Remember, around five years ago, when Your Local first opened in formerly sleepy Esteban Street in Legaspi Village? And remember the crowds that flocked to the space? Together with third-wave coffee pioneer Yardstick next door, these two establishments were precursors to the now burgeoning Legaspi Village dining scene. Formerly a restaurant “wasteland,” the area now boasts trendy spots in its every nook and cranny.

While Your Local doesn’t get the same buzz as during its early years, it remains a solid favorite in the area, catering to office workers, expats, and young-ish condo dwellers. While it used to offer a Sunday brunch, it is only this October 2019 that it has ventured into breakfast every day, perhaps a sign that a lot more people are living in the area and looking for morning options even on weekdays.

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For those who have frequented Your Local in the past, you may already be familiar with its mélange of Asian flavors, from Filipino to Japanese (like the ever-popular Salmon Donburi), with a lot of Singaporean and Malaysian inflections. The same can be said of the brand-new breakfast menu—all the more reason to rouse yourself a bit earlier for something you can’t easily make at home.

There’s Your Local’s take on the Malaysian classic Nasi Lemak consisting of braised pork belly served with sweet and spicy anchovies, peanuts, and fried eggs. There’s also the very millennial-friendly Chorizo and Avocado Toast with buttered sourdough, spiced avocado mash, crumbled chorizo, 64°C egg, kesong puti, and nuoc cham salad. And there’s the more straightforward Fresh Fried Egg and Salmon Sandwich featuring smoked salmon, bacon jam, and fried egg on a squid ink bun.

But what makes this new breakfast menu a standout are the Southeast Asian flavors that permeate many of the dishes. Simply order a cup of coffee from Yardstick next door, and dig into any of the following:

Coconut Gula Melaka Pancakes

There’s a delicate sweetness to these fluffy coconut and chia pancakes, served with kaya jam and gula melaka (palm sugar), and topped with fresh mango, but it’s never cloying, thanks to the coconut. Here, it’s served with a Purple Coconut smoothie made with dragonfruit and coconut milk.

Beef Rendang Eggs Benedict

Who doesn’t love eggs Benedict? At Your Local, the chefs have dared to top buttered English muffins with Malaysian-style beef rendang in spicy coconut sauce, with pickled cucumbers, 64°C eggs, and sambal hollandaise. It’s definitely a far cry from the traditional ham and hollandaise, but this dish actually works.

Salmon Otak Otak

These are traditional fish cakes usually combining ground fish and tapioca starch, prevalent in Malaysia and Indonesia, and here made with salmon. Reminiscent of a salmon mousse, it’s delicate yet very tasty, fragrant with spices, and perfect with coconut rice, shredded egg, pickles, and of course, hot sauce.

Your Local, 106 Esteban Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, yourlocal.ph