Kafe Kooks: Sydney’s First Roti-Focused Café

Kafe Kooks is a cool little café in Ultimo with its name, aesthetic and creative offerings hugely inspired by the iconic David Bowie.

The café’s Roti-fusion menu and its commitment to celebrating individuality align perfectly with the spirit of Bowie’s song, ‘Kooks’.

Kafe Kooks has turned flaky, buttery Roti into the star of every dish on its menu. Whether wrapped around crispy fried chicken, as the base to your smashed avo or curled into a sweet pastry with fillings, roti is the undeniable hero at this Ultimo haunt.

“Roti was never just a side dish to me. It was always a canvas for creativity,” says owner and founder Andrew Ray. “That’s why I started pushing it beyond what people expect, turning it into breakfast wraps, full roti canai experiences, sweet helix pastries, curry banquets and even masterclasses.”

This music-infused, dog-friendly space feels more like a community hub than a café. Leading the kitchen is Head Chef and Roti Master Surindren “Suresh” Rajandran, who has been making roti since he was 11 years old in his family restaurant. With decades of experience in every fold and flip, Suresh brings authenticity, technique and serious skill to every dish.

The menu here is playful and inventive, showcasing the versatility of roti in breakfast, lunch, pastry desserts, and banquets. Breakfast highlights include traditional dishes such as the Breakfast Roti Paratha, Kooks Eggs (their version of fried eggs and toast but encased in a roti ring), and the outstanding Roti Coin Avocado, a crisp take on avo on toast with persian feta, cherry tomatoes, balsamic and dried chilli.

Other breakfast highlights include a healthy Granola Bowl, Eggs Your Way and a selection of Roti Paratha Wraps. One of the top picks has got to be the Recovery Roti Wrap which is loaded with egg, bacon, sriracha, hash brown, and hollandaise – perfect for students and workers needing a hearty start to the day.

There are ‘All Day’ Focus Wraps too with highlights including Beef Rendang, Butter Chicken, Wasabi Prawns, and the finger-licking good ‘KFC’ Korean Fried Chicken Roti Wrap with kimchi, daikon, carrot, ssamjang sauce, and kewpie mayonnaise – utterly scrumptious!

The all-day offerings don’t end there with fresh roti, delicious curries, chips and fries, salads and various snack options available. You’ve also got to try the Madtarbak – their version of a toasted sandwich, all served with complimentary chips or salad. The Classic Thai is our top pick with beef curry and egg served with a side of cucumber relish. Perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, you’ll be going back for seconds with this one. Absolutely delectable!

Kafe Kooks also hosts regular hands-on roti masterclasses on select Thursday nights for $85pp with a banquet dinner included. In this unforgettable, high-energy night of fire, flavour and hands-on fun with Roti Master Suresh, guests learn to stretch and flip authentic Roti Paratha from scratch, then master signature shapes like Sarang Burung, Coin Roti and Bambu.

While each group takes their turn at the bench, guests feast on a generous five-course shared banquet of: Cracker Jacks with satay sauce, Sarang Burung, your choice of Thai Beef Madtarbak, Cubano or Rojak Salad, followed by a vibrant curry spread of Butter Chicken, Beef Rendang, Tangy Fish Curry, Scallion Pancake, Fresh Roti Paratha, cucumber relish and house-made sambal, finishing with Thai-style Banana Roti and Malaysian Roti Tisu with coconut jam. With a drink included, expert tuition, a full banquet and live demonstrations, classes regularly sell out in advance.

With its flavour-packed menu, top-notch service and cosy and inviting atmosphere, Kafe Kooks is one to check out when you’re next in Ultimo.

Kafe Kooks
63 Mountain Street, Ultimo
Open daily for Breakfast & Lunch (6am – 4pm)