There are more and more dessert shops in Adelaide, and the city is getting better, but I don’t think there are that many places that are pretty and have a warm, lived-in atmosphere. Late Mornings Cafe is one of them, and it’s tucked away in Chinatown on a street that isn’t too busy, so it’s cosy and peaceful in the middle of the city.
I’d tried their breakfast before and it was really good, and recently they’ve launched lots of desserts, which they serve from 4pm until 10pm. I went on a rainy Black Friday with a friend, and I loved it. I’ve put together the dessert night and the daytime menu here, because I’ve now tried both.
It was so atmospheric, sitting and listening to the rain pattering outside, it felt like sitting around a fire brewing tea. The cafe turns into the Lumi Dessert Bar in the evening, with bingsu, handmade dango and other Japanese sweets, and the little chewy dango and the big, round matcha mochi were so tempting.
The dessert I’d order
I highly recommend the ube and the strawberry ones! The strawberry milk cap tastes like milk tablet candy, which brought back childhood memories. All the desserts are just the right sweetness, even my friends who don’t like sweet things kept praising them, so I think they suit Asian tastes. They look beautiful too, so you can take photos anywhere. They also have some cakes and bingsu, which I want to try next time, and I’ve added this to my regular list of dessert places.
The warm matcha mochi
The matcha mochi arrives hot, and the surface isn’t dry at all, which is very important! It’s so chewy. If you don’t like sugar in your milk tea, ask for it without the added syrup.
The chicken katsu sando
By day, the chicken katsu sando is perfect for Chinese stomachs, and we shared half each. It’s a little oily, but the oily flavour is part of what makes it good.
The ochazuke
I was so excited to see ochazuke on the menu, but a bit worried it would be a miss. When it was served, I was stunned! The tableware is beautiful, a delicate Japanese style, and I wanted to buy a set myself. It was too pretty to start eating. It tasted better than I expected, not too salty and not too bland, with freshly seared salmon on top, and it was fresh and layered. Even I, who don’t usually like rice, finished the bowl. It suits people who like light flavours and don’t eat spicy food, and if you like spice you might find it a bit plain, but the cafe provides chilli for you to add.
The cold soba
My friend is a soba fanatic, and he ate cold noodles almost every day on our trip to Japan, so he was so happy to see soba here. He finished them in a few minutes and kept saying “so yummy!” I don’t eat cold noodles, so I can’t judge, but he gave them five stars.
The onigiri
I chose the salmon one this time. The rice is a bit soft and sticky, and every bite is satisfying. If you prefer rice with separate grains you might like another flavour better, but for me it’s the soul of an onigiri.
The yuzu fizzy drink
The yuzu fizzy is so refreshing, and it’s perfect for summer. The sweet and sour yuzu balances out the bitterness of the coffee. Stir it well before you drink, or it can be a bit bitter.
The setting
The cafe has a Japanese, light and fresh style, with a quiet courtyard where the sun comes in and it feels warm. It’s great for a lazy morning or an afternoon break. After the gym one morning, I was looking for somewhere to sit and found them online, and the matcha was so good, I’m a matcha person. It’s a Japanese cafe hidden in Chinatown, and it blends the Japanese flavours so well.
Where it is and when it’s open
Late Mornings Cafe is at 43 Wright Street, Adelaide SA 5000, opposite Ding Hao. The cafe’s own website lists it open every day from 8am to 3pm. The Lumi Dessert Bar runs in the same space in the evenings, and when we went it ran from 4pm until 10pm, but when it first opened it was only on some days, so check the dessert days and hours before you go.
Is it worth it
Yes! If you love Japanese food, or you don’t eat spicy food, you have to try it. The ochazuke and the soba were five stars, the matcha mochi is a must, and the dessert bar is a lovely rainy night out. Go for brunch, and come back in the evening for dessert.
We’ve got more places to eat in our cafe and restaurant reviews, and if you love matcha, have a look at our post about a popular matcha cafe from Tokyo that opened in Melbourne.