Parker
Brainwave is one of my favorite places in Ultimo! They put a creative, thoughtful, and vegan twist on classic dishes and it always delivers. The staff is friendly and the service is great. It is cute and not at all pretentious (like many other vegan places). Vegan or not, try this place for wonderful food and service. :) We will return again and again!
Kevin C
This place has flown under the radar and I have no idea why. They have a childhood favourite Hainan chicken rice, vegan style. I had to have it.
It was valiant. The poached chicken was the hardest to pull off but they kinda did it. They're was a tender white piece of breast with what appeared to be some chicken skin on top. The creativity was immense.
The rice was gingery with the cucumber, thinly sliced tomato and sauces. Sure it really couldn't replace the OG but it was pretty good rendition of what was pretty impossible.
Other mentions was done char Siew bbq pork with some chips which I thought was odd but it was tasty.
Great job overall. Will try to make it in to the shop.
Natalie Houlding
Great flavors, fast service, good prices. Loved it! Only a short walk from the train station so worked out great for my day out. I'd improve the overall look of the outdoor sitting area just to make it look a bit nicer, but other than that, spot on! Thank you š
Kiki
Lovely vego/ vegan cafe just off the main road! Itās a beautiful place. Love that itās not too busy (so no noisy people!) and just nice for me to sit for long and catch up with frd.
Generous portion. Pretty good flavours. You will be surprised that they priced reasonably. Defo will go back again!
Sage
Definitely a bit of a hidden gem, my favourite place to get coffee in Ultimo and I'm not even vegan! I'm now hooked onto oat milk cappuccinos, and when paired with their teriyaki tofu wraps you can get a well priced delicious lunch. Their food is in general always tasty.
Mich Sunford
This is a fantastic little vegan/vegetarian restaurant. We enjoyed every single meal we had here, and we ate here often. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and helped us out by informing us of their loyalty program. The food and drinks were always freshly prepared and tasty. Very reasonably priced and way better quality than a lot of other restaurants in the area. It is located down an alleyway so make sure you pay attention, otherwise you might miss it. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting tasty, fresh vegan food.
Karina Guo
Pleasant atmosphere, very good food (tho lacking in vegetables, but definitely not flavour), and available powerpoints! Lovely place for lunch!
Y M.
It's like a hiden place. Nice and cozy.
I ordered vegan Pat Thai and was yum.
Also ordered Matcha Latte and was without sugar and enjoyed Matcha itself.
Big portion and reasonable. I'll come back!
Jeffzzy
Small cozy place with super tasty all-veg food, all at affordable prices. Also a lot of amazing options available - in the picture, we got pad thai with pork belly, katsu-don and watermelon lychee drink. Definitely a place worth trying and coming back to!
Shavil
Amazing kickback vibe inside, super friendly staff and vegan dishes are of quality. If youāre in Ultimo/Broadway for a day with a friend, take a walk to this place. Guaranteed satisfaction.
Pei
Big portion sizes, chickpeas & mushrooms were delicious, pancake was šš»; would recommend getting it with the thai milk tea ice cream.
Tortuguita Comiendo
Lovely little cafe with lots of vegan and vegetarian options.<br/><br/>Great decaffeinated coffee which didn't taste too milky.<br/><br/>Outdoor section didn't have a nice view as it's located in a random alley.
Satya Bodhi
Yummy
Meng Hsieh
Absolutely love this place. <br/>Coffee is amazing too! <br/>Right next to UTS, love how adventurous the menu is! <br/>Will be visiting very often :)
Lili Murphy
I couldnāt be happier with this place !!! I cannot tell you how hard it is to find a cafe that understands food intolerances to the extent i have to go. Most vegan cafes/restaurants arenāt very friendly places for people on the low fodmap diet but as a vegan on this diet all i want to do is enjoy plant based food without the worry ! Most of their dishes are either already gf or can be made gf, most are vegan but itās good to mention it anyway. They also accomodate for allium free eaters (onion, garlic etc) which is so amazing considering how hard it is to find any type of vegan food or asian food without it ! So in love with the menu they have amazing options and i cannot wait to try it all. The atmosphere is so lovely it is definitely a hidden gem.
The Bearded Pom
Brainwave cafe isnāt a bad little cafe. The service is decent. The menu is lacking a tad but other then that it isnāt a bad place. The food is good and fairly priced.
