Colombia Organik Cafe Espresso

If you've ever walked past this tiny shopfront and dismissed it as just another takeaway joint, you were sorely mistaken. Not only are they pumping out some top (and cheap) coffees in the Haymarket area, but outside the handwritten menu featuring BLTs and chicken schnitzel sandwiches, the real appeal of Colombia Organik is the authentic Colombian food. The standard Aussie fare is just a ruse. There are arepas — corn cakes with shredded beef, avocado and cheese — and plenty of pastry-laden treats. A big winner is the tamales: cornmeal filled with chicken and vegetables and cooked in a banana leaf. When the winter chills hit, opt for the ajiaco, which is a traditional chicken, corn and potato soup. True Colombian fare can be hard to come by in Sydney, but this hole-in-the-wall eatery provides the goods.