Soufend Cafe

In short- Free easy parking No wait (Saturday Afternoon) Try the: -Banh Uot Tower -Loaded Broken Rice Plate -Banh khot And customer service absolutely exceeded our expectations. Everything is fresh (herbs, steamed rice, rice crepe) perfectly cooked proteins, delicious fish sauce and fragrant rice. Order it all- you won’t regret it! ———— Traveling from Atlanta with my parents and American fiancé, looking for good Vietnamese food and happen to stumble upon this place after searching for Banh Uot. Let me tell you- it’s very difficult to find amazing Banh Uot and is usually a hit or miss . THIS THOUGH- hit all 3 criteria (tasty fish sauce, good protein, and fresh steamed rice crepe) I got the crispy pork and it was the crispiest I’ve ever had and didn’t need to add additional protein. - Banh Uot Tower w/crispy pork - 10 out of 10! The portion sizes are very generous and every dish at the table was delicious. -Banh Khot had coconut cream and the bean paste blended so well together with the crispy base , (10 out of 10) Most Banh Khot you get turned off by the dripping grease. Again- best I’ve ever had. I saw their specialty menu board and is very impressed by the authenticity and varied selection. -Broken Rice plate was loaded with all the proteins and dad loved it! The meats were cooked just right, rice was fragrant, and fish sauce was delicious. The portion was huge. (10 out of 10) From a family of foodie travelers, we were impressed by the quality and our satisfaction of everything dish we ordered. Really looking forward to frequently visiting this gem each time we are in town. The parking situation was also very convenient and easy to access. I left a personal belonging behind mistakenly and they went above and beyond to go out of their way to get it back to me. Customer service here is impeccable!!!

Very good food. Good size proportions the atmosphere is family orientated a very nice clean open space restaurant. a nice place to sit down and grab a meal. I love the name and the decorations to put you in the south end. it’s perfect for the area. Staff is very nice, no long wait for your meal. Parking is good, food is better. Will definitely go back.

I’ve enjoyed Soufend when they first opened, but my recent visit was disappointing. We ordered Bo Kho and Bun Bo Hue. The flavors were diluted, and we suspect a heavy use of MSG, as both my boyfriend and I experienced mouth tingling, chest discomfort, and headaches afterward. While they offer many great menu items, I’d recommend avoiding their soups 🥹

Soufend Cafe – A Hidden Gem! I had an amazing experience at Soufend Cafe! The food and drinks were absolutely delicious, with a great variety to choose from. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, making the whole experience even better. Bonus points for the free parking, which made everything so convenient. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to!

First time in and I will definitely be back. Had a dish I had never had before. Tower of plates or should I say rice paper. It was delicious. I loved the bun mung vit or duck noodle soup.

First time visiting after seeing a lot of recommendations and this place did not disappoint. Started with the UBE coffee and fish sauce fried chicken wing. Perfect if you need something sweet to kickstart your morning. Ordered the Bun Bo Hue and CƠM TẤM BÌ CHẢ SƯỜN TRỨNG for our main course. The soup for the Bun Bo Hue was very smooth and refreshing. A very generous portion of perfectly fried pork chop and egg on top of the rice. I can go on but look at the photos, yum! Not to mention the place is very clean and they definitely made the effort to give you a nice dining atmosphere (look at the pretty flower on the table). Definitely coming back for more.

Food was delicious! It was just the overall service that was mid, they didn’t really seem to care or check in. But either way the food was still awesome. I will definitely come back one day!

We drove by and saw a line. So we decided to give it a try. The wait could have been shorter as there was an empty table, and we were next on the wait-list. But for some reason they kept us waiting for 15 more minutes. We only ordered two items as we just wanted to see how well they prepared their foods. Bun bo hue and pho. Both dishes had missed the mark. The bun bo hue has too much msg, and doesn't taste spicy at all. One reason I crave for bun bo hue is the pork trotter. But instead of pork trotter they have oxtail and ribs. These have not cooked long enough so it was difficult to tear the meat off the bones. Then the bowl is too tiny to fit all the veggies in while the brother is still hot. So half of the veggies got wasted, which was okay because they were just mostly bean sprouts. The pho is just a total joke. They try to hard to make it fancy so they can charge more. It comes in a stone bowl to keep the broth hot. But the noodle, meat, etc. are served on a separate plate. So you have to assemble everything together. It's such an unnecessary step. The broth is too hot to enjoy, so you have to wait until it cools down to eat. The broth lacks the spices and herbs that give pho its unique fragrance and taste. For these two dishes we had to wait 40 minutes after we had placed our order. The other group that sat down 15 minutes after we had ordered already got their foods before us, and was half way done when our dishes finally arrived. Each of our dish cost $20, which is on the high end for similar dishes in the neighborhood.

