Haiku

A large part of the menu at Haiku (previously known as Hibiki), a Japanese-style brunch spot and restaurant, is based on owner Reiji Honour’s mum’s cooking. The okonomiyaki is one of those dishes. It’s a cabbage and spring onion pancake topped with Otafuku sauce, Kewpie mayo, a poached egg, bonito flakes, nori and – optional – bacon.

Another standout is the teishoku, a traditional Japanese breakfast of tamagoyaki (a rolled and layered omelette), seasoned rice, miso soup, house-made pickles and a choice of grilled salmon or barramundi, miso-glazed eggplant or sweet potato croquette.

Coffee comes from Industry Beans, and there’ll always be a rotating selection of Japanese beans on offer, including Lilo Coffee Roasters from Osaka. Also, there’s a take on chai that blends cinnamon and cardamom with Japanese green tea and black sugar syrup.

Thursday to Saturday, the cafe transforms into sleek night-time izakaya, Haiku Kuro. Come for “small, fine and detailed” snacks you’d typically find in a Japanese pub. Think takoyaki (skewered and deep-fried octopus balls), karaage chicken and raw king fish carpaccio. There are also substantial mains like chirashi bowls, udon dishes and a Tokyo-inspired version of a chicken parma. All of the above can be paired with Japanese-inflected cocktails, beers, hard-to-find spirits and, of course, sake.

Haiku’s interior is simple and fresh, with blonde timber, hints of greenery and concrete finishes. Background music is important to Honour, too. Each day he pulls a different playlist: Japanese funk, “throwback”, disco and house.

For imported Japanese pantry essentials, takeaway bento boxes and more; visit Haiku's dedicated grocer, Haiku Future, next-door.