EAT: LE BAJO MILKBAR, NORTH MELBOURNE

Japanese-inspired brunching and sandos may be popping up all over town but that doesn’t make the opening of Le Bajo Milkbar any less exciting. The Japanophile inside me says give me a sando over an avo on toast any day (which is saying a lot because I actually do love avocado on toast…), and it seems there are plenty of other people in agreement given the queues this place generates. Thankfully, takeaway is an option. As was turning the outer ledge into a makeshift seat and table on the day of our visit.

Unsurprisingly, many of the items we tried transported my taste buds right back to Japan. The creamy tamago egg salad and cream+fruit sandos immediately had me thinking about the convenience stores we frequented when in Japan. But it was the ebi prawn that was the real stand out - crispy bites of prawn and a creamy tartare sauce with bites of egg providing the best of two worlds when it comes down to a sandwich filling.

If you’re wanting to up the sweet ante, there are also plenty of baked goods to tickle that sweet tooth. And only more reason to visit Le Bajo Milkbar if you haven’t already done so. I have since returned on a second occasion to pick up some slices of their mango and earl grey sponge cake to bring to a family dinner. Soft, cloud-like sponge layers with a subtle but fragrant taste of earl grey, sandwiched with airy light cream and sweet, tangy mango pieces. A perfect trio, really, with some added fruits on top. This was yet another nostalgic item for me as fruit sponge cakes from an Asian bakery often made an appearance on special occasions when we were growing up.

Two for two, both my visits to Le Bajo have wowed my taste buds, serving as not only some delightful strolls down memory lane but also some tasty ones. Another visit is definite. What’s uncertain will be probably be what to order next given the many favourites I now have versus all the other dishes I’ve yet to try…