Located at the beginning of Chan Cam street, Loading T is not too prominent but arouses curiosity for those passing by because of the antiquity of the old French villa.
I came to the shop on a beautiful day in Hanoi, the weather was cold but a little sunny, making everyone love life and the capital a little more. Maybe it's been a few years since I last came to Loading T, from when I was a student and now when I'm working, the atmosphere here is still intact as ever.
Loading T is located on the 2nd floor of an old French villa.
Loading T Cafe is located on the 2nd floor of an ancient villa, decorated in the ancient Indochinese architectural style, giving visitors the feeling of going back in time to the classical period.
Going up to the second floor, the old cement steps are surrounded by a few small, pretty potted plants. The old house has a characteristic yellow paint, a moss-covered balcony, and a rustic brick wall. The floor is paved with patterned tiles. The house is a typical example of French architecture but nothing has changed. An old house that is nearly a hundred years old, the special thing about these old houses is the very high ceiling and airy space.
Coming here, from the space to the architecture and decoration, everything is imbued with nostalgia.
The balcony area at Loading T is popular with many people.
Having the opportunity to sit and chat with the owner - Mr. Hoang Tuan Son, I wondered why the name of the shop is Loading T and why he chose an old French villa as a coffee shop instead of other places. He smiled and said: “Loading T for me is waiting for something new and stopping for a moment to rest. T is the abbreviation of Trang - my wife. Loading T has been open for nearly 9 years. With the location here, it is because I like quiet. Opening a coffee shop is first for myself, to enjoy and experience first. This house belongs to his family, built in 1931, more than 90 years ago. Nearly a century has passed, the house has been kept intact without any renovation or restoration. Because he wants those who have come here when they return to see no change, it is still the same old house as before. Summer here is cool because of the high ceiling, winter creates a cozy space”.
The space inside the restaurant is not too large, the room is small so there are only about 5-6 tables, placed quite close together but the customers here try to keep order, talk just loud enough to hear and bring a very comfortable feeling.
Mr. Son (right) is making drinks for customers.
The unique architecture and the delicate decorative art are shown under the hands of the owner to create a complete harmony. Everything exudes a warm, although old but also very new.
I chose my signature dish and also the dish that many people remember at Loading T, egg coffee. Unlike other shops, each cup of egg coffee here is meticulously prepared by Mr. Son and is unique in that it is mixed with a bit of cinnamon, creating an unusually delicious aftertaste for this special combination.
The egg coffee is uniquely prepared by Mr. Son by adding a little cinnamon flavor. The coffee is strong, smooth and fragrant. This dish is a masterpiece that you must try when you come here, guaranteed to bring you a surprising taste.
“I will add a little cinnamon to the roasted egg coffee. Hot egg coffee has a strong flavor, but for those who are not used to it, when the cup is half empty, it will taste bitter because the coffee is quite strong. As for iced egg coffee, the flavor is lighter and fresher,” said Mr. Son.
Egg coffee is a Hanoi specialty that is not only sold in the fall and winter, but when the weather is cold, this drink becomes unusually delicious. Egg coffee is made from fresh chicken eggs, sugar, milk, coffee... The combination, if heard about, will make many people hesitate because of the fishy taste, but when trying it, diners will have a surprising feeling.
Loading T is a place for the owner to have a space for his passion for coffee and antiques. Mr. Son also wants Loading T to not only be a place to enjoy drinks but also a place for people to spend time "loading" everything.
In the innermost corner are displayed the owner's collectibles, mainly ceramics.
“People come to Loading T mainly by word of mouth. Sometimes I am afraid that there will be too many customers and I won’t be able to serve them in time. Western visitors often see them holding a travel book. I asked around and saw my restaurant’s name in the book. I don’t even know when Loading T was added,” said Tuan Son.
The music here is mostly old French music, gentle, smooth, very pleasant. Loading T's menu is diverse, coffee, tea, smoothies... are all available. All the drink recipes and mixes are made by the owner and his wife, so the flavors almost always have their own unique characteristics.
Flowers are arranged and displayed regularly by the shop owner.
This drawing was also drawn by a customer who came here to drink coffee.
One thing I have observed quite carefully from the past and now is that despite being busy running in and out constantly because of the large number of customers, Mr. Son always pays attention to each person, asks about the taste of the drink, sometimes even gives customers a cup of fragrant tea. I think that the large number of customers coming here, in addition to the above factors, Mr. Son's enthusiasm and hospitality is one of the big plus points that makes everyone who comes here and leaves want to come back again.
When I asked Mr. Son about his plans to expand the restaurant, he shared: "This is already fun, everyone is inviting me to open here and there but I still want Loading T to stay in the same place, the same point. Currently, the number of customers is increasing day by day and the potential is still seen to be bigger every day."
Diners coming here are not only attracted by delicious and unique drinks but also love the cozy, quiet space.
For coffee connoisseurs in the capital, Loading T is probably no longer a strange name. Not only does it attract customers with its unique and strange drinks and classic space in a French villa, but everything here is "very tasteful" and "very Hanoian".
