A popular, characterful North London brunch restaurant with creative dishes, warm hospitality and some value and consistency caveats; book ahead for busy periods.
Kiss the Koala delivers strong food quality and attentive service that keep regulars returning, but inconsistent execution across dishes like chicken, waffles, and eggs prevents a higher grade. The neighbourhood setting near Priory Road offers genuine local appeal, though occasional preparation lapses and variable dish reliability hold it just short of grade A territory.
Kiss the Koala is a cheerful, busy neighbourhood brunch restaurant on Priory Road, with a loyal local following and a particularly appealing relationship to nearby Alexandra Park. Reviews paint a colourful, friendly room where coffee, dogs, children and weekend energy all fit comfortably together; one regular describes a daily cortado ritual, while another praises the outdoor tables after a park walk. The food is more playful than a standard fry-up, mixing familiar brunch foundations with Korean barbecue, Mumbai-inspired naan, beetroot-cured salmon and kaffir-lime fritters. The Korean chicken waffle is the clear crowd favourite, while the full English-style plates are hearty and shareable. Most diners find the cooking fresh, filling and fairly priced for the setting, though occasional reports of dry chicken, cold waffles, over-seasoned Turkish eggs and undercooked components show that execution is not infallible. Families are genuinely catered for better than at many trendy brunch spots: reviews mention a children's menu and child-sized portions, and the current menu includes approachable choices such as granola, French toast, hash browns, eggs, sausage and waffles. It is less seamless for babies and toddlers, however, because one parent reported no high chairs and an unusable changing facility. Picky eaters should be comfortable, but adventurous adults will get the most from the creative dishes.
Area vibe: Leafy north London residential area with an emerging independent café and dining scene.
Safety: Generally safe, quiet residential streets with decent evening lighting though some streets are quieter at night.
What's nearby: Near Priory Road shops, Alexandra Park and Hornsey/Turnpike Lane transport links; small local high street cafés and independent restaurants.
The Korean BBQ Chicken Waffle is the signature pick, but the menu also ranges from beetroot-cured salmon to PB & Jelly French Toast.
Expect a cheerful but compact brunch spot, weekend crowds, extra charges for some add-ons, and occasional inconsistency in the kitchen.
The atmosphere blends friendly neighbourhood energy, coffee rituals, dogs, children, and outdoor tables near Alexandra Park.