Phin Coffee House — Restaurant in Boston

We had been waiting for this place to open ever since I heard there'd be a Vietnamese coffee house nearby. We finally had a chance to swing by yesterday and it was even better than I had hoped.

We were only planning on getting coffee but once we found out there was food, decisions were quickly reassessed. I got the Boston Cream Coffee and a pork banh mi and my partner got a strawberry smoothie with no milk and a tofu banh mi. We split a chicken spring roll.

I have to pause to praise the attention to detail in the packaging. The banh mi came in waxed brown paper coffee bags, which is an incredibly cute touch. It also makes transportation of the sandwich much easier. The banh mi was wrapped in waxed paper in a way that if you shift the sandwich up like an old school Push Pop and hold the folded parts in place as you eat, there's zero spillage. That's a level of dedication to details that I've never seen and have to call out.

The coffee was amazing. It was rich but not heavy, lightly sweet, and really hit the spot for my morning caffeine needs. It had plenty of ice but never diluted to the point where I felt like I had to chug it to save it. My partner really enjoyed her smoothie, saying it didn't taste artificial at all. The banh mi bread isn't on a traditional Vietnamese style baguette, but on a flatter piece of bread where they still manage to get the perfect crunch on the outside and soft chew on the inside. The portion was just right - we wound up taking the spring rolls home. The spring rolls were equally delicious - the rice paper wasn't at all chewy, there was a generous amount of chicken, the peanut sauce was tangy, sweet, and peanutty.

I already have plans to bring my family by next weekend and will be recommending it to friends who work...

I love this place so much!! I live nearby and only discovered it recently. I'm moving to a different neighborhood soon and I truly wish I knew about this place earlier. It's such a gem. The coffee is great, the matcha is great, the employees are always so friendly and smiling they'll make your day! And they also give great recommendations. The first time I came in an employee helped me choose something based on my usual coffee preferences (I don't like super sweet drinks) and I was recommended the Boston crème drink. Loved it and it was just what I needed. I now come here to study and get work done. The music choice is also soothing and not so distracting so I can get work done. I honestly think I'll make the trip all the at here in the future just to enjoy the matcha and ambiance even though I'll be living in Fenway

Also I recommend the matcha lemonade! Never disappoints me

Edit: been going regularly and the service is still impeccable even when it's super crowded and busy. Lots of offices nearby so many people come here for lunch. Any time I had my order messed up they were quick to fix it as soon as I brought it to their attention. Lately I've been getting the same two things regularly. A golden match (turmeric and honey) and the chicken banh mi. The chicken banh mi in this cafe specifically is like my favorite sandwich ever it's perfect. Packed and presented well, the chicken tastes amazing and my favorite is the crispiness of the baguette. It's so satisfying to hear that crunch every bite I take. I'd get that sandwich every day if I could it's the perfect portion for me too. My only suggestion would be more jalapeños for some spiciness but I understand most people can't handle that so the probably go easy on the jalapeños for...

My new favorite matcha spot in Boston! Upon walking into Phin, I immediately felt relaxed by the serene atmosphere. You can tell they’re all about making the shop a calming environment.

I’m very picky about matcha, and matcha can be difficult to “get right”. Phin’s matcha latte is nice and strong. You can actually taste the matcha’s notes; the latte itself is incredibly umami, creamy, smooth and perfectly sweetened (I asked for “lightly sweetened”). I do not like my drinks super sweet and when I usually ask for “lightly sweetened” at other shops, the sweet taste is non-existent. That’s not the case here. The color of the matcha is the perfect shade of green— not yellow at all or a light green, which is usually a sign the matcha is low quality or watered down.

Additionally, the employees elevate the experience from great to excellent. They’re very personable. My fiancé stopped by to pick up a matcha for me today, and they remembered us from yesterday and asked him to send me their best.

Phin is definitely at the top of my “must visit” list next time I need caffeine when...