin, the broth felt like they just heated it up, and the marinated pork was bad in quality and doesn't justify its price either. However, the place's atmosphere is nice and self service.

Actually loved this place! So much seating! The ambience is as great! It all felt cozy and welcoming! I just got a iced vanilla latte and it was really good! (I always feel like you can judge a place by a iced vanilla latte for some reason!) They have so many options! I definitely need to go back for the bubble tea or some food options! My girls got marble cookies and loved them! The staff wasn't as friendly but they could have just been tired or having an off day! Overall would definitely return!

I'm a fan of cute cafes. And I'm an even bigger fan of cafes with boba, banh mi AND Vietnamese coffee. This place is charming with a decent amount of indoor seating. There is wifi, so there are people studying and meeting. I think the seating will be more spacious during warmer days. If you've never had Vietnamese coffee / caphe sua, it's a rich strong drip coffee over condensed milk, making a creamy strong awakener for the morning (or anytime you need a pick me up!). Get it hot or over ice. I love it. The banh mi is also delicious. The proportions are just right with a good amount of filling. They actually make my favorite banh mi in the city so far.

I've missed this gem for years. Let me tell you up front so I can get the negativity out the way: parking is slim and tight. If you're able to find a spot on the street not too far away, you've made it, my friend. The food is excellent. I've tried the pho, rice bowl, and egg coffee custard. All delicious and worth a try. The space is perfect for either catching up with friends or bringing a laptop to get some work done. Bathrooms are gender-inclusive. All-around, great cozy atmosphere especially when they turn on the fireplace!

This restaurant has an overall great vibe and food menu. The Vietnamese flavor is amazing full of flavor and great portion sizes. Though I did not try them, they do carry option to increase the spice level. Lovely decor of wood finish with seating to host medium size groups 5-10 or small groups in booths. Order and collect food at the window for a mouth watering culinary experience.

Great place for Vietnamese food and drink. You order at the counter, and then choose seating whether, a table, booth, or high top tables.

Such a cool and unique experience! Came here to do some work and was pleasantly surprised with all of the seating available. The pho ga made for some great study fuel!

I was drawn here by the reviews of their vegan pho and photos of the cute interior on Yelp. I brought my crew of seven of us and we ordered a variety between the com rice bowls, vegan pho and Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk. The vegan pho broth was delicious- my only wish would be that it included more vegetables. I thoroughly enjoyed my coffee and enjoyed all of the staff that we encountered. The interior and exterior of the space was super cute - they offer both indoor and outdoor seating along with high chairs. Those who ordered the com bows wish it packed a little more flavor and it seemed like the lemongrass chicken was an interesting cut/ texture. Overall, a positive experience. Vegan pho can be hard to come by- so I'm especially grateful for this lunch.

Best Banh Mi next to Lucy's in the Strip. Love coming here to chill, read, have an iced coffee. The pho is pretty good too! Great breakfast sandwiches. Beautiful space and great to sit outside when it's sunny!

I went to have a quiet study time and was delighted by the interior of Ineffable. I drank a delicious Vietnamese coffee and then spent over an hour in quiet conversation my son and good study time. It is a hidden gem

Quick service and good street parking in front. A mix of tables and cozy seating inside and outside. Any Bahn mi sandwich can be turned into a rice bowl. So I got the chicken rice bowl with jalapeño peppers. All fresh ingredients and balance of flavors. The Vietnamese coffee is very refreshing especially on a hot day. Always a good lunch choice.

Grabbed a quick breakfast sandwich at ineffable today! Service was quick and friendly (I got it to go). Plenty of seating inside and out! If you work from home, this would be a great place to set up.

Set back from the road just a bit, you could easily miss this gem. You're greeted by festive string lights outside and a clean modern inside with greenery but also old books. The staff is super friendly and helpful if you're a first timer. The food is fresh and flavorful. I had the Bahn Mi Thit Noung, which is a pork belly sandwich, and it was excellent. The mocha latte and cookie were also tasty. Ineffable definitely has intentionally included environmentally conscious elements focusing on reuse and non-plastic packaging.

