Dayo is the brunch spot of your dreams.
Dayo is the brunch spot of your dreams.
From the legends behind George’s Deli in Kingscliff comes a bold new brunch spot that’s already turning heads on the Tweed. Say hello to Dayo, a waterside wonderland serving up flavour-packed plates and good vibes all day long.
Taking over the light-filled café side of the Ancora building on Wharf Street are double-threat chef power couple Johnny Ang and Jerrika Guiang, and Johnny’s sister Kristyn Ang, a chef with kitchen chops of her own. Together, they’re making big power moves with the launch of their second foodie venture.
Dayo, which means “visitor” in Filipino, is a word that hits close to home for the trio. They are all immigrants from the Philippines who’ve brought with them the rich tradition of starting the day together, gathered around the breakfast table. Now that they all call Australia home, they’re inviting us into their home rituals, with a stacked menu and river views too.
And what a home they have created. Wander into the white-washed building and be swept away to a mini paradise.
They’ve pulled out all the stops, bringing in Kobi Concepts (the interior designer for George’s) to work their magic on this space too. The team haven’t just embraced the location, but celebrated it, with picnic tables out under the jacaranda tree and sun-kissed balcony seating that overlooks the river and island across.
Retro fittings and pops of colour like a pink ceiling, green chairs and blue-and-white-striped upholstery all create a welcoming space that complements the very modern menu.
Now let’s dive into that menu!
The trio have taken the flavours we know and love from George’s Deli, but levelled it up into a gourmet brunch offering. Think Filipino roots, Southeast Asian spice with a Mediterranean twist. Chef’s kiss!
Benny-San is calling your name (and ours), featuring your choice of pork chasu or teriyaki mushrooms, served with two poached eggs milk loaf, hollandaise spicy sesame seeds and herbs.
Wrap your lips around finger-lickin chicken with the K-POP Chicken Waffle – snowy cheese fried chicken, waffle pickled radish, spicy maple, roast pepper and tomato mascarpone.
Like to start the day on a sweet note? The Strawberry Matcha French Toast is already a fan fave, with white chocolate matcha sauce, matcha ice cream, fresh strawberries and milk crumbs.
There’s a dedicated menu for the kiddies to keep them happy, and Ground Control coffee to keep you smiling too.
If you’re looking for the most instagrammable drink in town, you need to order the Ube – a vibrant purple number made with ube, a yam native to the Philippines.
Too much matcha? Never! Other speciality drinks include iced matcha your way – with your choice of strawberry, blueberry or peach mango.
And because you’re definitely going to want a little something to take home (or eat on the riverbank), don’t skip the cabinet full of the famous George’s Deli donuts on your way out.
Where: 118 Wharf St, Tweed Heads
When: Daily from 7am until 2pm
Instagram:@dayo.tweed
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Kirra Smith
Gorge on loaded NY style subs and handmade donuts at George's Deli.
Sucker for a sando? Rhetorical question. Specifically, the NY-style, pastrami and pickle stuffed variety frequenting delicatessens from Brooklyn to Manhattan – you know, the ones usually only found at the other end of a 20 hour red eye? *Cue major fomo*
Well, ‘donut’ despair, peckish folk, George’s Deli is here – and they come bearing delicious (suspiciously sub-shaped) gifts. Get your first look at the new, sandwich-slinging kid on Kingscliff’s block…
Bringing handmade donuts, coffee and cold-cut loaded subs to the coastal township’s beach-studded main drag – George’s signifies the delicious debut for double-threat chef power couple, Johnny Ang and his wife Jerrika. Rounding out the venue’s ragtag trio of Reuben-slinging chefs, the husband and wife team are joined by Johnny’s sister, a skilled chef in her own right, to keep the portable treat offering ticking along. Cripes – talk about kitchen chops, can you imagine the killer spread this lot would bung on at family dinner?
