Da Won Waffles and Coffee - A hidden gem

Da Won Waffles and Coffee - 11 Holden Street, Hindmarsh SA

On the lookout for a brunch location outside of the city (during the Fringe festivities), I (Mirko) was directed by numerous locals of the West to go and visit Da Won Waffles and Coffee.  Da Won, Korean for Tea House is run by a Korean Mother and son duo who have renovated the front of their house into a cute cafe.

A large blackboard spans the interior wall and notes all the food available at this Tea House. Seating is limited (approximately 6-10 inside, with another 10 outside) and is minimally decked out.

Sneak peek in from the outside

Green Tea Frappe - $6 (approx)

After being seated and waiting for my friend to arrive I peruse the menu and decide to have a drink prior to her arrival. I order a green tea frappe. The frappe is flavoured nicely and not overly sweet as some green tea beverages can be.

We view the menu and order 4 dishes. This coupled with two beverages costs us $43 - a bargain! And....we were not able to finish all the food.

Pan Fried Dumplings - $8

First up were the pan fried pork dumplings with noodle, onion and spring onion. Dumplings were fried well with a crispy golden outside and flavourful filling.

Japchae - $8

The sweet potato Japchae with beef, mushroom, carrot, onion and spring onion was flavourful and had a nice texture. For those who haven't had this dish before, the texture may be a little foreign as it is slightly chewier than the normal noodle but just be aware that this is how it should be.

Hot and Spicy pork stir fry - $9

The hot and spicy pork stir fry was tender and had a slight heat to it which would cater for most people. Whilst this was nice I would have preferred more heat but this is just my personal preference.

Soy Marinade Beef sandwich - $6

Final on the menu was the Soy Marinade Beef sandwich. Like the pork dish, the beef was tender and tasty. The sandwich came with a slice of apple which I questioned however after eating it, I was pleasantly surprised. The apple provided a nice sweetness to the sandwich but did not overpower nor take away from the taste of the beef.

Overall, my friend and I were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed this food. The food here is good, honest, home cooking and for the price and quantity it is definitely worth a visit. I understand how locals around the area keep going back and making it their usual brunch time haunt.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 4:30pm and Sat: 9:00am to 2:00pm
Vegetarian friendly: Yes, some dishes are available
Kid friendly: Very small, so maybe keep the stroller at home

Ambiance: 3/5 - nice and quiet brunch time spot
Service: 4/5 - the mother/son combination just makes you feel like you are at their home (well...you are!)
Food: 8/10 - delicious food at a good price

Based on the above, OTCB give Da Won Coffee and Waffles 15/20 chops on the chopping board.