In short- -Banh Uot Tower -Loaded Rice Plate -Banh Khoc And customer service absolutely exceeded our expectations. Everything is fresh (herbs, steamed rice, rice crepe) perfectly cooked proteins, delicious fish sauce and fragrant rice. Order it all- you won't regret it! -------- Traveling from Atlanta with my parents and American fiancé, looking for good Vietnamese food and happen to stumble upon this place after searching for Banh Uot. Let me tell you- it's very difficult to find amazing Banh Uot and is usually a hit or miss . THIS THOUGH- hit all 3 criteria (tasty fish sauce, good protein, and fresh steamed rice crepe) I got the crispy pork and it was the crispiest I've ever had and didn't need to add additional protein. - Banh Uot Tower w/crispy pork - 10 out of 10! The portion sizes are very generous and every dish at the table was delicious. -Banh Khoc had coconut cream and the bean paste blended so well together with the crispy base , (10 out of 10) Most Banh khoc you get turned off by the dripping grease. Again- best I've ever had. I saw their specialty menu board and is very impressed by the authenticity and varied selection. -Rice plate was loaded with all the proteins and dad loved it! The meats were cooked just right, rice was fragrant, and fish sauce was delicious. The portion was huge. (10 out of 10) From a family of foodie travelers, we were impressed by the quality and our satisfaction of everything dish we ordered. Really looking forward to frequently visiting this gem each time we are in town. The parking situation was also very convenient and easy to access. Ambiance is nice and casual. I left a personal belonging behind mistakenly and they went above and beyond to go out of their way to get it back to me. Customer service here is impeccable!!!

I forgot to take a picture of my banana matcha :(( but this visit was disappointing. I came back after a long time and got the banana matcha w/cookie foam (3/5) and it was not the same as my initial visit 8 months ago. The absence of banana chunks was a letdown as it contributed to the in-depth flavor and texture I once experienced. Also, the color of the matcha was not as vibrant and strong and there was too much cookie crumble on top.

Second time trying Soufend - went for blended smoothies instead of teas this time. My friend said the mangonada has more chamoy than tajin (more sweet then spicy) and that tajin is chewy. She would have preferred it without boba. Chamoy overpowers the mango a bit. The avocado smoothie was perfect ! Completely smooth and not too sweet. Perfect for wanting to get some protein into your sweet drink. Because both drinks were blended, I think it took longer than usual (~10 min for both). Order was taken really quickly and I was greeted as soon as I walked in. Place is great for small groups. There is table service and free water + outside seating.

Food is beautifully presented, good flavors and portions, and nice variety of things to try. I also loved that they had a decent sized parking lot which made coming here easy! Rice noodle platter was nice w an assortment of meats - the grilled pork was yummy! Less of a fan of the processed meats - but perfect to share! Beef tacos were interesting w a rich dipping sauce (i made rice noodles at home to turn into a soup w the leftovers which was nice). Mini pancakes were a split in our group - Half felt they were way too sweet but a couple of my friends loved them so took them home. The platter with cheese, egg and pate + bread on the side was different ... a deconstructed bahn mi in a way - Nice to try but would get something different next time. All in all, good and definitely unique and would return to try more things!

I went here with some friends for dinner. I was told the green milk tea was tasty and pro tip, they have lactose free milks! The stone pot looked so lovely but my friend said it was about average. And although I was eager to try the lamb hot pot, I waited quite a while for it to arrive. It was the type of hot pot that is super herbal and fresh, leaving you not feeling the heaviness or typical sodium dehydration. I enjoyed it but wonder if it's something I would get in place of other tasty dishes. The staff was really friendly and gave us some che samples at the end. They loaded up the coconut milk generously!

Dropped by Soufend (finally!) based on a friend's recommendation. Nice clean space and really friendly service. I just got the banana matcha with cookie crumbles and it was tasty! I will come back to try the other flavors. Nephew convinced me to order some food so we got the fried rice and fish sauce wings. Wait was a little long as there was only one other table occupied while we were there but that was the only thing keeping this from a 5 star review. Thank u Soufend! We'll stop by again if we find ourselves in the soufend

Hmm, my experience wasn't that great. I got take out, and it felt like everything was over cooked and dried out. I had heard good things, so maybe it was a combo of an off night and take out. Not sure if I will make another run yet.

Amazing! The food was really good. We ordered the spring roll plates along with greenery platters and braised tofu. The place felt overwhelming though, especially the staff. There's a lot of people behind the counter and the food took a long time despite how many people were back there. Very overstimulated. The music was too loud, could barely hear the conversation I was making with my friend.

Food was very good. We ordered quite a few dishes to try and did not have enough space at our table. Food was flavorful and fresh and very authentic. If there was one thing I'd come back for, it would be the rice roll tower, you get to make your own rolls and can custom to what fillings you want in your roll. The soups were on the saltier side thought because after we had to drink alot of water. The downside is that this place was super busy when we came on a weekend, it was very chaotic and disorganized. People that were also in front of us got seated even though we had been waiting for a while. It was due to the fact we had 3 people and they had 2, but it was the same size table that they sat us at. And we had so much food that our dishes were literally sitting on the edge of the table.

