Phin La Richmond Hill review: the ube Vietnamese coffee that keeps pulling me back

In this Phin La Richmond Hill review, I have to talk about the drink that completely hooked me. Specifically, the ube Vietnamese coffee that keeps pulling me back.

Phin La is located on Highway 7, right on the border of Richmond Hill and Markham. It sits in one of those busy plazas where there always seems to be something new opening.

I had tried Vietnamese coffee before. But Phin La quickly showed me what a really good version of it tastes like.

The first visit: matcha vs Vietnamese coffee

The first time I visited Phin La, I genuinely could not decide what to order. Their menu is full of interesting flavours. You will see drinks like ube, sesame, and different cold foams. It is the type of menu that makes you pause for a moment.

So I did the obvious thing. I ordered two drinks.

I got their matcha and one of their Vietnamese coffees. It felt like the best way to figure out what the café was known for.

The matcha was actually good. It was smooth and fairly balanced. It was not the strongest matcha I have ever had. But if you added an extra scoop, it would probably be perfect.

The drink also had a matcha cream cold foam on top. That made the drink really enjoyable. But then I tried the Vietnamese coffee. And that was the moment everything changed.

The ube Vietnamese coffee

The drink that completely sold me was their ube Vietnamese coffee. I already love ube, so I was curious how it would work with coffee.

This drink is dangerously good. The ube cold foam is creamy, lightly sweet, and genuinely addictive.

Underneath the foam you get strong Vietnamese coffee layered with condensed milk. The condensed milk balances the bold coffee perfectly.

The first sip hits you with strong coffee. Then the sweetness comes through and suddenly everything works together.

It is one of the most balanced iced coffees I have had in the city. That drink alone could justify this entire Phin La Richmond Hill review.

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My new iced coffee standard

This drink completely changed how I think about iced coffee. It quickly became my new default order. If I want iced coffee now, I am not going to a random café for something basic. I am going to Phin La.

Specifically for the ube Vietnamese coffee. That drink has become my regular order.

Since coming back from Japan, I have probably gone once a week or once every two weeks. Sometimes a drink just becomes part of your routine.

If I know I need to focus and get work done, Vietnamese coffee is the answer. Just drink cautiously because it is strong.

Other flavours worth trying

I also tried a sip of their black sesame Vietnamese coffee. That one was also fantastic. At this point I am convinced most drinks on their menu are good. They clearly understand flavour pairings.

That is something I always appreciate in cafés. It shows the drinks are thoughtfully designed. My current goal is basically to try my way through the entire menu. That feels like the only logical next step.

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The café space

Phin La is more of a grab-and-go coffee bar. It is not really designed for long laptop sessions.

There is a small seating area if you want to sit briefly. But most people grab their drink and continue their day.

That setup actually works well for the kind of coffee they serve. The drinks feel like something you grab before heading somewhere else.

Final thoughts

If you are looking for Vietnamese coffee in the GTA, Phin La is absolutely worth trying. The drinks are creative and the flavours are bold.

This Phin La Richmond Hill review really comes down to one thing. The ube Vietnamese coffee is excellent.

If you are visiting for the first time, start with that drink. It is easily the highlight of the menu.

And fair warning. Once you try it, you might start making regular trips too.