This Saigon-inspired restaurant has been a Houston fixture for almost 40 years, and in that time, they’ve perfected their massive cups of Vietnamese iced coffee. Don’t forget to snag a budget-friendly banh mi for lunch later, or an impromptu snack to pair with the caffeine.

Pick up a cafe đá or café nóng with Nguyen Ngo’s croissant-style banh mi, laden with chicken, pork, pate, meatballs, or ham. The café đá is made to order, leaving room to specify just how strong and sweet each cup should be. Nguyen Ngo does share a parking lot with Lee’s Sandwiches, but the style of coffee is quite different.

Don’t be put-off by the fact that the coffee here is pre-bottled — this strong brew is a staple for many in the Bellaire community, and for those who regularly make the pilgrimage to stock up. Enjoy it poured over crushed ice either in-store or at home. Make sure to grab another community favorite while there: freshly-made delimanjoo, or fish-shaped waffles with vanilla custard filling.

Vietnamese iced coffee is a popular order from Long Coffee’s extensive list of teas, smoothies, and coffee. The line may be out the door, and the drive-thru may wrap around the building at this bustling shop, but the wait is worth it.

Nam Giao, made even more popular after being featured on David Chang’s Ugly Delicious, is widely known for its excellent Vietnamese small plates like banh beo chen and banh quai vac. These dishes pair perfectly with their dark roast cà phê sữa đá, which is served still dripping through the metal French filter into a cup of sweetened condensed milk. When the coffee has finished dripping, mix it, then pour it over a provided cup of ice.

Just south of the heart of Houston’s Vietnamese community, nJoi’s Iced Vietnamese Coffee keeps caffeine junkies coming back, along with a solid menu of milk teas and smoothies. Inconspicuously operating at the corner of Beechnut and Wilcrest, nJoi pours a sweet and refreshing cup of coffee, with or without boba.

Inside the Loop in Braeswood, Smootea Cafe’s teas, smoothies, and coffees can satisfy pretty much any thirst, and the Vietnamese iced coffee is no exception. Pro-tip: add boba.

Open since 2018, Ca Phe Phin offers a variety of Vietnamese coffee options, ranging from the classic iced version to the “HoneyB” a mix of black coffee, cream, and honey served hot or over ice. Looking for something that’s a little more like dessert? Try an frozen iced coffee frappe, topped with whipped cream.