Coffee Dak Lak — Restaurant in Markham

I always look forward to this place opening. It's owned by a lady and her partner and I got a chance to talk to them before they officially opened at noon. They came early to get the place ready and that was around 11:40am. Usually, PMall has some ballsy shop owners that would shoo you away and not have you stick around their store like... 5-10 mins before they open just because. This couple fortunately let my mom stay until they were ready and opened up a conversation while we were looking at the menu deciding what to get. The male partner was surprised to hear us in our mother tongue, which was Cantonese and he then tried to converse with us in that language because he said he learned quite a bit whenever he has time to help with the store. My mom was surprised. I was a bit taken aback by the awkwardness because I wasn't expecting him to speak in Cantonese. As well as I don't do small talk at all because there's only so much I can answer within a very vague and non-specific filler question. However, I was still astounded by his persistence and effort for trying and making me laugh so early in the morning. It made my day! When they were finally ready, I ordered my usual condensed milk coffee and I liked that this store has sugar adjustment levels to pick from for ALL their drinks and I really like my coffee taken just black or with as little sugar level as possible so it was perfect! This place is the only place that does this sugar adjustment idea (at least to my knowledge) and it's honestly an awesome habit to keep for those of us who prefer food and drinks on the more blander side and for obvious health reasons. It is quite the wait but because I know it takes time to make traditional Viet drip coffee, I got used to the waiting times because I value and respect consistency so I understand why certain foods and drinks take a long time to complete. It just needs time. However, if you're super impatient and a short-fuse of a person, then I recommend not to have your coffee made here. If you have high-class taste like I do and don't mind waiting for a little bit longer, then this place is for you! Exceptional job well done, folks! Always look forward to...

I come here for their Thai iced tea (regular and the green tea one) whenever I visit Pacific Mall. My tea orders are always with less/no sugar and no ice. However, I just noticed that they do charge extra for no ice. I also tried their Vietnamese coffee during this visit.

1. Thai Green Tea

I don't see a lot of places offering a green tea version of Thai iced tea (maybe I haven't looked that much) but I find myself enjoying this version than the original red one. The tea itself is flavourful and fragrant and I do love green tea (probably why I like this one more). It has been awhile since I had the regular Thai iced tea though so perhaps I will try it on my next visit.

2. Vietnamese Iced Coffee

I'm not much of a coffee drinker but I've been meaning to try this drink for awhile. I enjoyed it very much and it was nice and hot. The condensed milk wasn't too strong and complemented the coffee really well.

We had to wait about five minutes for the drink but they...

Once the lone cafe in Pacific Mall serving Vietnamese-style coffee, this spot is still going strong. (I see there's another cafe opened nearby north-side entrance on main floor) Due to the prep time for egg coffee (10min), I always end up getting the iced condensed milk coffee. The rest of the menu remains a mystery to me, but given the top-notch quality and the buzz from the condensed milk coffee, I’m sure everything else is just as fantastic. Their coffee has that robust kick reminiscent of old-school Vietnamese coffee. It’s not the modern, subtle taste or aroma that places like Cong Caphe offer. I love how it stays classic in this way. Comparing Cong Caphe and Dak Lak is like comparing night and day. I wouldn’t dare judge between them. Dak Lak excels in delivering that bold, traditional punch, while Cong Caphe brings a modern twist with a warm, welcoming vibe. It’s like asking whether you prefer mom or dad. Both are great, just in...