hot pot was one of a kind for a small hole in the wall place like lakewood!! we became regulars up until their recent change of management :( they've been closed for some time now. the owners were incredible we built a relationship with them and they were truly the sweetest people! looking forward to what this place will be once new management opens once again. read more

May Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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What a gem! A cute establishment in an unassuming strip mall serving boba, rice dishes, sizzling plates, hot pot, and banh mi chao. We came for an early dinner so it wasn't crowded at all. Service was quick and attentive, they brought out our bowls and drinks in minutes. The hot pots each came with their own burner under the pot, so mind those metal handles!! Soup was incredibly flavorful and TBH I think I prefer these to the ones at Boiling Point. It's always an adventure to fish for items in the soup: notable finds included extra glass noodles, fish ball, tofu, and a block of taro. Sooooo good on a chilly day! Hot pot came with a chia-infused oolong tea, which was actually very tasty and boba-esque (but without the boba balls), I think this was promoted in an instagram post. I will be back. read more

May Cafe - Mala hot pot (top) and creamy hot and sour hot pot (bottom) with glass noodles - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

I ordered from May Cafe once from DoorDash and was disappointed in the ramen as it tasted and looked like Shin Ramen but got dressed in a few vegetables and chicken. However, the chicken was terribly dry and the soup just tasted like Shin ramen. However, my drink that came with the order was good. Despite my disappointment, I wanted to come try their other options and my boyfriend and I were in Lakewood area. When we arrived in, we were greeted warmly by an employee who was busy helping a large group. We were told that we can have a seat anywhere and scan a QR code to order our food. However, the deals that they were offering was not on the QR menu so we just patiently waited until we could order up front. The same employee was very polite and friendly as she took our order and would be the one to deliver our drinks and food. I got the hot pot combo that came with a free drink while my partner got the banh mi combo that came with his choice of drink. The interior is a nice modern, cozy feel. It is definitely a cute spot to hang out with friends, family, or even co-workers as they have several accommodating seating styles. We really enjoyed their music as it was several American pop songs covered by one lady but her voice was very relaxing to listen to. Our drinks arrived first and we really enjoyed our drinks, it was refreshing and the perfect balance of sweet. Our food arrived not too long afterwards and we really enjoyed our food. I had ordered the mala hot pot with seafood and instant noodles which was the perfect amount of food. I did add more chili oil to my soup as I just love my food spicy. The chicken teriyaki banh mi was according to my boyfriend, one of the best ones he has tried so that is super high praise. Overall, I would suggest not ordering the ramen here as you can make the same bowl for a lot less and better. However, please do try their drinks, banh mis, and hotpot which were all fantastic! read more

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I am so so glad a hot pot AND banh mi chao place has opened up in Tacoma. I have been waiting for this moment! The restaurant itself is very cute, lots of space but there isn't as much seating as I thought. The owners and staff are very sweet people from my conversation with them while ordering and as they were working around the restaurant. We got the banh mi chao with sausage/meatball/cha lua and also one with steak. They came with salad and a baguette on the side. I really enjoyed my plate with the various meats and I really liked the pate! It came out very hot so be careful. My boyfriend also enjoyed his steak. The bread was nice and light with a crisp as well. We also got the cheese and shrimp toast as well and this really amazed me. The shrimp toast was so big, like the pieces were huge. Normally shrimp toast is often a bit smaller, but here the bread was thick and they added so much topping on it. Shrimp toast is pretty simple dish for me but the way they made it large stood out to me haha. It was delicious. I would love to come back and try the hot pot and some of the drinks that they have :) read more

May Cafe - shrimp toast - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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This place is pretty good. Came here on a Friday night with a party of 5 and got seated right away. We got to choose our seats. The inside itself has nice decorations on the wall but the decor overall does seem kinda unfinished. It's cozy though. I ordered the tomato hot pot with pork belly and instant noodles and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A lot of reviews mention the lack of meat but I got a lot of meat in mine. The broth was super flavorful and each ingredient tasted great. It also came with a black iced tea I think, and it was so good. Service was good too. Got checked up on a few times and everyone was pretty nice. I'd come again when I'm craving hotpot. read more

May Cafe - Tomato hot pot with pork belly and instant noodles - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

Love that there's a hot pot place in Tacoma! Makes it so convenient when I don't wanna drive to Tukwila. Their homemade dipping sauce was good. I didn't need to add extra toppings, it was more than enough for me to take home leftovers. Overall I liked the broth but I would've loved more intense flavors and it was more of a clearer broth than what I'm used to. read more

May Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

Staff is very nice and welcoming. Food and drinks came out very fast. I love how they have the food and drink combo making it very affordable. The shrimp toast and octopus balls were loaded and packed with flavor read more

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The people (owners? that works there are super nice and accommodating. We were a group of 5 with 3 young kids thar are loud and running around But they looked at us with big smiles and moved tables and chairs around to accommodate us! I got the egg coffee- so so so so so good is all I can say. It's good when it goes in and then a blast of good aroma afterwards too!! Highly recommended We got the banh mi drink combo which is only about $12. I don't know what is in the banh mi but it's so good- there is so much going on. Light crisp bread and just a bunch of texture and flavor inside- it's so good!! The sauce, the meats, the veggies ... one word to sum it up- yum!! Chicken wings and tater tots were delicious too and came with 2 big container of sauce (not pictured) Proportions here are generous and pricing is great. It's kind of small so plan accordingly if you have a big group. So excited to try their hot pot combo next time! Highly recommended!! The kids enjoyed their nuggets (not pictured) wings and tots! Husband got the phin black coffee he said it was really good too. Basically the whole fam is happy! So happy to stumble across here read more

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Sooo good, especially on a rainy day. This was my 2nd time here, and everything was just as delicious as the first time. The hotpot dipping sauce is so good. Service is so nice and friendly. Note to self to remember order: - wings w/ tamarind sauce - yellow curry hotpot with extra lamb +bowl of rice, maybe add bok choy - ube house coffee read more

May Cafe - N9. Chicken Wing (+ tamarind sauce) - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

One of the most promising new Asian eateries. They appear to be just starting out, so the food took a while to come out but their staff was very friendly and their hot pot was the highlight of the night! The sizzling plate came pre-sliced but was overall very delightful. The patte is also good but I'd prefer if they offered a menu option with just the sizzling plate without the patte. The combination of great food, drinks and seating makes this a place that is worth dining in rather than takeout. I give this place 5 stars based off of their food + potential. And compared to other options in town, they are a breath of fresh air. Once they get more streamlined with their operations and word of mouth spreads, I can see this place reaching its full potential. We plan on being regulars here! read more

May Cafe - Sizzling Plate - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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Coming here for the second time and it's consistent! This time I got more refills on the tea with the hotpot because it comes with refills and like I said it's bomb. The place is still spacious and room for everyone. Next time, I'm going to try a different hotpot soup base instead of the creamy hot and sour. Try it and don't sleep on it. This visit also was a try of the tiger boba with the ube foam. I personally still love the house tea with chia seeds that come with the hotpot better. read more

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I came here when they first opened and liked this spot. Came back today to order a banh mi and got this. This is not a banh mi at all, super disappointed read more

May Cafe - Pork and Pate "banh mi" - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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SO happy a hot pot place opened up on the south end! They're having a great deal with their hot pots! You get a free oolong tea with cheese cream for $15.95 and it is delicious! Met the owner and he's super friendly and the service was great! Space is definitely limited but they're planning on expanding so that'll be great! We will definitely be coming back! read more

May Cafe - Tomato Hot Pot - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

The food is good. They have a limited selection of hot pot, but it's actually better than I thought it would be. The portion is a bit smaller than boiling point, but flavor is there. My party said that the Bo Ne is very good as well especially the pate. Hot pot does come with tea so that's a plus. Haven't tried the banh mi yet, but will next time. The people here are nice as well. I recommend give this place a try. read more

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The previous owners of the original Pho Friends of lakewood are baack!! They originally only had snacks and boba, but they are now serving some good single hot pot. Had the mala soup base, and it was a good portion of veggiess and meats. You can do add ons if you want more. Service was outstanding! They're super friendly and attentive. It's a simple restaurant/cafe, nothing too fancy. Just plain good food. So, if you need a break from all the pho places around lakewood, check them out!! read more

May Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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We were excited to try this place as there is no hot pot spots in this area. My husband and I love the flavor of the soup -- he had the Taiwanese one and I had the Hot and Sour. The only thing is there was not enough ingredients in the pot, especially the meat, only 3-4 pieces. Also, it was not good quality meat, there was just too much fat. I understand that everything is expensive now, but we don't mind paying more for more ingredients in the pot. You can get more noodles and meat going to neighboring Pho places for less. The service is very good though. They were very nice and attentive. But we will think again about coming here if the amount of food will stay the same. read more

May Cafe - Hot and Sour hot pot - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

