Overview
A much-loved corner cafe with a Turkish and Middle Eastern edge, Babajan has been a Carlton North staple for the past four years. Now, it's spreading the love a little further, opening the doors to a pint-sized pop-up store just up the road in Brunswick East.
This latest addition to the Babajan family is set to be a hot-spot for locals on the move, stocked with a hefty range of the restaurant's signature grab-and-go goodies. You'll find a swag of fresh salads, takeaway breakfast options and plenty of those famed pastries, from boreks to pides and haloumi pies. But you won't find chairs — it's strictly takeaway-only here, so if you don't want to go home, pack a blanket and head for a picnic at Methven Park (a short five-minute walk away).
Ben Christensen
Grazing platters are also sorted, thanks to a range of house dips, Turkish bread and simit (a sort of Turkish-style bagel). A window cabinet is stocked with sweet treats — including brownies and the restaurant's famed Persian love cakes — while one wall is brimming with a retail selection of pantry staples, preserves and more.
You can swing by for a Proud Mary coffee in batch brew format, though the store's also pouring traditional Turkish coffee and iced teas. And Babajan will even take care of all that dinner drama, with a cracking range of homemade, ready-to-eat meal options.
Babajan Pop-Up is open 10am–6pm Tuesday–Saturday.
Images: Ben Christensen