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    The Phin

    4.0 (56 reviews)

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    THE PHIN ATMOSPHERE

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    Matcha Einspanner
    Christine D.

    Matcha/Viet Coffee shop Ordered: - Matcha Einspanner - Cream top was ok. Bit on the milky side. I felt like it kinda had a matcha taste, but I was not a fan of their blend of matcha. Felt a little gritty and I felt like it left a slight film on your tongue. Vibes are cute inside. Online ordering website time estimate was really wrong. It was quoting 25-30 minutes, I think drink was ready in 10-15 minutes.

    Anthea R.

    The decor needs to be redone. All the feather duster decor gets on everyone's hair, clothes and floats around and is a food hazard. There is also a giant table in the middle and impedes the flow of the line for ordering, and pickup. It also prevents efficient cleanups by staff. The soft opening they had their soft serve ice cream, and waffle bites. Both of them were good. However, after the grand opening, it took them two additional weeks to have the soft serve ice cream again, as well as have their mochi waffles (which turned out to be soggy, heavy and dense). The drinks leave a LOT to be desired. Vietnamese coffee is usually very strong, so when you offer flavour pairings, those flavours should be able to come through but we barely got to taste the fish sauce caramel topping in their coffee, nor much of the pandan in the pandan latte. The matcha drinks, where to begin - matcha craze has people consuming "ceremonial dirt" by hefty spoonfuls. For three drinks they are using a total of 8 heaping teaspoons of matcha powder that is mixed with hot water and measured out in three drink glasses and then topped with banana cream or sesame cream or ube or mango sticky rice. None of those flavours come through at all because the matcha flavour is SO overpowering. Besides the waffle bites, and a regular Vietnamese coffee, there isn't much to bother trying here.

    Blueberry Matcha and Mam Coffee
    Anne Q.

    The Phin, a new Vietnamese coffee shop has a lovely interior. I especially like the setup, which allows customers to clearly observe the preparation of their drinks, particularly the matcha drinks. Watching them vigorously whisk the matcha really helps the wait time pass quickly and it can be quite therapeutic. It gets very busy during the weekend so be prepare to wait a bi. Customer service is friendly and the girls at the counter are nice enough to help with recommendations despite the long line. The menu has a few intriguing drinks that are exclusive like the Mam coffee. Surprisingly, despite its name, the drink was really good and did not have a strong fish sauce taste or aroma. The taste was very faint. I highly recommend trying it. I also ordered the blueberry matcha, which was similar to any other blueberry matcha drink I've had. However, what set it apart was the menu's description, which mentioned that their matcha is ceremonial grade. I truly appreciate that. =)

    Ube matcha
    Raven B.

    Great spot for Vietnamese coffee & matcha. I tried the ube matcha, the sweetness of the ube balanced the slight tanginess of the matcha quite well. The cafe has plenty of seating which is a plus, but the chairs aren't very comfortable and don't feel inviting if you're hoping to relax, read a book, or stay for a while.

    Jessica S.

    The place is super cute and aesthetic, it's specious with enough seating. I ordered the strawberry matcha 10/10!

    Belldandy O.

    The Phin recently opened in the Chinatown/Bellaire area of Houston. The Phine can be located in a plaza with several other businesses; many of which are other cafes. My friend recommended The Phin as they are new. The interior decorations are quite modern and simple. It was warm and inviting inside. The layout was a bit interesting in terms of where the line forms to order and seating. It didn't bother me too much since I wasn't planning to sit and sip on my drink inside. I ordered the Duo Matcha, with no adjustments. Kept it as whole milk, no sugar or ice adjustments. My drink came out to be $8.18. The line to order went by quickly. The drinks were also being made relatively quickly, too. The Duo Matcha is good. One of the better matchas I have drank in a while. However, the milk was overpowering the matcha flavoring for me. If I am ever in the area again, I would consider stopping by again to order one of their coffees.

    Ha C.

    I like the matcha coco cream (for a non matcha person) The Pandan latte is my fav for a non coffee person. The Pandan tastes really homemade not the flavoring color. I tried the mochi mozzarella and it was meh. Maybe they should use a different type of cheese. Mango sticky rice was good Black sesame latte not as thick like Trungs.

