In big news for lovers of Japanese-inspired eats, the crew behind superstar croque slinger James & Antler has continued its barnstorming run with Supernova, a brand-new cafe concept now open in Fortitude Valley. Supernova’s owners, brothers Tze-Huei ‘TH’ Choo and Chewie Choo, have always had an affinity with Japanese cuisine, so when a walk-in ready venue became available at the base of The Eminence on McLachlan Street the duo decided to act. Supernova offers an array of Japanese-inspired eats with a focus on ingredients, with a less-is-more interpretation of the lunchtime staples – sandos and soba-noodle salads – a specialty. All of Supernova’s sandos are made with Japanese milk bread and house-made sweet barbecue sauce, and are accompanied by a saucer of shoyu-based barbecue dipping sauce and pickled ginger. Fillings include classic chicken and pork katsu, black Angus katsu, spicy tuna and tamago. Supernova’s four-strong selection of soba-based dishes includes noodles topped with the likes of wagyu tataki and oyster mushroom, tuna sashimi with radish and nori, crispy skin barramundi with yuzu dashi, and tempura vegetables. A short breakfast offering is headlined by kare pan, or curry bread – a grab-and-go staple of fried bread with a hearty curry filling – thick honey toast topped with whipped mascarpone, syrup and autumn fruits, spam katsu with folded eggs, and pan-fried potato mochi with aged-cheddar sauce and hot-honey-soy boiled eggs. On the coffee front, TH and Chewie have once again partnered with Kasa Coffee, but this time the team will be using the roaster’s Illusion blend, which won bronze in the Milk Based category in last year’s Golden Bean awards. Not a coffee fan? No problem – Supernova is also offering matcha- and hojicha-based beverages.