Mediterranean food is one of my favourite cuisines and Babajan is a lovely place to source it. I’ve only dined there during covid so I can’t vouch for their full menu, but their takeaway counter offerings are fresh and delicious. I particularly love the falafel roll and the roasted capsicum and potato salad (although all their salads are lovely). They also make a mean soy flat white. I can’t wait to visit again.
This little cafe was packed inside and out so I opted for a takeaway salad of two options. The rice/cauliflower/stone fruit salad was divine, though the burnt eggplant one wasn’t as pleasing because I really felt I was just eating a lot of (tasty) yoghurt and little eggplant. I’m sure I’d have been less inclined to feel the price of my small bowl as a bit high if the salad selection was more substantial on this particular day. Service is helpful and hard-working but brisk.
George Hurley Wellington
+5
Babajan was a cafe that my girlfriend and I had read about for years and hadn't quite made it around to trying. We got a salad to share (rice pilaj with beans etc.) which was one of the best salads I've ever had and a spinach and mushroom Borek. What a combo! We then shared a baked egg dish with potato hash and bread and it was simply delicious. Ruby then ordered a slice of Persian love cake to go and the beautiful staff even through in a couple of Portuguese custard tarts in for free. Not only were they delicious but it just shows how much the café values brilliant service. What an experience and we'll certainly be coming back again soon.
Really tasty menu and friendly staff. I had the cauliflower falafel which came with carrot escabeche and radish. I also added avocado ezme. A delicious and fresh combo of flavours. Loved all the selection of fresh salads and baked goods as well. Venue was quite small though so if you come at peak time may have a wait for a table.
The second time I had lunch at Babajan. Food was fantastic. From mains to dessert. We tried the cold rice pudding, eggplant cheese toastie, the almond shortbread biscuit and the Persian lovecake. Mains were full of flavours and beautifully spiced. Almond shortbread was delicious with combination of a bit of crunch & the sweetness of dusting sugar. Persian lovecake was not too sweet at all and would go nicely with a cup of coffee. Overall it was a great lunch.
Very impress of this Greek style brunch. I have been to Babajan twice. I enjoyed the lamb baked egg and the semit for the first time visit, but the second time the baked egg is over cooked. The crab omelette is tasty with delightful texture.
The only thing needs to be improved is the service, feeling ignored in most of the time. No water was served to our table until we asked again. I added lamb for my baked egg but was not coming together(looks different compare to the first time I had it). When I ask to confirm is there lamb inside the dish, the waitress and the chef were not even look at it and say there should be lamb inside. But when I double confirmed and the waitress finally brought the dish for the chef and the answer is, “oh, yes we will get you the lamb now”.
We had visited Babajan a few weeks ago and here’s what we had!
Eggplant Aleppo Turkish Cheese Toastie - served with fried eggs, fermented chili, sumac onion and lamb shoulder! First of all I gotta say the toastie was pretty thick and filling! It was full of meat and cheesiness and the flavors all worked well together! The meat and eggplant were both super juicy!
Menemen Turkish baked eggs - served with spiced tomato, spinach, pistachio dukkah and lamb shoulder! This was full of richness with the addition of the juicy meat! It was very eggy as well which is what I liked! The Turkish bread that came along with the baked eggs was delicious as it was fluffy and a good absorber of the baked eggs!
It was a fun time at Babajan and we will definitely go back to try the rest of their dishes!
The Gluten-Free Foodie
+4
Fantastic spot for brekky and brunch! I was worried because I hadn't made a booking but arrived at 10:30am to a table being available straight away on the curb. The staff had good knowledge of GF options and were confident explaining the various meals. I chose the Crab Omelette on recommendation from the staff and it was incredible! Reminded me of the delicate balance and taste of French cooking with the middle eastern flavours. The powdered chai was also made well and came out hot. Would definitely come back for the lamb toast that could also be GF. (The staff were also patient and kind when the rest of my party didn't arrive for 15-20mins.)
