The low hum of the barista and the rich smell of coffee wafts out the door, beckoning morning risers to come in and enjoy a cup of coffee to start their day. Cheesecake? we have blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, apple, mango and coconut, banoffee, mocha, or brownie! or our new specials: spaghetti bolognaise, chicken burger, nachos or fajitas? Maybe a smoothie or ice cream for dessert? We have an ice cream buffet special for students! We eagerly invite our guests to partake of the wonderful menu selection put together by Ally Earle, a magnificent missionary who happens to be a trained chef from England. If you don’t know what you’ve ordered, no problem, our staff are happy to teach you about the art of eating Western food!
From the outside Wongen may look like your average coffee shop with ice cream, comparable to every other shop on this street, but when you step in there’s something tangibly different about this place, about the people, and about the service. While we’re not as refined as other well-established cafes, we do have energy and spunk to spare. We may make mistakes and confuse orders, but we do it with great cheer and enjoy laughing about it with our customers. Communication may be difficult, but we laugh about that too making sure to speak slowly and enunciate clearly. We want to get to know you because you’re more than a customer, you’re our guest! Our goal is not only to serve you the best coffee, ice cream, cheesecake, and meals, but to offer you so much more… friendship, community, and Christ.
Wongen Kafe is also a haven offering an alternative employment to the bars and nightclubs that frequently employ innocent girls who need a little extra cash. Preemptively recruiting the most vulnerable and at risk, Wongen Kafe has created an alternative path that leads to life abundant. The staff are a joy to work with, extremely hard working but willing to take time to teach you a few things, like how to make the perfect scoop of ice cream. They laugh, joke, and can be found dancing to music on occasion. They are a family; sisters from different mothers who all share the same heavenly Father and rejoice because once they were lost but now they are found.
so, if you happen to be in Chiang Mai, Thailand, stop by and visit Wongen Kafe for coffee, dessert, or even a meal. We’re located just across the road from Chiang Mai University’s North gate. Say hello to Emmi and the wonderful friends I’ve made there and tell the they are loved! =)