Doling out handheld bites to Marine Parade’s beachfront perambulators, the compact menu melds beverages and baked-goods infused with Filipino influences, with classic New York-inspired sandwiches. Inspired by her travels abroad, Jerrika was the driving force behind the deli fusion concept. First uncovering her appreciation for the delicatessen staple (and the unique and vibrant foodie culture, obviously) following a stint in the US to complete her apprenticeship.
The couple, who had their meet cute cheffing aboard a cruise ship, bonded over their shared passion for culinary innovation. Later embarking on an opportunity based in Casuarina, Johnny and Jerrika quickly caught feelings for the locale’s knockout looks, laidback vibe and people. They’re only human, right?
For their first ever culinary venture, the crew engaged the services of local experts Kobi Concepts and Coakers Building to handle the interior direction and fit out, respectively. Going for a cool, retro deli aesthetic (insert sparkly emoji – the millennial equivalent of jazz hands, here) peppered throughout George’s interior are rustic tiles, pops of red and an awning window that opens wide to the surf beyond. Basically, we predict this ultra-cute sando spot is set to be some pretty hot real estate among southern punters.
Originally hailing from the Philippines, the passionate foodies have also jumped at the chance to pay homage to their culinary heritage by incorporating nationally-beloved flavours from their homeland into their offering. Weaving in flavours seldom found in Australia, such as Ube, the distinctive purple yam, which you can get in Latte or house-made Donut form.
Mouth watering at the prospect of getting your mitts on those pillowy hand-crafted donuts? Well, hold on to your britches, Gold Coasters – ‘cuz we’ll really be ‘ruben’ it in as we unpack the rest of the menu.
To complement the unmissable Ube Donuts, the signature offering is centred around the short but sweet selection of signature toasties. Such as the La Cubano, made with pork ham, lechon, pickles and Swiss and the Ain’t Reuben toasties, which are both firmly in the #MustTry realm.
Be there, or be square, sandwich fans!
Where: Shop 3, 106 Marine Parade, Kingscliff
When: Monday-Thursday: 7:00am-2:00pm, Friday-Sunday: 7:00am-2:30pm
Instagram: @georges.kingscliff
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.
Sun Devil Drinks Company opens in Strange Days Store’s new digs!
If your caffeine fix needs a little more wild west and a little less flat white, then saddle up, partner – Sun Devil Drinks Company has arrived. Born in the buzzing Gold Coast market scene, this American-style coffee bar has found itself a permanent home inside vintage juggernaut Strange Days in Tweed Heads. Think saloon-style charm meets New York espresso bar, all wrapped up in a vintage wonderland that makes grabbing your morning brew feel like stepping into a Quentin Tarantino film.
Sun Devil’s story is as rich as its coffee. It started as a humble drinks stall in the Currumbin markets, where founders Alex Boyce and Freya Lynch introduced Aussies to the holy grail of American refreshments and cold brews (more on those below). With the sun beating down and locals looking for a thirst-quencher with a side of character, the stall quickly gained a cult following.
But it wasn’t until a fateful trip back to the States that inspiration struck. After tasting their way through some of America’s best bars and restaurants, they dreamed up the now-legendary Sun Devil Special. One call to their mate Marshall (kitchen wizard extraordinaire) and the recipe was perfected, sealing their reputation as the Gold Coast’s go-to for American-style caffeine hits.
Enter Sylvie Cornu, the brains behind Strange Days Store. A vintage maven with over 20 years in the fashion industry, Sylvie was expanding her Palm Beach-born store into a more polished version in Tweed Heads when she met Alex and Freya. If you haven’t frequented Strange Days before, think carefully curated vintage threads and goods imported from America and Europe.
Like peanut butter and jelly, cowboy boots and denim, or Bowie and Ziggy, the collaboration just made sense. Sun Devil took up residence at the front of Strange Days, giving shoppers the ultimate combo – vintage treasure hunting and a damn good cup of coffee.
The space itself is dripping in Western Americana charm, with raw exposed brick, vintage wood, and metal accents making it feel like a frontier-town espresso bar. And while takeaway is an option, Sun Devil is all about slowing down. Pull up a seat at the bar, swap stories with the baristas, and let the caffeine-fuelled conversations flow. Bay Street, after all, is one of the last bastions of Gold Coast authenticity – a tight-knit community of small businesses that look out for each other, and now, a little slice of Americana to keep things interesting.
