By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
If you grew up in Western Sydney (writer puts her hand up), there’s a fair chance you’ve got a Yum Yum Bakery memory. Maybe it’s the smoky manoush pizzas shared in the car park after soccer and the warm za’atar that clung to your fingertips.
Perhaps it’s the scent of awarma (confit lamb) drifting through the early morning air, or it might just be that unbeatable combo of crispy falafel, sweet tea and loud, generous Lebanese hospitality that made every visit feel like a family gathering. Even if no one knew your name.
Now, that iconic feeling is getting a fresh chapter with Yum Yum Bakery marking its first expansion beyond its beloved Guildford HQ and opening its doors in Concord in the Inner West.
"Opening our Concord store is incredibly personal for us,” says founder Toufic Haddad. "Yum Yum began as a small family bakery in Guildford, built with love, grit and a strong sense of Lebanese pride. Over the past 35 years, it’s become more than just a bakery - it’s part of people’s daily rituals and their childhood memories.”
From the moment you walk through the doors at 50 Mortlake Street, the unmistakable Levantine love abounds. The new space is a stylish nod to Lebanese culture, with decor designed to bring people together. A place where heritage literally meets the heat.
"The vision for Concord was always to create a space that feels both familiar and fresh, where Lebanese tradition meets the energy of Modern Australian cafe culture,” explains Najib, Toufic’s son and now owner.
"Design-wise, we’ve fused raw, modern finishes like polished concrete floors and terrazzo benchtops with warm, nostalgic touches like handmade Australian cane chairs, merbau timber ceilings and a gas brick oven built by a Lebanese craftsman - the heart of our kitchen.”
The menu is pure Middle Eastern soul food. Purists will not be disappointed - with a host of classics still coming through strong. Think kafta pizza laced with tahini, sambousek that shatter on first bite and sujuk-stuffed pies baked fresh to order.
The meatball kaak - think herby, spiced meatballs tucked into a sesame-studded Lebanese bagel is also a cult favourite. For the morning crowd? You’ll want to get in early for the housemade labneh pots layered with fresh cucumber, mint, olives and tomato, or the halloumi-and-egg-loaded breaky wraps that put your average avo toast to shame.
"Each dish on the Concord menu tells a story of where we come from, of the people who raised us and of the food that brought us together,” says Najib. "Our oregano manoush was the first thing we ever served at our Guildford store. Using the exact same dough recipe we use to this day, it represents the heart of what Yum Yum stands for: handmade, honest and deeply rooted in culture.”
Classics perfected, Yum Yum’s contemporary creations prove that it is possible to innovate without compromising authenticity. For example, you’ll still find the wood-fired awarma and egg manoush - a flatbread so legendary, it was crowned Best Egg Dish in Australia back in 2019 by the Australian Egg Corporation on World Egg Day - alongside crispy halloumi spring rolls, labneh bruschetta and falafel nachos - fusing tradition with just enough flair to surprise you.
"We honour our roots with traditional dishes,” says Najib. "The lamb shawarma plate is a standout. It’s marinated overnight in my father’s spice blend and slow-cooked just like he used to on our backyard charcoal grill. It’s more than a dish – it’s a Sunday ritual I grew up with, reimagined for the plate.
"We also have a bit of fun with dishes like our shawarma tacos. It’s our signature lamb, tucked into soft tortillas, topped with tahini, mint and pickles. It’s tradition with a twist - something familiar, made new. The goal was never to reinvent the culture. It was to celebrate it in a way that speaks to both old souls and new generations.”
More than food, what Yum Yum is really serving is culture, community and a connection to the comfort of a home where you will always be welcome. Here, Lebanese hospitality reigns supreme - and many rules remain unspoken.
No one leaves hungry. Your coffee will come with conversation and, there’s no such thing as "just one piece” of anything.
