“The food is great but she’s terrifying and so rude” my friend Joan Holloway told me one day over lunch. “She is” confirmed Naomi nodding gravely. I don’t usually make it a habit of dining at difficult to eat at restaurants. I generally prefer to eat without the possibility of being abused or told off so I kept this in the back of my mind. Then a couple of months later I was talking to @kristygilfo who asked if I had visited MissChu and I told her of my friends terrified but excited faces and the slew of comments on review sites echoing their words.
“Oh no, she just can’t handle stress. Tell her that you know me”. So I felt safe in the comfort of a “I know a friend of yours” line. I was quite intrigued by the “Queen of Rice paper rolls” title that MissChu had given herself and from all reports, they were excellent rice paper rolls.
Nevertheless I was heeding advice gleaned from everyone. Know what you want, don’t ask about any items, pay and move away. It was really like an episode of Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi being played out in Darlinghurst. Mr NQN and I arrived one night and I stared at the chalkboard menu. I had already studied the online menu so I knew what I wanted but the chalkboard menu had fewer choices. “Ummm excuse me, which menu do I use?” I asked pointing at both and stepping back in case there was a tirade of abuse. The woman behind the counter smiled and pointed at the one below.
Entry visa
I placed an order and then she told me the total. I thought that Mr NQN had more cash than he did so horrified we came up a few dollars short. “Umm err, we’ll go to the ATM around the corner ” but then I spy the credit card sign and pay by credit card. ”Is that Miss Chu?” I asked another employee. “Oh no, she’s at the Opera House, they’ve just opened up a branch there so she is spending a lot of time there” she said. Phew I needn’t have worried. My well rehearsed plan of ordering, paying and stepping away to the side had failed spectacularly and it was probably a good thing that she wasn’t there.
A painted slanted school desk on a hill means that it almost lies flat 
Our drink arrives first-they take your name you listen out for the call. Meanwhile we take a seat at the tables. And they’re quite an odd assortment. There are tiny school children sized tables and chairs, painted over school desks and tables precariously balanced on milk crates. There is a line of string on which the menu hangs-the back of the menu is their entry visa from when they were “adopted” into Australia as refugees from Laos.
Coconut, lychee and cucumber slushee $5
The coconut lychee and cucumber slushee is divine. Don’t fear the addition of cucumber, it is there just to provide refreshment and it doesn’t make it taste like a vegetable juice. The frozen coconut and the lychee gives it a tropical sweetness. It’s garnished with a tinned lychee and a sprig of mint.
Our goodies
Peking Duck Pancakes $2.20
Our name is called and we receive a big brown paper bag stapled shut with our goodies. The Peking duck pancakes are small miniature cocktail party sized (in fact MissChu originally started as a caterer and doesn’t open on weekends as she is busy catering). The pancakes are soft and fresh and the Peking duck is more roast duck but it is succulent and delicious. And I will gleefully admit that I could eat a tray of these.
Roast duck and banana flower rice paper rolls $8
We try the rice paper rolls and start with the roast duck and banana flower and comes with a thick, sweet strong chilli sauce. The roast duck, plain vermicelli and fresh herbs is like having a banana flower salad wrapped up in a rice paper roll although I thought that a bit more duck might have been nice.
Sashimi tuna rice paper rolls Market price ($11.60 on the day that we visited)
The sashimi tuna rice paper rolls are excellent. The rice paper is soft and fresh and packed with wasabi. It’s even a little too much for wasabi loving Mr NQN.
Free range egg omelet, avocado and caramelised balsamic onion rice paper roll $6
These rolls were a bit firmer and in parts drier than the other two (perhaps it’s the more open packaging that it sits in). The filling wasn’t bad but it wasn’t as exciting as the other two rolls.
Green papaya salad $13
I did like the green papaya salad which had fresh green papaya, carrot, snake beans, tomatoes and a little round vegetable that looks like a tiny white guava. On top there’s also a generous sprinkling of toasted cashews and I particularly like it when each mouthful that I take has a cashew in the absence of the prawns or other additions.
Lemongrass beef eye fillet salad $12
The stir fried minced lemongrass beef is strong in lemongrass and chilli and sits on top of a tangle of vermicelli noodle in a warm salad. Mr NQN finds it a little dry and I prefer the Som Tum salad over this.
Young coconut slushie with banana and mint $5
On another day we decided that we simply had to try more of the menu, namely the spring rolls and the dumplings. We started off with the young coconut slushie (we’re slightly addicted to these) in a banana and mint. It’s thick with young coconut pieces, sweetened coconut water and has body from the blended banana and mint. We slightly prefer the refreshing quality of the lychee and cucumber whereas this is thicker and richer.
Prawn and crab net spring rolls $5 for 4
I saw someone else at another table with these netted spring rolls on our first visit and I wanted to try them. They’re utterly fabulous-crunchy and moreish with a crunch that you hear in your ears. They’re filled with prawn and crab, mushroom and vermicelli and I contemplate ordering more.