Tuna
omg this katsu-don was so much better than i expected! I ordered it with egg because iāve only recently begun to slowly settle into a plant-based life. It was super tasty and the portion is huge for the price! so worth it! The boss was really nice as well. Will definitely be back to try the other dishes!!
Otezs Enileuqcaj
Stumbled across this place and decided to go in for some Thai food only to discover itās a vegetarian restaurant! My boyfriend being the meat enthusiast didnāt really want to eat here but he is more than glad I made him stay. <br/>The Chiang Mai burger is one of the best weāve had and the Pad See Ew delivered as well! I also added the fried tofu and the vegan pork belly and Iād recommend the vegan pork belly!<br/><br/>Overall this dainty place is a great place to hangout and the food was exceptional! Iād even call it a meat eater converting place if itās appropriate!
Alison
Great Vegan and Vegetarian Selection on the menu. Had the Chang Mai Burger which was top notch, great to see the burger buns slightly warmed and toasted and the fillings inside was both delicious and full of flavours. My Partner had the Tofu PadThai and that was also flavoursome. Could not fault what was served. The wait staff were helpful and courteous. Overall, a relaxed and art filled atmosphere.Ā Will definitely be back :)
Alana
Yummy vegan/vegetarian right near central station. I highly recommend the smoothies, especially the watermelon lychee. Juices are good too, and they serve it in a glass bottle that you can keep. So far Iāve had the japanese noodle salad, which was delicious and probably one of the healthier options. The noodles are under all of the toppings in my pic. The too mush room bowl was tasty as well, though a little too much fried food for my taste.
Romy Lerno
Quiet place in a small alley. Food and coffee are really good and affordable. We've been there a couple of time. Try the cashew nuts rice wok. You won't regret it!
Gladys Alison
Hidden gem in the city!!! Love this little cafe. Thai fusion yummy food, great atmosphere and super friendly staff. We had softshell crab burger and smoked salmon salad, both 100/100!!! Definitely going to come back again for other itemsš¤š¼
Mm
The food is very yummy, the service is good and the environment is very aesthetics and great for photo opp as well!! They also have a little Polaroid wall for u to take a picture and pin it up there
Tran Ly
The soft serve is the best!! I had the Thai milk tea one for $4. Itās full of milk tea flavour! šš„ the interior is small but they have tables upstairs and outside as well.
Culinary Artist
This humble little cafe is tucked away in ally way between George street and Harris street. <br/>Found it by accident while Iām walking around the area.<br/>It was just before 4 pm and I feel like nibbles and coffee.<br/>The name, ābrainwave cafeā just catch my eyes right away, and I checked out the Thai inspired menus, and ...... I found this Thai Heaven! <br/>It was kransky hot dog, topped with green curry pulled chicken with beer batter chips!<br/>And the dipping sauce... kinda āmassaman curry flavour mayonnaiseā Iām not so sure, but hope Iām guessing right... itās to die for. I asked for second little dips, and itās for free.<br/>This āgreen curry hotdogā can be purchase as well with the drink, cost you $15 for combo meal. I change the drink into Thai ice coffee, cost me $1, which is fine by me.<br/>
Vivian
Vegan friendly? not really. <br/><br/>However! The service is excellent here. Very friendly and very attentive. <br/><br/>I had a coffee and it was very well made too. Not as strong as I usually like it but it hit the spot for me today :) <br/><br/>The vibe of this place is amazing, luckily today was quiet when I came and I stayed for a few hours and finished Rupi Kaurās new book. They have sofas, āsecludedā tables and large tables, all catered for your group size. Place is quite dimly lit for intimacy but there is outdoor seating too for more brightness. <br/><br/>They have instruments around too which is so cool! Iāve heard customers come in and just have a jam sesh together which is so interesting. <br/><br/>Menu has variety too and Iāve also heard its good quality food. Come visit by yourself for a coffee and a read or with a group of friends.<br/><br/>[Edit: Iāve heard that theyāre bringing vegan options soon to their menu. But also, their bagels are super yummy! ]
Tiff L
I ordered a Fat Boy Breakfast, but it doesnt seem like a suitable nameĀ <br/>Its basically fried chicken, avo, alfalfa, egg and hashbrown. - just stacked on top of each other<br/>just a vertical assembly of ingredients<br/>It tasted fine, just not what i was hoping for<br/><br/>Made this Fat Boy into a sad boi :(
Miss Deliziosa
Lovely little cafe which you can access via an alleyway from Harris St (there is another way you can access this alleyway from an entrance on George St - but it is hard to explain).<br/><br/>Blink and you can easily walk straight past it whilst on your way to other cafes. It doesn't look like much but when you go inside it has a nice quaint feel about it. You can either dine outside or inside.<br/><br/>I ordered the chicken burger deal which came with a drink (you can either choose a soft drink or milk tea, which I opted for). The chicken burger tasted just as good as it looked. It was a pretty big burger which I found hard to eat due to the 2 battered chicken patties, it has just the right amount of sweet style mayo sauce which complimented the burger. The chips were great and crunchy as well. <br/><br/>I would definitely come back here to try the other dishes. They also have friendly service and food came out pretty quick considering there were a few of us at the table (which is important during lunchtime) and at great prices.