If you’re new to Sun Devil, the Sun Devil Special is your initiation. It’s the drink that put them on the map and kept marketgoers coming back week after week. And if you’re feeling nostalgic for a classic American summer, the Arnold Palmer (half iced tea, half lemonade), or Southern Sweet Tea will transport you straight to a rocking chair on a Southern porch. Whatever you choose, you’re in for something different – Sun Devil isn’t just another coffee shop; it’s an experience.
With Sun Devil pouring the coffee and Strange Days Store bringing the vintage vibes, Bay Street just got a whole lot cooler. Whether you’re after a killer caffeine fix or a wardrobe straight out of a Nashville dive bar, this is your one-stop shop for both.
Where: 28-30 Bay St, Tweed Heads
When: Sun Devil Drinks – 7.30am to 2pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Closed Thursday.
Strange Days – 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday & 10am to 2pm Sunday.
Words by Bianca Trathen
Images by Mathilde Bouby
Bread Winner Sandwiches serves up superstar subs in Kingscliff.
There’s a new reason to cross the border, and it’s sandwiched between good taste and good vibes. Bread Winner Sandwiches, a fresh face on the local foodie scene, is slinging internationally inspired subs with a side of surf in Kingscliff.
The breadchild of chef Kyle Mapp, from Byron Bay nosh spots La Casita and Figtree, and long-time business and economics teacher Reuben Kremer, this coastal sandwich shop was born out of a craving, not just for flavour, but for a lifestyle shift. After stepping back from full-time work, the pair met for a casual coffee… and walked away signing a lease for the sub shop the very next day.
The location was a no-brainer – right across from the ocean, with sea views, grassy dunes and plenty of picnic real estate. Both owners are surfers, so the idea of paddling out before or after a lunch shift didn’t hurt the decision-making process.
Fast forward three months and a lot of elbow grease, largely thanks to their hard-working mate Jason Daubs who helped bring the space to life, Bread Winner swung open its doors to a sea of locals ready to bite in.
The shop itself blends mid-century charm with modern design, offering a relaxed space where everyone feels welcome. No frills, no fuss, just damn good food served with heart.
While there’s space for 20 to dine in, the takeaway vibe is just as strong, with sandwiches built for beach blankets and salty fingers.
The menu? Simple, satisfying sandwiches with flavours that take your tastebuds on a trip around the world.
The Meatball Sub is already a fave with the locals, loaded with slow-braised meatballs, vodka sauce, scamorza and fresh basil.
The Salumi Focaccia is a deli classic dialled all the way up with sopressa, mortadella, stracciatella, rocket with nduja and pecorino cream.
Feel like a trip to Southeast Asia? Tuck into a Banh Mi with crispy pork and all the accompaniments.
Bread Winner isn’t just resting on its freshly baked laurels, either. They’re rolling out a new weekly special starting with the Cajun squid Po’ Boy and teasing future creations like crispy fish sandos and rotating international twists that’ll keep sandwich lovers coming back.
There’s salads too with the Roots, Seeds Leaves salad bringing together roasted root veg, toasted seeds with a crème fraîche dressing and macadamia cream in a wholesome bowl of deliciousness.
Finishing on a sweet note doesn’t get more nostalgic than devouring a slice or two (no judgment here) of the Milo Basque Cheesecake.
A liquor license means you can wash down your sub with a local beer on tap, notably Spangled Drongo, brewed by a close friend of the team, or grab a cold drink and head straight for the dunes.
With plenty of sell-out days already under their belt and a wave of community support behind them, Bread Winner Sandwiches has quickly proven itself to be more than a pit stop. This is one place that’s truly earned its name.
Where: 1/36 Marine Parade, Kingscliff
When: Wednesday–Sunday 10am–3pm
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Mathilde Bouby