To start, all the food is phenomenal. I haven't had a meal I didn't truly enjoy between the pho, banh mi and rice bowls. I also enjoy the bubble teas and cold brew. Pictured is a peach green tea with pomegranate popping peals. So good! It's also a great atmosphere if you're looking to work, study or just read a book. They also have plenty of outdoor space and seating. 10/10 recommend if you're in the area

Heavily censored review. Let me tell you what happened the other DAY I was visiting Pittsburgh with Barbi, my BAE I took her to Lawrenceville and asked her to STAY But a tanned J-Woww lookalike whisked Barbi AWAY My mind was in complete DISARRAY About her eating cake like it's Rihanna's BIRTHDAY I was struggling to get Oxygen down my AIRWAY And then I saw the 279 HIGHWAY I wandered under a bridge, like ANTHONY K Past a Dunkin Donuts and a Swiss CHALET Just when I thought I too had gone ASTRAY I "came upon" the apt-named INEFFABLE CA PHE The food they were cooking had a yummy BOUQUET But I wasn't here for a salty ENTREE I asked for Cafe Sua Da to come my WAY And drank it faster than you could SAY This review has been censored like the other was. YAY. I can't believe this effing place. It's effing excellent. Or eff-celent as the case may be. We had a lovely time in this little cafe which is a little bit more hipster than it is authentic Vietnamese, but then it is in a hipster neighbourhood which is Lawrenceville, and has a lot of hipster tendencies. Having said that, they have good food and great drinks and it's a wonderful addition to Pittsburgh. While it's not my favourite place for Vietnamese stuff in Pittsburgh, it's definitely awesome and much better than places in a lot of a nearby cities. Great spirit, great addition to the local scene, and somewhere we'll definitely come back to. All in all, we definitely had a good time here, even though there were a few things about it that we would change. It doesn't surprise me that a lot of Yelpers come here though. Yelp is strong with the Hipster crowd. But we love you for turning PA blue, that's for sure, hipsters. Go go go. More of the same. That was one hell of an "eff" ort, you might say.

This is my go to when it comes to working remote. Amazing coffee, some of the best workspaces in the city complete with light dimmers and outlets. And their coffee and tea selections are great. Also, don't sleep on their Banh Mi. It's some of the best in the city.

This place didn't need to be as good as it was! The cafe is decorated in such a cute way and I have to give a nod to their lighting design. It makes the space light yet cozy. The breakfast banh mi was super delicious and the tea was great too. Fast service as well. Would definitely recommend.

The best banh mi in the city! Love coming here. Friendly staff and very quaint surroundings!

It was a Sunday morning coffee run! I got their cold brew, light ice, no sweetener at all. It definitely helped me to pick my brain up, the atmosphere is good as always!

Stopped for an early lunch in a Saturday morning...pretty steady crowd. Ordered the lemongrass chicken banh mi and a breakfast sandwich. Both were very solid, just slightly light on the lemongrass and chicken spices. Had a drip coffee which had a nice roast as well. Will definitely try again.

What a cute restaurant! Never in a million years would I have expected the inside to look like this. It's such a large space, and great place for bigger groups and for study/work sessions. The food was pretty solid too! When we we visited they were all out of the traditional pork options so we didn't get to try any of that, but the lemongrass chicken was yummy!

The ambience of the restaurant and the service were great. The seating area was very friendly for those who want to spend some time to study there - it was brightly lit with plenty of power outlets. However, the food I had was very underwhelming. The pho taste was not what I am used to (the spice was not balanced and very different from other Phos I have tried). The coffee was good but missed the characteristic richness from condensed milk and evaporated milk that a Vietnamese coffee should have.