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Real score 4.2.
Babajan has been on my radar for a while. As soon as I entered I started kicking myself I hadn’t been here already. It’s fabulous.
This struck me as the perfect cafe to visit if you’re in a hipster style brunch rut. Too many avo smashes, a few too many big brekkies anyone. This is the cure. The food here is genuinely unusual. It demands to be tried. I love modern middle eastern type food and they do it here very very well here. I wandered up to the counter and was immediately goggle eyed at the food available. I couldn’t wait to get at it. I ordered a lentil salad and a chicken salad with pumpkin, chicken peas etc. Both dishes were utterly delicious. The textures and flavours were outstanding. I savoured every single mouthful. You know that feeling of regret as you come to the last little bits of really good dishes. I had that here big time. I really didn’t want to finish these dishes. They were wonderful.
My coffee to finish was a beauty too. Dark, deep, inky and rich. Melbourne in a cup. I had one last 1% observation. They have an awesome sound system here. They had a fantastic playlist on. I’m serious. It is a terrifically rich sound they offer here. Best I’ve ever heard in a cafe of this size. I love music. A good sound system matters.
It’s a great cafe. It’s a must visit.
😱Lizzie’s first impression: the first time I’ve had a middle eastern fusion brunch. It was actually so much better than expected.
🍩Lizzie enjoyed: I tried the baked eggs and it came with a funky little bread roll that I wasn’t used to.
🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: although the bread roll was aesthetically pleasing and all, it was a little too dry for my liking.
🥇Lizzie rates overall: a great place that is not too far out of the city and a place I would go back for more.
great little spot for middle eastern food. went for brunch, ordered the baked eggs with lamb shoulder & omelette with crab & halloumi. baked eggs was excellent, lamb shoulder was seasoned well. the crab in the omelette was slightly too salty but everything else was great!
I am always up for discovering new local eateries, so was very excited to visit the Middle Eastern inspired eatery, Babajan, in Carlton North. It’s situated on an unassuming corner of the busy Nicholson St, with several outdoor and indoor tables. The interior is small but bright, with counters topped generously with hearty salads and divine baked goods fronting the open kitchen.
Eat_today_diet_tomorrow
+4
Babajan serves very unique and interesting dishes, it is really nice to see a middle eastern twist to Melbourne style brunch. The food was really good over all, but the highlight of our meal has got to be the simit and baked eggs. We also had the crab and halloumi omelette, although it doesn't look super pretty, but it is really good. It's like a cheesy omelette, but better, because of the halloumi. Coffee was great as well. There are also many different baked goods on display for your to choose from. We were too full and didn't try any of them but they look really good.
Babajan is a Carlton North cafe that offers a very simple proposition. Delicious contemporary Turkish and Middle Eastern food cooked with passion.
Food here is fantastic, so too the coffee. A small place that fills quickly. Service is friendly and efficient. Back to the food: Falafels, grilled chicken and salads higly recommended.
My party of four had dinner here on a Saturday night and thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was all super super delicious. The waitstaff let us over order, though and so we ended up with way too much food. Which meant we overate. We’ll know for next time - definitely keen to come back. Highly recommended!!
Coffee is fantastic- food is excellent- service is great - I love it - have been trying to eat my way through the menu I simply love this place - stand out dishes are the baked eggs, and the mushrooms!
Great Turkish food. Had an amazing time. Food was good. The drinks were good. Bread was amazing here. Staff are well mannered and very friendly.
Food was amazing, such good flavours and clever combinations of egg with eggplant and caramelised onions. Their Simik with jam was so good. Would go back everyday if I could.
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A cafe with a modern Turkish and Middle Eastern influence, this gives a good and refreshing variety to Melbourne’s well known brunch scene.
A small cosy corner cafe, what caught my eye was the display of colourful salads and pastries.