The red curry hot pt was fire.... service was fast and easy. Love the vibe of a small cafe setting... read more

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- Food & Drinks 9/10 - Service 8/10 - Short staff and small with not much diner tables But it's okay since it's a small business . The cafe did a revamped on the menu so they was a grand re-opening . The wait was worth it since we wanted hot pot. The fact that they is no close hot pot shop near by beside up north. This was a must to try. We had order the mala soup broth since that was popular and the tomatoes broth was popular as well but was sold out . We also order octopus balls that came with fries. It was delicious !!! For our drinks I had the oolong tea with cheese foam. Let me tell you :) it was refreshing and so tasty. It actually reminded me of 85 degree bakery drink that is called " jasmine sea salt green tea" the oolong tea was sooo good ! Would have to say the place is alittle small on the weekend while they're still renovating, so heads up. Will definitely be back to try more things on the menu. Be mindful that the staff can be forgetful due to being busy and short staff. Besides that the owner and staff was friendly and kind . The hotpot was simple if you want something simple to eat. It's not fulfilling nor has much rich flavor but still good. My Favorite hotpot is still boiling point for sure . read more

May Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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The food and drinks here are so delicious! The drink sandwich combo is a great deal and the chicken teriyaki banh mi is excellent. Staff is very friendly and service is quick! Very cute decoration and nice atmosphere. Highly recommend!! read more

May Cafe - May Cafe House Signature Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

I've been dying for a hot pot spot to open in the area and May Cafe did not disappoint! I typically like the more communal style of hot pot but this was still so delicious. I got the Mala broth which is more of the Chinese style hot pot broth with beef and glass noodles. I also got a guava passion fruit tea with lychee topping. All of it was delightful and in a clean, beautiful space. Definitely check them out! read more

May Cafe - Fresh out the kitchen hot pot with mala broth, beef, glass noodles and no modifications. - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

Soo good! The food was delicious, the service was great & attentive. Would definitely come back again. read more

May Cafe - HOT POT selection - Mala Soup - Hot & Sour - N3. Octopus Ball & Fries - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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My 2nd time trying and it was so good again. Tried the tomato mini hot pot with pork belly, instant noodles, pork intestines and it was delicious. Many combinations to pick from and It also had clear noodles in it which was a plus. They also expanded the restaurant so has a lot more room for dine in. If you are in Lakewood & Tacoma area go try and you will not be disappointed. Great service with mom and pops home feeling. Plenty of food to choose from. Will keep trying different soups Also comes with sweet tea. Love giving back to small family businesses. They all need our support. read more

May Cafe - HOT POT selection tomato, pork belly, intestines with instant noodles . Comes with sweet tea. - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

A friend recommended May Cafe as an authentic Vietnamese restaurant. As you all know many ethnic restaurants are Americanized and you have no idea what is authentic or not. May Cafe specializes in Hot Pots, you have your choice of about 9 different flavors, a selection of proteins, and sone noodle and rice options as well as at least a dozen add ons. So you can image lots of combinations are available to suit everyone's taste. As it was my first time and I was on my own I kept it simple. I had hot and sour, with pork belly and glass noodles. All I can say is Wow! I have never had anything like it. It was a fantastic flavorful broth with an abundance of vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, as well as pork belly and noodles. I wish I had not gone alone so I could have tried another flavor. I guess I will need to make a few more trips to try everything. The service was good, the restaurant was sleek and modern. I going to need to look on YouTube to find out how to eat glass noodles in soup. They are like slinkies and are very difficult to pick up with a spoon or chopsticks. I'm going to have to start making up reasons to go to Tacoma so I can stop by. read more

We wanted to give this place a try. We tried a hot pot and was very surprised at the size and amount of food. The very shallow pot had a very bland soup base. The portion looks to be "kid size. Two or three scoops and you're done. So taste, quality and size was really not worth the price. And to add to that was we felt sick afterwards. Not sure what it was, but they really can improve on hotpot. We tried and probably will not return again. read more

May Cafe - Mala hotpot w/lamb meat (4 thin slices) - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

Very cute place to catch up with friends I suggest the hot pot food and service are incredible Parking is a little tricky if you have a big car read more

Best bubble tea and amazing service 10/10 And the hot pot is flavorful too as well Highly recommend read more

We just had an AMAZING dining experience here! The food and service were top-notch! The owner whipped up the best drink I've ever had! Plus, the menu has many unique and delicious dishes you won't find anywhere else. We will surely come back again to try other dishes.! Don't miss out on this gem in Tacoma read more

