Unique Patisserie — Restaurant in Sydney

My my my, who would’ve thought that nestled in the charming streets of Katoomba, just a stone’s throw from the Blue Mountains, lies a culinary treasure that’s as unexpected as it is delightful? Unique Patisserie, with its modest dessert nametag and unassuming facade, is anything but ordinary. Despite the focus on cakes and sweets in its name, this place is actually not renowned for its pastries; in fact, it’s the rich, bold flavours of Southeast Asian food that truly steal the show.

Let’s start with the nasi goreng, shall we? This isn’t just any fried rice; it’s a masterpiece. Each spoonful sings with smoky, wok-tossed goodness, perfectly spiced and packed with juicy prawns, tender chicken, and a fried egg perched on top, its yolk waiting to mingle with the rice. For me it was the dish that stopped me mid-conversation because, frankly, wow!

And just when you think it couldn’t get better, along comes the bak kut teh. Oh, this soup is a revelation! The herbal broth, simmered to perfection, is rich, aromatic, and brimming with the comforting flavours of chinese mushrooms, tofu curd, star anise, and white pepper. The pork ribs? Fall-off-the-bone tender. Paired with fresh chilli soy sauce and a bowl of steaming rice, it’s the culinary equivalent of a warm hug on a chilly mountain day.

What truly sets this place apart, though, is the seamless blending of two seemingly disparate culinary worlds. You could be savouring the fiery spices of nasi goreng one moment and indulging in the delicate sweetness of mille-feuille the next - all in the same meal. It’s quirky and unexpected, but somehow it works. Definitely not something you’d expect from a quaint little café, I'll be...

This place has what you would expect from a bakery but a surprising find of Malaysian food. A few Malaysian social media forums have highlighted this place before, and boy, did it not disappoint.

I visited this eatery on a weekday at 3 pm, and it was still packed. Believe it or not, by around 3.30pm, they were sold out of all cooked food. I was lucky to manage to score a bowl of Penang Asam Laksa and it did not disappoint. This was one dish I wanted to have as not all Malaysian restaurants (in Australia or even Malaysia) would be serving it. The broth was flavoursome with loads of fish and spices. It delivered an amazingly complex flavour of sour, spicy, sweet, umami all in one. The flavours of torch ginger bud, lemongrass, chilli, and sour notes from tamarind came through beautifully. It was spicy but still a manageable heat.

Another highlight i wanted to make was there was only 1 floor staff and she was amazingly efficient. She single-handedly took all orders, cleared the tables, collected payments and even delivered all the ordered dishes from patrons. All of this while wearing a smile and remained in a very positive demeanour.

I didnt manage to try the other dishes but happy to come back here again for just this...

Our Malaysian relatives and friends especially adore this restaurant and we think that they really visit us up here in the Blue Mountains as an excuse to eat here. They said the food, particularly all the Laksas and the fabulous Penang dishes, remind them of home. Their Assam Laksa is legendary. And they order lots to take home as well. What better recommendation can you get than that? Amazingly, their home-made pies + sausage rolls + spinach rolls are super delicious (pastry flakes off beautifully) and highly sought after, so if you go after the lunch rush they’re likely all sold out. What a fabulous eatery - you can tell from the constant flow just how popular it is. Just love the little lady manager, she’s unflappably diligent and cheerful. Oh and their home made Chocolate Mud Pie and Baked Cheese Cake - wowww - we take a whole one of each home every time. One of our other city friends’ favourite pies are the Thai Chicken pie, Steak & Mushroom and their Potato pie, they order lots to take home to freeze. Ask the little lady manager to make you her special Iced Chocolate, it’s ...