Comeco Foods Cafe is a Japanese establishment in Newtown, dedicated to harnessing the potential of organic, vegan, and gluten-free ingredients. While it might not be the initial go-to for those yearning to satiate their sweet cravings, their doughnuts hold a notable reputation as one of their most sought-after offerings. Naturally, I found myself compelled to pay a visit.
Cinnamon Sweet Potato Doughnut ($6.00)
The exterior of the doughnut had a satisfying crunch, in contrast to the interior which revealed a moist, soft, and bouncy texture. It strikingly resembled the characteristics of yeast-raised doughnuts, albeit slightly less fluffy, and mochi doughnuts, albeit slightly less bouncy. Significantly, it managed to steer clear of the dense quality often associated with Western gluten-free doughnuts.
The following doughnuts used the same dough base, so will focus on the flavouring custard.
Kinako Custard Sweet Potato Doughnut ($7.00)
The custard was prepared with kinako and black sugar from Japan, giving it a distinctive rich nuttiness and deep sweetness that effectively balanced the doughnut base. We particularly enjoyed the custard’s thicker consistency compared to the custards on the other doughnuts.
Yuzu Custard Sweet Potato Doughnut ($8.00)
The custard, crafted with yuzu juice from Kōchi prefecture and a recipient of the silver award at the 2023 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show, featured a delightful sweet-sour floral flavour. However, its richness wasn’t as pronounced as we would have preferred. The custard’s delicate taste was somewhat overshadowed by the doughnut in comparison to the other available flavours.
Hōjicha Custard Sweet Potato Doughnut ($6.50)
The hōjicha custard was made using a dark-roasted hōjicha from Cha Haus in Melbourne, Australia. The dark roast elevated the flavour of the dougnut, contributing a richly fragrant roasted aroma with a subtle cocoa-like flavour that was irresistible.
Matcha Custard Sweet Potato Doughnut ($6.50)
The matcha flavour presented itself with a mild, vegetal quality, accompanied by a heightened sweetness in the custard that effectively concealed any traces of bitterness. Personally, I would have preferred a more subtle level of sweetness to allow for a slightly stronger presence of the grassy matcha flavour.
Sesame Custard Sweet Potato Doughnut ($6.50)
The custard featured house-roasted and ground organic black sesame, which imparted a richly roasted and nutty flavour. This added a subtle savory dimension that balanced the sweetness of the custard, resulting in a highly satisfying doughnut.
Iced Hōjicha Latte (with organic soy milk, $8.30).
This latte used the same dark-roasted hōjicha from Cha Haus in Melbourne, Australia. The rich aroma of the dark roast made this easily one of the best hōjicha lattes we’ve enjoyed in Sydney, even more so than those available from Oh! Matcha and Matcha-ya. Its refreshing coolness, achieved by shaking with ice, was complemented by a luxuriously creamy texture from the very first sip.
Iced Genmaicha Latte (with organic soy milk, $8.30).
This genmaicha latte was also one of the best genmaicha lattes we have encountered. The rich, nutty undertones of the genmaicha effortlessly complemented the vegetal notes of the green tea base. It was also shaken with ice and had a creamy consistency.
Were it more conveniently situated for us, Comeco Foods Cafe would easily become a habitual destination. While our dietary needs do not inherently call for vegan or gluten-free fare, even the items catering to those preferences on the menu exhibited a tantalizing appeal.
Comeco Foods Cafe is located at 524A King St, Newtown NSW 2042.