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Customer service is great!!! I tried their hazelnut ube coffee and it's delicious! I also tried their Bahn mi but I ate it too fast and forgot to take a photo. read more

Ordered the mala hot pot, with octopus balls and fries, with an oolong ice tea and dragonfruit lychee tea. The drinks were great and the octopus balls were great too. The hot pot could have been more flavorful though but great pricing for a $15 hotpot meal. I would definitely go again because it is so affordable for its price. read more

May Cafe - Mala hot pot, octopus balls, dragonfruit lychee ice tea, and an ice oolong tea. - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

I highly recommend this place. We tried all fruit tea drinks and they're all good. We also ordered some fries and banh mi. I love everything here. The food was excellent and you can tell the food was made with love. I have found my new favorite spot. Lakewood is lucky to have you. read more

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I loveeeee it here! I ordered on DoorDash one time and everything was so delicious I just had to try it in person. Came in we all ordered the chicken ramen and the mala hot pot and it did not disappoint! The owner was so kind and even brought us a free drink the service was absolutely top tier, always tasking if we wanted refills or if we needed anything. The whole restaurant was so tidy and clean as well as the tables and seats. They also had such a cute mural and decorations, I can't wait to come here more! read more

This place was incredible! I got the creamy hot and sour hot pot with seafood and my husband got the fried rice with combo meat. Surpassed my expectations! The staff was very friendly and helpful in choosing my entree. Hubby really liked the rice as well. We will definitely be back. read more

May Cafe - Fried rice with combo meats. Delicious! - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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We have been a couple times now and this time we ate inside. Service is absolutely outstanding. The young lady who works the front is incredibly kind and makes fantastic drinks. I myself slammed a Vietnamese iced coffee (hands down one of my favorites in the Tacoma area) my partner had the house iced coffee that was also delicious hazelnut and ube I believe. I also got a strawberry peach refresher that is a 9/10 soooo good if you like sweet drinks! I ordered the sizzling steak and eggs and caramelized onions. Fantastic. Beef steak is not fatty which I appreciate. Eggs were perfectly cooked. 8/10 also there's a nice sauce incorporated into the steak that's subtle but adds a really nice salty sweet flavor. My meal also comes with a warmed baguette and omg I didn't know I needed that until I got my paws on it and couldn't put it down. My partner had the braised beef soup and she really enjoyed it. The broth has a beautiful depth of flavor not too spicy nor too sweet. The beef came in nice big chunks (a bit fatty) tender and nicely flavored. I would also rate this to be an 8/10. They have a light and bright restaurant with cute drawings and paintings on the walls with cute music playing throughout. Really nicely done. If you haven't been or trying to find a great new restaurant this is a can't miss! read more

I loved my meal! I got tomato hot pot. Good service and yummy soup . I got a drink as well. Very clean and modern location. read more

May Cafe - HOT POT selection - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

This was my first time at May Cafe and the food was so tasty!! I shared the creamy hot & sour hot pot and octopus balls with my partner. It was more than enough food between the two of us, the only thing I wish I had was more broth because it was delicious. I would highly recommend this hidden little gem read more

May Cafe - Creamy Hot & Sour Hot Pot - Cafes Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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Dining area very clean, simple ambiance. The Banh Mi sandwiches are very tasty. The staff very attentive and courteous.

We shared the Taiwanese hot pot, the cheese and shrimp banh mi bites, wings and fries. It was really good! Everything was fresh and flavorful. I also got a Thai iced tea, which was also really good. I will be back to try their banh mi's. For hot pot, you pick your soup base, protein and either rice, clear noodles or ramen. Small little place, we went during the week day for lunch and it was not busy at all. I also want to try their house coffee with the Ube foam, that looked really good! Service was good. read more

Absolutely amazing! I got The steak Bahn mi and the peach mojito and it was so damn good. The price was excellent, staff was so kind an fast and I will definitely be making this place a regular stop. read more

Have came to this place 3x times now and the food keeps getting better. Definitely worth driving 30 minutes from my house for it. And they provide free tea with your hot pot order which is super kind of them. read more

Super excited to find a place in Tacoma that has Bo Ne AND hot pot. But think personal hot pot with Vietnamese flavors. Got to talking with the owners and guess it was a coffee shop that has now expanded, both in space and menu. We had the hot and sour hot pot which was flavorful, and the sizzling steak plate and the shrimp and crab toast were really good. And their vietnamese coffee was legit! Will have to come back to try their fried rice. read more