Every so often we are blessed with dining venue that is truly different. A year ago, Sens Coffee, at the base of the Meriton Broadbeach, transformed their café into Goya Café, a modern, ultra-sexy Japanese street food café.
But after shouting ‘Revolution!’ and taking the coast by storm, it could not have been a more difficult first year for Goya. Kendrick Lamar’s famous quote ‘Sit down, be humble’ on the café wall took on a whole different meaning as lockdowns, lack of staff and staff turnover played havoc with opening hours and consistency, leaving disgruntled customers in its wake.
Now the air has cleared, confidence has been restored and Goya has risen to shine again.
In a unique blend of fusion cuisine, blending known with new culinary elements, Goya brings us its own modern take on favourite Japanese street dishes. From French classics to trending plant-based dishes, from Japanese standards to luxury drinks, Goya’s chefs transform each item with pizzazz.
Using products from some of our best artisan creators and suppliers, each dish is as Instagrammably stylish as the menu itself.
A mid-year change saw Head Chef Yuta Hosksokawa’s all-day brunch menu divided into separate breakfast and lunch menus, losing several of our favourites along the way but gaining others.
The breakfast menu ‘for Goya Gangsters’ may only carry five dishes, yet there’s something there for everyone. Standouts include the French-Japanese fusion dish Croque Mushroom that sees miso bechamel, cheese, thyme, mushroom, fried egg and truffle oil piled on Pixel sourdough.
The plant-based Ultimate Cauliflower sees roasted cauli topped with dashi tofu puree, sweet potatoes and miso sauce, a vegan crowd pleaser.
Lunch is now focused on two standout dishes, omurice and sandos, backed up by a few single dishes (a salad and burger) and sides such as okonomiyaki loaded fries, tempura, karaage chicken.
The Japanese favourite, Omurice (an omelette filled with fried rice), comes in four varieties, each with its own sauce: creamy mushroom, crispy chicken or tofu with Japanese curry, and the exquisite king prawn standing to attention atop an island of omurice surrounded by a sea of rich prawn bisque.
Sandos are another must try. Goya’s version is served on slabs of lightly toasted Shokupan (Japanese milk bread), filled with a choice of five fillings such as Tonkatsu pork Kurobuta, Angus beef tenderloin to Tamago using free-range eggs and Crispy Tofu.
The venue is licensed from 10am with Precinct tap beer, cocktails and mixers on offer, however as the café closes early in the afternoon, don’t plan on lingering over lunch! Instead, choose something intriguing from the rest of the drinks menu. Matcha lattes (hot or iced) and Totoro (black sesame) lattes lead the pack, backed up by healthy freshly-squeezed juices.
And if you have room, the Matcha tiramisu is a cracker dessert!
Your only question will be what to choose. Our advice is to share with a friend, backing up omurice and/or a sando with a soba salad for lunch. And then you can always have a return visit. Who knows…as we come into the warming heat of summer the menu and hours may again expand… NOTE: Goya is available for private evening functions.
Goya Cafe, 9/2669 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach Ph: 07 5663 8880 Open: 7am – 2pm Mon – Fri; 7.30am – 2pm Sat – Sun