Cham playfully blends Vietnamese flavours with West Melbourne brunch.

Banh mi is offered in two untraditional ways. The croissant banh mi swaps the traditional baguette for a buttery Cobb Lane pastry. It’s layered with cold cuts, house-made pâté and pickled vegetables, and served with a side of Vietnamese saté sauce. Then there’s banh mi chao, a deconstructed version with cold cuts, pork meatballs, house-made pâté, a fried egg and pickled vegetables served with a Vietnamese baguette and whipped Laughing Cow cheese on the side.

Another standout dish – chicken pho – features an aromatic and collagen-rich broth made from chicken necks and wings, and lightly infused with smokiness from kombu and bonito.

Cham also gets creative with drinks, most famously the banana latte and the egg coffee. The latter uses robusta beans from Every Half in Vietnam, and is served with a custard-like whipped egg froth sweetened with condensed milk.

Cham serves as a cultural hub as well as a cafe. The interiors highlight Vietnamese craftsmen both locally and internationally; most strikingly, an indigo-dyed fabric work by Du Du which hangs above the coffee bar.