Ca Phe Blends Vietnamese Coffee Heritage with Modern Flavours in Cabbagetown
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
From phin-brewed coffee to ube-topped matcha, Lily Huang and V are expanding their Vietnamese-inspired footprint in the city.
A new Cabbagetown cafe channels the entrepreneurial energy of a hidden-gem venture, pairing authentic roots with modern flair. The people behind an "if-you-know-you-know" snack bar have brought that ethos to Parliament Street through the work of 24-year-old Lily Huang and her partner and co-owner, V.
As reported by BlogTO, the duo previously established Viet Bites, which specializes in chè—a sweet, chilled dessert soup of coconut milk, fresh fruit, jelly and tapioca pearls—with a few banh mi available as well. Building on that momentum, Huang and V have recently launched Ca Phe.
Located at 434 Parliament St., Ca Phe occupies a corner spot at the front of Rapid Photo Studio. The location creates a unique intersection of creative energy and caffeine, offering a menu that balances traditional Vietnamese coffee methods with contemporary twists. According to BlogTO, the cafe's centerpiece is its phin-brewed coffee. The menu pays homage to heritage with options such as the rich Hanoi Egg Coffee, which utilizes condensed milk and egg yolks, as well as coconut coffee and a variety topped with pandan cream.
However, the entrepreneurial spirit driving Ca Phe extends beyond traditional coffee. The cafe has integrated modern trends into its beverage and food roster. BlogTO notes a lineup of ceremonial-grade matcha drinks, including matcha lattes topped with ube cream and a piña colada matcha slushy. The food offerings follow a similar pattern of blending textures and trends, specifically through "croffles"—croissant-waffles—finished with whipped cream, fresh fruits, pistachios and Biscoff cookies.
This expansion is happening at a rapid pace. While Ca Phe officially opened at the end of June, BlogTO reports that Huang and V are already planning another, larger sister location to Viet Bites. In a city where opening a single business is often viewed as a gamble, the pair is carving out a niche in Cabbagetown, blending the scents of coconut milk and pandan with a fresh business model.