Very cute place! Nice decor and seating - it's a cool touch that some of the tables are old Singer sewing machines. The banh mis are decent but the meats aren't as flavorful as you get at really good banh mi places. I wish they had the classic traditional banh mi with pate and cha lua, but their offerings are not bad. The cold brew Vietnamese coffee is an Americanized halfway between ca phe sua da and American iced coffee - I'd recommend getting their actual ca phe sua da.

What brought me here was the really cool "coffee passport" someone gifted me for Christmas! I was so happy I came as soon as I entered the place... the coffee shop has ample room, especially on a beautiful sunny day. From a side area with twinkle lights, an w covered patio, as well as a very spacious inside, all with outlets. I think it's very convenient if you want to do work there (which I did). It is also one of the most welcoming cafes I've come across in Pittsburgh... they really want you to stay and enjoy yourself, making everything easy to obtain- water, wifi, etc. Lastly, the food was AMAZINGGGG and definitely reasonably priced!

The braised pork belly sandwich was delicious. I'm reeally not a sandwich person but this sandwich is an exception. It is absolutely delicious. The drip coffee is also excellent. The proportion of coffee to condensed milk was on point. In my last trip, I also got the chicken pho and bubble tea. They were both good too. Highly highly recommend the braised pork belly sandwich though. The only negative was the height of the tables in relation to the chairs. The table was a little too low. Anybody who stayed long enough would likely get a backache.

The coffee and ambiance were very good. It's a spacious café with plenty of room for cozy reading. The food, however, was not. The banh mi tasted fine, but it was so greasy and cheesy that it left a bad feeling in the stomach. My friend's rice bowl also had a far too messy bunch of cilantro in it with no sauces. And way too expensive.

Ah, this place is so awesome. My go-to spot when I need to do some work on the computer or meet with a colleague. I usually get the Thai iced tea in the summer and or a chai latte in colder months. Nice indoor space with power outlets for laptops or devices to plug-in. Usually you'll find people quietly studying or working. There's also an area with a cozy couch and games, so I've taken my kid a few times to play games and hang out. Also lots of covered outdoor seating. Great space!

This shop is SO cute and convenient for working and holding business meetings! We used to have monthly meetings there for a freelance job I had before. The tables and booths are big enough to fit a group of people. We usually had about 6 of us and the tables were comfortable and had plenty of outlets. It is a very chill atmosphere and would be a good spot to read a book too. I love their coffee, bubble tea, and pastries. I haven't tried their bahn mi or bowls because oftentimes they are sold out later in the day. When we would have morning meetings, I would get either an almond milk latte or sometimes I would add lavender. My colleague would always get the french press coffee and we would laugh as he would carry a full pot of coffee over to the table. If you are planning on working there for a few hours, the french press might be a good idea! I love their coconut bubble tea and taro bubble tea. You pick green or black tea, then your flavor, then if you want boba or jelly, and pick your sweetness level and milk. I LOVE that they let you pick the sweetness and the milk. This most recent time I was super bummed they were out of boba, so I tried something a little different. I got black tea with taro flavor, lychee jelly (wow-addicting) with almond milk and 0 sweetness. I knew it would be sweet from the lychee jelly. It was really good even though it didn't have the chewy tapioca pearls. They also have great pastries. I'm not sure where they get them from, but they are always fresh! The employees are always very friendly and willing to suggest things on the menu. They have a small section for outdoor seating too. This place is easy to pass over since it is a little bit secluded on Penn Ave. It is near Piazza Talarico and Arsenal Cider for reference. Next time I hope to try one of their veggie bowls!

