Best Unconventional Breakfast in Sydney

Non-Indigenous Australia has a pretty short culinary history. The First Fleet arrived here in 1788, when Chinese cuisine was already well over a millennium old. But while many of our chefs can't draw on generations of tradition, they're also not constrained by it. They can experiment as much as they like.

Despite this, Sydney's superb breakfast menus can sometimes get a little samey. At heart, many dishes are just clever iterations of toast, eggs or granola.

If you're nodding, you'll appreciate this collection of non-conventional options. For many people, pho, congee or spanakopita are a normal way to start the day. For most Sydneysiders, they're totally novel. And we think that's exciting.

X23 Asian Fusion Cafe

Cafe

Go here for Malaysian-fusion dishes such as sambal-egg-stuffed croissants, waffles with pandan, and nasi-lemak burgers.

102 18 Park Lane, Chippendale

Cafe Monaka

Cafe

In Mona Vale, experience a classic Japanese breakfast of rice, pan-seared salmon, miso soup and tamagoyaki (a rolled Japanese omelette), alongside cafe favourites. Think avocado on toast, acai bowls and solid coffee. The raw oak tea-house aesthetic is fitting – aromatic, flavourful green teas imported from Japan are brewed here daily.

2 24 Waratah St, Mona Vale

Hungry Paulie

Shop

Peppery pork buns and Taiwanese congee with doughnut dipping sticks for breakfast

Shop 1B 182/178 Rowe Street, Eastwood

Lankan Filling Station

Restaurant

The Toasted Godamba Roti is one of the killer dishes on Lankan Filling Station’s recently launched brunch menu. Flaky, buttery roti enveloping melted cheddar cheese, and bacon if you want. Green chilli and red onion give it a little kick, and aromatic curry leaves are like flavour bombs exploding with every bite.

Ground Floor 58 Riley Street, Darlinghurst