Aji Spice House

Nepalese, Japanese and Indian influences might not be what you’d expect to find on a breakfast menu, but somehow at Teneriffe’s Aji, it just works. This breezy day to night spot nestled in the historic Woolstore building on leafy Vernon Terrace is a family affair, named in honour of owner Dion Owen’s mother and proud Indigenous Australian but also to celebrate the Indian heritage of Nalini, Owen’s wife and Aji’s head chef, with ‘Aji’ meaning grandma in Hindi. 

Fittingly, Aji also means flavour in Japanese, where the family has spent a lot of time—and flavour is exactly what you’ll find on the fusion-filled menu here, with everything made in house from scratch. While familiar breakfast feeds include the likes of chilli scrambled eggs, corn fritters, and smashed avo on sourdough, more intriguing options like the split pea breakfast dhal served with warm paratha and spiced fried chicken and waffle stack with spiced honey maple glaze are a must try. 

The adventurous feeds continue on through to a lunch and dinner, with the kitchen team’s Nepalese background showcased through plates of traditional momo dumplings and Nepalese spiced rice. Aji’s paratha tacos, stuffed with Indian spiced fried chicken, barramundi or banana blossoms, have become a Teneriffe favourite, while larger dishes include signature curries and cumin lamb bhuja bowls—plus a few burgers for the not-so-adventurous eaters out there. 

Bonus, Aji’s is fully licensed so you can grab a yuzu and mandarin mojito or an ice cold beer with your feed, but if you’re visiting in the AM, make sure you order a decadent, cream-topped mocha frappe—or one of their fresh juices, you do you. 

Image credit: Ranyhyn Laine