Soufend Cafe

"At Soufend Cafe, there are modern takes on Vietnamese classics like bún bò huế tacos, avocado toast on bánh mì bread, and plates of rice rolls stacked like a game of Jenga. While the restaurant doesn’t hold up to other Vietnamese spots in the area, the comfortable dining room with a huge “Soufened” mural and other thoughtful homages to the neighborhood is great for a late breakfast or leisurely lunch. Plus, they’ve got lots of caffeinated drinks, like a refreshing strawberry matcha that we’d stop in for all on its own. Food Rundown photo credit: Kayla Sager-Riley Strawberry Matcha Latte We won’t name names, but some coffee spots have been seriously stingy with the strawberry in strawberry matchas. Not here, though—more than a quarter the drink is made up of a not-too-sweet strawberry purée that somehow avoids turning into a seedy, sticky mess. photo credit: Kayla Sager-Riley Bún Bò Huế Tacos These are tasty, but not quite the way we want to consume bún bò huế from now on. We’d rather sip the broth with a tangle of springy noodles and tender slices of beef than rely on the broth to punch up an otherwise lackluster taco. Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings Absolutely get these—they are crispy, garlicky, and fried to a shattering crisp without being one big ball of oil. photo credit: Kayla Sager-Riley Rice Roll Tower We love that these paper-thin and chewy rice rolls come on individual plates so nothing sticks together. Mixing and matching toppings like crispy onions, tart mango, and fragrant herbs works with the crispy pork. The fried tofu option is less interesting." - Kayla Sager-Riley

"Serves Vietnamese fare with playful undertones like bun bo hue tacos and banana cookie coffee." - Charlie Lahud-Zahner