We visited past 12pm so we had one dish from the lunch menu - Lahmacun of ground lamb, onion, tomato, parsley and chilli. It was like a very thin Turkish pizza, the topping was refreshing with pickled onions, tomatoes and white dressing. And it looked really beautiful.
We also ordered the Menemen Turkish baked eggs that comes with a Simit. Loved the Simit!!! A Turkish bread which resembles a bagel crusted with loads of sesame seeds. Baked eggs were tasty, but I’d thought it was a little dry, I’d prefer a little more sauce to go with the Simit. Perhaps this is not meant to be saucy like the ones I’m used to?
All in all, it was a good experience, although I thought they were a little pricey.
I’d love to return to try the Eggplant Cheese Toastie and their salads! Saw other patrons eating them and they looked good. Will return to try the other items on the menu given the interesting variety.
Went on a bit walk witht the dog to have breakfast at Babajan. There was an empty table outside which was just in the sun, which was perfect. Service was friendly. We took the avocado and broad bean ezme and the crab and halloumi omelette with simit. Both dishes quite expensive. $22 for the avocado and $30 for the omelette with simit (I guess crab is expensive). The simit is $4 extra, but the dish didn't seem much of a dish without it, so I feel the price is very steep. The avocado was lovely and tasty. Only one slice of toast, which I don't mind and two poached eggs, which is perfect as my partner and I always share. Wasn't sure about the taste of the omelette, maybe a bit too sweet especially with the sweet turkish bread. Boyfriend liked both dishes equally.
Coffees were nice.
Took away a piece of Persian love cake, which was wonderful.
All and all good food, but slightly overpriced.
This is a small cafe that serves middle eastern inspired dishes. I agree with other reviews that the menu is quite pricey however the taste and quality of the food doesn’t disappoint. The food display on the front counter is mouth watering and also available for takeaway. I always grab a housemade simit to take with me and a cake or two.
TLDR: Delicious food and drinks though slightly overpriced.
Sauntered by on a Sunday afternoon, this place is cute and cozy. With a great environment and open feel it’s an ideal setting for brunch or dinner with some girlfriends or visitors. The food is fresh and flavourful! Imaginative salads use big serves on small plates and are deceptively filling. Punchy flavours mean that while being light, you definitely leave satiated. Things change often and utilise fresh ingredients, I was lucky and there were many vegetarian options when I went though do make sure to ask. The staff are lovely, friendly and very kind to explain or just chat.
All this being said the price range of items is a little on the higher end. Looking at a starting price upwards of 30pp there may be other places I might consider first, and it probably won’t be added to my standard rotation.
A cute little cafe with a small outdoor seating area that definitely deserves 5 stars. The quality and selection of food is well above average and the cafe delicious. The waiters are really kind! Only negative point: no large cups for coffee.
What a pleasant surprise! Grabbed a table outside today... do yourself a favour and walk in to see all the beautiful food on display. Staff were super helpful in explaining the dishes and we absolutely loved everything. We ordered the Falafels w eggs & the Borek. Both to die for. Coffee perfect, nice and strong. Can’t wait to return. Keep up the great work!
Located on a corner block, this light and open cafe is very inviting. From white walls, light timber and hanging plants it’s got a nice Saturday brunch feel. It’s a little on the small side and being so busy with people and staff can look a little crowded but I never had my chair bumped or felt hemmed in. This place has a small menu but you wouldn’t want any more of their delicious options to choose from as it was a hard enough choice as it was. I had the rice pudding decorated with dried flowers and with delicious fruit in a creamy base. My husband had the baked eggs with lamb and it was melt in your mouth tender with a well balanced savoury taste. The coffee (though I didn’t get the Turkish coffee) was good and sweets selection again another dilemma with them all looking fab!
Kid and pet friendly from all appearances but perhaps not for a pram if you want to sit inside.
Would definitely come again.
