Vietnamese Coffee Holladay: Discover YANA Coffee's Authentic Croffles & Ca Phe Experience

There's a moment, somewhere between the first sip of Vietnamese iced coffee and the honeyed crunch of a fresh croffle, when you realize you've stumbled onto something special in Holladay. At YANA Coffee & Tea, tucked inside the Block Party 2700 food hall on 2700 East, owner Cong has created a café that feels less like a transaction and more like visiting a friend who happens to make world-class coffee.

"Great food and service great scenery and overall great experience," one customer wrote after trying the Nutella crepe and strawberry lemonade. That sentiment—great everything—captures what makes this Vietnamese coffee shop in Holladay different from your typical chain café.

From Vietnam to Utah: How Cong Built Holladay's Most Welcoming Café

Walk into YANA Coffee on any given morning, and you'll likely find Cong behind the counter, personally engaging with customers and taking feedback about the menu. This isn't just customer service theater—it's genuine hospitality rooted in Vietnamese coffee culture, where cafés serve as community gathering spaces, not just caffeine dispensaries.

The café's name, YANA, reflects this philosophy of connection and authenticity. While Cong keeps the focus on creating exceptional food and drink rather than self-promotion, the space speaks for itself: cozy seating areas with a small library shelf, large windows framing Wasatch Mountain views, and an atmosphere that encourages lingering over your coffee rather than rushing out the door.

YANA occupies a unique position in Utah's evolving food scene. While Salt Lake City has seen a surge of Vietnamese restaurants downtown—Little Saigon, Oh Mai—Holladay had been largely underserved for authentic Vietnamese coffee until YANA opened its doors. The café combines the slow-drip tradition of ca phe sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee) with trendy Korean-inspired menu items like croffles, creating something fresh in Holladay's coffee landscape.

Located within Block Party 2700, the food hall that replaced the beloved Granato's Gourmet Market in 2022, YANA benefits from ample parking and a central Holladay location. But unlike some food hall concepts that feel transient, Cong has cultivated a genuine neighborhood café vibe—the kind of place where regulars know they'll be welcomed by name.

Vietnamese Coffee Done Right: The Magic of Ca Phe Sua Da

Let's talk about why Vietnamese coffee hits different. At YANA Coffee, the signature Vietnamese iced coffee isn't just cold brew with a splash of milk—it's a carefully crafted beverage that honors centuries of Vietnamese coffee tradition.

Traditional Vietnamese coffee uses a phin filter, a small metal drip apparatus that sits atop your cup and slowly drips concentrated coffee through coarse grounds. The result? A coffee that's syrupy, intense, and deeply flavorful—closer to espresso than what Americans typically consider "drip coffee." This brewing method arrived in Vietnam via French colonization in the 1800s but evolved into something distinctly Vietnamese when combined with sweetened condensed milk.

Why condensed milk instead of fresh cream? In Vietnam's tropical climate, fresh dairy spoiled quickly. Canned condensed milk provided the perfect solution: shelf-stable, intensely sweet, and rich enough to balance the strong robusta beans grown in Vietnam's central highlands. The combination creates that signature contrast—bold coffee bitterness meeting caramel sweetness.

At YANA, customers consistently praise the Vietnamese iced coffee as a standout. The café's version "captures both espresso richness and smooth French press style," according to one review. The coffee comes characterized by "rich flavor and creamy texture," with options to customize it with almond milk and vanilla for those who prefer a lighter take.

One regular noted the quality stands out in Holladay's competitive coffee scene: "Customers praise the quality of their drinks, particularly the Vietnamese iced coffee and Vanilla Latte." In a neighborhood where chains dominate and most independent shops focus on Western-style espresso drinks, YANA's authentic Vietnamese coffee fills a genuine gap.

The café also serves hot versions—ca phe sua nong—perfect for those chilly Utah mornings when you want the same bold flavor without ice. And for purists, black Vietnamese coffee (ca phe den) delivers that robusta punch without any sweetness to temper it.

Croffles in Utah: The Korean-Inspired Dessert Taking Holladay by Storm

Now, about those croffles.

If you haven't heard of croffles yet, you're about to discover Utah's most Instagrammable dessert trend. The croffle—a portmanteau of "croissant" and "waffle"—originated in South Korea and has been sweeping across Asia and making inroads in major U.S. cities. YANA Coffee is one of only a handful of places in the entire Salt Lake City area serving this trendy treat.

