Phin Cafe - Blossom Hill Road | San Jose — Restaurant in San Jose

Best Thai iced tea! They call it Bangok tea here. I always get Thai iced tea from boba shops, and this by far is the yummiest one I’ve honestly ever had. Like wow, it seriously made my morning. You can actually taste the richness of the tea itself, not just the cream and sugar! I’m so impressed. They add a bit of whipped cream to the top, so it’s even more yummy! I also appreciate that they only do a SMALL amount of crushed ice in their drinks so it doesn’t feel like it’s mostly ice like other places. I never get boba pearls added to my drinks so I cannot comment on how those taste. But the Thai iced tea is 💯! I wish they used more environmentally friendly cups and straws however. They use thick plastic cups, which are cute but not recyclable. That’s the only downside. I plan on keeping mine and reusing it as a regular cup. I hope they switch to more environmental options soon to relieve their customers of the existential guilt of using plastics. 🫥

I also got the pandan waffle because it was the only snack on the menu that sort of resembled a pastry. 🧇 I have no idea what Pandan is tbh, but it was pretty good. I appreciate that they don’t make their waffles super crispy. They’re just perfect.

I came on a weekday morning and the place was pretty full, but there wasn’t a line. I got my drink within 5 mins. Customer service is friendly and quick. Next time I will be sure to leave a tip! The ambiance is super cute here and I definitely saw a few people on their laptops doing work. They were playing relaxing, jazzy music as well....

Edit 9/5/22 Phin Cafe: The interior changed from when it was Sunny's Cafe. Plus, there are less drink and food options. It is more streamlined. They have boba drinks, banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), and snacks. They no longer have pho or rice plates. The drinks and snacks are still good. We got a Vietnamese coffee (16oz) and a Vita Sea fruit tea (24oz). They put a lot of ice in their drinks, so you may want to ask for less ice (50%) or 25% ice. The popcorn chicken is better than it was when it was Sunny's Cafe. We also got the pandan waffle and a grilled pork banh mi. Right now most of the banh mi are $7.50. They taste good, but they don't come with a lot of meat. If you want more meat, you can add more for $1+. However, their banh mi don't really compare to places dedicated to Vietnamese sandwiches. Overall, it's a good tea and snack shop in the area.

12/2021 When it was Sunny's Cafe: This was our 1st time here. They have many drink, snack, and food options! The food options are Vietnamese with lots of pho and soup noodle options. As for us, we got 3 drinks: pinky guava, pomegranate infused with strawberry black tea, and vietnamese coffee. (When we went, they had a special for buy 2 drinks, get 1 free). We also got the popcorn chicken as a snack and the shaking beef with tomato rice. Everything was very good! I like that the shaking beef came with a fried egg. The popcorn chicken comes spiced. Next time we'd like to try the Vietnamese sandwiches! We'd...

Now, I don't know what kind of taste buds these folks are catering to, but I stumbled into this joint expecting a taste bud extravaganza, and all I got was a flavor fiasco.

Let me break it down for you. First off, the ambiance in that place is like a nightmare – sterile and about as inviting as a dentist's waiting room. I mean, I don't need disco lights and a live band, but throw me a frickin' bone, Phin! Make me feel like I'm not sipping on my boba in a morgue.

Now, let's talk about the boba itself. "Best in Town"? More like "Best Way to Waste Your Money." The tapioca balls were like chewing on flavorless rubber marbles. I've had better texture from a car tire, for crying out loud. And the tea? It tasted like they brewed it in a rusty kettle they found in the back alley.

And don't even get me started on the service. I've seen glaciers move faster than those baristas. I'm standing there, contemplating the meaning of life, waiting for my boba like it's the holy grail. News flash, Phin – I've got places to be, and your sluggish service is cramping my style.

I heard whispers about this place being a boba haven, but all I found was a boba bust. Two stars because, hey, at least they had chairs to sit on while I questioned every life choice that led me to Phin Cafe. If you're into disappointment with a side of tapioca torture, this is your spot. As for me, I'll take my boba business elsewhere, where they treat me like a boba connoisseur, not...