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Babajan has an interesting menu with lots of options but their exorbitant prices and elitism is a bit much
So my friends and arrive to a very busy crowded cafe. We are seated outside on little stools. It's a hot day. We feel like salads. Their counter salads look great but come with a catch. You can't order a salad as a main only as a side and you can't mix two. And it's a small side plate of 13.50. Or you can get takeaway for two salads for 13.50 in a small sumo sized salad cup. Why because they're promoting something called responsible cafes so apparently cardboard takeaway containers and plastic spoons are responsible. Yes the waiter thought it was a bit much too but what can he do.
13.50 for a small salad takeaway is already overpriced. Yes I had the fish bulgur salad which was sensational and their eggplant tahini salad was to die for but I had takeaway walked 10 minutes to Edinburgh gardens with better seating less noisy and a nice atmosphere.
Also their small sized coffee is 4 dollars and weak.
Recommend getting takeaway only. You won't be saving the environment but you will definitely make less of a hole in your pocket.
Menu is definitely to die for and staff are lovely despite the insanity that prevails.
The staff here are very professional. The food is above average but just stupidly expensive for what it is. You're a cafe in a small loud location trying to be a restaurant and I don't think it's working. Not a place to go for a quick everyday lunch or coffee. Better cheaper options in the area.
Vegan friendly? not really.
The service here though is incredible! Staff are very very friendly and accommodating, making us feel very welcomed.
The place is very cute, small and cosy. Great lighting too and great for breakfasts and lunches or a simple coffee.
The food range for vegans is a little dire but I’ve heard the rest of the food is great.
Coffee is very tasty here too, satisfying and not too weak. Smooth and very creamy- worth a try!
Amazing food, beautiful friendly staff. Such a great spot and a bustling little gem on Nicholson. Shout out to Scotty who makes the best recommendations and service. LOVE THIS PLACE. Will see you again soon!!
One small cafe which serve brunch with a Turkish twist. I order the lamb salad which was surprisingly filling (their salad are on display and caught my eye) and the cleansing green juice. Overall a good cafe and I will go again to try their brunch menu.
Open early enough for some breakfast, though I enjoy their lunches much more. Their pilaf and rice choices are super good and packed with different ingredients that work. It's an uncommon find on this side of Nicholson St, so it truly saves my taste buds sometimes as I struggle to find anything beyond a croissant and wholefoods-like lentil curry here.
Lamacjun pizza is enormous and mostly delicious although it tad too pickly for my liking making the last few pieces hard going. But I slogged through. Friendly service and lots of interesting menu options.
So delicious. Yes it's expeno but it's seriously good food. Fresh as ingredients packing heaps of flavour. The braised beans with lamb was great, the beans are poached in lamb and taste amazing. Peeps next to me had a side of salmon that looked like some of the best cooked salmon I've seen. Next time I'll be on that
I really like what goes on here. All the food is really interesting - we've had a salmon and egg dish and a braised of tail pie, but honestly the hummus is the best I've ever had. $12 and comes with a whole load of Turkish bread, they say they don't service it before 12 but they always do 😉
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We had to wait 20 minutes or so to squeeze into Babajan on a cold winter’s Saturday. The place is small and when we got a table it wasn’t much warmer, but the service was friendly and we ordered baked eggs with lamb, the barramundi with simit and the slow cooked beef.
The barramundi and beef were the standout dishes, the barramundi was in a delicious sauce with anchovies and olives. The beef was like a deconstructed souvlaki with a dukkha fried whole egg, fries, bread and a green harissa sauce (someone please correct me if I have gotten the description of this dish wrong – the party in my mouth turned this dish into a blur of joy and my recollection is a little sketchy). I’d say it’s the best thing I have eaten in quite some time, it was really that good.
The Turkish Vinkara Doruk red wine was also great – normally picking the obscure wine doesn’t work out so well but it was delicious. Robust enough to go well with the beef just like any Aussie red.
