Cà Phê Sữa Đá & Vietnamese Drinks, Flushing

Cà phê sữa đá — Vietnamese iced coffee — is the drink most people try first, and for good reason. It’s strong, sweet, creamy and ice-cold, and it tastes like nothing else on a coffee menu. But it’s only one of the Vietnamese drinks worth knowing about in Flushing.

At Nón Lá Express, inside Tangram in Downtown Flushing, our signature drink menu is short on purpose: Vietnamese iced coffee, sugarcane juice, salted limeade and a Thai green milk tea. Here’s what each one is, how it tastes, and what to pair it with.

Vietnamese Drinks at Nón Lá Express at a Glance

Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá) — best for a strong, sweet pick-me-up. Phin-brewed, hot or iced, with condensed milk or black.

Sugarcane Juice (Nước Mía) — best for something naturally refreshing. Pressed fresh at the drink station, when it’s in season.

Salted Limeade (Chanh Muối) — best for cutting through a rich meal. Salty, sour and bright, over ice.

Thai Green Milk Tea — best for tea lovers. Creamy, fragrant and a little different from the rest.

What Is Cà Phê Sữa Đá?

Cà phê sữa đá translates simply as “coffee, milk, ice.” It starts with a phin, the small metal drip filter used all over Vietnam. Coffee drips slowly through the phin, which makes a brew that’s much stronger and bolder than an ordinary drip coffee.

Traditionally, that coffee is stirred into sweetened condensed milk and poured over ice. The result is rich and sweet, with a deep, almost chocolatey bitterness underneath. Because it’s so concentrated, it holds up to the ice instead of tasting watered down.

If you’re searching for Vietnamese iced coffee near you in Flushing, ours is phin-brewed and you can order it your way:

Iced with condensed milk — the classic cà phê sữa đá
Iced and black — cà phê đá, with no condensed milk
Hot — for a cold day or a slow afternoon

Nước Mía: Fresh Sugarcane Juice in Flushing

Nước mía is sugarcane juice, and in Vietnam it’s a street-side classic. The cane is pressed right in front of you, and the juice comes out pale green, grassy and naturally sweet.

At Nón Lá Express, our sugarcane juice is pressed fresh at the drink station. It’s a seasonal drink, so availability rotates — if you see it on the menu, order it. For many people it’s the most refreshing thing they drink all summer. Looking for sugarcane juice near you in Flushing? Check the menu or ask at the counter.

Chanh Muối: Vietnam’s Salted Limeade

Salted limeade sounds unusual until you taste it. The salt sharpens the lime, so the drink tastes brighter and more thirst-quenching than a plain limeade. In Vietnam, chanh muối is a go-to on hot days.

It’s also the best pairing on our menu for rich food. The salt and sourness cut through grilled meats and fried starters, which makes it a smart choice next to a rice plate or a plate of spring rolls.

Thai Green Milk Tea

Our one Thai-inspired pick is a green milk tea: creamy and fragrant. It’s a good option if coffee isn’t your thing but you still want something smooth and comforting.

How to Pair Vietnamese Drinks With Your Meal

Each drink suits a different kind of meal, so it’s worth matching them:

With pho: Vietnamese iced coffee. The cold, sweet coffee is a classic contrast to a hot, aromatic bowl — see our guide to the best pho in Flushing, Queens.
With a rice plate: salted limeade. It cuts through grilled pork chop, shaking beef and lemongrass ribeye — see our guide to Vietnamese rice plates in Flushing.
With appetizers: sugarcane juice. Its clean sweetness works with crispy spring rolls and lemongrass chicken wings.
With a burger: Thai green milk tea, or a cold Saigon Lager.

Additionally, on weekdays the Lunch Special includes a drink: from Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM, pair any noodle or main with a half portion of any appetizer and any drink.

Where to Get Vietnamese Coffee in Flushing

Nón Lá Express is inside Tangram Food Hall, Stall FH17, at 133-33 39th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354. We’re open Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, so you can stop in for a Vietnamese coffee on a lunch break or after shopping at Tangram. Call us at (347) 690-1999, or order online for pickup.

Curious about the history? Read more about Vietnamese iced coffee and how the phin filter works.

Vietnamese Drinks in Flushing: Common Questions

What is cà phê sữa đá?

Cà phê sữa đá is Vietnamese iced coffee: strong coffee brewed through a phin filter, mixed with sweetened condensed milk and poured over ice. At Nón Lá Express you can also order it black or hot.

Is Vietnamese coffee stronger than regular coffee?

It tastes much stronger. The phin filter drips slowly, which produces a concentrated, bold brew — that’s why it stays rich even over ice.

What does nước mía taste like?

Nước mía, or sugarcane juice, is naturally sweet, grassy and very refreshing. Ours is pressed fresh at the drink station and is seasonal, so availability rotates.

What is chanh muối?

Chanh muối is a Vietnamese salted limeade. The salt makes the lime taste brighter and more refreshing, and it pairs especially well with grilled and fried food.

Where can I get Vietnamese iced coffee near Tangram mall?

Nón Lá Express is inside Tangram itself, at Stall FH17, so you can get a cà phê sữa đá without leaving the building.

Ready for a Cà Phê Sữa Đá?

Next time you’re in Flushing, skip the usual latte. Order a phin-brewed cà phê sữa đá, try a fresh sugarcane juice while it’s in season, or cool down with a salted limeade. Then pair it with a bowl of phở or a rice plate from the full Nón Lá Express menu.

Visit us inside Tangram, or order online for Vietnamese drinks in Flushing, Queens.