The words ‘sit down, be humble’ are emblazoned on the far wall, a nod to king Kendrick, while Wiz Khalifa’s ‘Black and Yellow’ sounds out overhead – this is Goya Cafe in Broadbeach. Utterly cool yet approachable, Goya is so much more than a pit-stop to caffeinate. The venue is the vision of owner-operator Monique Assemany (who also happens to be a brilliantly talented French-qualified chef) alongside Yuta Hosokawa, who heads the kitchen team. Together, they’ve crafted a modern Japanese all-day brunch menu that is inspired by street-side eateries in Osaka and Tokyo with a dash of Melbourne’s celebrated coffee culture. You won’t find bacon and egg burgers here, instead, Goya’s menu features traditional okonomiyaki and authentic Omurice curries loaded with 12-hour slow-cooked beef, miso red-wine gravy and Japanese chilli. For serious starvations, the decadent sandos made with chunky slabs of homemade Shokupan (Japanese milk bread) are guaranteed to fill the void and are available in four mouth-watering combinations including Tonkatsu pork and Angus beef tenderloin.
Campos Coffee flows through the machines alongside some Japanese sips including Hojicha lattes, iced matcha jelly and an iced mocha that’s humbly referred to as the best you ever had, and they’re not wrong. If you fancy something a little stronger (read: boozier), there’s a selection of Precinct Brewing Co’s craft beers on tap (available from 10:00 am) alongside house-made Umeshu (Japanese liqueur made by steeping ume plums), Japanese whisky, gin and sake. Goya also offers a curated range of on-brand wares including enormous noodle bowls, boutique drops, dried flowers, books and other such niceties. There’s a range of apparel and an online store on the horizon, so watch this space. For now, Goya is open for breakfast and lunch, however, Monique and the team has solid plans to extend into evenings when summer rolls around.
Keen to get a glimpse of Goya? Take a peek at our Stumble Guide for opening times.
Image 1–6 credit: Kirra Smith
