Where Chefs Eat: Bar Spontana’s Head Chef Loves This Homey Thai Cafe

Brunswick’s Hot Listed Bar Spontana serves wild-fermented drinks and exceptional Thai food. The latter is the work of chef Pipat “Noomie” Yodmunee, who has lived in Melbourne for more than 20 years. His menu explores the punchy flavours characteristic of southern Thailand, where he grew up. We caught up with Yodmunee to find out where (and what) he’s been eating in Melbourne lately.

Favourite bakery
“Le Petit Gateau. I always buy the hazelnut mille-feuille for my friends’ birthdays.”

Go-to breakfast spot
“Udom House. It’s the best Thai cafe in North Melbourne. Good vibes and nice coffee.”

Date-night recommendation
“Go check out Curtin House on Swanston Street. You can spend time there day and night. There’s PAM, Metropolis Bookshop, Cookie, Rooftop Bar and more.”

Favourite ice-cream or gelato
“Kariton Sorbetes’ ube halaya is the best. It reminds me of ice-cream I used to have when I was a child.”

Special-occasion spot
“We always go to Korean barbeque for special occasions. I have tried all the Korean barbeque in North Melbourne. I would say go to The Galbi BBQ for good quality meat and friendly staff.”

Best bahn mi
“Nhu Lan Bakery in Footscray. I always order the meatball roll.”

Best place to eat with a big group
“I always bring my family and friends to Ling Nan. I have been going since I came to Melbourne 20 years ago, and the food has had the same taste.”

Favourite dessert
“Pun Pun Desserts. There are not a lot of Thai dessert spots in Melbourne, so this is where I go when I miss Thai sweets. I like the tub tim krob: water chestnuts coated with tapioca flour served in sweet coconut milk.”

Best place for a late-night feed
“Nana Thai. They’re open late at night, which is really good for me after work. I love to order something really spicy, like the fermented fish papaya salad. I get it extra spicy – don’t try this if you don’t like spicy!”

Best bread
“Bread Club. They have the best baguettes and doughnuts.”

Best coffee
“Tone Coffee has just opened in North Melbourne and has become my favourite. You need to order the signature Tiger Bomb.”

Restaurant you wish could come back for a night
“Blok M Express in the CBD. I used to go there every week when I was studying in the city, and I still miss the oxtail soup and ikan balado, which is deep fried whole fish with balado sambal on top.”

Place you’ve visited most over the years
“Tofu Shoten. It’s the best tofu in town, I could eat it every day. Don’t forget to try their house-made sweet potato chips.”

Most underrated restaurant
“Salero Kito. It’s an Indonesian restaurant on Rose Lane in the CBD. It’s fast, cheap and tasty – what else can I say?”

Bucket-list restaurant
“Sorn in Bangkok. It’s fine-dining southern Thai cuisine. I was born in the southern part of Thailand; the food there is stronger in flavour and very spicy. Sorn is the place I’d most like to try when I go back.”