New Cafe Brings Vietnamese Summer Rolls To Doylestown

PLUMSTEAD TOWNSHIP, PA — A new cafe specializing in Vietnamese summer rolls, sandwiches and bowls has opened its doors in Plumstead Township.

Nikki and Danny Truong of Hatfield are the owners of TeaVa Rolls, which celebrated its opening in March at 812 Easton Road next to Concord Pet Food and Supplies.

The new cafe specializes in Vietnamese Summer Rolls, a popular finger food in the Vietnamese culture sold on the street and in the country's upscale restaurants.

Unlike fried spring rolls, which are believed to have originated in China, Vietnamese goi cuon, meaning salad roll, is a Vietnamese creation served fresh and traditionally consisting of pork, prawn, vegetables, bún (rice vermicelli), and other ingredients wrapped in banh trang (commonly known as rice paper or cold roll).

Take a bite from the roll. Take a sip from the tea. (TeaVa Rolls)

One of the street food that’s very popular among young people in Saigon - Grilled Rice Paper - is now available at TeaVa. (TeaVa Rolls)

The Banh Mi will fill you up and recharge your energy and the hint of salt from the foam mixed with the sweetness from the iced coffee gives you just the right amount of caffeine to keep you going. (TeaVa Rolls)

At TeaVa Rolls, customers can order their rolls through a self-service kiosk which walks them through their choices of three fresh proteins (chicken, vegetarian shrimp, beef, Vietnamese sausage, and red pork belly); a choice of vegetables including leafy greens, cilantro, lettuce, cucumber, mint, arugula, orange bell pepper and more; and to complete the order, a selection of a sauces.

Customers also have the option of creating a fresh bowl using the same ingredients as the rolls or ordering Vietnam sandwiches.

Also new to the menu is another Vietnamese street food - Grilled Rice Paper - that has gained popularity among the young people in Saigon.

TeaVa Rolls also offers a choice of delicious Vietnamese beverages including freshly brewed teas and Vietnamese coffee; a tropical fruit tea with a mixture of sour and sweetness; Lotus tea with a base black tea topped with logan and lotus seeds and sweetened by cane sugar; and more.

"This is an idea I've had in my head for a few years now," said Nikki. "It's an interesting concept for the area. I thought maybe we'd pique some people's interest. No one does the rolls," she said. "We also wanted to give the customer the chance to customize it so you get the taste of Vietnam, but your way," she said.

Create your own bowl rice bowl with crispy pork, cucumber , lettuce , cilantro , and orange bell pepper. (TeaVa Rolls)

Nikki said she and her husband looked at a number of different locations, including King of Prussia, Warrington and Warminster, before deciding to bring the concept to Doylestown, which is now enjoying the new concept from Nikki and her husband.

"We're so happy we made that choice. This is a great town," said Nikki. "I'm really happy we landed here. The community is family focused and friendly, which is what we were looking for."

Since November, Nikki and her husband have transformed the store front into a slice of Vietnam. A large mural on one of the walls depicts a Vietnam home. And when the weather gets warmer, they can open the restaurant to the outside.

"We welcome the community to come out and get a taste of the freshness and flavor of Vietnam. The food is light and yummy and the atmosphere is really cheerful," says Nikki. "Come on out and experience Vietnam with us. The mural alone is worth stopping by to see."

Cafe hours are Monday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday (closed), Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

These are the most popular items on the menu - create your own summer roll, Saigon combination Banh Mi, salted foam coffee, egg foam coffee, tropical tea and gemstone jello. (TeaVa Rolls)