We’ll be back – please treat the chef well in the meantime, we need to know where to find him/her!
GOOD POINTS: We had an amazing lunch here. The food was delicious and the waitress who served us was super friendly and helpful.
NOT SO GOOD POINTS: There was however, another waitress there who was grumpy as all get out - not smiling, not attentive, practically threw a serviette at me when I asked for one. I think she needed to go for a walk and take some Deep breaths.
I also found it a little pricey for the servings sizes (though the food was yummy yummy in my tummy)😋.
OVERALL: A lovely little place with delicious food and (mostly) lovely people. 👍🏻
Belle Eats Melbourne
+3.5
Got a large takeaway salad today which was very tasty and texturally interesting but didn't seem overly healthy (was quite salty and oily) and overpriced ($17.50 for a large
$10 for teeny tiny).
I often go past this cafe and it's always bustling, with very little standing room and the service is usually pretty indifferent with waitresses ignoring you as they hurry past looking important. But having said that, the lady that served me today was very sweet.
I will try it again perhaps for breakfast when I have a little more than loose change in my pocket.
This place has great food and great coffee.
Food is very different and fresh.
Always a good atmosphere.
Can get and stay very busy.
Probably not worth the wait, but still a great place.
Always impressed with great food coffee and service.
Only draw back.. not that kid friendly. We have 2 young children 4yrs ans 6mths. There are not many child friendly menu choices.. and the space is tight. But we love it so make do!!!
Food was amazing. Took a bit of time for the waiter to take our order but otherwise everything was amazing! The salads behind the counter were fresh and delicious and great that you can take them away.
Cosy atmosphere and very vibrant and busy.
Thursday lunch and lucky to get a couple of seats. The waiting staff were very attentive and friendly. We had a couple of the dishes explained to us but decided on a bit of a wait before ordering. The dishes coming past us for other patrons looked absolutely amazing.
Finally settled on a couple of the salads and the Lahmacun of lamb. All were exceptional - fresh, flavorsome and absolutely delicious. The usage of spices that are complimentary to the other ingredients is a stand out.
The pastries are brilliant and there is no doubt a lot of love put into preparation of all dishes in this establishment.
Cannot wait for next visit. Perhaps a couple of the nice wines on offer as well.
I love this place. The mememen baked eggs is the stuff my dreams are made of. The rotating salads are amazing, these are the types of salads you can make friends with.
It's usually really busy here but the staff are all really nice. It's my favourite breakfast place in Melbourne.
So far the best baked eggs in Melbourne!
A few months ago Babajan opened in the neighbourhood and I remember how I was excited to see a new just at the corner of our place (yes, it's hard to find good coffee around here with friendly staff).
The first times I was going there just for takeaway coffees, the staff was super friendly and they use code black coffee beans!
After chatting with the staff, I tried the Menemen (a Turkish baked eggs): the most flavoursome baked eggs I've had in Melbourne.
Since I tried it's my go-to place for the baked eggs. I often share it with my partner so we get to try something else at the same time like the boureks or the salads.
They also bake cakes! the brownies are just yum! that hint of honey in the brownies makes them taste soo good!
Kindly,
Our new fave! Love everything about this place - fresh, super tasty and friendly service. The haloumi pie was incredible and rice and broccoli salads hopefully remain on menu! The food on nearby tables looked delicious - barramundi and olives in a pan and a trout type salad..We have followed the chef from WA fave Eminem, to Gigibaba and now this outstanding new venture. Very happy to have him back producing exciting and beautiful food. Look forward to next visit.
