I love free parking. Being used to paying for parking is something that has taken a long time to come to grips with. Luckily these days the car parking apps make it feel like you are not actually paying, and at least you don’t need to stress about constantly having change. I mean my wallet doesn’t even have a pocket for change in the first place!

The free parking at Bunnings is not the only reason I go to Bawa Cafe a fair bit. It helps, but the high standard of food and coffee, and easy nature of the service, are the main reasons.

Most times I go to Bawa with work friends, the superfood salad being a huge hit, through to the counter sandwiches and everything in between. B2 even used to enthusiastically tuck in to some of the larger breakfast dishes on offer. On one of the more recent occasions I ordered the Vietnamese chicken salad and it is one of the tastier, fresh and lively lunch dishes I’ve ordered lately on a work break.

Vietnamese chicken salad, pickled carrot, wombok, glass noodles, nam jim, fried tofu, herbs, roast peanuts

Today is the first time Catherine has come along and I have decided to indulge in the soft tacos with pork belly. As you can imagine, the combination makes for an uppercut punch of rich flavours that are mildly softened by the slaw and avocado. This is yet another dish I “would go back for” but it is a special and I always seem to order new things here.

Soft tacos, twice cooked pork belly, slaw, green chili salsa, fried eggs, avocado

Catherine tries another of the specials. This one is the marinated heirloom tomatoes with a host of accompaniments. The poached eggs play their part by oozing yolk to provide an additional sauce; jamon and mozzarella figure prominently, and ricotta and basil finish it off. The natural question is why haven’t we been here together earlier?

Marinated heirloom tomatoes, whipped ricotta, basil, mozzarella, toast, crispy jamon, poached egg

Bawa punches above its weight given the location backing on to Bunnings on a nondescript part of Burwood Road. What is assured is that these days a trip there doesn’t need to feature a detour through Bunnings, and the sausage sizzle out front is a far poorer cousin!