If you’ve visited Laotian restaurant Champi in Kingston, you’ll be happy to discover the team have expanded with a small café in Phillip, Champi Express. Offering breakfast/brunch/lunch menu with subtle Asian influences woven throughout. Think panko chicken sando, Khao Tom congee, moo ping, tom yum soup, pad thai linguine, Kra Pao chicken rice, and massumun beef cheeks – a line-up that blends familiar café staples with Southeast Asian comfort flavours.
The specialty drinks menu is equally extensive. Options include hot matcha yuzu, hojicha latte, hot Thai milk tea and iced matcha strawberry, among others.
I try the iced strawberry matcha ($9.50), while the flavour was enjoyable and nicely balanced, the serving size felt quite small for the price point. Mr FPJ ordered the iced coffee, which leaned on the lighter side with plenty of ice and water — ideal if that’s your preference.
The panko chicken sando ($19.90) comes layered with slaw and a generous spread of sriracha mayo, tucked between thick slices of soft white bread. The chicken is crumbed and fried until golden, though the pieces themselves are relatively thin. It’s the kind of sandwich that’s inevitably a little messy to eat. There was more mayo than I would have preferred, but it was easy enough to remove to suit my taste. (Panko chicken sandos are certainly having a moment across Canberra cafés; I particularly enjoy the version at On Lonsdale.)
Squid ink linguine Kee Mao ($29.90 – this was complimentary for us) features fresh squid ink pasta tossed with chilli, basil, prawns, tomatoes and shallots, and finished with a scattering of tobiko. There’s a generous amount of chilli running through the dish, so it’s worth keeping a milky drink nearby to temper the heat. It’s the kind of spice that builds gradually with each bite rather than hitting all at once. Mr FPJ, who enjoys bold flavours, would happily order this again.
The blue swimmer crab baked egg ($25.90) is served with red peppers, goat’s cheese and sourdough on the side. It’s a comforting, generously portioned dish, though noticeably sweeter than expected. It’s difficult to pinpoint whether that sweetness comes naturally from the crab meat or if there’s a touch of added sugar in the mix. The bell peppers also contribute a subtle sweetness that carries through each bite. That said, as someone with a sweet tooth, I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, I found it quite difficult to hand over Mr FPJ’s half for tasting purposes — though he kindly left me a few extra bites in the end.
By the time we ordered, the ham and cheese croissants had sold out, so we opted for the ham and cheese toastie for the little one ($11.90), served on dark Sonoma sourdough. It leaned a little on the dry side and the cheese hadn’t fully melted, so it didn’t quite meet my expectations of a classic “toastie.” That said, it was still approachable enough for the little one to nibble on.
To end on a sweeter note, we shared the caramel and chocolate chiffon cake ($12.50). Light, airy and generously sliced, it struck a lovely balance between richness and softness. Despite its size, it was surprisingly easy to polish off.
Overall, it’s a cute, simple and modern café space that feels relaxed and approachable. The menu’s Asian-fusion direction is where it really shines, and I’d recommend exploring those dishes in particular. On my next visit, I’m especially keen to try the congee and the massaman beef — both sound like comforting standouts.
See reel of my experience below:
Champi Express
10G/35 Furzer St, Phillip
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