Vuji Cafe

"This new Tex-Asian cafe sandwiches Asian flavors between Texas toast. Try the best-selling Negitoro Tuna sandwich, which is layered with sushi-grade tuna belly and loin with salmon roe, scallions, and furikake, or go for the daring Century egg sandwich, a funky combination of preserved duck egg and yuzu avocado spread. If looking for a sweet treat, try the Ube Pandan. The sandwich is loaded with crisp wafers, creamy ube pandan filling, and strawberries, which pairs well with the joint’s eclectic cold brews or Thai teas." - Brianna Griff, Brittany Britto Garley

"We appreciate the simplicity of Vuji Cafe. There are no convoluted concoctions or flashy attention-grabs at the Heights restaurant, just wide-leafed plants in a wide-open brown space made for studying or reading a book and a lo-fi playlist. The menu is equally as relaxed, serving a few cold brews and eight fantastic sandwiches, all tucked between Texas toast. We love the bulgogi ribeye—which tastes like a crash course in KBBQ— that combines griddled meat, spiced kimchi, and corn cheese. And sandwiches with salmon roe and tuna belly we'd find at a sushi restaurant remind us that straightforward bites are still intricate. Come by Vuji Cafe when you need a quick lunch, and aim to check off every sando on the menu." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"Sandwich: bulgogi ribeye sandwich The bulgogi ribeye sandwich at Vuji Cafe is all about efficiency. They take the flavors of an entire KBBQ dinner and stuff them between two slices of puffed-up Texas toast. Each element is accounted for—a heap of kimchi that adds a tangy spice while the bulgogi ribeye balances the smoke with a little sweetness. And the portable corn cheese made with kernels draped in strings of mozzarella completes this sando. This is the sandwich to grab when you want the satisfaction of a Korean BBQ meal without the grilling and smell of charcoal in your clothes." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene, julie takahashi

"Not all lunches need to be multi-course, sit-down operations. Vuji Cafe in The Heights keeps it simple. The counter-service restaurant offers a menu of eight sandwiches made with slices of Texas toast, a few coffees, and housemade lemonades. There are no bad options here but opt for the bulgogi ribeye sandwich that tastes like a portable KBBQ dinner. And if you need a sugar boost to help you power through your afternoon meetings, go for the dessert sando with ube and pandan fillings. Vuji is pretty quiet, so you can enjoy your lunch hour listening to lo-fi playlists while sitting beside a plant with billowing leaves." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"We appreciate the simplicity of Vuji Cafe. There are no flashy attention-grabs at the counter-service Heights restaurant—just a menu of eight delicious sandwiches and a few cold brews. Like chopped chicken sandwiches coated in ginger sauce, and dessert-style sandos layered with ube, all tucked between two pieces of fluffy Texas toast. We love the bulgogi ribeye that combines griddled meat, spiced kimchi, and corn cheese—which tastes like a crash course in KBBQ. And the sandwiches with salmon roe and tuna belly remind us that straightforward bites are still intricate. photo credit: Vuji Cafe The space is equally as relaxed as the menu. It consists mostly of wide-leafed plants in a wide open space for studying or reading a book. If people aren't popping a squat and quietly enjoying a sandwich on the raised stairs inside, they’re giggling with their friends at one of the tables over Thai tea. Vuji Cafe is for when you need a quick lunch, or the goal is to check off every sando on the menu. Food Rundown photo credit: Gracie Henley Bulgogi Ribeye Sandwich The tangy spice of the kimchi perfectly balances the sweetness of the ribeye. Plus, the gratuitous use of melted cheese and sweet pieces of corn make this the first portable corn cheese we’ve ever seen. Order this when you don’t have 45 minutes to grill your own bulgogi. photo credit: Gracie Henley Negitoro Tuna Sandwich When we think of a “tuna sandwich,” we often picture minced cans of albacore, but here, it involves expert cuts of tuna belly and loin. The result is a sando filled with pieces of fish you’d expect to find at an upscale sushi spot. Plus, the salmon roe tucked between the bread gives the dish a new texture and keeps the meal from going too soft. photo credit: Gracie Henley Hainan Chicken Sandwich Think of a chicken salad sandwich that got a good-paying job in finance, and you have this dish. Chopped chicken pieces are lathered in a tangy ginger sauce and tipped with a bit of cilantro. The result is a sando that feels familiar but is interesting enough not to feel like they’re reinventing the wheel. photo credit: Gracie Henley Ube Pandan Sandwich This sandwich is for people who either have a serious sweet tooth or want to channel their inner 4th grader and have dessert for a meal. The main components are decadent ube and fluffy pandan spreads with sliced strawberries in the middle. There are a few thin wafers at the center of this dish, but the main crispness comes from perfectly toasted bread." - Gianni Greene