    Victoria L.

    Tried their mango sticky rice matcha 7.5/10. I loved the mango chunks and real sticky rice inside the drink. It was a little sweet for my liking. I would've preferred a stronger matcha taste, however my friend I went with felt it was the perfect level of sweetness. They also had a self serve condensed milk and cane syrup dispenser if you felt like your drink needed more or less sweetness.

    Patricia T.

    There's a lot of hype going around since it's one of the newest coffee shops in Houston. Heads up if you can't find this place; Molly Tea right next door is bright and pink, The Phin is literally pitch black. You can't see a soul from the outside. But that's how you'll find it. The viral Mắm Coffee is what everyone is trying but I have no interest in that whatsoever because I'm not a fan of fish sauce. I did however ended up getting the Blueberry Matcha. First sip was okay, but by the second sip and onwards, it was way too sweet. I'd call myself having a sweet tooth but this was just way too much for me. Maybe it's best to just order coffee at a coffee shop.

    Naomi L.

    Don't be fooled by the long line. While the matcha is strong, all the flavored matchas lacked the flavor that was advertised. The mango sticky rice matcha was alright but I've had better. Banana cream had minimal banana flavor and no sweetness at all. Overall, it's better than watered down matcha but did not live up to the wait.

    Inside
    Khanh T.

    The Phin is one of the newest coffee shops in Houston and it's located right next to Molly Tea in Chinatown. The interior was so so nice with lots of tables, although it was pretty tight since it was very crowded. The line moved very quickly though. I got their signature Mắm coffee, Buôn Mê coffee and the Mango Sticky Rice matcha. The Mam coffee came with a cream top and fish sauce drizzle. It sounded weird at first but it actually tasted pretty good and enhanced the coffee flavor (tasted like salted caramel). The Buon Me coffee came with a coffee cream and cocoa powder, and it was so good, I like this one more than the mam coffee. The coffee was very strong and I loved that. The mango sticky rice matcha came with mango puree on the bottom, coconut foam on top, along with bits of sticky rice. This drink was soooo good. Mango pairs really well with matcha, and the coconut was so fragrant. The drinks were made pretty quickly despite being busy, but matcha took a bit longer. They also had bottles of condensed milk and sugar syrup on the counter so if you want your drink to be sweeter, you can always add it to your likings. I really love the counter space they had and I realized the water kettle stations were built into the counter space, that was so cool :)

    Menu
    Angie Y.

    I waited about 40 minutes during the soft opening of Le Phin, and while the coffee itself was pretty good, the rest of the experience was a bit underwhelming. The mango sticky rice matcha was the main disappointment. The matcha base tasted more like milk than a properly balanced, high-quality matcha, missing that deep, slightly grassy, umami flavor you expect. Instead of feeling cohesive, it came across more like separate components forced together rather than a well-integrated drink. The mango element was also disappointing. The syrup tasted artificial, almost like jelly sitting at the bottom of the cup, rather than fresh or naturally sweet mango. The "sticky rice" component was the most confusing part, with a texture that felt closer to mashed potatoes than chewy sticky rice. Combined with the temperature of the drink and the different textures, it ended up as a chunky, uneven matcha latte that did not resemble what the promotional photos suggested. The cafe itself is beautiful, and they are clearly working hard and cranking out drinks quickly, especially during a soft opening. However, for the price point and the actual quality of the drinks, I would personally go elsewhere for now. There is potential here, but based on this visit, it did not live up to expectations.

    Melanie D.

    The newest Vietnamese coffee shop in Houston Chinatown. The space is very minimalist & aesthetic with plenty of seating to enjoy their drinks. They specialize in phin drip coffee & matcha. I went during their grand opening weekend. It was pretty busy & crowded. Even with the long wait, the workers worked efficiently. All the drinks were organized with orders either in progress or ready on the screen. If you ordered a matcha drink you get to see the entire process from them measuring the matcha to them assembling the drink. I tried their mango sticky rice matcha, buon me cream, & ube cream. All of them were delicious. The mango sticky rice matcha flavor were subtle. The coffee drinks were strong especially the buon me cream since it had a coffee cream top. Out of all the drinks, the ube cream was my favorite. Overall, I had a great experience & enjoyed all the drinks.

