CAFE REVIEWS, DOWNTOWN TORONTO, ONTARIO

By: Vu Ha Phuong & Karen Cagas

A cozy and welcoming café that specializes in a variety of tasty and healthy Vietnamese cuisines

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Ambience

Our group visited The Oats Káfe in Downtown Toronto. We had all heard about this store as “one of the most authentic Vietnamese cafes” and decided to give it a try. The café had a cozy and relaxed atmosphere with friendly staff and unique decorations and souvenirs from Vietnam. Classic Vietnamese traditional music played in the background, adding to the overall ambiance. Although the café was fairly quiet, the sound of the espresso machines and the warm steam gently filled the air. Some guests were engaged in small conversations, taking pictures and chilling while others were utilizing the free Wi-Fi to work or read.

When we placed our order, the staff was exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable, introducing and explaining the history and contents of each drink and food item on the menu, particularly coffee and tea. As a pleasant surprise, we learned that in Vietnam, tea had been reserved for Emperors and high-ranking classes to show respect and honor to their superiors for over 4000 years. The staff demonstrated this cultural practice with their exceptional service very well by presenting not just our but all’ orders with two hands and a respectful bow.

The table settings and chairs in the café were made from bamboo, emitting a smoky and earthy aroma. Surprisingly, despite the perceived hardness of the material, the chairs were quite comfortable. The café itself was relatively small and seemed to be geared more towards take-out orders and short-stay, so unfortunately, it was not wheelchair accessible, and there was no bathroom available. Despite this, the café was kept tidy and clean, with ample supplies of feminine hygiene products like tampons, pads, and air fresheners in the women’s restroom.

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Online Presence

The Oats Káfe website is simple, yet effective in conveying the message of the cafe’s brand. The lay out of the website is well-organized, with a clear navigation menu at the top of the page that allows customers to easily find what they are looking for. The use of handwritten font of the logo creates a personal and unique look, helps to emphasize the artisanal nature of the cafe’s products. The website also features a section on “Our story” to provide some Vietnamese background information on the cafe’s founders and their vision to deliver Vietnam images to the guests for the Oats Káfe. They also have TikTok, Instagram, Facebook page and actively post about their plans, foods & drinks on all platforms.

Website: https://theoatskafe.com/

Tiktok: @theoatskafe

Facebook page: The Oats Káfe

Instagram: theoatskafe

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Product Review

Phuong Vu’s review:

Orders: Bac Xiu (to go), Coconut coffee, Viet Classic Banh Mi, and Salted Egg Cupcakes

The Coconut coffee is 5.99$ and is very light and creamy. I was told that I could enjoy this drink either hot or cold, regardless of the weather. The creamy and rich coconut cream perfectly blends with the strong black coffee. Additionally, they added crispy coconut shreds and a pinch of cinnamon nutmeg spice.

Bac Xiu is one of the classic street drink in Vietnam, a white coffee, Vietnamese Style latte that has three layers: condensed milk, milk and Vietnamese Black coffee on top and it was 4.75$. In my opinion, as a Vietnamese, I would prefer the coffee to be stronger and bitter to contrast with the sweetness of the condensed milk. Normally Bac Xiu doesn’t have milk foam on top, but overall, the taste is suitable for beginners who are newly to this since the caffein in Vietnamese coffee is very strong.

The Viet Classic Banh Mi is the star of the show. It’s 9.99$. It is a split baguette filled with Vietnamese pork ham, grilled belly pork, pork pate, Viet-style egg mayonnaise, special Hoi An sate sauce, pickled carrots, and daikon radish, and garnished with cilantro and cucumber. The bread was warm and crisp while inside it was filled with toppings and flavors. For Vietnamese people, Banh Mi can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner because it has all the umami flavors, including sweet, sour, spicy, salty, smoky, and richness.

The Salted Egg Cupcake is a vanilla cupcake with cold cheese sauce, grated salted egg, and pork floss. It’s $3.50 each and $18 for a box of 6. They are soft and moist on the inside and have the perfect balance between sweet and savory. They make a perfect treat to have with coffee or tea.

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Karen’s review:

Coconut Coffee

A strong coffee blend with rich, creamy coconut cream. A Vietnamese coffee drink that can be enjoyed hot or cold. Review: The light sweetness and creaminess of the coconut cream balanced well with the strong coffee. 

Lychee Tea

Refreshing iced lychee tea. A sweet tropical fruit popular in Asia that has a light sweet honey-like taste and blended with black tea. Topped with real lychee fruit. Review: The black tea is not overpowering the lychee flavour and has a hint of honey to add sweetness. I recommend having this refreshing drink on a hot day.

Beef Lemongrass Banh Mi

This Vietnamese sandwich is made with a short baguette that has a crispy exterior and soft airy centre. It is filled with lemongrass marinated beef, pickled carrots, radish, cucumber, and cilantro. Also, special mayo spread and chili added. Review: I wish the bread was a little bit more crispy. However, the beef was well marinated and tender. The pickled vegetables were fresh and the sauce or condiments were rich. Overall, the flavour goes well together, I give it a nine out of ten.