A Fenway-born Vietnamese café is expanding with a third location in Allston.
Phinista Cafe is gearing up to open at 1092 Commonwealth Ave in Packard’s Corner, confirmed owners “Jumbo” and Pun Sapkasem. The space is currently under construction, with renovations focused on creating a “clean, efficient layout” that reflects the brand’s signature minimalist blue-and-white aesthetic.
The café was sold to its current owners in 2024 by founders Phi Pham and Yeanie Bach of KOLO Restaurant Group. The duo originally launched Phinista Cafe as a pop-up in 2019, opened its Fenway brick-and-mortar the following year, and went on to expand the concept to Cambridge’s Porter Square in 2024.
The café is known for its Vietnamese-French fusion fare, offering bánh mì sandwiches, unique pastries, and inventive drinks that have drawn a loyal following. Standouts include the Ube-Matcha Latte, Iced Saigonese Sea Salt Phin, and Lychee Spritzer.
At the new Packard’s Corner location, the core menu will remain intact, alongside a few new additions such as overnight oats and sourdough-based items.
“We want to spread high-quality drinks and food across Massachusetts,” the owners told What Now Boston. “Packard’s Corner is a key location—it’s dense, fast-moving, and surrounded by BU students and young professionals, which makes it a great fit for Phinista.”
While an official opening date hasn’t been set, the team is aiming to welcome guests to the new Phinista Cafe in about a month, depending on the pace of construction.
