Pallet Espresso - Kurunjang

Dropped into pallet espresso for a take away coffee.<br/ <br/ The service was really friendly, and my coffee, a strong skinny latte was good.<br/ <br/ The coffee was strong, there was some good milk froth and overall I'll be going back! <br/ <br/ <br/ <br/ May 2016<br/ I was excited to see a Japanese cafe tucked away in a small laneway. <br/ <br/ My coffee today was excellent, combines with great service and they use the La Marozzo coffee machine which I understand produces a great coffee. Yummm haha <br/ <br/ The coffee wasn't too hot, so I could drink it straight away which was perfect for me. <br/ <br/ This cafe also sells take away Japanese food or you can sit inside but the lunch crowd was packed so go early, or miss out lol

Hidden gem on Little alley way closed to southern cross station.<br/ This cafe is fusion cafe with Japanese Influence.<br/ I did order Picollo and Japanese mushrooms.<br/ This small place was busy with take aways and the staff who served me was busy doing some job in the kitchen too.<br/ My Picollo was good, my Japanese Mushroom is tasty.<br/ Mushroom has been sautéed with dash of teriyaki sauce, served on sourdough toast, with avocado, cherry tomato and small juice.<br/ This combo won’t break your out bank account! Value for your money !<br/

Pallet Espresso café not only is a hidden gem but also one that has been around for a number of years. It is as other reviewers have stated the sister café to Purple Peanuts. Their menu is slightly different where it is more Japanese-Italian fusion based but also maintains its quality Japanese unique flavours.<br/ <br/ I often visit Pallet Espresso when I am unable to wait in queue for Purple Peanuts.<br/ <br/ LOCATION<br/ <br/ Pallet Espresso is situated in a very small lane way, just behind Purple Peanuts off Collins Street, near to the corner of Spencer Street.<br/ <br/ The café is a simple set up but embodies similar design as Purple Peanuts.<br/ <br/ SERVICE<br/ <br/ The staffs at Pallet Espresso are always warm and welcoming. <br/ <br/ It is a very laid back vibe and small open kitchen.<br/ Towards the back counter, customers can help yourself to lemon flavour water.<br/ <br/ MENU/PRICE <br/ <br/ Their menu has a variety of interesting options including sweet and savoury muffins, tarts, okonominya Japanese pancake, light ciabatta rolls – chicken katsu, Rueben, burgers etc.<br/ Their cooked menu list is minimal with only 9 items but it's enough to keep it simple since their kitchen is small however it works as all their options are very tasty.  Their menu board against the wall behind the counter is neatly arranged according to food type: chicken, salmon, katsu, vegetarian options: <br/ <br/ Tori Nori, $12.50<br/ (Fried Chicken, tofu, bokchoy, carrot, mushroom, Byron Bay Nori, rice, ginger Dashi broth)<br/ <br/ Karaage Burger, $10.90<br/ (Japanese style fried Chicken, lettuce, tartare sauce kimpira)<br/ <br/ Mr. Karaage, $12.50<br/ (Fried Chicken, slaw salad, with housemade chilli mayo)<br/ <br/ Wasabi Salmon, $12.50<br/ (Grilled Salmon, yuzu coleslaw, Ajitama boiled egg, miso/cashew eggplant, rice and dashi somen)<br/ <br/ House Smoked Salmon, $10.90<br/ (House Smoked Salmon, miso scrambled egg, spring onion and fresh herbs on sourdough)<br/ <br/ Tori Katsu, $12.50<br/ (Japanese crumbed chicken, potato salad, house-made radish and red cabbage pickled, katsu sauce)<br/ <br/ Katsu Curry, $12.50<br/ (Tomato based curry, fried chicken, tomato salsa, miso eggplant, coleslaw, jalapeno)<br/ <br/ Agedashi Tofu, $11.90<br/ (Deep fried tofu, carrot, bokchoy, lotus root, mushroom, peas, dashi broth and rice)<br/ <br/ Okonomiyaki Fritata, $11.50<br/ (Cabbage, zucchini, eggs, S.P. onion, benishoga with miso eggplant, tomato salsa and salad)<br/ <br/ VERDICT<br/ <br/ When I visit Pallet Espresso, I always tend to gravitate towards my 2 favourite: <br/ Tori Katsu – for when I want something light (not too heavy) but still satisfying I would order this. The chicken is nicely crumbed and fried lightly so that the chicken is still tender. I really enjoy the potato salad (which is the same as Purple Peanuts) and their pickled vegetables. It overall complements the chicken! Yum! <br/ <br/ Katsu Curry – is my go to dish when I want something that is filling. When you first order this you think the serving is average BUT it is definitely a very good size portion I am always left content. The purple rice is just the right quantity to balance the delicious fried chicken and the curry which is tomato based is very flavoursome. I also love their miso flavoured eggplant.

An awesome spot from the people who own Purple Peanuts. This cafe around the corner is not quite as cute and quirky but offers food that's just as nourishing and affordable. The dishes are all around $15 or less which is an unbelievable deal given the size and quality. I ordered the agedashi tofu which reminded me of a fusion between the traditional dish and salt and pepper tofu. It was coated in a spicy seaweed seasoning and served in a light broth alongside purple rice and a bit of veg. After a night of drinking the day before, this was just what I needed.

It is a nice place located in a laneway just off Collins St. We had the Wasabi Salmon from @pallet_espresso. This was delicious and comes with a tiny shot of miso soup with noodles. It is handsdown one of the best miso soup we have had.We also tried me. Karaage and katsu curry. Everything was good in taste and prices were average.