Forklore review: April Ooi visits City West cafe for salt bread, mentaiko udon, matcha Oreo cookies

Salt bread, or shio pan, is the sort of bakery item that sounds underwhelming until you’ve tried one. Originating in Japan, and recently trending across Asia, it’s a very simple concept: enriched dough wrapped around cold butter, and baked until the butter melts, lightly frying the base. When I heard Forklore in West Perth made their own salt bread, I absolutely had to try it. It was glossy and golden — as if a croissant had a baby with a bread roll. While the underside was a little too greasy for my liking, I enjoyed the crisp exterior and how the inside stayed chewy and soft. I could have visited a little earlier for maximum freshness, but I still found the bread delicious. It was a tough decision choosing from the cabinet of elite sweet treats with so many different types of cakes, pastries and cookies on offer, all with an Asian flair. We decided on the matcha Oreo cookie ($6) because of its bright green colour, however, I couldn’t taste much of the bitterness from the matcha because the cookie was stuffed with chunks of chocolate and mini Oreos. I’m not complaining — chocolate is always welcome — but a heads-up for those chasing a stronger matcha kick. We ordered the mentaiko udon ($27.50), which was comfort in a bowl. The thick, slippery udon strands were coated in a creamy cod roe sauce and was rich without being over the top. We also tried the saikyo yaki salmon ($30), a generous serving of excellent grilled miso marinated salmon on top of a Japanese take on risotto. The risotto had a mixture of corn, dashi, seaweed and spring onions. The result was interesting, but I think I’d like to try the less-experimental plates next time. The cafe has a large menu featuring a range of different drinks far beyond the standard. We tried the pistachio mont blanc ($8.50) — a lovely pistachio cream on top of a cold brew. The mixture was sweet without tasting artificial, and I was quick to devour it. The energy at Forklore on a Saturday is definitely high, with a loud and busy atmosphere. There was a small queue, but the ample indoor and outdoor seating meant it moved quickly. Forklore could easily coast on its sweet-treat appeal alone, but its cooked menu is full of tasty surprises. I came for the salt bread, and plan to return to sample the ramen congee fusion and yuzu matcha pound cake. Forklore 102 Railway St Suite 11-12, City West Centre, West Perth OPEN Monday to Friday, 7am-2.30pm; Saturday & Sunday, 8am-3pm CONTACT 0422 078 028 BOOKINGS No THE VERDICT A popular Asian fusion brunch spot with an excellent cabinet of sweet treats on offer. 16/20