Roasted: Les Givral

By Amanda Gutierrez     9/27/12 7:00pm

 

While examining the menu at Les Givral's Sandwiches and Cafe in Midtown for a delicious, low-price dinner, my eyes were drawn to an interesting coffee brewing contraption behind the counter. It was then that I discovered the "ca phe sua da," Vietnamese iced-coffee-with-condensed-milk. Intrigued, I bought a 24-ounce cup for only three dollars. With one sip, I had instantly formed a new addiction and would return to Les Givral's many times just for a tall cup of this bold coffee.

The special filter and brewing method used makes the ca phe sua da very different from any coffee I have ever tasted. Condensed milk is first poured into a glass, and then the coffee is brewed with a special filter that sits on top of the cup. This small filter works similar to a French Press in that water is poured onto the grounds. The coffee drips into the plastic cup, and after five minutes, ice is stirred into the mixture to make an intensely concentrated yet sweet and smooth cup of coffee, the perfect beverage for a warm Houston day, or for a long night of studying.

---

---

The best part about this brewing method is that anyone can brew Vietnamese-style coffee without trekking to Midtown. If you get tired of your trusty auto-drip coffee machine, Vietnamese coffee filters are available for purchase for about $5 online and are small, reusable and portable. The preferred coffee to use is a French Roast with chicory, an herb that is dried, ground and added to coffee for spice. Any sweetened condensed milk will do. In addition to coffee, my most recommended items on the menu are the $2 sandwiches which come with strips of beef, chicken or tofu, cucumbers and cilantro with a special

sauce spread on french bread. For a more traditional dish, I recommend the pho, a signature, flavorful soup of vegetables and tofu or meat. If you enjoy Vietnamese sandwiches and steamy pho as a precursor to the smooth and sweet sua da, then you are in for a delicious indulgence that won't burn a hole in your pocket book.

Inside, Les Givral's Cafe has an open dining area with many windows for light to pour in which makes it a great environment to have an enjoyable Saturday night dinner with friends. It is accessible by the METRORail: get off at the McGowen stop, walk left on McGowen and take a right on Milam.

Les Givral's is situated in the center of many other Vietnamese cafes and restaurants in Midtown. Saigon Cafe, located in the shopping center right across the street from Les Givral's, is another place to get a refreshing glass of traditional sua da for a low price. Many tea houses will have Vietnamese coffee as well; however, these versions tend to shy away from the traditional style of the sua da by adding tapioca or using a different type of milk.

---