New brunch spot brings a little Seoul to Hobart

With its spacious layout and friendly and attentive staff, I can see this new Hobart cafe becoming a neighbourhood favourite, TasWeekend food writer Alix Davis says. REVIEW >>

The fresh fit-out at new North Hobart cafe Lazy Brunch features a high bench that includes charging points – perfect for doing some WFH (or work from cafe as the case may be). Picture: Chris Kidd, North Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

A COUPLE of years ago, I was fortunate enough to visit Hong Kong for work. It was all about food and drink and we really put in the hard yards (we were seasoned professionals!).

One evening, after a cheese degustation followed by a delicious dinner at an upscale restaurant populated with locals dressed for a Day of the Dead party, we headed for a rooftop bar where the dress code was “easy glam”. I can’t tell you precisely what easy glam looks like (a Camilla kaftan would probably get you there), but as a dress code it instantly summed up the vibe of the place and we happily sat there admiring the Hong Kong skyline for hours.

I had the same feeling when I wandered into a new eatery in North Hobart the other day. Lazy Brunch is on Argyle St and the name alone gave me a good indication of the vibe – a relaxed space with food for any time of the day. The fresh fit-out is spacious with a high central bench that includes multiple charging points – perfect for doing some WFH (or work from cafe as the case may be). If you’re focusing on dining rather than working, take a seat at a table at the long banquette against one wall and if people watching’s your thing, there’s a window-side bench as well.

Lazy Brunch’s Sharon Lam and her brother Michael in the stylish, spacious, new North Hobart cafe. Picture: Chris Kidd

There’s a distinctly Korean flavour to many of the dishes on the menu, as well as brunch classics including avocado on toast ($19.90), eggs Benedict ($20.90) and lazy brekkie ($21.90). We headed straight for the more unusual offerings and kicked off with a serve of crispy chicken waffles ($25). Korean fried chicken is famous for good reason – its crispy coating stays crunchy even with the addition of sauce and there’s no gluggy batter. In this dish, pieces of KFC (that’s Korean fried chicken) sit atop slightly sweet waffles and are drizzled with a spicy housemade sauce and some pickles. It might sound strange if you’ve only ever eaten waffles with maple syrup, but I can highly recommend this combo, which is popular in southern USA. This mash-up of Korea meets the Deep South combines the best elements of both and makes for a tasty and substantial brunch or lunch.

Lazy Brunch’s tasty Korean fried chicken which sits atop slightly sweet waffles drizzled with a spicy housemade sauce and pickles, makes a substantial brunch. Picture: Chris Kidd

Our next dish is a more traditional Korean offering – bibimbap ($19.90). This literally means mixed rice (“bibim” means mixing and “bap” is cooked rice) and comes in a heated stone bowl that’s still sizzling when it hits the table. Warm white rice has been carefully topped with a selection of pan-fried tofu, pickled radish, mushrooms, carrot and zucchini. A small bowl of garlic chive and soy sauce dressing is served to the side and we pour that over the top before mixing it all together. Each mouthful is a fabulous combination of flavours and textures. There’s also a bulgogi beef version available ($21.90).

Lazy Brunch has been open for about a month now and, despite a low-key launch, supervisor Sharon Lam says it’s proving popular. The Korean chef is comfortable turning out both Korean and Western dishes and Lam says they’ll be adding desserts in the near future. If you’re just in for a coffee and snack, there’s a selection of cakes and sandwiches ready to go at the front counter.

Lazy Brunch’s traditional Korean offering, bibimbap, is a mixed-rice dish, served in a heated stone bowl which features a selection of pan-fried tofu, pickled radish, mushrooms, carrot and zucchini. Picture: Chris Kidd

There’s a full selection of coffees on offer as well as some flavoured syrups to top them with. I opt for an iced fizzy yuzu – soda water flavoured with citrusy yuzu. It’s delicious, though a little overpriced at $9, and tastes like a marmalade soda.

Lazy Brunch’s tasty mushroom chips are served topped with delicately deep-fried enoki mushrooms and a side of garlic aioli. Picture: Chris Kidd

Our last dish is a serve of mushroom chips ($10.90) with a side of garlic aioli. Chunky slices of meaty mushrooms have been battered and fried, then topped with delicately deep-fried enoki mushrooms. They make a nice change from potato or polenta chips but my lunch companion deems them a “bit too mushroomy” for their tastes.

Lazy Brunch would be a great place to spread out the weekend papers, or scroll through Instagram, while enjoying a twist on some brunch classics. With its spacious layout and friendly and attentive staff, I can see this becoming a neighbourhood favourite.

The fresh, spacious fit-out at new North Hobart cafe Lazy Brunch features a high central bench that includes multiple charging points – perfect for doing some WFH (or work from cafe as the case may be). Picture: Chris Kidd

LAZY BRUNCH

279A Argyle St, North Hobart

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri 7am-3pm, Sat-Sun 8am-3pm

On the menu

Fried chicken waffle, $25; bibimbap, $19.90; mushroom chips, $10.90; lazy burga, $24.90; vegie sandwich, $14.90.