I really want to like this place more but I have mixed feelings. I came here for chicken rice. They have parking, that's a bonus. They have a vast menu. The specials board alone had 15 or more items on it. Many things I want to try. But I came here for Hainanese chicken rice. Their's is pretty good, but didn't quite hit the level I was looking for. I partial to Singapore style which is exceptional where mom and pop places specialize in it. Thai style comes a close second. What they serve here honestly looks better than it tastes. I'm not saying it's bad, but I have high expectations for chicken rice. The abundance of fried shallot was a nice touch. The rice according to the menu is seasoned with ginger and onions. The bed of rice is GENEROUS portion. It's more flavorful than your average plain bowl of white rice, but I didn't get any sense that it was cooked in the chicken stock from poaching the chicken. It's just not chicken rice unless the rice has that luciousness from being toasted in chicken fat and then cooked in the liquid used to poach the chicken. So disappointing on that front. The ginger sauce was both sweet and vinegar-y. I was not expecting that either. I prefer the sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) and/or ginger scallion sauce. Their ginger sauce was more like a salad dressing category of flavor. Also, you can tell the chicken needs to be re-warmed since it's one of those things that by necessity needs to be cooked ahead of time (unless it's the only thing you serve and you serve it all day, every day.) However, mine was still cold in the middle. And the flavor of the chicken itself just wasn't that amazing. I know this was my first visit, so I'm not mad or anything. However, it's a bit confusing if you are supposed to order at the counter or from a server at your table. There is a small sign that says "order here" at the register, but not sure if that is for to-go orders or everybody. There was a long line at the counter, which seemed like a mix of people waiting to pay after eating and people ordering coffee drinks to-go. Even when I asked a server what the routine was, I still wasn't clear but the server came to my table. Not sure if that's the norm or what. Beware, it's a loud space. Partly the music is at too high a volume (I had to find a table in the furthest, quietest corner I could find). A small group came in after me and actually asked them to turn the music down. And they could use some wall and ceiling treatments to reduce the sound reflections. There was a tiny baby cyring normally like a baby does, but it might as well have been a fire engine with sirens going full blast because of the acoustics. The restaurant was only half full. I can only imagine how loud it gets with a full house, even without babies. It's a hip and trendy place but seems like the hip and trendy stuff gets in the way being a comfortable place with the noise level. And that gets in the way of very authentic flavors and menu choices. I'll be back. I want to try the duck congee, chicken wings and their version of avocado toast. But I might actually bring earplugs or earbuds to keep the noise down.

Please get the Ube matcha boba!! It's so good! I've been here twice already and everything was pretty good! My favorite was the shrimp salad. I also tried the rice roll tower and it came with a lot of the rolls. I wish it came with more veggies though instead of having to pay for extra. A good honey, Vietnamese spot!

Food is great. I ordered the pho & my man ordered the vermicelli plate. We also got a matcha latte & the tamarind mango black tea. Pho was good, broth was a little sweet for me but it was good nonetheless, they are also very generous on the meat, it was a lot for me to eat. Definitely will go back to try other items on their menu.

Soufend has a decent sized parking lot that is shared with Sun Ta Tofu Bakery so you don't need to be too concerned about having to street park. Walking in, the staff were very busy but still welcoming. It appears to be self service for water. The wall decorations looked new. Not necessarily Vietnamese themed but felt more modern. On the food review, I got the broken rice grilled pork plate. The grilled pork was delicious but slightly dry. The shrimp patty was also delicious and fresh. It didn't taste like it was sitting there for a while (would get rubbery if left out for a while). The fish sauce wasn't super salty (just right). The egg meat cake is different than the one I'm used to in California. This one is pan fried while I'm used to the steam one. Overall, it was actually a good amount of food for $20. You can share with another person and you'll both be satisfied. I would come back and try out the banh uot tower.

Came back for the rice roll plate. Was quite a wait, but overall it tasted delicious. Plus they also gave us a free white bean sweet dessert!

Good vibe, generous portions & clean interior & parking lot We definitely will come back

I've been wanting to try Soufend Cafe for so long even before they opened - ever since I saw their sign outside the door while visiting the deli next door with my girlfriend. Finally we got the chance to try them out when they were open during Christmas Eve. It was a little busy so we waited at the door for a while but eventually the waitress sat us down. After looking at the menu, we decided to order the Canh Ga Chien (Fried Chicken) with fish sauce, the Bun Bo Hue Tacos, and the Banh Uot Tower. We also ordered two drinks, the Tamarind Mango Black Tea and the Banana Cookie Coffee. Banh Uot Tower - One of the first dishes brought out to us, I love banh uoc it's one of my favourite Vietnamese dishes. Seeing this served in a tower was very unique, first of its kind and an awesome presentation! It also comes with some veggies and you get two protein options to choose from for this dish, so we got it with heo quay (crispy pork) and thit heo nuong (grilled pork). I was really looking forward to trying their heo quay since it's a meat you don't find too often served at most Vietnamese eateries, but unfortunately it wasn't all that good. The thit heo nuong was valid though, flavourful and matched well with the banh uot. Overall the tower was just okay, we didn't end up finishing this unfortunately. Bun Bo Hue Tacos - Another unique fusion dish that I thought would be cool to try. My girlfriend was more excited for this one. It's basically BBH beef and other related toppings inside a taco with a side of BBH soup you can dip the tacos in. We really wanted to like this dish, but it just wasn't doing it for us. The tortilla definitely tasted store bought and the texture was too moist. Soup was good though! BONUS ITEM!! - Us alongside other patrons got a little dessert, it was a banana sticky rice dish with a sweet coating of coconut syrup. Honestly one of the best things we had while we were there. Canh Ca Chien - Well... we never ended up receiving the fish sauce fried chicken. Bummer, but it's okay since we ended up becoming full after the other dishes. We let the guy that brought out the dessert (who I believe is the owner, as I've seen him at the sister establishment Boba Gem) know about it and to just scrap it out ticket. Drinks - Both the Tamarind Mango Black Tea and the Banana Cookie Coffee were SO GOOD. It makes sense that they've got it down since Soufend Cafe also operates another place that serves these kinds of drinks. I finished the tea so fast, and the coffee really got the banana cookie flavor down - worth every sip! Speaking of drinks, there was a whole entire glass bottle of water, but they never decided to bring us any cups until we finally asked for it. My girlfriend and I were really looking forward to trying Soufend Cafe & Eatery, but we left feeling dismayed. Don't get me wrong, I'm so glad they opened as we've been needing a cafe like this in South Seattle. But before they opened, we thought it was going to be more like a cafe that mainly served delicious drinks alongside just few other items. So we weren't expecting this to become a full-fledged restaurant. If I were able to recommend any changes based on our experiences, I would reduce the amount of dishes on the menu and try to perfect the few, while also focusing the cafe more on the drink menu rather than the eat menu. We already have a lot of great restaurants in the South End, but not enough cafes that serve as a great "Third Place" to casually meet up and mingle. I love Soufend Cafe for what it represents, but I'm likely only coming back for the drinks.

