The Vietnamese cafe confusing diners with its name

Situated in a rather rundown-looking but busy open-air shopping centre, this foodie gem is right on the money when it comes to food but we’re still not sure about the name.

“Oh my god, it’s called pause,” my friend says in a revelatory tone as we stare at a paper sign brandishing the cafe's moniker in the window. “The two i’s are supposed to be like a pause button.”

Spelled “Paiise”, the eatery has us debating its pronunciation all morning, believing it was said “pays” but wondering why anyone would name their business such a thing.

Pause makes much more sense. And a place to pause and take time out is exactly what this suburban cafe in Algester, in Brisbane’s south,
is about.

The sunny interior at Paiise Cafe, in Algester. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

Situated in a rather rundown-looking but busy open-air shopping centre, the cafe has done a lot with a little when it comes to fit-out. Inside, the rectangular space has been made bright and sunny with an egg yolk yellow feature wall, timber-fronted counter and walls of greenery alongside myriad potted plants; while outside a foliage-draped patio provides shade in a small but spacious courtyard overlooking the carpark.

It’s not going to win any design awards, but it is comfortable and relaxed.

Plus, it’s the menu that’s the real star of the show here.

The hugely popular meat mashup. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

Paiise is heavily Vietnamese-leaning with favourites like pho, banh mi, and their enormously popular “meat mashup” combining lemongrass beef or chicken with Vietnamese meatballs, a fried egg and a baguette among a number of authentic dishes available. There are also western standards like eggs Benedict and smashed avo, plus a variety of fun hybrids including a chilli scramble with roast pork or an omelette stuffed with lemongrass chicken.

The Paiise karaage chicken atop a croissant. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

A signature is the Paiise karaage ($18.90) – the ultimate in fusion combining a French croissant crowned with Japanese fried karaage chicken and Korean-inspired kimchi. Buttery, bitey, creamy, crunchy, acidic – this is a flavour grenade. But perhaps even better is the Chilli Hash ($18.90) starring two deep-fried potato hash cakes with just a whimpering of chilli, buried under runny centred poached eggs, wilted spinach and a mountain of tender, juicy roasted pork – its crackling removed from the flesh and smashed into crunchy chips.

The cafe has its own brand of coffee, which it sells by the bag, but it’s the Vietnamese iced coffee ($7) that’s a must-order.

Or, if you ask my friend, the Biscoff hot chocolate ($6) made with the on-trend biscuit spread, which tastes like drinking a nutty, caramelised cookie.

The chilli hash with roast pork. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

There are other less-common beverages available too such as lavender lattes, hibiscus and citrus iced tea, hot salted caramel coffee and lychee mojitos, plus the likes of milkshakes, smoothies, and fresh juices.

Service is pretty basic – with guests seating themselves and ordering at the counter – and can be rather oblivious at times, but if the self-serve approach doesn’t bother you, it’s fine.

While it’s name may cause confusion, there’s no misunderstanding that Paiise is a cafe for the serious food lover.

PAIISE

1B/2 Spurwood St, Algester

3172 6155

Open daily 6am-2.30pm

VERDICT – SCORES OUT OF 5

Food 3.5

Ambience 3

Service 3

Value 4

Overall 3.5