Vulture Street Espresso

Vulture Street Espresso is a café in the heart of West End, Brisbane, with a defining feature that is easy to miss from the name alone: a secret garden. The garden provides an outdoor setting for the café, while the menu covers all-day breakfast, lunch and drinks, making the venue suitable for an early meal, a longer catch-up or a casual bite later in the day.

Breakfast ranges from straightforward café staples to more distinctive combinations. Free-range eggs come with sourdough toast and tomato relish, while the Iconic Aussie features smashed avocado, lemon, mint, poached eggs, Persian feta, toasted almonds, pepitas and herb oil. Other substantial choices include the Bao Benedict, served with eggs, wilted spinach, onion and sesame hollandaise in bao buns, with options including pulled pork, grilled salmon, fried chicken, halloumi, mushroom or avocado. The plant-eating waffles offer a vegan choice with banana, blueberry, fresh fruit, plant-based coconut ice cream and Canadian maple syrup.

For lunch, the menu moves between burgers, bowls, curry and salads. VSE rice bowls pair steamed rice with stir-fried and pickled vegetables, crispy onions, fried garlic and a soft fried egg, with a choice of ginger beef or chargrilled pork. The Vulture Street Curry is served with rice, roti and fresh herbs, and can be ordered with chicken, vegetables or salmon. There are also a homemade chickpea, lentil and vegetable Veggie Burger, a Southern Fried Chicken Burger and salads such as the Summer Salad and Aromatic Salad.

Dietary needs are considered across the menu, with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan options identified on the website, although the suitable choices vary by dish. Coffee is supplied by Supreme Coffee Roaster, a Queensland-based business. With its garden setting and broad all-day menu, Vulture Street Espresso should appeal to West End locals, visitors, families and groups looking for choice, as well as solo diners wanting a café with more than a single breakfast style.