Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Hello everyone and welcome to the New Yorkers Podcast, a podcast by myself, Kelly Kopp, New York City cop. I am your host as well. I'm a published photographer, New York City tour business owner, content creator, podcaster, and above all else, a New Yorker.
[00:00:16] Speaker B: Ladies and gentlemen, the next Brooklyn bound train in Valpar.
[00:00:22] Speaker A: Stand clear of the closing doors, please.
[00:00:40] Speaker B: This is the Times Square or symptom street.
Transfer is available to the shuttle to Grand Central.
[00:00:58] Speaker A: How you doing today? Everyone with me today. I have Kim Lee right here. She's amazing, amazing person. We're gonna have a great conversation. She's the owner and founder of Kauai Coffee, a new coffee shop in the West Village that uniquely specializes in Vietnamese coffee. Her shop also takes inspiration from Asian culture and brings Kauai to the Big Apple. But above all else, she, she is a New Yorker. Hey, Kim, welcome to the show. How are you today?
[00:01:28] Speaker B: I'm very good. Thank you for having me.
[00:01:30] Speaker A: I'm so happy to have you here. You know, we met at Kim's coffee shop and a few weeks ago we had a great conversation and you know, it was just so great to have you here again and you have such good energy.
[00:01:43] Speaker B: And this is my first time I do podcast.
[00:01:46] Speaker A: Really?
[00:01:47] Speaker B: Yes. This is, this is like since I have this shop, I have opportunity to experience so many different things. For example, I was on tv, I was on live TV and I was on NBC and I was on Fox.
[00:01:59] Speaker A: Right.
[00:02:00] Speaker B: And now this is the podcast. So I was so stressed out before for the shop, but right now I feel like I start to enjoy the journey and be with you today. And the first time ever in my entire life for the podcast is actually, this is one of the fun journey that I have.
[00:02:16] Speaker A: Oh, I'm so happy you're here. This is really, really great. So I, you know, I really want people to get to know you, you know, get to know about your business.
So let's start from the beginning when you were this tall.
So where were you born? I mentioned it, but go ahead, tell
[00:02:34] Speaker B: us all about it. Yeah, so I am very Vietnamese. I'm born and raised until I'm 21. And then I start to move to Australia, Melbourne for a short time.
[00:02:44] Speaker A: When did you move to Australia?
[00:02:45] Speaker B: When I'm 22.
[00:02:47] Speaker A: Wow. So real quick.
So your. Is your family and everything still back in Vietnam?
[00:02:53] Speaker B: Yes, I have my, my parents and my extended family in Vietnam. So my root is very strong in Vietnam still. And then I have me here a with my sister. My sister.
[00:03:04] Speaker A: I love it.
[00:03:05] Speaker B: Just moved from Toronto to New York for the last like six months. And my brother just went to Toronto, just go to Toronto for college.
So basically my strong roots do in Vietnam.
[00:03:16] Speaker A: Well, what's interesting too is my. I have a really good friend, her name's Carrie Rucker. I've known her most of my life. She's one of my dearest friends and she's been to Vietnam a couple of times and she absolutely loves it.
[00:03:27] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:27] Speaker A: You know, she says it's one of her favorite places to go.
[00:03:30] Speaker B: Yeah, I would say. I mean, I don't want to be biased, but I think Vietnam is way better in Thailand. So you have to go to Vietnam because we have a very strong food and drink culture. But the things make it special is the people.
[00:03:44] Speaker A: Right.
[00:03:45] Speaker B: Because the people we go. Vietnamese people go through so much war. And when you remember about Vietnam, you think about like, oh, Vietnam, American war, Vietnam, Chinese war, Vietnam, Japan war or French.
[00:03:56] Speaker A: Right.
[00:03:56] Speaker B: So we go through so much periods of our history for war. Then you think about it, it's like almost feel like, oh, maybe they. Negative, maybe negative. Maybe the developing country or something. But the, but the people, despite how many things that they go through, they are the sweetest people. They're so sweet, they're so welcoming. They. They almost. You feel like they forgot that what happened to them or something. But they just welcome you with their whole hearted.
[00:04:21] Speaker A: You know what else I heard too? Carrie loved it because it's. It's also very inexpensive to travel to Vietnam.
[00:04:28] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:04:28] Speaker A: Or you know, visit Vietnam. You know, the hotels and everything. I heard, I mean, Kerry's like, it's. It's a dream, it's beautiful, it's inexpensive.
[00:04:36] Speaker B: We have like the most beautiful beach we have city. We have amazing. You can travel in budget but still have the amazing time. Or you can be expensive as you want.
[00:04:45] Speaker A: What city did you grow up in?
[00:04:47] Speaker B: Ho Chi Minh City, AKA Saigon, Right? Yeah. So that's the biggest city in Vietnam.
[00:04:53] Speaker A: Wow. Do you know the population, so to speak?
[00:04:55] Speaker B: I think about roughly about above 10 million.
[00:04:58] Speaker A: Bigger than New York City?
[00:05:00] Speaker B: Yes. It's very dense and you see people everywhere. The traffic will scare you, but somehow people navigate it.
[00:05:06] Speaker A: Right.
[00:05:07] Speaker B: I know.
[00:05:07] Speaker A: So you actually moved from Vietnam. Vietnam.
And what say the name of the city again? I don't want to.
[00:05:14] Speaker B: Saigon or Ho.
[00:05:15] Speaker A: I was going to say yes, Saigon and to a smaller city of New York City.
Is that funny?
[00:05:21] Speaker B: That is so funny. Meanwhile, New York is the biggest city, like such a big deal in the entire world. And I come from the city like just bigger than that.
[00:05:28] Speaker A: That's so funny.
[00:05:29] Speaker B: But there a lot of thing remind me of where I coming from in New York. First, the traffic. Second, how many people. And third, how dense the city would be. But then somehow I navigated. I have no problem. I love it. I found familiar things and I love it. Wow.
[00:05:47] Speaker A: Yeah. This city is amazing. You know, I would love to go to Saigon now. Maybe I'll go back with you. And you're married, right?
[00:05:53] Speaker B: I am married, yeah.
[00:05:55] Speaker A: So when you and your husband are, you know, do you have children?
[00:05:59] Speaker B: We don't. Oh, wait, not yet.
[00:06:01] Speaker A: Well, you know, count me as your child and I'll go with you and your husband back to Vietnam.
[00:06:05] Speaker B: I adopt you.
[00:06:08] Speaker A: That's amazing. Okay, so then you leave. Why did you. To go to Australia. But why did you leave Vietnam to go to Australia?
[00:06:15] Speaker B: My husband job.
[00:06:16] Speaker A: Oh, nice.
[00:06:16] Speaker B: So when I met my husband, I was like in Vietnam still. And then he already moved there for like four years in Melbourne for his job. And then we met and then he's like, would you like to experience this Australia a little bit before my job finish? And we have to move either back to a new job or move back to Toronto, Canada. That's where he from.
[00:06:36] Speaker A: Right.
[00:06:37] Speaker B: So then I said, okay, let's do it. So then I live in Australia for a little bit over a year and then his job finished and then his next job happened to be in New York.
[00:06:46] Speaker A: What did you like Australia?
[00:06:48] Speaker B: Can you tell the truth?
[00:06:50] Speaker A: I always wanted to go there, but. Go ahead. Yeah.
[00:06:52] Speaker B: I mean, I live in a.
Right downtown Melbourne. Like you cannot pick any better place than that though. But I honestly don't like it. I mean, I like it in a way of like very. That was the first time ever I get out of Vietnam.
[00:07:08] Speaker A: Oh yeah? Yes.
[00:07:09] Speaker B: Into like a western style.
[00:07:12] Speaker A: So, yeah.
[00:07:13] Speaker B: So much thing to learn. But then I'm like, I'm. I'm taking it in. I'm not overwhelming, but I feel like it's not my place. The energy doesn't match.
[00:07:21] Speaker A: So I mean, that's okay to say. I mean, just.
[00:07:23] Speaker B: But they have a lot of positive thing about Australia and also the negative things.
[00:07:28] Speaker A: But I mean, I hear people say about New York too, they don't like it except for them.