So what exactly is a croffle? Imagine taking buttery, laminated croissant dough and pressing it in a waffle iron. The result is a dessert with croissant's flaky, layered texture on the inside and waffle's caramelized, crispy honeycomb exterior. It's basically what would happen if a croissant and a Belgian waffle had a baby in the best possible way.

YANA serves croffles both sweet and savory. The sweet versions come topped with fresh fruit, chocolate, or other indulgent additions. They're substantial enough to share (though you might not want to) and pair perfectly with Vietnamese coffee for a complete café experience. The crispy-yet-tender texture has won over customers who've never even heard the word "croffle" before walking through YANA's door.

Finding croffles in Utah requires a bit of hunting. Besides YANA in Holladay, only a few downtown Salt Lake City spots like Croffle House SLC and Crazy Croffles serve the Korean-inspired treat. For residents in Holladay, Murray, Cottonwood Heights, and Millcreek, YANA represents the most convenient—and some would argue, best—croffle option in the eastern Salt Lake valley.

The YANA Experience: Fresh Crepes, Boba & Breakfast Done Right

While Vietnamese coffee and croffles anchor the menu, YANA's full offerings reveal a café serious about quality across the board. The fresh-made crepes deserve particular attention—thin, delicate, and available in both sweet and savory preparations.

The Ham Egg Crepe stands out as a customer favorite, "incredibly good" according to reviews and "paired with flavorful cilantro sauce." Unlike the heavy, stuffed American-style crepes you might get at IHOP, YANA's version feels European in its restraint—letting fresh ingredients shine rather than drowning everything in cheese sauce. The Morning Glory and Garden crepes provide vegetable-forward options, while sweet versions satisfy dessert cravings.

Avocado toast appears on the menu with "decorative microgreens" and chili flakes for added zest. In a state where avocado toast isn't exactly common café fare, YANA's version delivers both aesthetic appeal and flavor. One reviewer noted it as "freshly prepared with colorful toppings."

The café's boba drinks and milk tea offerings address another gap in Holladay's food scene. While downtown Salt Lake City and Sugar House have multiple bubble tea options—Space Tea, Xing Fu Tang, Sunny Honey—Holladay residents previously had to drive significant distances for quality boba. YANA's milk tea selection provides both classic and innovative flavors, from traditional Thai tea to more adventurous combinations.

Pastries include kouign amann (that ultra-buttery, caramelized Breton pastry that's all the rage), peach danishes, and other sweet treats that pair perfectly with afternoon coffee. These aren't just thawed-out grocery store pastries—reviews consistently mention the freshness and quality of YANA's baked goods.

The Kimcheese Crepe represents one of the menu's most creative items, combining Korean kimchi with cheese in a distinctly fusion approach. It's the kind of dish that makes sense in a café blending Vietnamese coffee traditions with Korean dessert trends and French crepe techniques.

A Coffee Shop That Feels Like Home in Holladay

Beyond the food and drink, YANA Coffee succeeds because of atmosphere. The peaceful seating area encourages laptop work or catching up with friends. The cozy library shelf suggests this is a place for lingering, not rushing. Large windows frame views of the Wasatch Mountains, reminding you why you live in Utah in the first place.

"This commitment to customer service creates a sense of community, making visitors feel like part of the family," one review summarized. In an era when many cafés optimize for Instagram aesthetics over genuine hospitality, YANA takes the opposite approach—beauty emerges from authenticity rather than artificial design.

The Block Party 2700 location provides practical advantages. Ample parking (a genuine luxury in dense urban areas) means you're not circling the block looking for a spot. The food hall setup allows for flexibility—maybe you want YANA's coffee but your friend wants tacos from Santo Tacos next door. Everyone can sit together while enjoying different options.

For Holladay residents, YANA represents the neighborhood third place—that essential space between home and work where community happens. Cong's approach of welcoming feedback and engaging personally with customers creates regulars rather than just transactions. People return not just for the Vietnamese coffee and croffles, but because they genuinely enjoy the space and the people running it.

The Bigger Picture: Vietnamese Coffee Culture Meets Utah's Food Scene

Understanding YANA's significance requires appreciating Vietnamese coffee's cultural importance. In Vietnam, cafés aren't just caffeine stops—they're social institutions. People spend hours nursing a single ca phe sua da, meeting friends, conducting business, or simply watching the world pass by. The slow-drip phin filter method enforces this leisurely pace. You can't rush Vietnamese coffee; it drips at its own tempo.