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    Trung Nguyen E Coffee

    Trung Nguyen E Coffee

    4.3
    (127 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    Minority-owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    I've been meaning to try this coffee shop. We happened to be in the area and stopped by on our way…read morehome from Bellaire Blvd. It was delicious, and I would definitely come again! Even though my girls are too young for coffee, they enjoyed a sample of the cream and a huge cookie! The service was great and the shop was crowded. I love seeing groups of people enjoying the offerings and each other's company.

    So sad to see Mr. Wish go. It was my go-to fruit tea joint. Trung Nguyen E Coffee took over their…read morespot. This particular location is smack dab in the busiest section of Bellaire. Traffic to get in and out is horrible! Parking is a struggle on busy days. Fortunately, once you park here, you can pretty much grab some drinks, baked goods, play claw machines, go grocery shopping, etc. Trung Nguyen serves espressos, matcha, phin coffee, phin drips, teas, and white coffee (lighter version). Toppings are $1-$1.50 and includes grass jelly, coffee jelly, cream, single shot, or extra matcha. I've tried their egg coffee, coconut coffee, ube coffee, pandan coffee, and black sesame. Although I love all of them, my current fav is the black sesame! YUM!! I've yet to try their matcha and teas, but Trung Nguyen is always on our list whenever we're in town- so I will for sure try their other drinks at one point or another. Viet coffee is everywhere in Houston (and I love that). With Trung Nguyen, your drinks are consistent, and you can always count on getting the strongest coffee (not watered down) whenever you get their coffee.

    Photos
    Sweet Corn Cream Phin
    Sweet Corn Cream Phin
    Mange Matcha Latte
    Mange Matcha Latte
    Butterfly latter

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    Butterfly latter
    Heytea

    Heytea

    4.4
    (121 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    This spot remains one of my absolute favorite boba places in Houston, thanks to their top-notch tea…read moreand milk tea quality. I love their app, highly recommend it to pre-order through the app, it's extremely accurate in term of wait time and easy to use. However, there are a couple of downsides: their matcha is just average, their menu is a bit limited, and my favorite drinks are frustratingly often out of stock or out of season. My top recommendations are the Coconut Mango Boom, Cloud Jasmine Tea (basic but so good), Yuzu Oolong Tea, Brown Sugar Milk Tea, Mochi Yingde Black Milk Tea, Grapefruit Boom and the toasty/wheat-y Longji Cloud Milk Tea.

    (+) Aesthetic spot (+) Good menu selection…read more(+) Convenient ordering through the app or at the counter (+) Excellent tea flavor (-) Long wait time (-) Steep price for small drink First time here with my college friends and their families. We tried the highly recommended mango boom and the yuzu green tea, which were both solid choices. I downloaded the app and was able to place my order from there by-passing the long line at the counter. However, it still took a significant amount of wait time for my order number to be called to pick up my drinks. The app had some deals that discounted my order, which was a plus. Not sure if I'd go out of my way to return, but if it comes up as a suggested place, I wouldn't pass it up.

    Photos
    Matcha latte
    Matcha latte
    Blue Mango Coconut
    Blue Mango Coconut
    Inside.

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    Inside.
    Bijou

    Bijou

    4.1
    (83 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    A spot dedicated to tiramisu treats (as well as mousse cakes, panna cotta, cookies, and croffles)…read moreand pretty drinks that is open all day? Count me in! The inside is mostly white and going for that IG "it spot" vibe. Most people were ordering their drinks that come with a little slice of tiramisu, but we were there to try just the latter! The tiramisu varieties aren't all truly tiramisu (which traditionally has espresso and alcohol), but they're called tiramisu because there are cookies or ladyfingers layered with their mascarpone cream. I tried the Biscoff Tiramisu-- while they could work on their presentation (the filling looked messy and slapped on), the taste was quite nice! Sweet, creamy, and the mascarpone filling was light and not too heavy despite being sweet and indulgent. I'm excited to try the other tiramisu varieties :D I like how the tiramisu comes in its own container instead of scooped into a takeout box because it's a lot less messy + prettier when eating it. Service was really friendly and there is self-serve water available too. Lots of tables for two but they were all taken during my visit. There's a little table outside in the shade if you're willing to sit in the heat. Overall, 4.5 stars for the tiramisu-- will be back to try some more! Check them out next time your sweet tooth calls :)