[00:07:31] Speaker B: I enjoy my time there, but I was very happy to live. And when I come here, I love every bit of it. Not immediately. It take me some time here. Yes.
[00:07:40] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:07:40] Speaker B: Not immediately because I still have to navigate, you know, new life, new friend, making friends, you very alone.
[00:07:45] Speaker A: And what year did you move here?
[00:07:48] Speaker B: 2014.
[00:07:50] Speaker A: Oh, okay.
[00:07:51] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, 2014 you can hear about
[00:07:52] Speaker A: the same time I was 2013.
[00:07:55] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So take me some time. But I like the, the city a lot. I like American spirit into it and I like New Yorker style. Everyone have their own style, everyone had their own dreams and everyone tried to make it. And you, you have, you bump into a lot of people with very interesting life and you like, wow. I learned a lot.
[00:08:15] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:08:16] Speaker B: And the thing that I love the most is how diverse it is. And I think the only thing that make me want to open the shop in such a concept that I have into this specific city because I think people will be open minded and want to experience this because the New Yorker, that's what they are.
[00:08:32] Speaker A: So that's interesting. You know, I haven't really traveled the world, sadly. I wish I had. But you know.
So you're in Vietnam, Saigon and then you go to Australia.
Do you feel New York is a much more diverse city than those two?
[00:08:47] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:08:48] Speaker A: Vietnam, Saigon, Toronto even.
[00:08:51] Speaker B: Yes, Toronto is, I would say Toronto very similar, but New York still more diverse. Yeah, but Toronto is like everyone come from every place and New York the same way.
Vietnam, most of everyone is Vietnamese. So we like the same thing. We don't like the same thing. We wear the same clothes. We don't wear the same clothes. Our family this, our family that. Basically everyone have the same story.
[00:09:14] Speaker A: Interesting.
[00:09:15] Speaker B: Melbourne is like also a little bit more diverse, but a lot of Asian because very close to Asia continent.
[00:09:20] Speaker A: Correct? Yeah.
[00:09:21] Speaker B: And a lot of Australian there. So that's majority dominant Australia.
And then you have smaller group, like a little bit different type of people there. But it's not as even close to diversity to New York City.
[00:09:34] Speaker A: There's just something magical about this city, isn't it?
[00:09:36] Speaker B: Yes. It just make people come from everywhere. So you have people open businesses or have a trillion different idea and all you need is just like one or few of the idea work and to make the city great.
[00:09:46] Speaker A: Well for me to grow up in the United States and I mean there's this magnetism that New York has that brought me here because, because of the diversity in every single way, shape and form. You know, we just blend together and we all appreciate each other for the most part.
[00:10:01] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:10:01] Speaker A: You know, and you know, we just, we respect each other and we all get along and that's how what I love to live my life by, I,
[00:10:10] Speaker B: I, I feel the same way like you do. So that's why I very inspired to have my first business in New York. Not everyone else, New York.
[00:10:18] Speaker A: So how.
Okay, so you're living in New York for how long? Until you started your business and tell us about your.
[00:10:25] Speaker B: I.
So I have a few different business before I have this one, but this one. Every business is honestly is not connected. They were separate. So I. At first I don't know what to do with my. When I move here, I have. I know no one. But then I went to a school and then I was like, I graduate, I call it graduate in Vietnam and everything. When I come here, the degree I got is not really working.
So then I'm like, wow, yeah, I don't want to go to college again. I'm not a college girl. I'm not a corporate girl. Really. I'm not a corporate. I'm not, I'm not. I don't have a personality for that. I talk way too much and I talk way too abroad things. So I said and I always. My dream is very small. I just wanted to have a couple of shop that I owned and I wanted to run it the way I want and I want to meet people and I enjoy people conversations and I really enjoy when I I can able to connect with people.
[00:11:12] Speaker A: Right.
[00:11:12] Speaker B: So then that's why I have little small business everywhere. So then I go to the nail school. I was just like, just so random. I'm like okay, let's just do it. I think I never do it. So let's do it. I graduate and lucky enough my instruction, my instructor in the class just like oh, there's like this Japanese Pacific nail salon looking for, you know, like want to try? I say oh, okay. So when I went there and then I just discovered an entire new world that the Japanese technique or for doing manicure and pedicure and I'm like what is this thing? What is this place? You know. And then I be. I managed to learn my way through and I stick with it for a good time, like a year ish to learn the technique. And then I start to have my private beauty studio. And when I feel like I good enough and I start to just like at that time I also like. I don't know if people come. It's way too many competition, right? And I'm just like, just like, you know what? I'm just gonna try. If it doesn't work, at least I try. So I don't, I don't missing out anything. So then quickly after that one person, two person, they tell their friends and I have a fully booked schedule and because it's private, only one on one. So then I Learned so many about people, their life. And then they tell me everything that maybe they tell me things that they don't even tell their family, you know, so like who they date, who they cheat with, like, what happening?
How are they frauding the system, how to make money. And I'm like, oh, should I?
Should I do. I'm safe now. I know too much. Yeah, exactly.
Just, you know, it's very fun. But I don't know, for some reason I always like keep all the secret and I never cross story to everyone.
[00:12:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:12:46] Speaker B: So. And those women that I'm able to be, beginning when I moved to America, it's like, like a stone for me because they was like not just client, but like the whole support system that I got when I moved to America. And I'm able to have like relationship, like a friendship or something with those women too. They amazing.
[00:13:04] Speaker A: What neighborhood was this in? Was this in the West Village too?
[00:13:06] Speaker B: No, it was. It's not in the West Village. It was in Midtown.
[00:13:09] Speaker A: Oh, wow.
[00:13:10] Speaker B: Yeah, because all of the Japanese, the first one in SoHo and then the second one and everything in the midtown.
[00:13:15] Speaker A: I almost said midtown too.
[00:13:16] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So some reason they're just easy for people to commute.
[00:13:20] Speaker A: Right.
[00:13:20] Speaker B: You know?
[00:13:20] Speaker A: Exactly. Centrally located.
[00:13:22] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:13:22] Speaker A: Subway and everything.
[00:13:23] Speaker B: And then the last one. That's when I moved from midtown to Hoboken, actually. Yes. Because then I have a whole thing over there. I do. It's very good. I make good, you know, and stuff. I was happy. And then I'm just like, now I'm.
Do I want to expand it or do I want to do something like 180 different. And I always have passion about like Vietnamese coffee in my own culture. So that's why I'm just like, you know what, let's just erase it and then have this coffee shop just like build from zero and see if I can able to duplicate myself one again.
So that's when the idea coming from.
[00:13:59] Speaker A: And that's where I met you is it's your coffee. Exactly, yeah. Am I saying it correct? Kauai or Kauai or Kauai?
[00:14:06] Speaker B: No, you say perfect.
[00:14:07] Speaker A: You know how Hawaii they say that?
[00:14:08] Speaker B: Very similar.
[00:14:09] Speaker A: Oh, very similar, yes.
[00:14:10] Speaker B: It's just because Hawaii and kawaii just different. In H and K, it's the same thing.
[00:14:15] Speaker A: What is kawaii mean?
[00:14:17] Speaker B: Cute.
[00:14:17] Speaker A: Oh, it means. Oh, yes, you do.
[00:14:19] Speaker B: Cute in Japanese.
And I was like, because my shop is about cuteness.
[00:14:24] Speaker A: It is.
[00:14:24] Speaker B: So then. But the. The cute in Vietnamese is very long words. It's Called yet.
And I don't want people to type of trouble to say yes, coffee. And I'm like, I don't think a
[00:14:36] Speaker A: lot of Americans trying to say it
[00:14:37] Speaker B: or anyone that's not Vietnamese, you know, so I'm like, you know what, let's. I love anime. Let's take Hawaii. Everyone can say it.
[00:14:45] Speaker A: Yeah, well, you know, tell everybody where your shop is too.
[00:14:49] Speaker B: So it's located very. In the heart of the West Village.
[00:14:51] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:14:51] Speaker B: Honor Christopher. The corner. Christopher and Bleecker.
[00:14:55] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:14:55] Speaker B: Well, you know, Bleecker is very busy always with tourists. So we just off Bleecker just a
[00:15:00] Speaker A: hair off tiny bit.