Goopee Howard
We were looking for a place to have brunch. We ended up at Brainwave because it was close to my partners work. Breakfast/Brunch is hard for me because I don't eat eggs and strawberries will kill me. So my partner did the normal thing which is ordered toast and adding sides for me and he had Ā Sunny and Green.<br/><br/>It is a cute little cafe with outside seating. Doing the Asian Fusion thing and calling it "Crafted AusAsian street food". We sat in the alley outside the cafe. This ended up being a mistake as my meal was served on a cutting board and the mushrooms were leaking. Ā The mushrooms were ok. A little bit unusually flavoured but the bacon was undercooked. Apparently the Green and Sunny was tasty.
Food Is Really Great
Itās hidden away in an alleyway between UTS and Central Station. I love the aesthetic first of all, the plants and wooden features are so pretty! I ordered the chicken burger which came with a few chips, I wish the portions were bigger but quality made up for quantity! The milk tea ice cream is very sweet but really tastes like tea, and was a perfect addition to a warm day.
Those Who Love To Eat
Tucked away in the alley way between the agin hotel and a coffee skip that's been there forever, top which I cannot remember the name of. (The coffee skip that is) didn't know that this place existed until I saw this place on my local feed on this app.<br/>So this morning, I decided to venture out and give this cafƩ tan by some young Thai hipsters a bit a road test. Not hard place to find, given that the denser part of Ultimo doesn't really have many lane ways. This super chic and Uber trendy cafƩ feels like it belongs in Surry Hills or Newtown. Tables out the front for those warm and balmy days, when you want to catch some vitamin d and sip on that coffee.<br/>When you do walk in, you'll notice the open kitchen on the right hand side that is coming up a storm and the aroma flooding the premises. You take steps upstairs and you encounter this sparse open space dining area with wooden tables lining one part of the wall, and bar stools to accompany. In the middle is a little bit like a tropical oasis of some form of shrubbery and cute bulb like plants acting as a centre piece. Couches and low line tables for those who wish to come in and just chill, soaking in the atmosphere or catching up with friends. This place had got it all.<br/>You place your order and pay at the counter, and one of the lovely waitstaff will bring over your ordered meals.<br/>The menu reads like something out of an experimental kitchen, and maybe that's what they are aimng for? Not sure. I guess I was hoping for some sort of flow or consistency in the menu but that kind of didn't happen and that's ok too. I managed to find something to order and try.<br/>Ordered their signature dish: drunken pipi fettuccine, spring rolls to share and a green curry hot dog. One thai iced tea and a coconut smoothie. I found the drunken pipi to be a little overpowering in taste, and a little too salty for my liking. This dish however has great potential if only the toned it down and simplified the flavour. Same as the green curry hot dog. At times it felt like there was a massive brawl going on in your mouth because of the intense flavours. The drinks were delicious and quite refreshing. You really needed it after all that spice and saltiness.<br/>This place is well priced but portion sizes are not large which can be a good thing, in terms of portion control.<br/>Next time, I think I would give their soft serves a try. This place has some form of novelty value to it.<br/>
ChippityChirp
The Brainwave cafe came into my notice over a month ago after reading an article about it and I subsequently sent a friend their way (as she worked across the road) to scout it out. She came back with positive feedback about their soft serves so I decided to visit. I chose their specials combo ($12.50), which comes with an entree (handmade spring rolls), main (either a crispy pork cashew nut with rice, or an old-school green curry rice), and drink (either a Thai milk tea or Thai lemon tea.<br/><br/>Spring rolls were freshly cooked (although slightly greasy on the bottom) and appeared to be vegetarian, unlike the pork spring rolls available on the menu. The definition of "crispy pork" here differs from the Thai restaurants in Crows Nest (where it translates to roast pork with crispy skin). The pork was coated in a thin, crispy batter and deep fried (like with sweet & sour pork), before being incorporated in the stir-fry with cashews, broccoli, mushroom, chilli and a sweet chilli jam sauce. Surprisingly, the green beans were pre-blanched (perfectly), rather than cooked in the stir-fry, and then added to the dish. The Thai milk tea had strong Thai tea and condensed milk flavours except I couldn't help but notice the high water (and sugar) content. However it's probably because I'm used to brewing my own tea with minimal hot water and topping it with hot milk.<br/><br/>I also tried their Thai Milk and Pandan & Coconut soft serves - both were slightly icy but had strong flavours. I would recommend both.
