Rather than receiving attention for the perfect espresso, the tastiest breakfast roll or a sophisticated, creative atmosphere, Folks Gallery Cafe has been flung into the spotlight after a group of teenagers racially abused staff on Friday.

Mr Chen said it all started when he told the group to stop smoking outside his cafe.

"I asked them to leave, and then they said 'no, you leave our country'," he said.

Later, the teenagers returned to the cafe and started to film staff, with at least one of them calling them "viruses" and uttering racial slurs.

An employee at Folks Gallery Cafe decided to film the youths and caught them giving the finger and spitting outside the store on camera.

"It was a big shock and [it was] unexpected to see this type of behaviour in Canberra," Mr Chen said.

"I live here. I like to live here. I started my business here. I think it's good for me to live here, and I love this country."

Footage of the incident was shared widely on social media but, alongside messages of support for the cafe, some people made threatening and violent comments about the teenagers.

Mr Chen said he was disturbed by those abusive comments.

"I don't want to spread hate because hate generates more hate," he said.

"All I want is justice [for them to] come back and apologise to me - I didn't want people to threaten their lives."

Mr Chen said he reported the incident to ACT Policing; however, he does not want to take the matter further.

Since the incident, one of the teenagers has reached out to Mr Chen to apologise.

An ACT Policing spokesperson encouraged victims of racial abuse to report incidents to police.

The spokesperson also asked Canberrans to "think about their public comments" and not consider taking the matter into their own hands.

ACT Chinese Australian Association president and chair of the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum Chin Wong said she was shocked by the video.

She said it was incredibly disheartening to see racist attitudes from younger people who were "supposed to be educated".

"[The Chinese community] is feeling very sad and anxious," she said.

"This is just one example that shows the tension and increasing attacks on the community, specifically [relating to] the COVID-19 virus.

"We want the Chinese community living in Canberra to feel safe."

Mrs Wong said she was concerned COVID-19 and tensions between the Australian and Chinese governments had given racism the green light.

The behaviour was described as "sad and disappointing" by ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee.

"It is a stark reminder that racism still exists," she said.

But Ms Lee said she did not want the teenagers to be vilified.

"While it is important to continually call out racism, we must ensure these children are not vilified and are provided the opportunity to be educated about the harm that can come from their actions and their words," she said.

"Each and every time they make comments like these - even if they believe they are harmless or in jest, Asian-Australians are starkly reminded that they are 'different' and that they don't belong."

Education Minister Yvette Berry said the education directorate was working with the children involved in the incident.

"We'll take it as a chance to provide an education about being a more inclusive community," she said.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Tara Cheyne said she had reached out to Mr Chen.

"My reaction was the same as that of the Canberra community's reaction that we don't accept or condone racism in Canberra," she said.

"I have been really pleased at the number of community members who have been reaching out with their support personally to Folks Gallery Cafe.

"I've also personally reached out to Vincent and hopefully we'll be able to have a conversation again soon."

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