A SOUTH Wales cafe is offering something of a culinary delight which could be unique to the whole of Wales.

Barry is known for innovation and in this case it's in the cuisine industry.

We first covered Jack’s Cafe when it opened on Holton Road in September.

Owner Martin Irwin described the caf as a welcoming and friendly community café offering quality food.

Penarth Times: Jack's Cafe recently opened on Holton RoadJack's Cafe recently opened on Holton Road (Image: Newsquest)

Specialising in breakfast-orientated dishes, Jack’s also branches out into “American big”  – big style burgers, hotdogs and more.

Now, Mr Irwin, who said the menu would change with the seasons, has designed a new dish perfect to keep you warm in winter!

The ‘messy muffin’ is a concept which sees Jack’s renowned chicken katsu, full breakfasts and superb cuts of meat placed neatly (scratch that – not neatly. Messily!!) between two muffins.

Penarth Times: Jack's Cafe has introduced its new muffin rangeJack's Cafe has introduced its new muffin range (Image: Supplied)

Penarth Times: There are meat and vegetarian optionsThere are meat and vegetarian options (Image: Supplied)

When we went and took on this culinary challenge we had the current muffin of the week - cornflake chicken, bacon, beef chilli, cheese, hash browns and a fried egg.

On a cold weekday morning at 8am, we prepared our stomachs, rolled up our sleeves and got stuck in, and what an experience!

The cornflake chicken was beautifully crisp, the chilli warming, and the fried egg yolk ran perfectly over the top of it all.

For £8, we would be satisfied all the way to dinner!

Penarth Times: We tried the muffin of the weekWe tried the muffin of the week (Image: Newsquest)

Penarth Times: Our muffin had chicken, chilli, egg, bacon and hash brown in it!Our muffin had chicken, chilli, egg, bacon and hash brown in it! (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Irwin reckons there is no one else he can find in South Wales doing the ‘messy muffin’ the way he does.

He said he did it because when he first put the option on the menu, it became a hit.

Penarth Times: Owner Martin Irwin said the muffins were a hit when he first put them on the menuOwner Martin Irwin said the muffins were a hit when he first put them on the menu (Image: Newsquest)

Now you can get ten options of the messy muffin and another seven vegetarian options.

The meat options include the ‘Jack steak muffin’ (steak strips, peppers, onions, mushrooms and cheese), the ‘smashed pattie’ (beef pattie, mozzarella sticks and bacon) and ‘the Mexican’ (beef chilli, crushed tortilla chips and cheese).

Penarth Times: The muffins are reasonably priced at around £7The muffins are reasonably priced at around £7 (Image: Supplied)

Penarth Times: The big breakfast muffin!The big breakfast muffin! (Image: Supplied)

Penarth Times: Some of the muffins are influenced by continental dishesSome of the muffins are influenced by continental dishes (Image: Supplied)

In the vegetarian options there is ‘the Moroccan’ (chickpea curry, spinach and pomegranate), ‘the kofta’ (vegan kofta in mango and coconut salsa) and ‘the strog’ (mushroom stroganoff and corn salsa).

And, for a limited time only, there will be the Christmas muffin – homemade pigs in blankets, cabbage and red wine sauce.

In the words of Mr Irwin and Jack’s: “If it ain’t muffin, it ain’t nuffin!”

Jack’s Café is at 24 Holton Road (near the Vale council offices). It opens from 8.30am to 3pm Monday to Saturday.

Did you try Jack’s? What did you think of it? Let us know in comments or on our Facebook page.

Follow Jack's on Instagram and Facebook at jackscafe24.

Got a story in Barry? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.