New York’s Lower East Side is stacked with brunch options, but Good Thanks Cafe has quietly become the little Orchard Street spot people plan their trips and weekends around.
Between its Aussie-inspired brunch plates, Proud Mary coffee, and craveable scrambles that keep popping up in conversations about New York City brunch, this place has evolved from casual pit stop to full-blown breakfast obsession for locals and travelers alike. 😎✨
Why Good Thanks Is the LES Breakfast Crush Locals Can’t Get Over
From the outside, Good Thanks Cafe looks like a modest sliver of a café on Orchard Street, but step inside and it feels like the morning version of a trusted neighborhood bar—regulars know their order by heart, and first-timers leave already planning a second visit.
Opened in 2018 as a “healthy lifestyle focused cafe” with Australian coastal vibes, Good Thanks leans into bright, fresh plates, all-day breakfast, smoothies, juices, and Proud Mary coffee instead of heavy diner-style spreads, which hits the sweet spot for New Yorkers who want brunch to feel indulgent but not exhausting. 🥑☕
The hook is in the details: whipped “Tornado Eggs” piled on Avocado Toast Number Two, kimchi-scrambled eggs with labneh and sourdough, golden curry scrambles, and a carrot loaf that feels like dessert without knocking you out for the day.
Add in that brown sugar shaken espresso—the kind of drink you try once and immediately add to your permanent coffee rotation—and suddenly this tiny Orchard Street café is competing with the city’s bigger-name spots on every must-try NYC brunch list. 😋
What keeps people talking isn’t hype, it’s how easy it is to relax here: whitewashed brick, soft lighting, leafy touches, and a coveted window seat that lets you watch the Lower East Side wake up, all wrapped in a “hipster, casual” atmosphere that feels cool but never cold.
You can roll in solo with a flat white, meet friends for a slow brunch, or wander over after exploring other Lower East Side cafes and hidden gems—and in every scenario, the room feels like it was designed for lingering. 🌿
It’s that combination of Australian-inspired brunch, quietly polished service, and neighborhood comfort that has slipped Good Thanks into conversations about the best New York City breakfast spots, not as a flashy newcomer, but as the place people softly insist you “have to try at least once” on your next LES morning. 🗽✨
Food Highlights
-
Avocado Toast Number Two: A thick slice of rustic sourdough piled high with creamy avocado and crowned by the café’s signature whipped “Tornado Eggs,” giving you a silky, cloud-like egg experience that feels worthy of every must-try NYC brunch list and sets the tone for a very smug, very happy New York morning.
-
Kimchi Scramble: Soft scrambled eggs folded with punchy kimchi, cooling labneh, and fresh sourdough on the side create a savory, spicy, and tangy plate that wakes up your senses and makes brunch here feel more like an edible adventure than just another order at a typical New York breakfast restaurant. 🌶
-
Curry Scramble: Fluffy eggs infused with gentle curry spices arrive golden and aromatic, delivering the kind of warm, cozy plate you hope to find at a Lower East Side brunch spot when the weather’s chilly and you want something comforting but not heavy.
-
Blue Bowl: This vibrant, fruit-forward bowl leans into color and freshness with cool textures and bright flavors, making it a top pick for anyone seeking a lighter, energizing start that still feels indulgent in the way the best healthy cafes in NYC manage to pull off. 🫐
-
Carrot Loaf: Moist, warmly spiced carrot loaf with a crumbly top, sliced strawberry, and rich crème fraîche brings dessert energy to the table without going overboard, giving you the kind of charming pastry you’d expect from a well-loved New York coffee shop rather than a faceless chain. 🥕
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/good-thanks-cafe-new-york?select=rhbwn_ur7dUxb4B7aebXgA
-
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso / Iced Shaken Brown Sugar Coffee: A chilled, velvety espresso shaken with brown sugar until it turns frothy and lightly sweet delivers the iced coffee upgrade that cements Good Thanks in your personal hall of fame for must-visit NYC coffee spots. ☕
-
French Croissant with Butter and Jam: A warm, flaky croissant sourced from a local bakery and served simply with butter and jam is exactly the kind of buttery pastry you hope to tear apart at a small, hip Manhattan cafe, especially when you’re easing into the day with no real plans beyond coffee and carbs. 🥐
-
Fresh Green Juice: Bright, tart, and properly refreshing, this green juice slices through rich egg dishes and leaves you feeling like you’ve perfectly balanced indulgence with the kind of “feel-good choice” that brunch-obsessed, health-conscious New Yorkers chase between pastry runs. 🥬
Atmosphere
Good Thanks Cafe channels a “hipster, casual” Lower East Side vibe with whitewashed exposed brick, minimalist decor, soft lighting, and leafy touches, creating a room that feels bright yet calm—just what you’d hope to find in a favorite NYC neighborhood cafe. 🌿
The intimate but airy layout makes it easy to settle in, with the coveted window seat giving you a cozy perch to watch Orchard Street wake up around you.
Voices and music blend into a gentle hum, making it easy to chat with friends or linger solo over a flat white and a plate of eggs while planning which New York City destinations you’ll hit next.
Polite, laid-back service and a room that feels under the radar yet instantly welcoming complete the experience, turning a simple brunch into one of those “I could sit here all morning” kind of moments that stick with you long after you’ve left the LES.
Bottom Line
Good Thanks Cafe delivers Aussie-inspired brunch plates, bold scrambles, Proud Mary coffee, and a relaxed LES vibe in one tiny, addictive package.
Visit for Tornado Eggs, kimchi and curry scrambles, shaken espresso, and that cozy Orchard Street atmosphere that makes breakfast feel like the best part of your New York day—and a must-add stop on any Lower East Side food itinerary. 🌞
Address:
131A Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
📞 +1 646-370-4426
🕔 Open daily, Mon 8 AM–4 PM; Tue–Thu 8 AM–10 PM; Fri 8 AM–11 PM; Sat 8:30 AM–11 PM; Sun 8:30 AM–4 PM