First Look: So What Stereo, Fortitude Valley’s First Thai Vinyl Cafe, Is a Retro Dream

Listen to So What by Miles Davis and it’s easy to understand why Kawid “Meek” Brikshavana named his new cafe in Fortitude Valley after the track. The tune led to the creation of modal jazz, favouring improvisation over rigid chord progressions.

Step inside So What Stereo and that same free-form energy is everywhere. Mismatched furniture, multicoloured walls and abstract art create a retro feel in the space. There are nods to The Simpsons and The Flintstones, JBL speakers, film cameras and stacks of vinyl records. Brikshavana credits his partner Ratinan “Ploy” Rattanathai for sourcing most of the cafe’s decor through Facebook Marketplace.

“There’s about a hundred of my own records here,” Brikshavana tells Broadsheet. “A lot of them are from thrift shops. There’s a mix of jazz, Radiohead-ish stuff. I like Korn. I’ll put anything on.”

Tucked away in a cul-de-sac off Wickham Street, the cafe sits alongside The Valley Grocer, The Valley Butcher & BBQ and Sam’s Thai Kitchen. It’s a cluster of Thai businesses that’s quietly becoming a mini Thai Town.

Originally from Lampang province in northern Thailand, Brikshavana is particularly proud of his khao soi. The dish consists of egg noodles in a rich coconut curry, with either braised chicken or beef, topped with crispy fried egg noodles.

“You can find khao soi in Chiang Mai, Lampang and other provinces in the north, but I want to serve khao soi like when I had it as a kid,” he says. “We’re doing small serves, so you should have two to fill you up.”

The rest of the menu is equally appealing. There’s Thai boat noodles, Chiang Mai sausage, Thai-style scrambled eggs with coal-grilled tiger prawns and nam prik num (roasted green chilli paste), and a grilled beef congee set. Coffee comes from Single O and is available as both espresso and filter.

So What Stereo is a tribute to Brikshavana’s late friend and jazz musician Matt Clare, who opened West End Coffee House in 2010, along with his wife Em. Clare’s influence – especially his love of vinyl – was a major inspiration behind the space. His saxophone now sits proudly in the cafe.

“I remember seeing a math progressive hardcore record [at West End Coffee House],” Brikshavana says. “Matt put it on while people were talking. He didn’t care – that inspired me.”

So What Stereo
4/15 Little Street, Fortitude Valley
No phone

Hours:
Mon to Fri 7am–3pm
Sat & Sun 8am–3pm

@so.what.stereo