It’s been a while, but we’re back sharing some of our fave eateries from the vibrant Sydney restaurant scene. First up, an eclectic Vietnamese-Australian spot tucked away above a pub and a backpackers. Climb the stairs washed in street art and neon light and step into Hey Chu, a venue inspired by the fragrant food and late-night drinking culture of Vietnam.
Modern Australian takes on Asian cuisines are nothing new, but you can be assured this is anything but the expected. Here you’ll find innovative creations like crispy pork cannoli and bahn knot waffles served under a ceiling peppered with handmade paper lanterns.
As always, we over-ordered in the name of content, and have a good selection of recommendations to share with you. Our favourites start with the nduja and mozzarella stuffed spring rolls, packing a spicy punch and oozing with cheese, and a simple but smashing crispy chicken burger with gooey American cheese, a zingy sauce and a sweet, soft bun.
Hey Chu is known for its Vietnamese pasta, and the two we tried were incredible. The lobster agnolotti was swimming in a smokey kimchi butter and lardo sauce and served with sweet amaebi prawns. A rich and flavourful dish, we were sure this was going to be our favourite until we tried the thit kho lamb pappardelle.
A rendition of a lamb ragu sauce, generous, tender pulled lamb is served up in a spiced sauce with incredible depth and a hint of sweetness. Swimming in that moreish sauce is that thick, fresh pasta soaking up all the flavour and providing the perfect vessel to transport that lamb right into your mouth. I’ll be dreaming of this pasta until I return to eat it again.
By this point, we were about ready to roll down the stairs and straight into our beds, but we still had to try one special dish – an in-house dry-aged T-bone steak with Vietnamese coffee butter. The meat was perfectly marbled, cooked and served up exactly as we requested (medium-rare), and the salty umami flavour of the butter elevated each mouthful and had us polishing off the plate (despite being ready to burst).
Before heading off, every table is invited to have a ‘happy ending’. A complimentary shot that changes flavours depending on the day, it’s a fun and refreshing way to end a great evening. The staff will also request to take a photo of your group, which will get printed out and stuck on the wall with the hundreds of other guests collaging the space.
Hey Chu’s motto is ‘We’re not fancy, but we’re good!’ and we couldn’t agree more with this sentiment. Equal effort is put into every dish on the menu, from simple burgers to lobster pasta, all at an affordable price point. The venue is also open until 3 am, serving a delicious snack menu right through to close, making it just as great a spot to come for a late-night feed as it is to come for a celebratory dinner with the family.
