Tammy’s Borek

It’s easy to spot Tammy’s Borek among the sea of vendors at Preston Market. The white corner store stands out with its clear red signage, summoning you to pause your market shop for comforting boreks, gozleme and pide. Inside, mother and daughter Tammy and Tanya Kaygisiz also serve plant-based Turkish pastries and grab-and-go meals.

They’re both vegan and developed the recipes, which are mostly plant-based with a few vego options. On any given day, you’re likely to spot Tammy in the kitchen, taking orders and slotting boreks into the toaster grill. Tanya, meanwhile, might be ringing up the orders.

The vegan options include boreks, gozlemes, hearty soups, plump dolmades, zucchini fritters and more. But even omnivores quickly come to love Tammy’s pastries, which are baked on-site daily. Cabbage rolls are piled up on the counter and are a must-try, as are the meat-free köftes. But the stars of the show are the boreks and gozlemes in flavours like cheese and spinach; mushroom; firebreather with spicy capsicum and “lamb” and potato.

If you’re after something sweeter, there’s semolina cake, which pairs well with a Roasting House coffee or the crowd-favourite chai. Or try another one of the ever-changing sweets like the baklava or rice pudding. Tammy’s Borek is right next to the Mary Street entrance of Preston Market. Most of its menu items can be enjoyed at one of the small tables outside or on-the-go as you explore the bustling suburban bazaar.