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Kawaii Cafe

4.3 (29 reviews)
Open • 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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KAWAII CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Kawaii Cafe

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Gloria L.

These drink names are so funny! The Vietnamese coffee was also really delicious, I got the love bomb which has coconut cream

Spencer S.

One of my favorite spots in the neighborhood! The Vietnamese coffee is the best, everyone is always so friendly, and the drinks are creative and delicious. Always a go-to!

Corinna W.

Great, strong Viet coffee, I love the addition of coffee jelly in the drinks! Extensive (and hilarious) menu! Can't go wrong with any of the choices. Excellent service and clean cafe.

Inside
Annette A.

I don't get what's with NYC overcharging hella for a small "okay" matcha drink that you can't choose a bigger size for...but I mean it IS the city, I guess. I came in on a Friday at 12pm and it wasn't busy. I love the aesthetic of the shop. It definitely lives up to its name - kawaii. I ordered a "doubtex" (ig it means double text) which was from their special Spring drink menu - it's essentially a banana cream matcha, priced at $11.50. I added oat milk as per usual and it came out to $12.52. It's on me for wanting to order an $11.50 matcha but I was really feeling a banana matcha today. Service was quick, got my drink in a little under 5 minutes. The drink is okay. It's made with real banana so there's banana chunks in it which is good. It just tastes like a matcha with banana chunks. At the price point it's not worth $11.50. I'd enjoy my drink more if it was at a reasonable price at like $7, especially for the small size. The matcha does taste fine, though a little bitter and it wasn't whisked enough as you can see in the pictures. 2 stars for the aesthetic, creative drink names that I find funny, and I'm a sucker for French bull dogs.

Caitlyn F.

My friends and I got the matcha, banana viet coffee latte and a regular viet latte. They were all really good, had a great flavor, and were strong like a viet coffee should be. It's a small spot with cute aesthetics and trendy drink names. The owners were friendly as well! My only thing is that these drinks are a bit pricey with drinks over $8-$9, I believe mine came to $10.50 with tip.

Nawal A.

10/10!! One of my favorite coffee shops in NYC. The flavors are unique and well balanced. Not too sweet and the coffee bean is not burnt. The menu made me laugh haha so creative. There are a variety of drinks, made them quick. I recommend the signature and the slow burn.

Kawaii Cafe - Warning, ridiculously sucker-priced Vietnamese Coffee!!!
Mike R.

Rip off!!! The owner/investors of this new Kawaii Cafe need to rethink their business model!!! Walked in to check it out! The basic, Original version of their "specialty" Vietnamese Coffee is $9 for a 16 Oz. iced or 12 Oz. hot! More specialized drinks of those sizes even hit $12. Did not see anything less! WOW! Seriously? Yes, walked out! The sandwich board out front says "Warning! Very Good Vietnamese Coffee here." I'm definitely game for Vietnamese Coffee since first trying it in South Philly in the '90s. But even if what they had was superb, i.e., beyond "Very Good," I'm not paying $9 bucks for a small cup... that is even if they danced for me like Johnny Rockets. (Keep in mind, just read debt incurred by Johnny Rockets is leaving them cash strapped.) Kawaii Cafe's "Warning!" is right! As a coffee drinker, understand the tariffs have increased underlying coffee prices, but even given that, their pricing is just over the top!!! It's not cute like the Japanese culture phenomenon they're espousing. Perhaps the Kawaii team thought that the crowd from the IG/TikTok obsessed FOMO tourists who line up at L'Industrie Pizzeria across the street would line up also here to shell out just to take a pic to post and boast?! Did they expect one of those suckers "born every minute" to walk in? Or did they consult the psychic that used to operate in this very storefront who "predicted" the future? Nope! My mama didn't raise one of those suckers - Kawaii Cafe is something to pass by! This neighborhood has had a big turnover of shops after the Sex and The City "Magnolia Bakery" effect drove its trendiness, which pushed out the OG businesses and upped commercial rents. Recently, this block, in particular, has had a number of new food spots that definitely caused increased foot traffic beyond people going either to or from the riverfront, PATH train, or Friends apartment establishing shot building on Bedford & Grove. That being said, hope Kawaii Cafe's landlord collected the rent in advance for whatever the terms of the lease are! Or at least had the next tenant lined up!