[00:15:01] Speaker B: But we are full with very. We neighbor with very famous places like Lean Industry Pizza.
[00:15:08] Speaker A: The famous. How do you. I don't ever know how to say that. It's one of the most famous pizza places in the city. It's basically across the street from you.
[00:15:15] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:15:15] Speaker A: And L Industry or lindustry.
[00:15:17] Speaker B: Lin industry. Everyone calls lin industry. Lin industry.
[00:15:21] Speaker A: Oh, it's lin industry.
[00:15:22] Speaker B: Yes, everyone say that.
[00:15:24] Speaker A: Nobody knows how to say it.
[00:15:25] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, good.
[00:15:27] Speaker A: I feel better because I'm like, how do I say it?
[00:15:28] Speaker B: No, that's how exactly how it is. Everyone just a line Industry. Lynn industry. And then so we on Christopher One.
[00:15:34] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:35] Speaker B: 117 Christopher Street.
[00:15:37] Speaker A: Yeah. I think you're just such an ideal spot. I mean, I love it. And you're close to the. The friend's apartment, so to speak.
[00:15:44] Speaker B: And we close to the patch system to go to Jersey. Oh, yeah, yeah. So people get off that and you start to go to the West Village super easy. Yes.
[00:15:53] Speaker A: You know, the one train comes. Just what train would you take? The one or the one. Yeah, the one train or even the A C. You can able to OBD. Yeah. On 6th Avenue.
[00:16:03] Speaker B: Yes, yes, yes.
[00:16:04] Speaker A: Yeah. It's not far at all. Yeah. I mean. So tell us about Vietnamese coffee. What do you love about it and why did you decide to go with Vietnamese to introduce Vietnamese coffee to America.
[00:16:17] Speaker B: Yeah. So Vietnamese coffee, this is the bean, right? We call that robusta bean.
[00:16:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:16:23] Speaker B: So this barosta beans grow in Vietnam. Right. So for some reason the soys in Vietnam land, whatever work really well with this bean. So they. We are growing it like no problem. So we export Vietnam, actually the second largest country export coffee beans.
[00:16:42] Speaker A: Really.
[00:16:42] Speaker B: And the majority of it, it proposed the beans. So this type of beans is have twice of caffeine and little bit more chocolatey, a little bit more nutty, but it could be a little bit bitter depending on the type of like robocy bean. You chose. So that's why it's make. It's like special. And the way we made it, I don't know, something with Spanish latte. Have you ever heard of like Spanish latte? They're using condensed milk.
[00:17:06] Speaker A: Oh, yes, I have heard of that. Yeah.
[00:17:08] Speaker B: Yeah. For some reason, Vietnam using the condensed milk too. So we using that beans and then we use condensed milk and we put it together. But the way we make it, not with the express, I mean OG OG Vietnamese coffee, we make with the fin drip. So we, we creating the fin drip. It's just like drip coffee. Very slow. So then the very mini things and they give you a little cup, they put the drink strip on top.
[00:17:30] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:31] Speaker B: Then they put the hot waters inside and they put a little bit condensed milk. And so this is, this is, this is what the Vietnamese people in the morning, okay. They wake up, there's no rush. So slow there. You go to your favorite coffee shop, you sit your. You sit there forever, right? You put your coffee, you wait for it to drip.
You have enough time in your life that you sit there, you wait it to drip. It takes 20, 30 minutes to drip.
[00:17:58] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:17:58] Speaker B: And then you mix it up with the condensed milk.
[00:18:01] Speaker A: 20, 30 minutes to drip.
[00:18:02] Speaker B: Yes, that's what I'm saying. They're so slow there.
[00:18:04] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:05] Speaker B: You just sit there, you just talk.
[00:18:06] Speaker A: I need to move to Vietnam with your friend.
[00:18:08] Speaker B: You read newspaper, you just sit there. You're just like dripping. Okay. And then you mix it up with the whole thing with the little spoon, you add ice and you sip it. So your morning routine for coffee, take you about an hour or two, sometimes three. Wow. And then people take their family there for family reunion sometime or did you talk about business?
You talk about everything as a coffee, just the culture there. People drink coffee from morning to even 11pm they still drink coffee.
[00:18:35] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:18:36] Speaker B: And they bring their business partner to talk about coffee. They're dating there. They go there for a day. They talk about anything over coffee.
So they wait for it to drink.
[00:18:45] Speaker A: I didn't know Vietnam has such a huge coffee culture.
[00:18:49] Speaker B: We have our own thing. That's why like a lot of like, like, that's why Starbucks, when it comes to Vietnam, they have such, like, they. They didn't know that we have our own Vietnamese coffee cultures are so big that they cannot expand as fast as they can. And some of their store closing right now because of Vietnamese culture. Coffee is so strong.
[00:19:06] Speaker A: American, well, you don't want the American style of.
[00:19:10] Speaker B: Yes, yes. As far as the young people, most of the Starbucks when they come to Vietnam is young people, the older people, they have their own thing, everything.
[00:19:19] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, I love it.
[00:19:20] Speaker B: Yes. And then that's what the OG right. So then moving on when you have a new generation, Gen Z.
[00:19:26] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:19:26] Speaker B: Then they start to.
[00:19:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:19:28] Speaker B: Sometimes it's good, sometimes we don't know.
[00:19:30] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:19:30] Speaker B: Then they imported, they started just like oh, espresso machine. They import it with like a little bit corporate with Italian culture. Then they bring like pullover from everything. So now Vietnamese coffee could be come from a traditional or espresso made or pull over or anything is still Vietnamese coffee.
[00:19:50] Speaker A: Which one did you make? Me and I loved it.
[00:19:52] Speaker B: We are.
[00:19:53] Speaker A: You don't remember? It's okay. Yeah, you made me a coffee.
[00:19:55] Speaker B: But I, I make you the situationship which is like I name all my coffee. It's like relationship status.
[00:20:02] Speaker A: Well okay, go ahead and tell, tell me what you made me and then tell us the names.
[00:20:06] Speaker B: I make you the OG the relationship. The situation.
Yes. So it's, it's have Vietnamese coffee bean.
[00:20:13] Speaker A: Uh huh.
[00:20:13] Speaker B: But I don't make with the OG way. I make with the espresso machine because I tested both and the OG way take way too long.
[00:20:20] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly.
[00:20:21] Speaker B: The New York they don't have time, they don't have that patient. Nobody sit there for 30 minutes. Okay. Second.
To preserve the coffee scent when it's fresh like that, you take all of the scent and the caffeine and everything and it can be volume and it could be like consistent. That's why I using like the espresso machine instead of thin drip.
[00:20:41] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:42] Speaker B: Yes. And then I put a little condensed milk and I put a little bit of secret sauce in there and coffee and then I add you a little bit coffee jelly. That's the only thing in what you had.
[00:20:52] Speaker A: What did you say?
[00:20:52] Speaker B: Coffee jelly.
[00:20:53] Speaker A: What is coffee jelly?
[00:20:54] Speaker B: Coffee jelly is like, you know. Jello, right? You know Jello.
[00:20:57] Speaker A: Jello, yeah, yeah.
[00:20:58] Speaker B: So we using the texture is very similar to jello.
[00:21:02] Speaker A: Oh wow.
[00:21:03] Speaker B: But we make with coffee so it's a topping.
[00:21:05] Speaker A: How cool is that?
[00:21:06] Speaker B: Yeah, so that's what I gave you.
[00:21:08] Speaker A: It was really good. I loved it.
[00:21:09] Speaker B: You know because we were selling for American or for mixed mixture like rais and grounds and stuff. So we have to be adjusting the amount of sugar or amount of coffee and we have to very careful when I selected beans. I don't want America, I don't want people to be like too bitter like a Vietnamese way.
[00:21:25] Speaker A: Oh. So you have to adjust the Vietnamese coffee to the taste buds of Americans.
[00:21:32] Speaker B: Yes. But still somehow reserve the Vietnamese.
[00:21:34] Speaker A: Correct.
[00:21:34] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:21:35] Speaker A: That's got to be a delicate dance right there.
