If there is one thing that both an Australian and a Californian are constantly on the hunt for in Shanghai it’s avocado on toast. And coffee. And a really good acai bowl. Until last weekend, we thought we had only found the coffee - but then we went to Egg. Located in the Jingan District, Egg officially opened its doors this month. Those familiar with the Shanghai Supper Club could have experienced the great little cafe during its soft opening over the summer. The two-storey cafe is incredibly open, not extremely busy, and has the nice touch of trees and bicycles parked outside the glass doors. Customers can choose to sit up at the counter to people watch, or sit in the tucked away booths upstairs. The menu has no less than ten items - all of which you can “put an egg on it” for 8 RMB. Although 8 RMB seems a little steep for an egg in Shanghai, considering you can buy 16 eggs for 12 RMB at Lianhua (联华超市), it seemed worth the effort and you got a great fried egg on the side. Every ingredient down to sea salt was featured on the menu, making every dish seem simple and effortless.

The weekend special was brown sugar soufflé pancakes - which seemed like a fancy way to say fluffy pancakes - topped with vanilla cream, stewed peaches and almond honey brittle. The pancakes were soft, damp and were complemented perfectly by the whipped cream. The avocado toast (55 RMB) is a must-order. The thick soft piece of bread featured a heavy serving of avocado, crumbled feta cheese, and garnished with a dash of chilli and lemon. We dipped into our wallets for that extra 8 RMB to put an egg on it. And it was so worth it. The serving sizes aren’t too heavy, we left feeling full and satisfied. If you’re going for the healthy option, stick to the avocado toast, add an egg and you’ll be good to go.

In terms of refreshments, we were both inclined to try the bloody mary, with sriracha sauce and Sichuan peppers. In fact, we were so enticed by the bloody mary that we forgot how spicy sriracha and Sichuan peppers could be. Only order if you can handle the la (辣). After realizing that the bloody mary wasn’t entirely the best choice, we ordered two flat whites - the Australian version of a latte, with less milk. The coffee was good, considering the beans are roasted locallyEgg was cute, simple and a must-go for breakfast lovers. Also on the menu, for more adventurous eaters, an okonomiyaki sweet potato pancake, and a hash brown waffle - perfect for brunch after a night out. But stay away from the bloody mary. Average spend: 90 RMB. Without coffee, around 60 RMB.Address/地址:12 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu, Jingan District.静安区襄阳北路12号,近巨鹿路Closest metro stop is Shaanxi Nan Lu. This article was written by Isabella Farr and Chloe Haddaway. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Isabella Farr and Chloe Haddaway