Miss Chu is a sensation! I walked past it 3 times trying to find it which was a bit bizarre! The signage is not totally obvious to me, which actually adds to the chicness. A hidden away gem! You enter a front courtyard area which is really cool – taking in the passers by on Exhibition Street.

Love the whole precinct with Sally’s Kitchen and 65 Degrees Café nearby. Loved my experience here! Greeted by a waitress and a sign which said go and sit down wherever you can find a seat and then order. There was a pad with menu options and a pencil and I suddenly realised this was tuck shop style. The waitress said she couldn’t take my order although she would like to. I was worried that if I went to the counter to order I would lose my seat – as it was packed to the rafters this lunchtime!

So I ordered the beef pho as I’m on a hunt for the best pho in Melbourne. I loved my position on a stool at the long counter next to the kitchen. You can see under the retro looking colourful blinds straight into the kitchen – looks clean with chefs who know what they’re doing! The menu looks great – looking forward to trying the salads and the spring rolls and the rice paper at a later date!

The pho was amazing (a little more expensive than I’m used to but worth it!). The pho (pronounced with an “f” in case you wondered) arrived in a large bowl with chopsticks in plastic wrapping and chilli and lemon on the side. The pho had the bamboo shoots and mint and meat heaped up above the broth (rather than adding shoots etc from a side plate like other places). The broth was tasty and not too fatty. Did I detect aniseed? The meat was on the fabulously tender and rare side (not unexpected) - but was a tasty quality cut. The ingredients were fresh and a cocophony of brilliance! This is a quality pho! Poured in most of my chilli and squeezed my lemon silly! Trying to eat the vermicelli with a spoon is always a challenge! Can’t do it with chopsticks! Just stick my head in the bowl and slurp away! I’ll be back!!!

Miss Chu, 297 Exhibition Street, CBD Food 9 Ambience 9