[00:21:37] Speaker B: It take me a long time to test and. And send out sample. I basically drive every one of my neighbors, whatever people I know insane when I keep sending them coffee and I receive feedback and then one of the bean too bitter, the other bean too soury. This is too much. This is too. This, this, this give me aftertaste. Give me a headache.
[00:21:56] Speaker A: Give me a headache.
[00:21:57] Speaker B: Yeah. So then I have to combine it and then I come with a perfect coffee bean combinations. And then how much sugar is enough? How much not sugar is enough? And I adjust it based on a customer and then I able to figuring out everything. Is everything adjustable?
[00:22:10] Speaker A: You're like an alchemist. Is that the right word? Do you know that word?
[00:22:14] Speaker B: Yes, I know there's a book famous.
[00:22:16] Speaker A: Is that. What am I saying the right word? I don't even know if I'm saying the right word. Sound like a mixologist, you know?
[00:22:21] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
[00:22:21] Speaker A: But it's interesting.
Yeah. You're making me think like the things that I've taken for granted that people from other countries who migrate over here and.
Is migrate the right word?
[00:22:34] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:22:34] Speaker A: Yep. And so, and, and they started a, A coffee shop or any type of business dealing with food or beverage.
And I've never, I've taken for granted that, you know, people from different countries have to actually acclimate their business when it comes to food or beverage to the taste buds of Americans. I've just never thought about that.
[00:22:58] Speaker B: Yeah, you, you can. I. I feel like if you so. You so like I'm. I'm so Vietnamese. I have to make everyone have to taste exactly the taste bud of the Vietnamese. It honestly make no sense because the people grow up here, they have different taste bud.
[00:23:13] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:23:13] Speaker B: You know, so like you can make them just do like that. It's just almost like it's like you like it, but doesn't mean people have to like it. You. You know, so that's why I think normally people adjust it to a little bit or a lot to the taste of people in here a little bit.
[00:23:29] Speaker A: You know, it's funny too, because I was at this food truck last night up in Washington Heights, and it was delicious, but, you know, they had all these spices and. And they said, you know, and they were make. My friend was doing a video up there, you know, and I. I'm in the neighborhood, so I, you know, I went to, went to go. We went together and it was really fun. I actually had like the Best burger. But it's funny because when we were, he was making me the burger, he's telling me all the ingredients.
[00:23:52] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:23:54] Speaker A: Because it's got a lot of Latin flavor to it and which I love. But unfortunately, I always say this, I'm like, sorry, I'm an old white man, it can't be spicy.
You know, people always laugh. I'm like, I'm so sorry, but I gotta be upfront with you, you know, but you know, I'm like, I'm sure you already thought of this too, you know, like.
[00:24:13] Speaker B: But you see, but you're open minded. You wanna try people from different culture, you know. But I tell you something very, because in Vietnam, most Everybody is Vietnamese. 99.99% Vietnamese. Right. So when you try, when people, like now they have like people from Europe, people from America open businesses in Vietnam and they open restaurant. Right. For example, pizza.
[00:24:35] Speaker A: Right.
[00:24:35] Speaker B: Let's take that. They have to make it a little bit to Vietnamese taste too.
[00:24:39] Speaker A: Yeah. Just the opposite. Yeah. Because this is fascinating.
[00:24:42] Speaker B: I've never thought about this. If you put like, let's say parmesan cheese, which I love, which we all love. But if you put like that sometimes Vietnamese, I'm just take example, I don't know, okay. That Vietnamese people don't like it and you just like, I don't want it. You have to make something other thing than that. And then they have to, you know, you have to, have to be created to a little bit to the native culture.
That's just how it is. Because if you keep it, 100 Vietnamese, you say, yo, drink it.
[00:25:08] Speaker A: You have to drink it.
[00:25:08] Speaker B: You have to light it, you know, like, there's no way, way too sweet.
[00:25:13] Speaker A: That's just, this is just. It's fascinating to me. It's fascinating to me.
And you know, you're the reason I love doing this podcast because, you know, you're. Oh, sorry. You know, you're teaching. We hit feet by accident.
[00:25:27] Speaker B: It's cute.
[00:25:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
But you're teaching me. I love this, this will love about the podcast is guests such as yourself, you know, and you're teaching me, you know, about, you know, about the world.
[00:25:39] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:39] Speaker A: And things that I've taken for granted, even being a New Yorker for so long.
[00:25:43] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:25:43] Speaker A: You know, I didn't really think.
[00:25:44] Speaker B: I feel, I feel like the whole world come here. You have a little bit of every culture in here and you learn it.
[00:25:48] Speaker A: But, you know, I'm going to America, I'm just gonna start a restaurant, but I gotta make sure that the Americans like It, you know, I gotta do little, you know, mixing stuff around to make sure we got a little, you know. Yeah, but that, that's really cool. That's really interesting. Well, good for you. And how long, how long has the.
Your business been open?
[00:26:06] Speaker B: So our first day of open was December 13th of 2025.
[00:26:12] Speaker A: Oh, nice.
[00:26:13] Speaker B: So we a little bit over four months old at this point. Yeah.
[00:26:16] Speaker A: Oh yeah.
[00:26:17] Speaker B: So we, we, we kind of knew. Not too new, but still kind of new discovery face.
[00:26:23] Speaker A: Well, I, I love it. Tell them your address again so people can go. See you.
[00:26:26] Speaker B: Kawaii Cafe, 117 Christopher Street.
[00:26:29] Speaker A: Yep. Across from Lynn Industry.
[00:26:35] Speaker B: You got this.
[00:26:35] Speaker A: Yeah. So yeah, it's in such a great neighborhood too. And I like the. How you, what did you do to.
You know, it's important when you walk into a business, how it makes you feel.
And right when I walked in there, it made me feel really, really good. It's bright, it's airy. So what, what did you do to. Did you, did you kind of study or, or when you open a business, you have to think about all these, these, these things. So what did you think about?
[00:27:01] Speaker B: So fortunately I've been to places, not just America, I've been a little bit of Europe, a little bit of Asia and I, I don't drink alcohol. I love, but I love, I love coffee. So. Because I go too many coffee shop. So every time I go, I take note about things I like and I don't like. And West Village is very like rustic, sometime a little bit more artsy, a little bit more darker. You know, when you go somewhere a little bit more dim light, more darker. Sometimes you have to find your own way.
Yeah, you just have to whispering suddenly, you know. And then a lot of coffee shops there, they have a very similar theme. I think that's the vibe, right?
[00:27:41] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:27:41] Speaker B: But then for me, I want it to be bright. I as the girly girl, I love pink and a bright color look. Pastel.
[00:27:48] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:27:49] Speaker B: That's why I love Taylor Swift.
And then, so then I wanted my space to be a little bit brighter, a little bit more pinker. But everyone can come. Not just girl, just everybody so lighting up. And I like anime, so I corporate animes into it. And so when I open the shop, I tell very specifically with my architect.
And I said, listen, this is what I want. Fry Q feel very welcoming. Like I want to feel like people, even if they have a bad day when they walked in something light them up.
[00:28:21] Speaker A: Yeah. And I like how the sun, it's rare in New York City to have sunlight.
[00:28:25] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:28:25] Speaker A: And you had sunlight coming in the front window. I would notice that right away.
[00:28:29] Speaker B: Yeah, I am. I love that that's a good spot for taking selfie and stuff too.
That's why I put a mirror right there.
[00:28:35] Speaker A: It's like a banquet or a little.
[00:28:37] Speaker B: Yes. You can sit there. You can have a chat with your friends.
[00:28:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:28:39] Speaker B: I know my shop is small, so seat is very limit. You can but some New York. We all somehow people make it work and they love to sit in that spot a lot because they can. You can see people walk by too.
[00:28:48] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:28:49] Speaker B: So that's when so I could stay confident that my shop design and colors and vibe is only me can provide. Because like I said, they very more dim light, more like whispering styles, that kind of stuff.
[00:29:02] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:29:02] Speaker B: My shop is like cute, smiling, happy and stuff. And the thing I think it make my shop very different is like customer service.
Because I'm from Vietnam. I already told you before beginning that we our people, we very like hospitality. We very like warm.
