Coffee Dak Lak
Coffee Dak Lak is a small food stall that specializes in Vietnamese coffee and desserts. Found on the second floor of Pacific mall, it gets its name from a Vietnamese province that's well known for its coffee exports.
In fact, the owners of Dak Lak are well-connected with coffee growers in that area and get a shipment of coffee from there monthly.
The most popular drink here is apparently the Iced Condensed Milk Coffee ($3.50, +$1 for less ice), basically a mix of coffee and condensed milk. It's a strong yet smooth drink.
The Dripping Hot Condensed Milk Coffee ($3.50) is the same drink made stronger because it doesn't have ice to dilute it.
The Bean Mix (Chè thập cẩm) ($3.99) is a classic Vietnamese dessert drink sort of like halo-halo made with peanuts, coconut, green bean paste, grass jelly, white jelly noodles and a sweet bean mix. It’s topped off with crushed ice.
A creamier option is the Tropical Yoghurt dessert ($3.99). Jelly noodles made from pandan leaves, an assortment of tropical fruit, cherries, and coconut are mixed with yoghurt to create a drink that feels like a healthier, less sweet version of Yop.
My favourite item on the menu is the Sweet Treat Tofu Pudding ($5.99) which comes with your choice of three toppings (I chose taro balls, ruby tapioca, and grass jelly) along with water chestnut. It's served on a clear plastic boat-shaped container and drizzled with coconut sauce.
Hector Vasquez