January 3, 2026
We had a couple low-obligation days in the new year before returning to work. Michael did a little online research and suggested we try Collingwood's Terror Twilight for lunch. Located on a corner, sunlight streams in from two sides, and there's a bit of a diner feel to the whole set-up. The menu's a little fancy: banana bread comes with burnt miso caramel butter, the ham toastie is actually mortadella, and eggs benedict is served on brioche with a green mango salad. Half of the menu columns are taken up with "build your own bowl" and "build your own broth" step-throughs. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are well-marked through the all-day breakfast, but less so in the build-your-own sections, even though it's potentially the easiest way to meet one's dietary requirements.
I love to see a house-made soda on a menu, too - at this time they were specialising in rhubarb, strawberry and mint ($7.50).
The spicy green eggs ($26.50) naturally caught Michael's attention - it's a modest round of Turkish bread stacked with folded eggs, spring onion and green chilli relish, a herb salad, grated haloumi and crispy fried shallots, and a little pool of parsley-salted yoghurt to drag it all through.
I was intrigued by the eggs kurosawa ($27) and ultimately loved every bite. Under a furikake-dusted rice cracker, I took my sweet time over folded eggs, brown rice, bok choy, avocado and fried tofu finished with dabs of pickled ginger, miso mayo and teriyaki sauce.
Terror Twilight's staff were chipper and welcoming. The more-is-more menu seems to be executed well and there is nothing hidden about this gem, with a steady stream of customers flowing through. I'd be interested to come back to build a bowl or sample some of the sweet stuff.
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There's a positive review of Terror Twilight on Melbourne Lifestyle.
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Terror Twilight
11-13 Johnston St, Collingwood
9417 0129
Accessibility: There's a ramp up to the door, a flat floor and a wide pathway through the centre of the café. Furniture is mostly densely packed regular height tables with backed chairs and benches. There are a couple of booths and a high bench with fixed, backless stools. We ordered at our table and paid at the high counter. We didn't visit the toilets.
