Cafe Rumah

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When was the last time you had some truly interesting brunch? Sydney-siders are famous for our love for the good old avo-on-toast, but as satisfying as a perfectly-ripened, expertly-smashed avo-on-toast might be,  nothing beats the delight in discovering interesting, creative, and oh-so-delicious food heavily influenced by other cultures. 

Cafe Rumah specialises in South East Asian goodies. I went specifically for the kaya toast, which is a Singaporean dish. Singapore is a melting pot of several cultures and has a wonderfully diverse food culture, and I wish we had more of it in Sydney. Turns out, everything we tried were absolutely incredible. 

The Kopitiam Brekkie, $7.50 + $5 for eggs

Kaya is a sweet coconut spread. The Kopitiam Brekkie, which is essential kaya toast, involves Japanese-style milk bun roast slices served with butter, kaya, and...wait for it...onsen eggs. The onsen eggs are an optional extra, but I highly recommend that you give it a go. As strange a sweet eggs may sound, it adds a beautiful rich creaminess to the toast. 

Our Roti John, $11

Next is "Our Roti John". I figured for Cafe Rumah to claim a dish, it must be one of their star items. I was not disappointed. This may look like your regular breakkie burger, but it is so much more than that. In between the milk buns are spiced mince beef (Chinese 5 spice, I'm almost certain), egg (cooked to perfection, the yolk just oozy), mayo and sweet chilli. It is wonderfully savoury and satisfying. 

Bak Kwa 2.0, $16

Apart from the key menu items, Cafe Rumah has a rotatation of specials. The Bak Kwa is yet another sandwich-type dish with a wonderful assortment of intriguing and surprising flavours to satisfy the taste bud. We are talking candied 5-spice bacon (and yes, you can really taste the sweetness and the spices), pork floss, mayo, fried egg, gula melaka sriracha (gula melaka being Malaysian brown sugar) on French toast. So many flavours, all somehow working in perfect harmony. Get in quick: being a special, this won't be there forever! 

Kopi Rumah, $7

Finally, having almost wept with happiness at the wonderful items served, we decided if the food is this good, the drinks must be great too. The Kopi Rumah is an iced latte sweetened with gula melaka with a hint of coconut - very refreshing. 

Score: 5/5
Cost: approx $20-$25pp 
Address: 71/73 Campbell St, Surry Hills NSW 

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