Viviannlawrence
This is one of my favourites cafe in Sydney. Good customer service, good vibes , cheap and tasty food. Located, in the small alley with busy surrounding , giving me a little comfy spot to breath and to enjoy my day. The baristas are so friendly, Just by my second visit! They already remember my name and my order. And all the food are so tasty and good with a very reasonable price. They do have a combo, tho! Its very cheap. Just with $12 you can get entrƩe, main and drink which is suitable with my student pocket.
Anna
Not sure if anyone else does this, but I have a tendency to like places before even trying anything. Once this happens, Iāll be super lenient and less harsh when it comes to forming an opinion on the food. Quite odd, and sometimes with no worthwhile reason either.<br/><br/>In the case of Brainwave CafĆ©, the chilled out vibe and cheap prices are what attracted me in the first place. Itās also pretty hidden from the busy road, and I liked the whole tucked away location.<br/><br/>After trying sunny and green and the green curry omelette, I came to the conclusion that the food was not particularly tasty. Cheap yes, but I should have known better as the serving sizes exactly matched the price. The thai milk tea and coffee were pretty good though.<br/><br/>I did go backā¦ like I said I go easy on places I develop a liking for. Plus I came up with the reasoning I had chosen the wrong dishes and should go for a Brainwave speciality, namely the drunken pipi fettuccine. First of all, it was meant to be spicy but it was NOT. In fact it was just really sweet. Not only that, but the crispy basil leaves on top were unpalatable, I just tossed them to the side and avoided. Overall, pretty disappointed with this dish and am at a loss as to how it could be a specialty.<br/><br/>If I do go back again, it will have to be for dessert or drinks. Donāt want to be disappointed again with the food.
Nozaira Sultana
This might just be my favourite cafe in Sydney. Tried their chiaful breakfast which is basically active chia seeds soaked in coconut milk and fresh mango. Due to off season fresh mango was replaced with raspberry and strawberry. No complains there, it was yummmm. I can't wait to try it with fresh mango! Next got the chips. You get chips everywhere but very few make it right. Brainwave makes it a bit more than right like right right right. Finished with a flat white. Good coffee. And finally walked out with the pandan coconut soft serve... Let's say this soft serve is enough to make me come back again and again...Did I say how much I loved their ambience and service?? The brainwave guys you are doing everything right. Just be this way.....
Taneem Al Minarul Mannan
Amazing Pandan and Coconut soft served which is a very unique recipe. Shrimp marinated stinky wings tasted good but should be better named as lemon wings as per prime flavor.Truly satisfying and crispy chips. Don't feel shy to ask for the extra dip which completes the mouthwatering taste of the chips.Nozaira Sultana
Ke
Lovely quite place for a weekday morning breakfast. Asian fusion cafe always have something different and exciting on the menu while their burgers and hotdogs are delicious as well. Make sure you get the Thai milk tea gelato afterwards it just lighten up your day. Will come back next time to try few more other food on the menu.
Chloe Harrington
Such a great atmosphere, really friendly staff and great drinks! And their chips taste absolutely amazing, great portion size for price and nothing made me feel guilty.