    Inside is super cute. It is a nice place to take photos and they have so many desserts here. The…read moredrinks are dessert based. I tried the matcha float which is basically a matcha affogato. It was a matcha drink with a scoop of matcha ice cream on top. The matcha flavor is well blended tastes like milky and sweet, almost like a milk shake. The service was also nice nothing to complain about.

    Photos
    Signature Coffee
    Signature Coffee
    Biscoff Matcha Latte
    Biscoff Matcha Latte
    Inside

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    Inside
    CHICHA San Chen

    CHICHA San Chen

    4.3
    (155 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    So glad to hear that one recently opened up in Houston. Would LOVE to take my cousins here one day…read more Environment/Atmosphere - Super crowded when we got here, but the lines moved fast, and there was a kiosk to self-order if you didn't want to wait in line for the cashier. One of my favorite things was how fragrant the space smelled while I waited for my boba. You could tell there was an exceptional tea aroma lingering despite all the cream and sweetness. The place was exceptionally clean for being so busy, and the workers consistently cleaned as they made the drinks, so you knew you could trust the sanitation here. Drink Design - I have to make a separate comment on how CUTE these drinks were. I loved the intentional sticker placement over the lips and the little carrying handle. You could tell they went the extra mile to make these drinks not just flavorful, but an experience in and of themselves. Even their receipt paper felt luxurious. That sounds ridiculous to point out, but the thought behind every aspect of this place is impeccable. High Mountain Pouchong Tea w. Lemon Juice & Mousse (Creamy Lemon Tart) - After all the sugar I had today, this lemony drink hit the spot with its perfect tartness. The cream had bits of lemon zest in it, adding to the aroma. I tried to adjust the sweetness when I ordered and was told it had a built-in sweetness, but if I found it too sweet, they would happily switch it out for another drink. I felt like I was dealing with Amazon's generous return policy--and luckily, the drink was perfect, so no return was needed! Creamy Mango Tart - Literally like the Lemon Tart, but mango. I loved this just as much and really enjoyed the refreshing flavors of BOTH tarts. Instantly a fan favorite. Dong Ding Oolong Tea w. Fresh Milk - Very mild and creamy, almost like a mellow latte. Not my favorite because it was a bit too creamy after everything else I had today. Still, I loved the tea profile and can absolutely see why others would love it. Overall, I love, love, LOVE this place. 1000/10. From the experience to the quality and intentionality behind every little detail, I couldn't be happier with my visit. I never thought I'd ever say that a drink was so Instagram-worthy, but these drinks were beautiful--like models of the boba world. Would go back in a heartbeat. This has officially won the spot for my favorite boba place.

    I have heard the hype for Chicha San Chen and I wanted to try it. This place is definitely a more…read moreelevated than your normal boba tea place and you can tell by the crowds. We had to wait a little in line but the service was fast! The tea tastes great and I like the cup they serve it. I appreciate that they offer your sweet level and ice level you prefer. And the prices are reasonable compared to other places I've visited. You see families of all ages come into this place, as it's shown in social media it definitely brings a crowd. One nice addition that I saw was a Photo Booth and tea tasting station! You don't have to worry about parking as it's located in a strip mall so there's quite a bit of spaces. Overall I enjoyed my time and would like to try other tea options here.

    Photos
    Green tea with milk and grass jelly.
    Green tea with milk and grass jelly.
    Cassie black tea + mousse
    Cassie black tea + mousse
    Mango high mountain pouchong tea with boba

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    Mango high mountain pouchong tea with boba

    The Phin - coffee - Updated August 2026

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