So I want to translate that to my shop too.
[00:29:22] Speaker A: You definitely do.
[00:29:23] Speaker B: You would be like, hi, how are you? Are you day going okay? And stuff. And then I always, I care a lot for the experiences because sometime it's not about coffee. Sometimes people may be looking for a little connection.
[00:29:34] Speaker A: Correct.
[00:29:35] Speaker B: So you already know like we do a feeling inside hustle to survive and to pay rent or to do anything to the city. So a cup of coffee sometimes just like, oh, you good? Are you okay? Are you like how your day, you know, you'd be fine. You got this, you know, whatever. Just a tiny conversation. They don't take that much time in your day. But people feel great.
[00:29:53] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:29:54] Speaker B: And maybe you never see that person again. Maybe they're just passing by. Maybe they tourist. But that conversation go home with them. Just say, oh, I went to this coffee shop. I met this, this, this, this barista.
[00:30:03] Speaker A: Right.
[00:30:03] Speaker B: She asked me how my day she really care if I like the drink.
[00:30:06] Speaker A: That's important.
[00:30:07] Speaker B: And then they just like, you know what? Maybe I love this may carry on today.
[00:30:11] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:30:12] Speaker B: And that's what I want it to be. And so far I, I, I feel good that I can able to translate that because I, I start to see familiar faces.
[00:30:20] Speaker A: Yeah. I was going to ask you that.
[00:30:21] Speaker B: Yes. And they liked it. And they start to open up more.
[00:30:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:30:24] Speaker B: Okay. I just got, you know, a job that's a talk about last week. Okay. My mood. And then and I'm like, suddenly you have a little bit of update of the Life. And then you just like, oh, I'm happy. I'm a part of a little bit of your conversation. You know, it just like, it's okay. Because think what, go around, come around. And I'm sure when I have a bad day or something, if I go somewhere, if I need help, maybe some way down the road that someone gonna. Wanted to talk to me, want to help me out or something too. That's, that's how I think about life.
[00:30:50] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm not. Yeah, I, I completely get it. I love it. And I think, you know, New Yorkers love that, that connection too. We really do.
[00:30:59] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:30:59] Speaker A: You know, people think New Yorkers are like, you know, heavy skinned or whatever the word is.
[00:31:05] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. Don't care. Just going, always rue. It's not true. It's not true.
[00:31:10] Speaker A: We notice the beautiful things. It is, you know, and you like the sunlight in your front window.
[00:31:14] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:31:15] Speaker A: You know, or you, you always helpful.
[00:31:17] Speaker B: New York are very helpful.
[00:31:18] Speaker A: Very helpful.
[00:31:19] Speaker B: But you just have to be fast because we have to go somewhere. What do you want to do?
[00:31:23] Speaker A: This is true.
[00:31:23] Speaker B: Go that way and get out of my way.
[00:31:25] Speaker A: I was at the Stan Allen ferry today, leaving, and I saw this, this couple of this family looking at the map or whatever and I tried to help them.
[00:31:32] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:33] Speaker A: And they were like, looked at me up and down and they're always like trying to say, you know, they're like, is this guy like a scammer or something? You know, And I'm just like, you know, and I'm like, I. I'm walking by you, trying to be nice. Yeah, people are, you know, receptive, but some people don't even, they act like they don't even see me. Like, you don't hear me, you know, I'm like, but it's fine, you know, that's fine.
[00:31:52] Speaker B: But I'm sure if someone looked troublesome, you would love to just kind of like, yo, you want to. You need help or something? But then fast. I have five minutes.
[00:31:58] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:31:59] Speaker B: Hurry. Don't ask me too much.
[00:32:01] Speaker A: You know, I like to see in the subway too. Like people see, see people looking at the map and New Yorkers jump in and they need help. Help.
[00:32:08] Speaker B: Or just like, oh, something. Just get out here, get up, get out, done.
[00:32:11] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:32:12] Speaker B: And that's it.
[00:32:12] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:32:13] Speaker B: Get out.
[00:32:13] Speaker A: You get out right here. Boom, you're here.
[00:32:14] Speaker B: Yeah, exactly. I see that a lot.
[00:32:16] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, how did you pick the space where your business is right now?
[00:32:20] Speaker B: I'm big on spiritual work.
I feel like if you feel it, then that's it for you. Before I went select this place, I went from Chelsea, from K Town, from Midtown, from East Village, from Chinatown to west, to West Village. Yeah. I've been over the place because always the type. I think that's my clientele at, you know, my, like the people targeting.
[00:32:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:32:48] Speaker B: So I. I could be open the same space with. With the same place with bigger space and less rent than I have right now in this village or in Chelsea, anywhere else. But I just not feel it doesn't hit you immediately. You're just like, this is not. Feel like it is. You know, just like you met the love of your life, right. You're like, this is it.
[00:33:08] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:33:08] Speaker B: Or you can just. Or you can just stay for forever. And you just. You're not sure, you know, you're like, I'm not sure. I don't know. I want to commit, you know. But then when you match the love of your life, you're just like, yeah, this is it. This is the one. This is it. And she crazy. And you just like, yeah, this is the one still. Oh, he crazy. And you just like, I can, I can deal with this, you know. And you try to make it work, even though clearly is a psychopath right there. And you're just like, no, this is it.
So when I see this bay and I, I. After that, I. Before that I was like 20 space.
[00:33:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:37] Speaker B: Yeah. And I don't feel it.
[00:33:38] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:33:38] Speaker B: I love it. I like it. But not the one. And when I see this bay, I think this is it.
[00:33:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:46] Speaker B: So then I would just like quickly proceed with everything.
Yeah. So it's a little bit difficult for that space because a previous tenant, she was a psychic gamer or something. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. But she was there. She was like, do some shady business over there or something. She get kicked out. She lived behind a mess. So then as a new tenant, me and the landlords and everybody have to try to just get kind of like figuring out how to get rid of the messes you left behind.
And then the landlord wants a certain way, I want a certain way. So then the whole process of that is like at that time, I could back down. I could be like, let's find a new place. Let's just find a new space in the West Village too.
[00:34:25] Speaker A: Let's just not do this in the West Village.
[00:34:27] Speaker B: But for some reason I'm so stubborn. I'm like, no, we make it work.
We make it work. And I don't know why we make it work. But we got to make it work. And then I make it work and I actually make it work. But the whole thing delay the process of opening a lot.
[00:34:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:34:40] Speaker B: Because apparently I was. I original plan I wanted to open in September.
No one want to open a new business in Feb. In December or January. It's the dead season of a business, you know, especially. Yeah. Because it's winter.
[00:34:56] Speaker A: January is. But December like Christmas season is.
[00:34:58] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Christmas is still. If you. If you depend you. So like for me I'm so new.
Nobody know who I am, what I'm selling. And the concept is so new. What do you mean Vietnamese coffee? What do you mean topping. What do you mean coffee jelly. Just overwhelming people so then and then you know. But like I don't sell.
They have to come in. They confuse. They're like oh, what do you mean coffee jelly. What do you mean Vietnamese coffee. So I do a lot of explaining work. You know, beginning. So then people are just like. And then around the corner of my. Of my shop is like three or four very viral.
Viral, viral everywhere in TikTok social media coffee shop. So they can go there. Why would they come to me? You know.
[00:35:41] Speaker A: Right.
[00:35:42] Speaker B: Was very tough. And then because of all that mess with the Riva Tenon then I delayed it and then I have troublesome and stuff. But I get through it. So now it's become more like stable and project positive movements and stuff. But it was tough.
[00:35:57] Speaker A: You know what? I don't even know about the.
You don't have to bring them up but I mean I don't even know about the. The viral coffee shops.
[00:36:03] Speaker B: They are so viral. They like you, you. You just typing in like coffee in New York and they just boom boom, boom, boom, boom. Every single day there's a line every single day. And they sell very similar price point to my coffee. And like if you was.
You already know the place you go there, why would you come to me?
[00:36:23] Speaker A: Yeah. Just how it works.
[00:36:24] Speaker B: I have no reputation yet. Yeah, yeah, nothing.
