Vietfive Coffee - Chicago

No idea how they get their positive reviews. First of all, the coffee was bad - really, really bad. I have traveled extensively through Vietnam and came to adore their coffee culture, but honestly no coffee experience could be further from that than VietFive’s (yes, I know the “family farm” story, but that doesn’t help when your coffee is just, to use the words of another reviewer, “pond water”). In fact, their Cà Phê with sweetened condensed milk was so bad that I had to throw it away after leaving the place, something I usually wouldn’t do with a $6.15 drink. To make things worse, they didn’t have the mochi donuts which I had ordered (and paid for) online. Since I did not like the only sweet alternative, I had to accept what they call a banh mi empanada. A greasy, hearty dish was definitely not the taste I had hoped to enjoy with my afternoon coffee (okay, since that was undrinkable anyway it didn’t have much impact in the end…). How anyone can describe their interior as “cozy” is beyond me. On top: the smells! While I had hoped for a pleasant coffee shop experience, the whole place was actually full of fryer smells. Their saving grace could have been a welcoming atmosphere, but in reality it was just the opposite: Already 45 minutes before closing time at 5pm they were stacking chairs, then vacuum cleaning, brooming, and finally mopping the floor, without any respect for the two present customers. Sorry, but if you have limited hours anyway, either close at 4 or do your cleaning after 5pm, but don’t make this such an unpleasant experience for your paying guests! I usually try to find positive aspects in everything (and coffee shops almost always get good reviews from me), but VietFive was really just a huge letdown in all regards.

Awe man, I had some fun here. Chill atmosphere and great lighting (ie: café match made in heaven). While I was in they played The Internet, Mint Condition, and Thee Sacred Souls. Ubechata latte (no coffee version) was killer. Staff was very kind and answered questions I had about different drinks without judgement. Free water. Free Accessible Bathroom (no key/code). Free Wifi.

Just going to start off by saying this coffee is strong!! Such a cute coffee shop in west loop. I stopped by to grab a coffee (was recommended the condensed milk coffee) which was delicious and it definitely packs a punch in terms of caffeine! They have a cute couch that I enjoyed reading on and it had a fun community atmosphere. Overall a great experience!

Sunday Nov 2 in the morning. I got a matcha latte with coconut milk, it is watery, I cannot appreciate anything about this drink at all, plus it's not even hot, not even warm. The banh mi pork empanada was also very unappetizing. I paid almost $20 for these 2 items with the tip, I do not recommend it at all. I wish I tried the Vietnamese coffee, I would've probably liked that... but why would they serve the matcha if they think it's not good? The outdoor chairs set up inside is unsteady, if you're on the heavier side, do not sit on it.

What an amazing find in the West Loop! Vietfive Coffee is such a gem. The coffee here is absolutely bomb . . . the salted coffee in particular is next level, with a rich, smooth flavor that’s totally addictive. I am definitely a Vietnamese coffee man now. I wasn’t expecting much on the food side, but the empanadas blew me away. I tried the sausage one, and it came with sauerkraut, black pepper, and carrots inside, such a unique combo, but the flavor was out of this world. Totally worked. The vibe is casual, prices are cheap, and it’s the perfect spot to pop in for a quick coffee and a snack. Definitely a must-visit if you’re in the West Loop and want something different from the usual coffee shop routine.