This contrasts sharply with American coffee culture's grab-and-go efficiency. Starbucks built an empire on speed and consistency. While that approach serves a purpose, something essential gets lost—the ritual, the patience, the mindfulness of waiting for your coffee to properly brew.

YANA brings that Vietnamese café philosophy to Holladay. Yes, you can order to-go. But the space invites you to slow down, to actually taste your coffee rather than mainlining it while checking emails. The mountain views, the cozy seating, the owner's personal touch—everything conspires to make lingering feel natural rather than indulgent.

The café's fusion approach also reflects broader trends in Utah's dining scene. The state's food culture has evolved dramatically over the past decade, moving beyond the stereotypical meat-and-potatoes paradigm to embrace diverse international cuisines. Vietnamese restaurants, Korean barbecue, authentic Mexican, artisan coffee roasters—Salt Lake City and its suburbs increasingly punch above their weight class gastronomically.

YANA participates in this evolution while serving a genuinely underserved market. Holladay's coffee options have traditionally skewed toward chains or the excellent but different offerings of places like 3 Cups (with its in-house roasting) and Bjorn's Brew (with its drive-through convenience). YANA provides something distinct—cultural authenticity combined with trendy innovation.

Planning Your Visit to YANA Coffee & Tea

Address: 4044 S 2700 E, Holladay, UT 84124
(Inside Block Party 2700 food hall)

Hours:

• Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Sunday: Closed

Phone: (801) 688-5816

What to Order:

For first-timers, start with the Vietnamese iced coffee—it's the signature drink and represents the café's heart. Pair it with a croffle (sweet or savory, depending on your mood) to experience YANA's unique fusion approach.

The Ham Egg Crepe makes an excellent savory breakfast option, while the Nutella crepe satisfies sweet cravings. Both come highly recommended by regulars.

If you're a boba enthusiast, YANA's milk tea selection won't disappoint. The café offers both classic bubble tea flavors and more adventurous seasonal options.

For those mornings when you want something substantial, the avocado toast delivers both visual appeal and flavor. The kouign amann pastries make perfect afternoon treats with an afternoon coffee.

Best Times to Visit:

Weekday mornings offer a peaceful atmosphere perfect for laptop work or quiet breakfast. The café serves as an excellent remote work spot for Holladay professionals.

Weekend mid-mornings can get busier as families and brunch crowds discover the space, but that energy adds to the community vibe.

The evening hours (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM weekdays, until 7:00 PM Saturdays) provide a different experience—more of a coffee-and-dessert destination after dinner elsewhere in the food hall.

Parking & Accessibility:

Block Party 2700 offers ample free parking in its lot, eliminating the parking stress common at many popular cafés. The food hall provides easy accessibility for strollers and wheelchairs.

Connect on Social Media:

Follow YANA Coffee on Instagram for menu updates, seasonal specials, and those perfect croffle photos that will make your friends jealous.

Why YANA Coffee Matters to Utah's Food Scene

In a state increasingly dominated by chain restaurants and corporate coffee shops, independent cafés like YANA Coffee represent something essential—personal connection, cultural authenticity, and genuine hospitality. Cong's commitment to engaging with customers and evolving the menu based on feedback creates a living, breathing café rather than a static business model.

The Vietnamese coffee brings a centuries-old tradition to Holladay, introducing locals to ca phe sua da's slow-drip ritual and rich flavors. The croffles provide that perfect blend of trendy and delicious, giving Utah food lovers a taste of Korean café culture without flying to Seoul.

But ultimately, YANA succeeds because it feels genuine. The mountain views aren't manufactured. The owner's hospitality isn't scripted. The coffee isn't trying to be something it's not. In an age of Instagram-optimized café concepts, YANA takes the opposite approach—create something real, something rooted in tradition, something that serves the community rather than just extracting from it.

For Holladay residents, that means having a neighborhood café worth returning to again and again. For Vietnamese coffee enthusiasts, it means not driving to downtown Salt Lake City for an authentic ca phe sua da. For adventurous eaters, it means discovering croffles without extensive research.

"YANA Coffee & Tea is not just a place to grab a quick coffee; it is a destination for friends and families to gather," one customer wrote. That might be the most accurate summary—YANA has transformed from simply a café into a genuine community space, one Vietnamese iced coffee and Korean croffle at a time.

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Discover authentic Vietnamese coffee and Korean croffles at YANA Coffee & Tea in Holladay. Located at 4044 S 2700 E inside Block Party 2700. Open Monday-Saturday with breakfast, lunch, and evening service.