[00:36:27] Speaker A: You'll build it, you know, but it needs time. Yeah, yeah. You'll build it. You'll build it. Yeah. I mean I think your coffee shop is amazing.
It'll be fun. Yeah. I think I'm gonna. I'm definitely gonna come back, you know, soon and. And see you. Or are you. How are you there that often?
[00:36:44] Speaker B: I. I'm there quite often.
[00:36:46] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:36:46] Speaker B: But you know we. You can always let me know in the event and I make sure I'm there when you there. You know, we always have new drink hand there I can give you. You a different one next time. Maybe I give you. What are we? Yeah.
Or Gaslight.
[00:37:00] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:01] Speaker B: Or Red Flag.
[00:37:02] Speaker A: I love you. Those are the McDonald.
[00:37:04] Speaker B: We have Gaslight. We have fun.
[00:37:06] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:06] Speaker B: We have Slow Burn.
[00:37:07] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:08] Speaker B: We have. What are we? We have Netflix and Joe.
What are you on this day? If you dated, like, I would be like, are you Gaslight? I give you a Gas Light.
[00:37:17] Speaker A: I love it. I love it. It's really fun. So, you know, now that you're here in the United States and you've lived here how long now?
[00:37:23] Speaker B: 11. Yeah.
[00:37:24] Speaker A: Yeah. Same as me, basically. Yeah. So what do you miss about Vietnam compared to the United States? And what do you love about the United States compared to Vietnam?
[00:37:36] Speaker B: Yeah, I would say I miss the food the most.
[00:37:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:39] Speaker B: New York have amazing food culture.
Every cuisine from any other country on point.
[00:37:46] Speaker A: But Vietnamese, really?
[00:37:48] Speaker B: Because we have such a small, small, small population of Vietnamese people live in New York.
First of all, they live a lot in California.
Biggest town is Orange County.
[00:37:59] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:59] Speaker B: And we have. They have live a lot in Houston, Texas, second biggest town. Then they live warmer place or cheaper place, you know, and then New York is just so cold, so expensive. They didn't like it. But then they just have a small community. So then not even community. Just they spread out.
[00:38:16] Speaker A: Right.
[00:38:16] Speaker B: And then so they. They have like the OG business, you know, like a little bit in Chinatown, a little bit here and there. But the food culture, Vietnamese food culture is strong.
[00:38:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:38:23] Speaker B: So suddenly, suddenly, for some reason, younger people go to school, do things, and then suddenly they open more Vietnamese business in the city.
[00:38:32] Speaker A: Nice.
[00:38:33] Speaker B: So suddenly they get a little bit better. That's why. I don't know. I don't do this by purpose, but suddenly I open my shop in the. In the beginning of the wave. So I think more and more Vietnamese business going to start opening even more.
Yeah. But sort of miss things. Definitely. The food.
[00:38:50] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:38:51] Speaker B: The coffee. I already got the coffee for myself. Good.
Other than that, I miss my family, of course, but other than that, I feel like this is like home. I don't miss too much.
[00:39:02] Speaker A: So New York, you feel like.
[00:39:04] Speaker B: I feel good. Yeah, I feel good here. I feel very content.
[00:39:06] Speaker A: What do you feel like that you love here in New York City that you didn't have in Vietnam?
[00:39:12] Speaker B: Like I said, diversity.
[00:39:13] Speaker A: Diversity.
[00:39:14] Speaker B: Also different people, different fashions, different personality that Vietnamese don't have, because.
[00:39:19] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, you did say that.
[00:39:20] Speaker B: Yeah, Everyone, The Vietnamese, we like to hate the same thing.
[00:39:23] Speaker A: And then also you said we like and hate the same thing.
[00:39:26] Speaker B: Yeah, we Just. We don't have. We just have. Don't have it now. I feel like every time I go back, I'm more American than Vietnamese. But when I come back here, I'm not American. I'm like. I'm in the middle realm, you know?
[00:39:38] Speaker A: Do your friends and family in Vietnam feel like you've been Americanized?
[00:39:41] Speaker B: Yes, they say that all the time.
[00:39:43] Speaker A: Really?
[00:39:43] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, starting off, I'm not that I'm born and raised in Vietnam, but I always wanted to be like somewhere else for some reason. I don't know, I feel like I need something different and I cannot just love and hate the same thing.
[00:39:56] Speaker A: Well, you know what? You know how New York City has parades for every culture? Yeah. Do we have a Vietnamese parade?
[00:40:02] Speaker B: I don't think we do.
[00:40:03] Speaker A: I don't think we do either.
[00:40:04] Speaker B: But we do celebrate Lunar New Year, right?
[00:40:07] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:40:07] Speaker B: So we do have. I heard that they have. We have a very small community in the Bronx that we hosting our own Lunar New Year.
[00:40:14] Speaker A: Oh, that's pretty cool.
[00:40:14] Speaker B: And then we don't call that Chinese New Year because we're different.
[00:40:17] Speaker A: I was going to ask you if
[00:40:17] Speaker B: it's a thing we call that T.
Yeah, I've heard of that festival. Yeah. And I think they have a little bit celebrations going on in the Bronx or some small community spread out in Brooklyn or something. I think I never been. I don't know.
But yeah, that's. That's our thing.
[00:40:33] Speaker A: I'm trying to. Yeah. So no. No parade because. Because New York is so good about celebrating all the different cultures and I. I usually cover most of the parades and I'm trying to. I don't think I've seen.
[00:40:43] Speaker B: Yeah, I feel like if people move here more enough, like if Vietnamese people keep moving here a little bit more.
[00:40:49] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:40:50] Speaker B: Then we gotta have our own thing for sure. But right now maybe we're just so spread out, we're not really like end of spot or something. So it's harder to get together or to hosting something or to make it like that. Yeah, maybe I. Maybe I hosting Vietnamese Day or. Or something like that in my shop or something.
[00:41:07] Speaker A: I'm gonna say that.
[00:41:08] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, maybe that's.
[00:41:09] Speaker A: You know what, that's a good idea. Like have a. Like some, you know, outside some banners and.
[00:41:17] Speaker B: Yes. I don't know, advertising something maybe like a via day, maybe or even young professional day or something.
[00:41:25] Speaker A: When is your Lunar New Year?
[00:41:27] Speaker B: Same day with.
[00:41:28] Speaker A: As you say. Okay. But it's like January, February or something.
[00:41:32] Speaker B: It's. Every year is different. Oh normally January and February.
[00:41:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:41:36] Speaker B: So depending on the year.
[00:41:37] Speaker A: I know it's always cold. Yeah.
[00:41:39] Speaker B: It's always in the winter.
[00:41:40] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:41:40] Speaker B: But it's not have a set day. Every year is changing.
[00:41:43] Speaker A: Changing. Yes.
[00:41:44] Speaker B: But either is in January or February.
[00:41:46] Speaker A: Do you also do an animal as the year of Same. Same thing.
[00:41:50] Speaker B: But we have a one animal different. We don't have rabbit.
[00:41:54] Speaker A: Oh, you don't have a rabbit.
[00:41:55] Speaker B: But we have a cat.
[00:41:56] Speaker A: Oh wow.
[00:41:57] Speaker B: Yes, we have a cat. Age that the cat year.
The Chinese don't have a cat. They have the rabbit.
[00:42:03] Speaker A: Ah yeah.
[00:42:04] Speaker B: But everything else the same.
[00:42:06] Speaker A: That's interesting.
[00:42:07] Speaker B: Yeah. I'm a monkey.
[00:42:08] Speaker A: I don't know what I am.
[00:42:11] Speaker B: It's very easy. You can look up later.
[00:42:13] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:42:14] Speaker B: I just know.
[00:42:14] Speaker A: Hey Siri, what am I exactly?
[00:42:17] Speaker B: What animal I am?
[00:42:18] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly.
When you first moved here to New York City, were you overwhelmed?
[00:42:25] Speaker B: A little bit. For sure.