Eunice Y.

Kawaii Café has a cute vibe and the coffee was decent overall, but definitely not worth the price and it didn't taste anything like the Vietnamese coffee you'd normally get at Vietnamese restaurants. I really want to support small local shops, but this place just isn't for me. Two pastries and two coffees came out to $37 with tips. The pastries were good, but I'd honestly recommend offering a smaller, more affordable version. The coffee jelly tasted nice but I literally got only four tiny pieces. Overall, it was an okay experience, but not something I'd go back for.

Whitney D.

What a cute coffee shop this is that just recently opened. I found them on social media and wanted to check it out. It is a Vietnamese coffee shop and it also has a cute logo that is the owners dog. This shop is owned by two sisters and one of them was there when I was there and she was very nice and we had a little conversation and she told me which drinks she recommends. I did the Netflix and chill one without the Jelly on top. I highly recommend this place if you like or want to try Vietnamese coffee.

Their amazing drinks
Mona I.

This is such an adorable shop that serves all of these creative flavors of Vietnamese coffee. Their cream-topped matcha drinks are all amazing. We are looking forward to trying their Valentine's Day special edition drinks too. The owner is also such a sweetheart and so welcoming to everyone! Thank you!

meet cute - banana cream coffee
Dora C.

Super cute store - loved all the whimsy posters! The drink was amazing and had the perfect amount of caffeine to keep me awake all day.

Vivian L.

A new cute cafe in west village! Very thoughtfully decorated and the menu was pretty extensive (love the names of the drinks)! The drinks are on the pricier side and the service was quick and friendly. I wouldn't come here every week, but once in a while this would be a great place to visit. The matcha is nice quality and I would love to try their other drinks in the future.

Evonne H.

As always their coffee so good especially the egg coffee with coffee jelly!! This time tried the flan coffee was very good too!!

Deez nut latte

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4 months ago

Love the place, great coffee and the vibe is awesome. The croissants are also really good.

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Review Highlights - Kawaii Cafe

“The Vietnamese coffee is the best, everyone is always so friendly, and the drinks are creative and delicious.”

Mentioned in 10 reviews

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Culture Espresso - Chocolate Chip Cookie

Culture Espresso

4.3(1.5k reviews)
1.7 mi•Midtown West
•$$

We came here based on a recommendation from our friends who work next store recommended it and we…read morehappened to be staying at a hotel on the same street. We only wanted coffee & tea yet after reading about their cookies, we bought 2! First, my English Breakfast tea was outstanding. The brand, serendipiTea. So good I didn't need to add sugar. They gave me the option of adding maple syrup. I added some Oat milk, it was delicious. Then after my 5th sip of tea I had the most delicious peanut butter gluten free cookie. So good! My hubby loved his coffee and chocolate chip cookies, he was speechless. Love this place.

My friend brought me to Culture Coffee before I had to catch the train, and it was such a cute…read morelittle stop! The space is cozy with some seating, and apparently they have award-winning cookies... which I unfortunately cannot personally confirm because I had already eaten enough breakfast to feed a small village. I stuck with a vanilla latte. The coffee was good, the service was nice, and the space was welcoming. But the CHANDeliers?! Absolutely gorgeous and definitely one of the first things I noticed. I'd love to come back when I'm actually hungry enough to investigate these allegedly award-winning cookies because clearly I have unfinished business here. Cute spot, good coffee, gorgeous chandeliers--and apparently cookies that have trophies. I need answers.

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Culture Espresso - Oatmeal cranberry cookie

Oatmeal cranberry cookie

Culture Espresso - Black & White

Black & White

Culture Espresso - Chocolate Chip Cookie (~$5)

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Chocolate Chip Cookie (~$5)

Kawaii Cafe - coffee - Updated October 2026

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