I've read the reviews and seriously!.... anyone complaining about the small stuff please get a life! The food is outstanding, no one complaining there right. These guys know to put on a great spread. Great atmosphere and great staff. I'll be coming back
A group of 4 of us were blessed to have had a grazing styled degustation meal here last Friday. It was everything I love about Melbourne cafes meets AMAZING restaurant quality food. hints of Mediterranean flavour echoed through each dish, complemented by the tasteful minimalist decor. We tried nearly every dish, and the seared lamb salad is something i will now eat weekly. And the chicken, charred to order, is f****** up good!
just try not to fill up on the home-baked turkish bread! (good luck)
Hasta la vista Babajan
Just had the $40 Friday night banquet. Food was outstanding and SO plentiful. Delicious cocktails too. Service wonderful. Will be back soon
Simply amazing. I cannot stress enough how amazing every single element was perfection! It's my new favorite local and am so excited that i can walk there. Great food. Great staff. Great atmosphere.
Baffled as to why this place only has a 3.0 rating! After my favourite restaurant in Melbourne - Gigi Baba - closed down I was absolutely heart broken and longed for the day Ismail would make a return... and here it is! With those same clever flavour sensations I missed so much.... this place is seriously underrated!!! Overwhelmingly good 😍😋👌🏻
Cozy cafe, very friendly staff, food freshly cooked and prepared right next to us in the open kitchen. The baked eggs with lamb shoulder and beef salad with Dutch carrots we had are so rich in flavour! The lifebuoy like bread ring is so solid and chewy, very tasty. Love it:-)
Ah-ma-zing
The food is absolutely delicious. Dont even get me started on the cakes.
I wanted to try everything on the menu. This is now my number one pick for breakfast. Must try peeps. Must try.
We are a couple and recommended by a friend to visit Babajan. First visit today exceeding expectations.
Clean & bright ambient, greeted by friendly staff, walk in experience feels great.
Food is well presented. Portion is good for ladies but slightly under sized for big boys. Price and value is good for what you receive.
Filtered coffee is great. End with some deserts and we had a lovely lunch catch up with friends. Thanks
We loved our experience at babajan
Good was we had the baklava French toast and avo ezme both were amazing, ended buying some take away salads so those at home could get a bite too. Loved the cafes vibe and the kitchen being visible. Service was great and so was coffee... Surely we will be back
I went in for brunch yesterday and the food was awesome! We ordered the trout spanakopita and the crab & haloumi omelette. Trout was the stand out. Wow! Turkish bread as a side was also really good. Still warm! Great take away salads too. Very good service. Decent coffee. A little drafty in there though. Bring a jacket.
I rolled in late on a Friday to grab something sweet for after dinner. Staff were super friendly & even gave me a couple of extra pieces to devour. Will definitely be back for those baked eggs w' lamb shoulder! It's nice to see the old school of a family run business. Kudos!
Amazing food. The pastries are fresh and tasty. The beef cheek was very tender and the salmon spanakopita is creative and tasty. We also had the menemen with the baked tomato. Definitely recommend.
I don't understand why muzak has to be so loud. During the day, at lunchtime, so you can't hear your friends. Does anyone actually believe loud inane music is a good idea, or is it just a fashion that everyone follows? Food and staff were lovely though
So exciting to find a local cafe with such exquisite food! I'll be back to make my way through the breakfast menu and the amazing looking salads.
Delicious take away (or have in) salads available, huge and for such a good price! Service was great, they are passionate about the food and middle eastern favors. Will be back for sure, want to taste breakfast menu!
Mediterranean food is one of my favourite cuisines and Babajan is a lovely place to source it. I’ve only dined there during covid so I can’t vouch for their full menu, but their takeaway counter offerings are fresh and delicious. I particularly love the falafel roll and the roasted capsicum and potato salad (although all their salads are lovely). They also make a mean soy flat white. I can’t wait to visit again.
Incredible food. Very different brunch food - perfect if you are bored of the standard smashed avo and poached eggs. Fresh ingredients, so much flavour and lovely staff. Would recommend the eggplant toastie! Cold brew was flavoursome and turkish coffee was chocolatey.
Great place with good service. Middle eastern food was made well and it's different to your usually smashed avocado toast but very delicious. Prices are a little high though.
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