When Moon Mart burst onto the crowded cafe scene in 2022, it gained instant attention for its pitch-perfect fusion of Korean and Japanese cafe culture. Two years on, it’s still as popular as ever. Now, the cherished cafe and convenience store has made a move from West Melbourne to a new home on Clarendon Street, South Melbourne.

The relocation marks an exciting new chapter for owners Eun Hee An (formerly of Sydney’s Moon Park and Paper Bird) and front of house pro Mei Onsamlee, who have developed a loyal following for their carefully crafted dishes, coffee and stellar service.

“We knew we’d have to leave our original spot eventually,” Onsamlee tells Broadsheet. “It was such a charming place, and the community was lovely, but the building wasn’t really designed for us to grow.” After finding the right space by chance while shopping for crockery at local ceramics store Made in Japan, they decided to give South Melbourne a shot. “It was total happenstance. One of our team members saw the ‘for lease’ sign, and the next day we went in and applied.”

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The new South Melbourne location retains much of the yellow-hued charm of the original Moon Mart, but with a more straightforward layout compared to the cafe’s boxy former dwelling in a semi-converted house. The new spot sits 15 inside, with a handful of street-side tables. “We’ll eventually open upstairs, which will give us room for even more customers,” says Onsamlee.

The menu remains largely the same, filled with the technique-driven, craveable dishes many Moon Mart regulars schlep across town for. Signature items like the bulgogi breakfast sausage muffin and okonomiyaki hashbrowns still take pride of place, alongside newer additions like the unagi katsu sandwich with seasoned eel, crumbed and fried and served with yuzu jalapeno mayo; and ochazuke rice bowls served with a house-made green tea dashi stock that takes the team two days to produce.

There are new additions to the drinks menu, too: Onsamlee has worked with the team to create Moon Mart’s take on the viral drink of the moment: the strawberry iced matcha. There’s also been a change in coffee producer, with Moon Mart now pouring Richmond’s Dukes Coffee.

The South Melbourne space is designed to be a low-fuss, casual spot, with a subtle nod to the modern cafe cultures of Seoul and Bangkok in its decor and atmosphere. The open, welcoming energy of the dining room is what the pair are most excited about. “It’s been so lovely; everyone in the neighbourhood has been popping in to check us out,” Hee An says.

“And we’ve already had some of our regulars visiting,” adds Onsamlee. “We’re excited to become part of the community here, just like we did in West Melbourne.”

Moon Mart will expand beyond its daytime cafe offerings in the coming months. “We’re going to start doing our version of aperitivo hour with wine and snacks,” says Onsamlee. There are also plans for a monthly supper club, where Hee An and her partner, Public Wine Shop chef Ben Sears, will collaborate on small group dinners.

“We both miss being restaurant chefs together,” says Hee An. “This supper club will let us bring back some of the dishes we used to cook at Moon Park.”

Moon Mart
315 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne

Hours:
Daily 8am–3pm

@moon_mart