In Cafe Cardiff

You'll find yourself on Crwys Road in Cathays, where In Cafe sits among the indie shops and student haunts that give this stretch its character. Walk in and you're hit with the smell of star anise and slow-cooked broth—the kind that's been on the stove since morning. The space is no-nonsense: simple wooden tables, bright and airy, the sort of place where you watch locals queue for lunch and don't mind standing if there's no seats. Order the pho and watch them ladle it fresh from massive pots behind the counter. Everything's affordable, the staff actually seem pleased to see you, and you'll leave wondering why you ever bothered with chain cafes.