Kelvin Lee Hot Bread

Kelvin Grove’s own little bakery, it’s a great place to pick up a cheap snack.
Plenty of people rave about the Vietnamese pork rolls, only $ 4 and delicious, but I’m set in my ways; my pork roll has to have apple sauce and crackly, so I’ve never tried it.
I’m always surprised how cheap the food is in here, great for students on a budget, or if you don’t want to spend big at the other eateries in the area.
My favourites are the sausage rolls, pies and long cream and jam doughnuts, washed down with a chocolate milk. Seriously, try the pies. Lots of different varieties, and none of the gagging, choking and vomiting often associated with meat pies.
They’re open pretty darn early too, so it’s handy if you’re on campus for an early lecture or to get some study done.
They do have limited seating and tables outside, but there’s also a guy (unsure if he works at the bakery or the kebab shop next door) who seems to always be sitting on the bench outside chain smoking, so don’t expect to get any fresh air if you choose to eat right outside.

Kelvin Lee is the Godfather of Asian bakeries. This place is big! And it’d want to be, too, because there needs to be room for the queue of hungry students that can often been seen snaking its way out the door around lunch time. Although Kelvin Lee is a bakery, and does indeed sell bread, I mainly see people buying snacky/​lunchy items here rather than their weekly loaf. I suppose it’s not that cool to take a loaf of bread into a lecture. Or is it now? Kids these days, who knows! Anyway, the items of desire here are pies, sausage rolls, Vietnamese rolls, sandwiches, and sweet things like biscuits and scrolls. Everything is well within a student’s budget and although they might not win any prizes for health and nutrition, the food here is fresh and tasty.
Nice and cheap. Nice and cheerful. If you’re starving Kelvin Lee Hot Bread provides a fast, cheap lunch. There’s no dedicated seating, but you’re on campus so there are plenty of parks and benches to monopolise while you eat your pie (and inevitably get sauce everywhere). Even when there’s a queue it tends to move fast and you’ll be sinking your teeth into something hot and bready in no time.

When Kelvin Lee Hot Bread opened around Z Block at QUT Kelvin Grove, I remember thinking: thank god. I don’t have to eat Nando’s and Pizza Capers for the rest of my uni life. The Vietnamese rolls here are incredible, and I soon became a regular along with the crowds of other students, lecturers, and business staff posted around Musk Avenue. Avoid coming from 12pm-​1pm if you want to avoid a queue.
They were all after the Vietnamese rolls. Picture a dollop of butter, cucumber, carrot, coriander, sweet soy sauce, fresh chili, and a few slices of BBQ pork wedged between a freshly baked and crunchy bun. I’ve never found another one in Brisbane like it. They’re so popular there’s an entire prep area dedicated to these things.
If you’re in the mood for something a little more heavy, go for a piping hot pie or sausage roll. Or if you’re after a sweet pick me up before that sleep inducing team meeting, opt for a giant lamington or fresh cream jam donut. I’m drooling just thinking about it.

I always get a chuckle when I see the term ‘hot bread’. And generally quite hungry. So I ventured inside. This place is a steal! Everything is so ridiculously cheap, and that even buying a salad roll here is in fact more economical than making it yourself. That’s a big statement to make, but at $ 3.50, you can’t really argue with that.
A sign outside informs me to join the queue for sandwiches, though at 2:30pm I am the only one opting for a late lunch — win! From cheap rolls, to cheap sausage rolls, this place is great to duck into for a cheap feed to go. Did I mention it’s cheap?

For students who are getting sick of the food that’s offered on campus, all you need to do I head down to the Urban Village and pay a visit to Kelvin Lee Hot Bread.
This little bakery next to the Commonewealth Bank ATMs offers a range of delectable little treats that no one can resist, after yet another numbingly dull lecture. Personally I always treat myself to a tomato and steak pie if they’re available, however all of the pies they have an offer are pretty good. Some people have told me that the sandwiches are the way to go, however I am yet to try them — I’m still to caught-​up with the pies with their velvety, crisp crust.
Prices are perfectly reasonable however you couldn’t say it was a bargain in particular. From experience they do end of day specials in which the prices are slashed. For students who are around the area or live in the Urban Village this would be a perfect opportunity to snag a bargain and stock up on some crusty bread. In doing this of course you have to sideline your dignity temporarily, but it’s not like you don’t do that most Saturday nights.
In summary, I’d encourage all students to check Kelvin Lee Hot Bread out and eat one of their irresistible pies on those oddly shaped rocks near ‘Z’ block.