It's fun going here more than once especially if you wanna try everything on here! I ended up going back two more times from my last review, and the food is still superb in my opinion! For one visit, I got the banh uot rice roll tower, which is a ton of plates stacked on a rack, along with your choice of meats. They provide mint leaves, bean sprouts, mango slices and other things on the side as well. My friend and I got grilled pork loaf (nem nuong) and crispy pork (heo quay) as our meat choices. I wish that they provided a lot more meat since the plates were small and the rice rolls were pretty huge for each plate. We also got the beef in a skillet, which had more than enough steak. There's been a trend of some Vietnamese restaurants finally serving this breakfast dish, so I'm happy that Soufend does too and that it's really darn good! For another visit, I got the broken rice plate, which is the dish that my friend got when I came the first time. This one comes with a lot of things like grilled pork, egg, shredded pork, and pork loaf. This dish is only $20, which is very much worth given everything on the plate and how filling it is! Plus, the meats are very well seasoned.

South End (Soufend) represent! Love, love, love all of the Seattle decor here. So bright, friendly, and clean, and all the food looks delicious. They have a very long list of specials of Vietnamese food that isn't as common in Seattle. My husband kept raving about the bánh canh cua. I ordered the bún bò Huề, which had the right complex, flavor profile, but I usually prefer this dish super spicy and piping hot. I'm pretty picky about bún bò Huế though, which is one of my favorite dishes. Food presentation is great, it's clear they care a lot about the food, neighborhood, and experience, and it's always great to see a new, thriving restaurant here (they were super packed when we came on Saturday and was also super crowded when I passed by on a random weekday, so plan ahead). It does take a bit for them to make the food but it's worth the wait. I can't wait to come back to try their other dishes.

Cool space with a cool name. I ordered their broken rice plate and the tamarind mango black tea. I will say that the best things here are the drinks. The broken rice plate was okay but bits of the grilled pork tasted a little too charred. I do want to come back and try other things though.

My mom and I stopped by to check out this new eatery close to where I grew up. Looking at old photos, this strip mall has seen major improvements. Since it's a new place, we stuck with our go-to's. The food was good. We really liked the fish sauce wings and the flavorful fried rice. The duck vermicelli soup was a special listed on their board in Vietnamese. I would not have known about it if I didn't see the dish come out of the kitchen. Be sure to ask about the specials! The All-in Bún was good in concept, which contained a generous variety of proteins, including sliced pork, egg rolls and bo lo lot, which was on the bland side and could have used some more seasoning. The accompanying nước chấm was lacking acidity, chili and/or garlic ...we're used to a little more punch. I realize Soufend just opened and they need time to fine tune their menu and service. I look forward to returning to see how they're doing.

I saw the banh uot tower on tik tok and decided to come try it. The concept was pretty cool and it was very tasty. You order the banh uot (rice noodle sheet) and pair it with meats that you want. We tried other Vietnamese food there as well and it was pretty good. The service was good, self serve water and utensils.

Decided to try this cafe Friday with my dad it's on the way to his place and fairly new to the neighborhood. Next to Sun Ta Tofu. Dad went with one of the specials on the board believe it sad Phnom Penh rice noodle soup it had shrimp, liver and pork. Very generous on the protein portion. I had the shaken beef was tender. Saw the beef stew on the specials menu when we were paying would definitely try that next time. Order at counter and they deliver to your table. Friendly staff added a mango slushy when paying wasn't sure how it would be since it's not really mango season but was very tasty and had diced fresh mango in it.

Located literally in the Soufend, right on MLK & Graham. It's in a shared plaza with Sun Ta Tofu and has some parking spots but if it happens to be packed, you can park behind it or across the street. The inside has a lot of nostalgic decor that really embodies childhood growing up in the south side of Seattle. It is cafe style so they will come take your order but do expect to grab your own water which in my opinion, is a lot more convenient. There's also a good amount of seating for different party sizes. The fried chicken wings are my go to each time I come here and they're packed with flavor. Each order gives a generous serving of wings. The Rice Roll Tower is a fun experience and comes with everything you need to serve rice rolls for 5 people. You get the option to choose different meats for it as well. Overall a really good spot to bring people to if you want some authentic Vietnamese food with a modern twist. Their Specials Menu also has a lot more traditional options if that's what you're looking for!

