Kafe Kooks, Ultimo
Kafe Kooks is an exciting restaurant located in the heart of Ultimo that infuses nearly every dish with the irresistible deliciousness of freshly made roti. For the uninitiated, roti is a versatile Malaysian-style flatbread.
While roti serves as the heart and soul of its menu, Kafe Kooks also offers strong coffee, delectable cocktails, and all-day dining to truly elevate the dining experience.
Founded by Andrew Ray (former Operations Manager for The Lucas Group), the venue’s Asian-inspired menu and its commitment to celebrating individuality align perfectly with the spirit of the song ‘Kooks’ by David Bowie (the venue’s name and ethos are a nod to its title).
The innovative menu employs both a mixture of creativity and tradition, brought to life by roti master Suresh Rajandran, who’s artistry and upbringing in Malaysia shines through their in-house made roti’s.
The venue’s new Head Chef is Indian-born Shaun Ronald Dsouza who brings over ten years of culinary expertise, specialising in the robust and bold flavours of Asian cuisine. With a burning passion for pushing the regular culinary boundaries, Chef Dsouza joins the Kafe Kooks family with a mission to elevate their menu and bring a fresh, exciting twist to their classic dishes.
Speaking of the menu, it is absolutely jam-packed full of delicious options. Star dishes include their signature dish, the Roti Canai, which includes a chicken and potato curry gravy, vegetable gravy and a sambal sauce that’s made in-house. Another must-try includes a classic street-food dish from Panang, Sarang Burung, and their twist on the cafe classic ‘Avocado on Toast’, which sees the dish being served on a Roti Coin.
For those who love curry, ‘The Curry Collection’ is highly recommended and gives you the opportunity to enjoy your choice of two to four different curries, paired with freshly cooked roti, sambal, cucumber relish and rice starting at $24pp. Our top picks are the delightful Butter Chicken (Indian spiced chicken, rich tomato and cream base) and the Tangy Fish (tomato and turmeric base) – a deliciously spicy meal that’s sure to be a crowd-favourite this winter!
Another highlight on the menu are the roti paratha wraps which are freshly cooked and totally addictive. Top options include the Souvlaki (grilled Greek lamb, tomato and garlic yoghurt), Wasabi Prawns (crispy prawns, tomato and wasabi mayonnaise) and the mouth-watering KFC (Korean fried chicken, kimchi, daikon, carrot, ssamjang sauce and kewpie mayonnaise) – juicy, crispy and completely bursting with flavours. It truly is finger-licking good!
Also worth trying is the Madtarbak (Kafe Kooks version of a toasted sandwich) with options including the Classic Thai, Reuben, Chilli Tuna, Mother & Daughter, Cubano and the delicious Vegetarian with sweet potato and mushroom served with a side of cucumber relish. Highly enjoyable!
Between Chef Shaun’s experience from the native land of spices, Roti-Master Suresh’s innate culinary artistry, and Founder Andrew Ray’s creative direction, Kafe Kooks is set to continue its reputation as the only true roti destination for all food lovers in Sydney. With its great food, great vibes and affordable pricing (oh, and it’s pet-friendly too), you simply can’t go wrong.
Kafe Kooks
63 Mountain St, Ultimo NSW 2007
Open Monday to Sunday (6am-9pm)