Cafe Bien

Good vietnamese coffee. Different from the typical Starbucks, coffee bean, and «western-​style» coffee shops. Like a real Vietnam coffee shop but on El Cajon Blvd. lol

Yes, it is smoky. Yes, it’s all men. I have no idea why. I thought smoking indoors wasn’t allowed in San Diego, but I didn’t mind it. The coffee was really good, I tried the hot and the cold. If you’re a woman, be ready to be in the minority — but other than that everyone is polite and the music is nice for doing homework to.

I wish there was a way to rate this place 0 (that’s ZERO!) Stars!!!
So I was in the area, at the Cricket Store to be exact, because my phone had just gotten stolen. It’s in the same parking lot. Anyways I had my three year old daughter with me and she had to pee. Everyone knows when a three year old has to pee, they gotta pee. Well Cricket didn’t have a restroom so they told me that Café Bien had one my daughter may be able to use. So we walked over there and it smelled horrible in there, and it was all smoky. There was a few groups of Vietnamese men in there eating, and like all the staff sitting and huddled around the cash register. I walked up and said hello, may my daughter use your restroom.
Plain and simple. No, they were the rudest people. The lady in front looked at me like I insulted her or something. Then she said No, employees Only, Store Policy. I was like are you kidding me, she’s three, have some compassion. We left, and my daughter ended up peeing on herself. I was sooooo angry! There are so many other words I would have perfered to use. Anyways I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone, and needless to say I will never go back to that dump.
Now if they were a little nicer, I wouldn’t have wasted my time writing this, but I feel that everyone should know chances of you being treated well in this place is slim to none. Have a good day ;)

I was curious and wanted to try a Boba Place. I have never tasted one of those Boba drinks with the tapioca balls & thought why not today?
So I saw the Café Bien and it looked exotic. I walked up to the front door and was ready to go in and and see what all this Boba business is all about. But I stopped in my tracks.
What held me up me was the over-​whelming smell of tobacco coming from INSIDE the restaurant. It seemed groups of Vietnamese men were gathered around hanging out. But the stench of ciggies in an enclosed space was pretty bad. I had a déjà vu of walking through some Vegas or Laughlin casino full of gambling smokers! Looks like I will have to Boba another Boba.