The beef skillet comes out really hot so be careful! It was my first time trying this dish and I actually really liked the pâté with the baguette. The cafe has a very chill vibe, you order at the counter and they bring the food to your table. Would highly recommend the matcha latte with strawberry foam. It was really good mixed. And I def want to to try the chicken rice next time!

The decor of this place is really cute and clean looking. My more "hood" friend corrected me when I said the name. For those that failed like me, the name of the restaurant is basically "South End." ;] I can see it after she called me out, lol. Anyway, I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately, my main dish fell short. I got the Hu Tieu Nam Vang since it was one of the specials of the day and because that's one of my favorite dishes, I figure I had to give it a try. My mistake. The soup was way too salty, it was missing the quintessential minced pork, and the dish just tasted all around...different. There was a decent amount of quail egg and I got 3 shrimps, which was a pleasant surprise, but the flavor was just not there. We got the chicken wings with fish sauce and this was actually really good. Not too sweet, and not too salty. Would recommend. The banh uot tower felt like more of a gimmick than anything. The taste didn't really justify the cost for me and took up a lot of space on the small table. I'd probably pass on that next time. I think there were a few things I would go back to try like the bun bo hue tacos, so overall, I'd give it 3 stars and hope that other things I try can bump my rating.

I wanted to like Soufend Cafe & Eatery. The concept and location are solid, but the service really missed the mark. When we walked in, the staff didn't make any effort to be friendly or welcoming. It wasn't busy either, just two other tables, so the cold attitude stood out even more. We ordered two dishes and waited over 20 minutes for our food, with no other orders ahead of us. The delay didn't feel justified. As for the food, the shaken beef had potential but was way too salty. This spot could be great with better customer service and more attention to food consistency, but for now, I can't recommend it.

Still on the fence about this place. Service wasn't that great. It's not that they were rude but they messed up a couple of things in our order. The price is a little bit more expensive than other Vietnamese places. The flavor wasn't bad for my Bun Bo Hue and my friend's chicken vermicelli but their coffee was great.

I was very excited to see this new eatery open up in a neighborhood I grew up in, which is fondly known as the 'Soufend' or South Seattle. I fell in love with the amazing art pieces that Soufend commissioned for their space by up-and-coming artists justin x caitlin truong (IG: @_justxcait). The art pieces are nostalgic and pay tribute to this community! My favorite is the one of paper Metro Transfer Tickets, which many people like myself, used to collect in a shoebox. As for the food, I was extremely interested in trying the Bún Bò Huế Tacos on their menu. The tacos were filled with ingredients you'd find in Bún Bò Huế and wrapped in a flour tortilla. The dish reminded me a lot of birria tacos with consome. I also ordered garlic fish sauce chicken wings, which had the perfect crunch. For the price for the tacos, I wish there was more food, which is why my rating is a little lower. But I would still be interested in going back to this eatery to try other dishes and some more of the drink options. I also acknowledge that I visited them on Day 2 of when they had just opened, so they are still working out things. I wish them all the best and very excited to welcome them to the neighborhood! Soufend sits on a remodeled lot on MLK Jr Way S & S Graham St, next to Sun Ta Tofu & Bakery. They share a parking lot. So far, Soufend is open Monday thru Friday: 7:30am-8:00pm & weekends from 9:30am-7:00pm. Follow them on IG @soufendcafe to stay updated!

Dang, the name caught my eye SOUFEND. Anybody that grew up in south Seattle knows exactly where that name came from. The specials - OMG they were so amazing looking as well. So we tried a couple - the razor clams were freaking delicious. The boar coco curry, delicious - served with warm banh mi bread. We also had a Viet crepe and fish sauce chicken wings. All dishes were simply amazing. I look forward to returning to try more dishes. The chef/owner was so nice and friendly she chatted with us and told us she made the hot sauces herself from scratch. Simply put, I love this joint!

Dropped in since i saw a local place with boba and have been wanting to try it out since seeing it opened! Got a classic black milk tea with boba. The boba a bit on the chewy side, but we're tasty. I usually get. Around 50% sugar, but I forgot to get any sugar mods this time. To my pleasant surprise, it wasn't super sweet! The tea flavor was there but i wish it was a bit stronger. Overall, this place is solid, but im not sure it quite stood out enough for me to come here just for the boba again.