Helen & Michelle
This is by far one of our favourite cafes! All the food on the menu are reasonably priced and the flavours are well delivered. The combination of asian and western seasoning create a faultless meal and offers a new and refreshing taste. The cafe itself is also very lovely and set out nicely. We would highly recommend the milk tea soft serve ($3) and the beer battered chips ($6) with just about anything on the menu!
Ivan Lim
It taste good,but too salty and too sweet. But i like thai milk tea ice cream! Worth to try.. Come and try for the ice cream >_< and don't forget the pork popcorn too
Sarahversuscarbs
Brainwave crosses Thai cuisine with cafe food, delivering on many fronts: fantastic value, friendly staff, and did I mention soft serves?. The staff explain the specials the moment we walk through the door. Scrawled on a chalkboard, we know right away weāll be ordering them. Iām sold on the hot chips with pulled pork (for a fiver, might I add). The pulled pork has a coconut milk curry flavor, bringing the taste of Thailand to the humble potato. Side note: why are potatoes humble? Shrug.
FoodieYim
The Another Hidaway guys are back. Same old location but with a new look, new name and new menu. I've only tried their coffee after their return and it's pretty good. Will update review once I've tried their food.
Take And Eat
The Brainwave Massaman Pulled Pork Chips were my absolute favourite dish that we ordered! The chips were thickly cut so you are able to pick up the pull pork. The Massman flavoured pulled pork was not too spicy but had a nice spice to it and the pork was very tender and juicy! This is definitely worth your money, these chips were only $5 and you get a mountain of chips and pulled pork! It's a shame that this is only for a limited time only- so hurry in to try it! :)
Greedygreedyguts
Formerly Another Hideaway Cafe, Brainwave is a reinvention of a group of young Thai hipsters. While the previous cafe struggled, this new incarnation looks far more promising, overcoming its poor, shabby location to deliver a creative, interesting fusion menu. I've found the coffee to be good and the cakes delicious. The drunken fettuccine with pippies was a spicy highlight. Service was friendly and fast.
_simplypeckish
Cute Thai style cafe nearby Central Park. Hidden in an alley, could be easily missed. I had the fettuccine and oh my, it was spicy! But so so good. I definitely would be back to try the other dishes. Prices are quite reasonable as well.
Spooncubed
Brainwave Cafe is a split-level space tucked away in an unassuming Ultimo building. Bar and outdoor seating is available and in a light-filled space. The upstairs seating involves a communal table, some benches around the edge of the room, and a set of couches. Small glass bottles filled with dried flowers decorate the room along with a bookshelf containing an eclectic selection of things like the specialty coffee book, piano for dummies, and a box of legos.
Ellalizzle
Came here during lunch. It was delicious! King prawns, pippies fettuccine, tofu salad, pork popcorn and desserts. They have tables upstairs which is great for groups. The decor is really cool too. On my favourite local list!<br/><br/>Add:<br/>Been coming here a few times a week for breakfast. Can trust this place for a delicious and healthy breakfast. Choice of eggs on sourdough toast only $8! Comes with spinach and onion relish. Good way to start the day. (+$3 with bacon or salmon- $11 for all that in the CBD)
Asian Food Ninja
Spicy Ninja!<br/><br/>Here lies a hidden gem, a thai style cafe that opens late. Coffee, milk tea, cakes, cafe style foods and friendly staffs ... What more can we ask? The signature dish pipi pasta was aromatic with intense thai flavours be warned its may be spicy for some so make sure you get some thai milk tea to help. The ribs were tender and moist, packed with flavours which was well worth it. Ensure you get the soft serves aswell. Staff were poliet and friendly, they were helpful and honest. Why did i say honest? Because they actually warned us that we might ordered too much, haha not possible for me. Will be back for other dishes.. Until next time ... Keep eating!!!
Let's Nomnom
Brainwave Cafe is a new addition to Ultimo area tucked down an alley off Harris Street serving modern Australian dishes with some twists from Thai and Vietnamese flavours. Their Thai Milk Tea Soft Serve is currently trending on social media and I believe this newly opened cafe is fast becoming a popular spot as they also serve good coffee (Coffee bean by Ona Coffee Company) on top of their tantalizing dishes.
IFat
Brainwave Cafe is one of Ultimoās newest cafes and features a menu influenced by traditional Thai and Vietnamese cooking. A little banh mi this and a little Thai milk tea that, and voila: you get Brainwave. Grab your imaginary surfboard and join this wave with me.
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