If your tastebuds are in stasis from the standard bacon-and-eggs brekkie that most cafes seem to dish up, Tom Phat is sure to cure you. Located along Sydney Road’s vibrant Brunswick end, its selection of mainly modern-Asian brekkie options has enough twists and turns to generate some serious salivating.

Sit yourself down among the buzz of locals and choose from an array of freshly and inventively served dishes that combine the best bits from a range of Asian (Malaysian, Laotian, Thai) and Western flavours. But first, order yourself a drink — there’s a delectable selection of smoothies and lassis to offset the spicier dishes, including a banana coffee and cinnamon combination, for those who need the caffeine hit, too.

If you’re up for something really wonderful, you have to try the renowned Roti Omlette (which scored Cheap Eats 2007 Breakfast of the Year) — a texturally exquisite layering of warm roti, artfully folded over a generous helping of juicy bacon (not too salty) and fine, slightly crispy egg omelette, which is then topped with a perfectly zesty and slightly caramelised tomato and onion salsa, and heaped with a refreshing serving of coriander. It’s a big dish, though it’s strangely light and delicate.

If you’re after something a bit heavier, it has to be Uncle Ho’s Breakfast: chilli-spiked fried egg served atop a grilled and marinated pork chop, a serving of rice, a bowl of thai dipping sauce, and just enough fresh tomato, cucumber and rocket to offset all the zing.

Then, there’s the Viet Eggs. I have to say I didn’t try these, but the woman next to me looked very happy digging in to her hefty helping of fried eggs served with chilli, soy and spring onion. A serve of the Claypot Baked Eggs that wafted past also looked delish — it comes with caramelised onion and sweet tamarind pork, and is yet another dish that is testament to Thom Phat’s adventurous streak.

If you don’t have much of a stomach for the spicy or the overly flavoursome at breakfast time, then there are some more tame options, including sweetcorn fritters served with smoked salmon, and hearty fruit loaf made with South African Cape seed bread.

Everything about Tom Phat is a sensory thrill and a pleasure. The atmosphere is vibrant, the music is quirky, and just loud enough to inspire a bit of toe-tapping (but not so loud that you can’t read the paper in peace), and the service is incredibly quick. But most of all, the ingredients just burst with freshness, and the prices are pleasingly low — with brekkies between $4.50 and $13.90, you can afford to laze about and order another coffee or two, which is my kind of morning.