My husband and I have been here a total of three times, and each visit has gotten worse and worse. I hate leaving a bad review because I initially loved the food. I understand they are a new restaurant, but I would have expected the food to improve over time, not decline. Consistency should be of utmost importance--someone should be tasting the food before serving it! Jan 10th: We ordered the bánh ướt tower, bánh mì chảo, bún mắm, and took home bún bò Huế (BBH) and bò lúc lắc. The bánh ướt was good overall but not great--the concept was cute, and the dipping sauce was just okay. 7/10. My husband enjoyed his bánh mì chảo. We received our water container immediately after sitting down, along with paper cups. Overall, I liked the experience. I really enjoyed my bún mắm (a little sweet, but nothing a bit of fish sauce couldn't fix). The BBH at home was also on the sweeter side, so I had to add more fish sauce. Jan 18th: Since we liked the food the first time, we returned and ordered takeout for my mom and father-in-law. Unfortunately, my father-in-law said the cà ri dê was so sweet that he couldn't eat more than one bite and had to throw it away. He said it tasted like it was entirely MSG. I don't have anything against MSG--I use it in my own cooking--but this was overwhelming. I told him it might have been a one-off. I ordered BBH at the restaurant this time, and it was even sweeter than before. I don't like sweet broths, so I assumed it was just my personal preference. Feb 10th: The morning after Super Bowl Sunday, I invited my friends to join me for lunch since they had been wanting to try the bánh ướt tower. I was embarrassed because I had raved about the place, but they left so disappointed. We weren't given water until we asked for it--after we had already placed our order. When we asked, the server just pointed to where the water was, as if we should have known to get it ourselves. If this is a self-serve restaurant, I would have liked to know in advance. But the first two times, they brought the water to us. It was also a quiet Monday morning, with only one other table occupied. My friends ordered BBH, and I warned them it was a little sweet--but they could barely eat it. One of them had to throw up 10 minutes later. I thought she was exaggerating. Another friend ordered bánh canh and said it was also way too sweet. I also ordered two BBH to take home. The next day, I tried it, and it was like candy--BBH should not taste like dessert. I diluted it with two parts water to one part broth, added more fish sauce, and it was still too sweet. We couldn't eat it and had to throw it away, definitely not the same BBH broth we tasted the first time we visited. I also ordered the hot stone phở, and just like everything else, it was super sweet. At this point, I was over it. We also got bánh khọt, and honestly, that was the only thing that was good. To make things worse, the oxtail and ribs in the BBH were extremely chewy and hard to eat. At that point, it didn't even matter how the broth tasted--there was no saving the dish. Overall, I'm not sure if I'll come back unless someone from out of town specifically wants to try the bánh ướt tower. I thought I had found a gem, but now I'm disappointed.

This has been my current favorite new spot to eat at, SOUFend Cafe. The name itself was already catchy, but I heard about this place from seeing posts of their banh uot tower and it reminded me of this one place I went to in Vietnam. You MUST try it; it's a tower of steamed rice roll sheets that you have a selection of protein to choose from, mixed with fresh herbs and veggies, roll it all up and dip in fish sauce. Oh. My. God. Yum! We also ordered their bun mam dau which is a variety of meats, tofu, noodles, and fresh herbs to dip in a pungent shrimp paste sauce. I guess I'm not a true Viet, the shrimp paste was too strong for me so I opt out for fish sauce instead. I'm looking forward to coming back to try more things on the menu. They have really early hours and actually serve a full menu all day. Tell me about your experience if you've been here or is going to after reading this review:)

Very delicious Vietnamese food with amazing presentation. Friendly service and clean restaurant. They have a huge menu which includes coffees and Matcha on the backside. Highly recommend this place and would come back.

Rewind: The Little Café That Found My Soul I wasn't looking for magic that morning. Just coffee. It had been a long week -- the kind that sticks to your bones, weighs down your shoulders, and drains the color from your days. I needed quiet. I needed warmth. I needed something small and kind. And I found it. Or maybe it found me. The Hidden Door Tucked between a bookstore and a flower shop, the café had no flashy sign. Just a hand-painted wooden board that read: "Juniper & Steam" in delicate cursive. Ivy crawled around the doorway, and the windows fogged just slightly with warmth. It felt like the place had been waiting for me -- like a secret the city only shares with people who need it. The First Breath The smell inside? Unreal. Not just coffee, but brown sugar, vanilla bean, citrus peel, cinnamon -- it was like someone roasted comfort into the air. The barista -- smiling with soft eyes and a wool cardigan -- greeted me like I'd been there a hundred times. "Rough morning?" they asked. I nodded. "Chai latte. With oat milk. And a whisper of honey?" I blinked. "How did you--" They winked. "We've all had one of those days." The Cup That Held Me Together I sat by the window in a mismatched armchair. The sun crept through stained glass panes, throwing jewel-colored shadows onto my table. My drink arrived in a handmade ceramic mug -- heavy, imperfect, human. The first sip made me pause. Smooth. Spiced. Gentle. Like a warm hand on the back of your neck when you're trying not to cry. They called it a "hug in a cup." I'd call it therapy in liquid form. The Cake I Didn't Know I Needed I hadn't planned to stay long, but the playlist was soft jazz, and the laughter of strangers was the kind that didn't ask anything from me. So I ordered a slice of their signature lemon-thyme olive oil cake. I don't know what magic they baked into it, but it tasted like sunlight. Bright, moist, tender -- the kind of flavor that makes your eyes close involuntarily. The Moment I Remembered Myself As I sat there -- chai in one hand, book in the other -- I felt my jaw unclench. My shoulders drop. My mind quiet. That café didn't just serve food; it restored people. You could tell by the way strangers lingered, by the way every detail had love behind it: handwritten menus, wildflowers in old jam jars, a little shelf of poetry free to borrow. The Kind of Place That Stays With You I've been back since. Often. Sometimes for the lavender matcha. Sometimes just for the atmosphere. Sometimes to write, to read, to think. But that first visit? That one stays with me. Not every place changes your day. Some change your rhythm. Some remind you of your humanity. .

