Babajan Eatery

"Chef-owner Kirsty Chiaplias puts all her effort into making her soulful, Turkish-inspired breakfast and lunch fare from scratch. Babajan made a permanent switch from dine-in to takeout-only at the beginning of the pandemic, but the food has remained just as great; the boreks, pides, simits, and nourishing salads are best enjoyed in the sun at neighboring Edinburgh Gardens. Old favorites like menemen (a baked egg dish with spiced tomato sauce) and pistachio dukkah sometimes make a special appearance on the menu. There’s a second location in the Central Business District (CBD) as well." - Audrey Bourget, Sharlee Gibb

"With its sizable Middle Eastern and Mediterranean communities, it's only natural that Melbourne, a city known for its cafe culture, would house a place like Babajan, which draws on the aromatic flavors of Turkey for its modern breakfast in the Carlton neighborhood. On the surface, it has all the hallmarks of a modern Melbourne cafe: Lots of natural light, warm wood surfaces, plenty of plant life. But you'll likely look past all that and go straight to the bountiful case of baked goods, overflowing with Turkish delights, like their famous simit : A donut-shaped, sesame seed–studded bread that's not too dissimilar from pita." - Krista Simmons