Vietnamese coffee is great! Nice and refreshing and they offer it in both a freshly brewed and cold brew option both of which are pretty good. Three hot option does take a while (~10 minutes). In addition the have banh mi sandwiches which are pretty good in my option. I have tried there pork belly and the braised pork which are both simple but very tasty. Would highly recommend. Both of which are better there the sandwiches from down the street vietnamese restaurant. Dog friendly based on how many people being their dogs. Would highly recommend. We can't stop coming here for breakfast/ early lunch

Ok as a a second gen Vietnamese person that grew up on the west coast I've had my fair share delicious banh mis that costs as much as a cup of coffee. By Pittsburgh standards this is pretty good and makes for a decent lunch however did not meet my expectations for what a banh mi should be. The bread was ok, but lacked the crunchy outer shell and fluffy interior of a true banh mi. The jalapeños were not spicy at all and there wasn't even cilantro. The pickled carrots were too thin and didn't include daikon. The pork belly meat was quite good and absolutely melted in your mouth but could have been marinated in more spices and more fish sauce. I know there aren't a lot of Vietnamese places around here so I know I can't be too choosy, but I think I'll save my banh mi cravings for when I'm back at home.

I love Ineffable Ca Phe!! I tell all my friends to stop in for awesome food and coffee. Ineffable Ca Phe has coffee and bubble tea. Our favorite thing to order is the Vietnamese drip coffee. It takes some time to make but it is so worth it. The flavor is strong and delicious. I also really enjoy their mocha; it is not sweet at all. They have great food as well. I always order a banh mi. On weekends they have my favorite, the sunny banh mi (egg instead of pork). Their braised pork banh mi is also delicious. They offer a tofu banh mi as well for vegetarian visitors. Ineffable Ca Phe is also a great place to work or study. The inside is very cozy and relaxing.

My absolute favourite study spot. Perfect table to co-work, fabulous bubble tea, and bahn mi that can keep any vegetarian or vegan sustained for a whole workday!

I had never heard of Ineffable Cà Phê but I'm here for it. It won't be last time there. The owner is awesome and the food is absolutely delish. I had a seitan and a chicken Bahn Mi sandwich and it was packed with flavor. They also have build your own bubble tea. I could sit there all day. It's a relaxing environment.

This place was amazing! I've never seen a hipster coffee shop serving Banh Mi's. I wasn't really sure whether this place was a coffee shop or a delightful Banh Mi kitchen, but either way -- the coffee and banh mi were both really delightful. I'd skip the Pho next time. The Banh Mi (I think I had the pork belly) was delightfully tasty and the bread was perfectly done. The chicken pho was just okay, but the Cortado and Vietnamese coffee were both incredible! I also loved the layout, how work-friendly this place seemed and the comfortable tables.

I was a little nervous to try another Banh Mi spot in Pittsburgh since my last was mediocre. But I thought this was different than what I'm used to back home in Boston so I gave it a try. The coffee wasn't as rich as I'd like because it was the cold brew but I assumed I had to wait for the drip if I wanted it over ice. So I settled for the cold brew but I don't think it's worth $6.5, maybe $5 max. I make Thit kho at home but never thought of it in a banh mi. It was good. The jalapeño had a spice and the mayo made it more creamy which I love. Bread was crispy enough and the meat to bread ratio was good. I'm glad I tried a banh mi here because it left a better impression than the last spot.

I had bubble tea and grilled chicken lemongrass with rice. It has a nice atmosphere inside. Great place to dine with friends.

Tasty bahn mi at a solid price and the best lemonade you'll ever have. Not my favorite bahn mi ever so giving it 4 stars. The staff here is awesome and I 12/10 recommend and definitely would go back! Would be an awesome space to hang with friends and eat!

Ordered a Vietnamese drip coffee and two chicken lemongrass banh mi's. The sandwich was so good that I forgot to Tae a picture until I was halfway through! Something I was cautious about was the bread- some places service pretty..."toasted"...French bread. This bread was warm and didn't start a war with the roof of my mouth, so that's a big plus. The coffee took ten minutes to make (I was warned before ordering so I knew what I was getting into) and was pretty small, maybe 4 oz? I wanted to try something new and I did (and I have no regrets). I'm definitely going back for the pork belly banh mi and egg coffee.