Highlights - Great flavors but it feels like they're trying to cover too many bases with their menu - Great service and attentiveness by the staff - Tip options start at 10% (compared to some really aggressive cafes/restaurants these days) Soufend Cafe & Eater is a promising new cafe that seems to be going through so opening pains. But with a knack for identifying flavors that work together I hope that they come out on top rather than getting bogged down by little decisions and too many offerings. Here's some things I would love to see - Paring down the menu a bit, there's no need to have so many items on the menu and then daily specials on top, it leads to too much indecision and declining quality in some dishes that really benefit from freshness. The poached chicken for example was good in flavor but it was dry because it had likely been sitting out for a long time (it's not the quickest dish to prepare). If not enough people are ordering it to keep it fresh it might not be worth having on hand. - Rounding up their specials menu to the nearest dollar, it sends really weird mixed signals to have a menu that rounds up like it's a gourmet restaurant and then a special menu that looks like I'm shopping at the bargain bin. It feels like they're trying to appeal to different types of customers only to confuse them all. - Some specials have gimmicks (mostly the stone pot pho) that end up not making sense. Yes, it holds heat better in the bowl but I can't pick up the bowl and slurp it. Well, I really can't touch the bowl at all because it's so hot. I'll chuck it up to being a new restaurant but I feel like a few decisions could really improve the cohesiveness of the place!

I came back for brunch and we tried the Banh Mi Chao and Bo Luc Lac. Overall, the flavors were very good and the beef for both dishes was very tender and well seasoned. The Banh Mi Chao was missing pate, but all the components that were in the dish were tasty and it was accompanied with enough bread. I also got the Tamarind Mango Black tea which was delicious and unique. The biggest downside to our meal was the wait. After ordering, we waited over 30 minutes to receive our food. The service also needs improvement because our waiter was abrasive when he interacted with us. All in all, I would consider coming back for food if there is an improvement in service but will stick with their drinks for now.

I went there 3x with 8 days because the first time was good so my family and friends wanted to try it out. Everyone there is friendly but it would help for them to check up on people more. Parking isn't so great and service is kind of on the slow side. So to avoid this I would recommend going during opening or near to closing time. Now for the reviews on the food that we had: Their com ga hai nam, bo luc lac, and com tam is good. I'm glad we got to try all 3 of them. Banh Uot Tower was better than the one I had in Cali because it came with more protein options and veggies. Didn't like the heo quay because it was more on the dry side and not the crispy crunch I was expecting. I had the nem nuong too and it was good but could make the portions a little better. Banh Mi Chao portion was good but it was on the sweet side. Bun Bo Hue was flavorful but wish it was a little more spicy. I normally don't eat that spicy but this is something I would like to have a little kick to it. Banh Canh was good, bowl was really filling. I like my broth more thicker but my friends said depending on certain parts if Vietnam they don't always make it thick so that's understandable. Overall banh canh was good. Pho was OK, i wouldn't order that again. Overall, if they make some changes it would make the experience better especially with the prices they have. 1. Being more attentive to customers. 2. Maybe cutting down menu so they can improve on their main dishes.

Good com tam with great nuoc mam 4/5 Banh uot tower becomes quite pricey with each additional meat dishes but they are deliciously worth it 5/5 Coffee also good 4/5 Fish sauce chicken wings 4/5 Amazing service and beautiful dining space Would come back to try their rotating daily special and other menu items

I went here for the plate of nation special and it was so good. The place was packed and they took her number and we just went to the tofu shop next-door while we waited. I've never had a banh ướt tower before. The pork was cooked really well. The caramelized fish off garlic chicken wings were delicious and crunchy and flavorful. The teas were not too sweet. The only complaint is the restroom. You have to enter through these swinging doors and there's only one for the whole restaurant.

I've only eaten here once, and I wasn't expecting the food to be this good! Personally, I think the portions are generous, and everything was just amazing. We ordered three different dishes, and all of them were delicious. Even their milk tea and drinks were great! I remember ordering the matcha with strawberry, it was so good! Additionally, I could be wrong, but there were three people at the cashier helping out, and it seemed like two of them had some difficulty communicating in English. However, they were nice and genuinely trying to be helpful to the customers. The place itself is also very nice--spacious and clean.

When I heard there was a new cafe called soufend cafe I had to go because I am from the soufend. It's located in South Seattle in between Othello and Columbia city. I love the big signs that say soufend and how nice the atmosphere is. My friends and I got the matcha latte w/ banana cookie and another matcha latte w/ strawberry foam. They were both really good but the banana cookie stood out! I would say the drinks are a bit small for the price but tasted good! The menu has a variety of Vietnamese food and has some fusion options too such as bun Bo hue tacos! They even had specials of the day too! We shared the banh uoc/ rice roll tower. It comes with veggies, sauce, and you can choose your meat. It was a pretty good sized portion and got us full! The banh uoc was silky and fresh. I wish the sauce wasn't very sweet but a little Thai chili pepper can fix that! Next time I wanna try the bun bo hue tacos! Go check them out!

