Coffee Shop Review: Vina Cafe, Makati, Philippines
When I booked a flight to Hanoi and started making plans for this trip, I discovered the existence of egg coffee. Since then, I have sort of become obsessed with it. I wanted so badly to try egg coffee that I googled for local coffee shops that might be offering it. I had one delivered to my home via Grabfood, but I was not too fond of it; it tasted bizarre. Is this what egg coffee supposed to taste like because if so, why is it so popular in Hanoi?
I googled some more and found a Vietnamese cafe in Makati that offers egg coffee. My Hanoi trip is scheduled for December; my curiosity cannot wait. So one night, I traveled to Poblacion, Makati, to check out Vina Cafe.
ℹ️ Coffee shop – Vina Cafe quick information
📍Address: 4344 Valdez St., Poblacion, Makati, 1209 Metro Manila, Philippines
🕑 Store hours: Open daily, 9:30 am to 10:30 pm
💰 Price range: USD 1.99-8.21 (PHP 115-475)
🍴What to order: Egg coffee, chicken pho
🔗 Website: https://www.facebook.com/vinacafeph/
📍Coffee shop – Vina Cafe location
Vina Cafe is in a small compound along Valdez St., in Poblacion, Makati, where you can find different small businesses, such as a skin clinic, a bar, a goto place, and a cafe.
🖼️ Coffee shop – Vina Cafe ambiance and interiors
Vina Cafe occupies a two-story space; the first level is a mini store that sells Vietnamese products, such as ground coffee.
The tables and seats are on the second floor; additional seating can be found on the balcony. The space is quite small that I think it could only accommodate 10 to 16 customers.
I moved to the balcony area for some fresh air; however, it was annoying to hear all the noises coming from passing vehicles.
💻 Coffee shop – Vina Cafe WiFi
Vina Cafe has free WiFi, which is very fast, especially if you stay in the balcony area.
🔌 Coffee shop – Vina Cafe electrical outlets
I didn’t see electrical outlets during my visit.
🥯 Coffee shop – Vina Cafe food
Chicken pho
Price: USD 6.83 (PHP 395)
The first time I had pho was when I went to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, in 2016. Back then, my palate was unsophisticated or, should I say, untrained. I didn’t even know what pho was; just saw it on the menu, where it was indicated as a chicken noodle dish.
I remember getting deeply underwhelmed by this dish; couldn’t believe how bland the soup was. Before you get offended, I’m not dissing Vietnamese food; I’m just saying I’m Filipino; I grew up eating excessively salty, sugary, and oily foods.
My palate has significantly improved six years later, having exposed myself to other international cuisines. Now, I love pho; that’s why I ordered it at Vina Cafe.
I had chicken pho without the chicken. I instructed the waitress not to include the chicken meat. She looked at me, not fully comprehending my request, but she eventually got it after further explanation.
And the chickenless pho arrived with a generous serving of veggies on the side. The serving was big, but I finished that whole bowl with no trouble. It was so good, spicy, and not bland (please forgive my food-ignorant self).
By the way, they also offer beef and seafood pho, but they’re more expensive than chicken.
☕ Coffee shop – Vina Cafe drinks
Ca Phe Trung (egg coffee)
Price: USD 3.72 (PHP 215)
And the reason I traveled that fateful night, the egg coffee. It was served in a small clear cup. Look at those layers; isn’t it lovely? Not sure where the egg mixture is; I’m assuming it’s the foamy layer on top.
I mixed it with a teaspoon quite vigorously because blending all the layers took a while.
When it was finally ready, I sipped the cup gingerly, hoping it was better than the first egg coffee I ordered online from another coffee shop. Thank heavens it was! It was so good, strong, and bitter, with the sweetness counterbalancing the flavor. Now, this is how egg coffee should be made.
The experience further heightened my excitement for that upcoming trip. I will surely try egg coffee from where it originated and will tell you all about it.
For now, there’s Vina Cafe to satisfy anyone’s curiosity about egg coffee.
🥘 Coffee shop – Vina Cafe menu
Click the accordions below to see the menu. Note that prices may change without prior notice. USD conversion is based on the currency exchange rate on October 28, 2022.
🫘 Coffeehan scale
I give Vina Cafe 4 coffee beans.
☕
Do you want me to review any coffee shops? Leave your suggestion in the comment box below, and I’ll make time to check it out. 💕
