MELBOURNE | Moon Mart is a tiny cafe and pantry, tucked away in the back streets of West Melbourne. It’s owned by Eun Hee An, known from her time in the kitchen at Sydney venues Moon Park and Paper Bird, and her lockdown condiments and ferments, and Hee An’s friend Mei Onsamlee (ex Bill’s Cafe, Momofuku Seiobo, and Paper Bird).
Housed in the space that was formerly home to Roller Door cafe, the aim at Moon Mart is to provide food and products that are unique in their flavour profiles while remaining respectful to the traditional techniques and recipes they are inspired by. Korean and Japanese influences are particularly well represented.
This philosophy can be seen throughout the concise menu. There’s specialty tea (try the chrysanthemum and pandan infusion), coffee from Primary Coffee, sandwiches, rice sets, and Asian-inspired pastries. A core selection of favourites, and rotating specials.
For breakfast, try the jaffle with Emmental, smoked mozzarella and kimchi. The hash brown with okonomiyaki toppings is also great. For lunch, it’s things like gochujang-braised beef bibimbap made in onggi (traditional earthenware pots), and the famed Paper Bird Berkshire pork katsu sando.
Don’t leave without trying a few pastries. I opted for the tangy yuzu doughnut and, rich chocolate mochi brownie, both of which were great.
Across from the counter where you order, there’s a fridge and shelves, stocked with Hee An’s small-batch condiments, rare Korean ingredients imported by Table 181 and a few other goodies inspired by the food cultures of Asia. Things like kimchi, yuzu miso, and vinegars. You can also buy Primary Coffee coffee beans, whole or ground.
Moon Mart
11-13 Stawell Street
West Melbourne
Victoria 3003
Australia
Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Tue – Wed: 7:00am to 12:00am
Thu – Fri: 7:00am to 3:00pm
Sat – Sun: 8:00am to 3:00pm