[00:42:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:42:27] Speaker B: I'm not overwhelmed with the people or the traffic or anything like that. But I'm overwhelming with like I feel like everyone here, they have their schedule, everyone's so busy. Everyone always trying to get from 1 point A to point B and stuff. And I would feel like maybe they. All of these people, they all have figuring out their purpose, their dream and everything. And here I am. I'm so new. What is my purpose? Did I. Will I ever find it here? Will I like it here or will I resent it? That's the thing. Because when I. When I look at people walking by or in a cafe or something, I feel like everyone is just so purposeful, you know, like it seemed like they all figuring out and then I'm just. That's when I was. I worry I was falling behind.
[00:43:10] Speaker A: Ah yeah.
[00:43:11] Speaker B: Or do I. Would I fry friends where I. I
[00:43:14] Speaker A: don't think you have an issue with
[00:43:15] Speaker B: that at all actually you do you do you find some.
I'm easy to talk to.
[00:43:20] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:21] Speaker B: I'm very open minded and everything but to find someone that you feel like you want to spend your rest of time.
[00:43:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:27] Speaker B: To get to know to become a friend.
[00:43:28] Speaker A: Good point.
[00:43:29] Speaker B: Then it's hard. It's just like when you're dating is going to a date is not a problem.
[00:43:34] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:34] Speaker B: But find your person and want to commit is the problem.
[00:43:38] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:39] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:43:40] Speaker A: He's you know, real quick. You know it's interesting about when you become older too.
[00:43:43] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:43:44] Speaker A: And to make friends that are really best friends at this age is different. It's not. You know, it's harder.
[00:43:50] Speaker B: You know that's my older Friends when you in college?
[00:43:52] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:52] Speaker B: In high school. You don't care.
[00:43:54] Speaker A: Well, moving to New York, older for me. And then I met. I met some really good friends here that, you know, that I even, you know. You know, my friend Chris and Emily Beck, they know who they are. Yeah. You know, and.
And just to, you know, I'll just tie this up real quick. It's just, it was. I had that conversation. Like, gosh, at this age to meet best friends is so unique now. Yes. You know, you know, you find one. Yeah. It's just. It's a rarity.
[00:44:18] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:44:18] Speaker A: But anyway. But yeah, no, no, no.
[00:44:22] Speaker B: I have the same. Exactly like experiences too, so just made
[00:44:25] Speaker A: me think of that.
[00:44:26] Speaker B: I still don't have a. I don't find my soulmate or best friends, but then my two best friend that actually live in Dallas, Texas.
[00:44:32] Speaker A: Oh, nice.
[00:44:33] Speaker B: And we love each other. You know, we constantly visit each other and I've met them in Vietnam and somehow we all moved to America at the same time. I moved to 2014. They moved 2013.
[00:44:45] Speaker A: Nice.
[00:44:45] Speaker B: I know. And I'm like, I would. Thought I would never see them again.
[00:44:48] Speaker A: That's really sweet. You know. You know, you have your best friends and that's the quick plane ride compared to Vietnam.
[00:44:52] Speaker B: Yes. Yeah.
[00:44:53] Speaker A: You know, so that's.
[00:44:54] Speaker B: But then other than that, I make my little bit circle small. But we hang out sometime. We take space sometimes and stuff. But you know, some people good to talk about something when other people good to talk about other things.
[00:45:04] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:45:05] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:45:06] Speaker A: You know what New York is good about too? I mean, you have your husband, which is amazing. You know, I. You know, I. Well, I don't really. It's a long story, but that's another podcast. But it's nice to.
This city is great also to be alone in.
[00:45:23] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:45:23] Speaker A: Like, I see people that say they. They're lonely. I don't know how people could be lonely in New York City, in my opinion. I mean, there's just. The city itself is so much that takes up so much time.
[00:45:34] Speaker B: I think maybe because of the mindset.
[00:45:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:45:36] Speaker B: Maybe they. What? They. They don't know what they're looking for. They said they end up looking for nothing and then they end up looking to be lonely. Yeah.
[00:45:44] Speaker A: Yeah. I just. I just. I just never felt that way.
[00:45:46] Speaker B: You know, I.
[00:45:48] Speaker A: Let's do some. Go ahead. We're gonna say, oh, no, no, no, I forgot.
[00:45:51] Speaker B: I'm dory.
I just say something. Wait, it's definitely drop me drop somewhere.
[00:45:56] Speaker A: I love it. Okay, so let's do some Quick fire, round questions.
Coffee, iced or hot?
[00:46:06] Speaker B: You can do both.
[00:46:07] Speaker A: Oh, good answer.
[00:46:08] Speaker B: You can do both. We're offering both in the winter. Hot. Yes. In the rest of the season. Ice.
[00:46:15] Speaker A: Nice.
Vietnam or NYC food if you had to pick one for life and we'll see. Yeah. Oh really?
[00:46:22] Speaker B: Because I can eat any other cuisine.
[00:46:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:46:24] Speaker B: I love Italian. I love Greek. I love Korean, I love, I love Japanese. I can find anyone else.
[00:46:30] Speaker A: Yeah. Nice. Very nice.
[00:46:32] Speaker B: I can also fly to Houston or California if I really want to be like Vietnamese. Vietnamese food.
[00:46:37] Speaker A: Oh really?
[00:46:37] Speaker B: Yes.
Nice.
You know the population.
[00:46:42] Speaker A: Do you ever go to Florida?
[00:46:43] Speaker B: I go sometime. I love.
[00:46:44] Speaker A: Do you have any good Vietnam places in. In Florida?
[00:46:47] Speaker B: Not really, but I love Florida for different reason. The weather. The beach.
[00:46:52] Speaker A: That's right. Yeah.
[00:46:53] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:46:54] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:46:55] Speaker B: I love Florida.
[00:46:56] Speaker A: Yeah. My mom and dad and my twin brother and my older brother and all their families, they're all down there.
What's one word that describes New York to you?
[00:47:09] Speaker B: Awesome.
[00:47:10] Speaker A: I like it.
[00:47:10] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:47:11] Speaker A: I love it.
What's one word that describes Vietnam to you?
[00:47:16] Speaker B: Hot.
[00:47:17] Speaker A: Really? Is it always hot?
Tropical?
[00:47:20] Speaker B: Very.
[00:47:22] Speaker A: Yeah, I guess so.
[00:47:23] Speaker B: Miami, Florida?
[00:47:25] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:47:25] Speaker B: In the summer.
[00:47:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:47:26] Speaker B: Hotter, more humid. Okay.
[00:47:29] Speaker A: Just remember your face is just great. You're just so intense about it. I love it.
[00:47:35] Speaker B: First thing first, I hear like you're like Miami.
[00:47:37] Speaker A: Because I've been, I worked in Miami and everything and July.
[00:47:40] Speaker B: Miami.
[00:47:41] Speaker A: Yeah. Oh my gosh, Pam.
[00:47:43] Speaker B: 10.
Not just that time, 10.
[00:47:46] Speaker A: Well, I mean living in Florida for so long before I moved here, you know, and I lived in Orlando for a long time. And that's in the exact. Well, I mean. Yeah, it's super hot. It's in the center of the state. Like people think it's on water. It's not, it's not. In the summertime it is like a frying pan.
It's insane.
[00:48:04] Speaker B: And then I've been to Orlando's for Disney World.
[00:48:07] Speaker A: Huh? Exactly.
[00:48:08] Speaker B: In the wrong month. So that's why. I know.
[00:48:10] Speaker A: Yeah. Yep. You know, I mean I. When I go home to see my parents, you know, it's usually in January, but I went last, last May.
I'm sorry, when was it? Their June. Last June for their anniversary yet I
[00:48:23] Speaker B: went there in July. Yeah, because I didn't know.
[00:48:26] Speaker A: Oh, I. I thought I died. Summer storms.
[00:48:28] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:48:29] Speaker A: Oh my gosh. Like crazy summer storms.
Biggest NYC habit you picked up.
[00:48:36] Speaker B: Spending money.
[00:48:38] Speaker A: You'd even hesitate. Either you're like spending money, you can't stop. That's. That's true. That's very true.
[00:48:42] Speaker B: You can't stop. You Walk out the the door. Minus $50.
[00:48:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:48:46] Speaker B: For breathing the air.
[00:48:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
True.
Something you still miss from Vietnam? Daily food.
[00:48:54] Speaker B: Yeah, that's it.
[00:48:55] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:48:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:48:58] Speaker A: Sweet coffee or strong black coffee.