Food : Avocado toast was so good ! Finally a place that actually puts a good amount of avocado. Drinks : WHERE CAN I START I could not, could not recommend better matcha, the drinks are so unique too! My suggestion is the matcha with banana cookie foam, it will definitely become a favorite, but regardless of the drink order I don't think there's a wrong choice. Service : sweetest workers . I love family owned business for this reason! The restaurant itself is so beautiful, it feels homey, clean, and has such a welcoming atmosphere, there's so many small touches that just add to the experience.

Service sucks.. the girl act like she don't even wanna work there. Give you just just what you ask for. Not even polite about it. Food quality is great but yall needa stop hiring these people paying them low and giving us an attitude just because she ain't happy working there. 3 stars because the food was good but I would not be any to see that waitress again. I usually always tip at least 15% but that service was barely worth 10% tip.

seattle as a city is ripe with culinary gems but there's a distinct situation that tends to happen when people consciously choose to stay in their 'hoods and avoid areas they know little about or perceive are "unsafe." i always try to seek out places that i don't know much about, happen to drive by and find myself curious enough to pull over and go in. it's just how i roll and it might not be something a lot of people feel comfortable doing but when i have the time, exploration of my own city is what feeds my soul. that's what just happened with soufend. anyone that lives here will tell you that south end establishments are well known and beloved by those who live around them but few people come in from outside the area and the south end in particular has had to counter the bad wrap it's been given for years. i just found a place i'll be coming back to and i haven't even left the parking lot. soufend was literally packed on this rainy saturday morning. it sits adjacent to the light rail at mlk and graham so if you'd rather not fight for a parking spot in the tiny shared lot with other businesses, hopping on public transport may be a good move. you can eat there or order to go, which is what i did. i got an ube coffee which was super tasty and a tofu vermicelli bowl that l'll take home for lunch. (note to self: should've gotten some fresh spring rolls as well but it gives me an excuse to come back!) lots on the drink and food menu, especially if you're a meat eater but this is the kind of place that i definitely feels deserves more recognition. the person at the counter was super welcoming, the bathroom was clean (i used it while i waited for my order to come up) and i just love finding places that challenge people to get outside of their normal routine or neighborhood to appreciate the diversity this city has within it. so happy i happened to be driving by and turn in to take a look.

Best Vietnamese food ever, casual spot with friendly service and seriously good food. their cumquat tree is real!

This place seemed promising but it was bad from the beginning. Freezing cold dining area. No replenishment of paper towels in the bathroom. Runner not checking order/table numbers before delivering food to customers. Found a questionable clump of tiny black hairs in my soup. Yuck. Customer lady had a bronchitis cough and never covered her mouth. Kid watched her TV show, volume on full blast. No checkups after all food is dropped off. So many red flags. Not coming back.

I've been here twice and the first time it was alright but the second time the food hit righhhhtt. You got the Co Hais cooking in the back, and the seasoning is on point like authentic Viet food with fresh and fragrant aromatics. The bo luc lac came with a very crispy and well flavored rice that was legit. The nem nuong spring rolls were fresh and well made. The banh canh cua broth was the perfect consistency/thickness and the flavors were on point. Even the chili paste at each table is freshly ground and spicy as hell. I don't love some of the Seattle Viet food places but this place is very Houston Texas -esque in taste and style. This place is definitely going in my rotation !

I've been so excited to try this new spot right in my neighborhood. Plus it's a brand new restaurant in a business park that has sat dormant for years...maybe even close to a decade! Brand new building with parking in the front & rear, Soufend Cafe is a cozy eatery with fun flavored Vietnamese coffees, bubble tea & matcha lattes along with an equally interesting menu. We had a group of 4 for a Saturday brunch and were able to walk in and get seated right away. The first thing we ordered were some of their drinks, my hubby ordered a Vietnamese coffee topped with Ube cold foam. My friend ordered a brown sugar Vietnamese coffee topped with salted cheese foam. I ordered a matcha latte with oat milk...so happy they had milk alternatives. The drinks were really good and came in a 10 or 12 oz cold cup. We also ordered a couple of appetizers, crispy double fried wings salt & pepper style(they also have fish sauce) and Vietnamese Salad topped with beef. Our group really enjoyed both of our picks...the wings were really crispy and flavorful...plenty of crisp garlic bits and thinly sliced jalapeño. .While we were enjoying our appetizers, a friendly Vietnamese woman came up to our table & started speaking Vietnamese to us, until she realized none of us were Vietnamese, she switched to English and asked us if we liked banana, mango sticky rice with coconut milk...we said YES & she said she would bring us some on the house. When the server came by our table she told us that the woman was her mom & the owner of the restaurant! I thought that was a sweet personal touch. We also shared a couple of entrees, we ordered the Rice Roll Tower with crispy pork & the broken rice plate that came with grilled pork chop, shredded pork, egg pork cake, and fried fish cake. The server should have let us know we would most likely need one or 2 more protein options for the rice cake tower...as one protein order will not be enough for all the rice paper wraps. We ended up having to order grilled pork which was so tasty, marinated well & grilled...so much flavor. I'll definitely go back, it's got a fun vibe and I can't wait to try some of their soup noodle dishes...they have lots of options and a whole special list on the wall.

Holy moly this place was awesome. Food was incredible, inside was clean with plenty of seating. Service was friendly and well informed. Some of the best Vietnamese food I've had around this area.