Baba Sus

15-17 Bardolph Street
Glen Iris, VIC 3146
http://babasus.com.au/

I really, really dislike social media. To be entirely honest, I’m not a super extroverted person to start off with, and after working with patients – some of them awful – for 9 hours a day, I’m just completely robbed of any desire to even risk human interaction. But at the same time, I’m also super envious of people who ‘do’ social media; it just seems nice to stay in the loop, you know?

If I were to really get into social media, I’d probably end up on Instagram. And if I were on Instagram, I’d probably follow a bunch of food bloggers. And if I had followed a bunch of food bloggers, I probably would’ve spotted the Insta-worthy Hong Kong Egg Waffles at Baba Sus that much sooner.

But instagram-darling or no, Baba Sus is first and foremost a neighbourhood cafe. Located in a quiet, leafy strip right outside of Balwyn station, this corner shop has been transformed into a quaint and comfortable eatery. It just so happens that their Asian-inspired fusion brunch dishes also brings all the foodies to the yard.

I had my usual Skinny Flat White ($3.7), which was creamy, robust, and chocolatey. My sister on the other hand had the adorable Matcha Latte, which I actually couldn’t find on the menu, but everyone seemed to know about regardless. This one was light and airy, with a clean and refreshing grassy flavour.

My sister finally agreed to come out for brunch with Chris and I, so we actually managed to order 3 dishes to share! The first one was The Piglette ($15), a deliciously fluffy omelette stuffed full of pork ka prao. The spices in the stir-fried pork mince infused the egg with its rich aroma of chilli and holy basil, and it was topped with a crisp Thai-styled salad dressed with a robust mixture of fish sauce and lime.

The Japanese Cabbage and Corn Fritter ($17) sounded like a mystery, but it turned out to be nothing stranger than an okonomiyaki. For those of you not so familiar with Japanese food, it’s basically a cross between a pancake and a fritter. A variety of shredded veggies and batter is cooked on a grill for a crispy outer, and a light, fluffy centre. It is then topped with a variety of garnishes; in this case, it’s a timeless and flavoursome combination of mayo, okonomiyaki sauce (a bit like a sweet BBQ sauce), bonito flakes, and chopped scallions.

And let’s chuck some bacon and a poached egg on top. I mean, why not? It is brunch after all.

And finally, the pièce de résistance, the Hong Kong Egg Waffles ($14). I am delighted to report that this tastes as amazing as it looks. The warm, crispy waffles were drowned in a deluge of silky vanilla custard, berry compote, and a scoop of matcha ice cream. Tipping it over the edge was the scattering of nutty pistachio praline. It may seem much too sweet, but I assure you: this is absolute perfection.

I couldn’t be happier with my meal at Baba Sus. The food was quirky, fun, and intelligent, and I couldn’t believe that a meal of this quality only came to $57 for 3 people. This is one thing I would legitimately get up on a weekend for… except the best bit is that I don’t have to, because it’s a cool 15 minutes from my place!

Rating: 15/20 – who is baba sus?
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.