[00:49:01] Speaker B: None of it in the middle.
[00:49:03] Speaker A: In the middle.
[00:49:03] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:49:05] Speaker A: Two more questions. One NYC neighborhood that feels most you.
That feels like West Village. You know what? I. I was in my head, I was like, yeah, I'm gonna say West Village. You know, I. I feel that for me too. I do, I do love that. I want to live in that neighborhood too.
[00:49:20] Speaker B: It's just so easy to walk around. You have a beautiful brownstone, you have a little shop. You know, it's like, it's like a little community in the big city.
[00:49:28] Speaker A: It's very chill.
[00:49:29] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:49:30] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:30] Speaker B: Even when you busy crazy in midtown and you want to Wesley just like.
[00:49:34] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:35] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:49:35] Speaker A: It's totally different vibe.
[00:49:36] Speaker B: So different.
[00:49:37] Speaker A: And it's so beautiful.
[00:49:39] Speaker B: Yes. And you go to like water. You can just lay down and read your book.
[00:49:42] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:43] Speaker B: In the good day.
[00:49:43] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:44] Speaker B: Well, that's the only thing. You don't spend money.
[00:49:46] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:47] Speaker B: Other than that.
[00:49:48] Speaker A: Exactly. Do you take the subway though?
[00:49:50] Speaker B: I do.
[00:49:51] Speaker A: Yeah. Is that the only way you travel?
[00:49:52] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:49:53] Speaker A: Okay. You know, I have one more question.
If you weren't doing kawaii coffee, what would you be doing instead?
[00:50:01] Speaker B: I will open an awesome nail salon.
[00:50:05] Speaker A: Oh, nice.
[00:50:05] Speaker B: But like for private bougie, super high end nail salon. Nice for privacy, for women relaxing and more like it could. You could be at the spot for therapy. Almost.
[00:50:17] Speaker A: Nice for that.
[00:50:18] Speaker B: For the beauty and the therapy itself.
[00:50:20] Speaker A: Nice.
[00:50:20] Speaker B: Not regular salon. Like super awesome.
[00:50:23] Speaker A: Very cool.
[00:50:24] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:50:25] Speaker A: You know, I think this is an important question. You know, I didn't think about this till now, but when I have females on the the show.
[00:50:32] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:50:32] Speaker A: I like to ask them about the subway. How they feel about the subway, you know, because that's how we travel. That's how I travel as a man, you know, it's a different world. I don't have to worry about life in general, of being, you know, just the things you deal with as a, as a woman, you know? Yeah. So, you know, and I liked a woman's perspective on the subway.
[00:50:51] Speaker B: Yeah. I think first time when I move here, when I have to use it, I was shocked.
[00:50:57] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:50:58] Speaker B: Because I thought it was like very new, like even futuristic subway. Because when I think about New York.
[00:51:04] Speaker A: Oh, that's right. Maybe like thought of that.
[00:51:05] Speaker B: My God, maybe it's going to be very fabulous. Oh, my God. And you go somewhere, you're like, what is this?
[00:51:11] Speaker A: And then you see so funny.
[00:51:12] Speaker B: And you see like, oh, you have red on the side. I'm like, this is great.
[00:51:15] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:51:16] Speaker B: And then.
Yeah, and then. But then you start to get used to it and then you. You just blend it in. But I do a little bit different these days that I have to be take off my headphones and stuff because I wanted to watch my surrounding.
[00:51:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:51:28] Speaker B: Because with all the incidents with like
[00:51:30] Speaker A: push people pushed into that.
[00:51:32] Speaker B: So then I always back, back, back when before I would care less.
So that's the only issue that I would think.
[00:51:38] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:51:38] Speaker B: So when it's a little bit late at night, I realize maybe I take an Uber.
[00:51:41] Speaker A: Yeah. I think that's smart for a woman, you know, But I mean. Yeah. So I'm glad. But for. In general, that's pretty much the only way you travel.
[00:51:49] Speaker B: Yes. I love taking subway. And it's cheap. It's not cheap this day anymore, but it's. Take your point. B. Avoiding traffic. And I telling you, even if one day I rich. Filthy rich. I still taking the subway.
[00:52:01] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:52:01] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:52:01] Speaker A: Well, I mean, I'd love to hear this. You know, I mean, there's pros and cons to the subway, but in my opinion, for the most part, I think it's the way to travel.
[00:52:10] Speaker B: Yes. You know, if you're not taking a subway, you're not going to get too much away around New York City. Like, come on.
[00:52:15] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:52:15] Speaker B: That's how you do it.
[00:52:16] Speaker A: Well, thanks. Thanks for your perspective because I think it's important for. For women.
[00:52:20] Speaker B: That's why I hated when Influencer. Oh, my God. I'm gonna take a taxi. Oh, no way. What do you mean you're taking this away? Girl, where are you coming from? Ohio.
Everyone taking it that way? Girl, relax. You're not that big deal.
[00:52:34] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.
Well, you know, I think a woman's perspective is very important, so thank you for that. Okay, let's close it up. I. I mean, I had the best time chatting with you.
I can't wait to come to your coffee shop and chat and hang out, meet your husband. Hopefully one day.
[00:52:49] Speaker B: Yes. Oh, my God, if you. You're gonna love him too. He like angel.
[00:52:53] Speaker A: Oh, that's awesome.
So, Kim, before we let you go, we here at the New Yorkers podcast want to know what it means to you, Kim Lee, to be a New Yorker.
[00:53:05] Speaker B: I think you know, what does it mean for me to be a New Yorker?
[00:53:07] Speaker A: Right, Right.
[00:53:08] Speaker B: I telling you something funny. Every time when I go to Europe is feel amazing when you say you're from New York.
[00:53:13] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:53:14] Speaker B: And you have to watch people reaction just like wow.
Like yeah, you know what, when you be in the greatest city on earth, it bring you so much things. It inspire your dream is you meet our coolest people. And it's also you are New York already have a reputation to be an awesome. So the fact that you are able to say you're from New York, that's already the huge reputation when you go to the world. So I think that's what it means to me.
[00:53:40] Speaker A: Oh, I love it. That's really cool. I love it.
So Kim, thank you for joining us today on this episode of the New Yorkers Podcast. Why don't you let everyone know where they can find you on social media and your business or whatever you want to tell us.
[00:53:53] Speaker B: You can find me and my shop and get awesome Vietnamese coffee at Kawaii Cafe, 117 Christopher Street, West Village, New York City.
[00:54:01] Speaker A: And what's just your social media, your Instagram or.
[00:54:04] Speaker B: My Instagram is Kawaii Cafe. You spell exactly like Hawaii, just with a K203. And that's my social media. And the same thing for TikTok.
[00:54:15] Speaker A: Very nice.
[00:54:15] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:54:16] Speaker A: Once again everybody, I'm your host Kelly Kopp, also known as New York City Cop across all my social media.
[00:54:23] Speaker B: Yeah. Please like subscribe New Yorker Podcast and you can follow the New Yorker on social media at the New Yorker Podcast.
[00:54:30] Speaker A: You can leave a rating or a comment everyone to let us know how you are enjoying the show. We read through all your comments and DMs, so please, we would love to hear from you. Thank you. K. Moore,/11211, Courtney Newman and Lori Doris Foster for your kind words on the last episode. If you want to be featured at the end of an episode, leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify. But what's really awesome is, you know, the people that I just mentioned are awesome and I've actually spent a lot of time with Lori Foster and her husband over the years. They come here and visit New York City and we become really good friends too. And I always joke around with them. I'm like, it's the. It's Lori Foster and the foster kids.
[00:55:19] Speaker B: Oh, that's funny. Anyway, go ahead and and thank you Deborah Robinson, Mary Woodwine and All Day NYC for your comment on the Facebook.
[00:55:32] Speaker A: You know what, All Day nyc. I mean everybody's amazing. And All Day NYC has an awesome Instagram account too on social media. I have to follow. Yeah.
Have a lovely day everyone and we will see you next time.
[00:55:42] Speaker B: Goodbye.
This is the last stop on this train. Everyone, please leave the train. Thank you for riding with mta New York City Transit.