BBQ pork bun $2 and steamed vegie bun $2
This wasn’t bad and the aroma of bamboo was very apparent. The white fluffy part is a little soggy towards the bottom and they’re not the most beauteous specimens.
Inside the BBQ pork bun
Inside the steamed vegie bun
Shanghai pork dumplings and scallop and prawn dumplings $5 per serve of 3 dumplings
The dumplings weren’t pretty-the flavours were all there but they were mostly burst open due to being steamed for too long. The Shanghai pork buns have a lovely ginger flavour but no soup due to them being burst open and the scallop and prawn dumpling have generous amount of scallop and prawn but again fall apart on the journey from chopstick to mouth. They’re both doused with some Shanghai vinegar which gives it a nice tang.
Tiger prawn and green mango rice paper rolls $6 for 2
The prawns are a little on the small side for tiger prawns but they are succulent and flavoured and three per rice paper roll. The combination of marinated prawn and green mango gives these rolls an appealing flavour and moistness and this, along with the sashimi tuna are the pick of the rice paper rolls for us.
Satay chicken and young coconut rice paper rolls $6 for 2
The satay chicken rice paper roll is a little dry so I keep dunking it in the sauce and I give up my rice paper roll to a hungry Mr NQN.
Caramelised free range pork belly stew $15
The white take away box of pork belly has six cubes of slightly sweet, soft pork belly stew on top of some steamed Asian greens and rice and a whole deep fried egg on top. The pork and the egg is good together especially since the egg yolk has a slightly soft centre although the rice is a bit overcooked so we mostly leave this behind.
Brownie $4
The desserts are also served in little takeaway containers. Today’s selections are brownies and sticky rice. There are two rectangles of brownie with a crusty chocolate top and a gooey inner and drizzling of chocolate on the top. Heaven.
Sticky rice $3
The sticky rice has two layers, a black sticky rice on top and an eggy custard on the bottom. We both don’t really go for the custard, it’s a bit too eggy but we both like the sticky rice top.
We see a delivery man hopping on a bike-they deliver within 1.5 kms on electric bikes although the driver says that they can deliver up to 5kms. I guess it just depends on who answers as to how far they might deliver that night!
Nothing brightens up traffic light control box like pineapple offerings and newspapers!
“Ho ho ho!” we hear as a drunk Santa ambles past…
Somehow we don’t believe that he has been drinking Coke all night
So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever found a “Soup Nazi”?
Misschu
1/150 Bourke Street, Darlinghurst, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 8356 9988
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66 Comments | Add your own
What a shame you never actually got to run into Miss Chu! She sounds formidable..
Food all looks interesting and tasty, particularly those net spring rolls – I’ve never seen anything like them before!
Well, if I did find a “soup Nazi”, I’d probably steer clear.
Actually, Lorraine, while some of the food looked good, there were quite a few things that didn’t. The pork buns for example. The lemongrass beef dish looks most unappetizing. I did like the looks of the duck pancakes though.
Guess you were fortunate she wasn’t there. She probably would have forbidden you to take photos!
We definitely have a “Soup Nazi” here. The restaurant is called the Green Door and Betty the owner has a bit of a reputation. I know people who have faced her wrath but I have never seen this side of her. The food at MissChu looks fantastic. I see that she has steamed buns. They are very popular here and are called manapua.
oooooh I now have the biggest craving for rice paper rolls! Which is not that unusual seeing as they are one of my favourites
Haha too funny! I was thinking Seinfeld Soup Nazi before you even mentioned it. This looks great and great prices too. I’m going to check them out. Thanks for the post.
Haha, I love it, It is quite hilarious when you love the food but the service is ‘scarey’, you just keep going back….! The food looks great.
The slushies look divine – as does the duck roll and the sticky rice – love that concept!
Sounds delicious – but with a peanut allergy (an ingredient occasionally found in rolls and dumplings) I am nervous of a place that doen;t allow you to ask what is in things
I tried to go here last Tuesday, but heatwave was just too much. Ended up at Misschu’s at Opera Kitchen which was nice but much more expensive than the Darlo tuckshop due to the killer views. On her website it does say the tuckshop is open 7 days a week now, but is that incorrect. I’m thinking of going this weekend?
I found Misschu’s to be a good option for vegetarians because their meat-free dishes were so flavourful and more exciting the standard dumpling/noodle/salad fare.
Chinese ‘fast food’? What a terrifically fun experience at most reasonable prices! And, no, thank heavens have not ever found a ‘Soup Nazi’ – would walk methinks, even if hungry!
Those netted rolls sound delish! Glad you weren’t scared off
I absolutely love the look of this place! Must visit next time I’m in town.
And nope, I can’t recall any real life Soup Nazis. Though I have a horrible suspicion that, if I were to own a restaurant, I would be guilty of Soup Nazism…
I really like the quirkiness of this place. Perhaps if Miss Chu was there in person the food would have been more consistant in quality. I get the whole ‘soup nazi’ thing in hospitality, but you have to find a balance with customer relations. Most chefs just reserve their ‘soup nazi’ tendencies towards the rest of the staff!
I have always wanted to check out Miss Chu’s but I’ve been too scared. Maybe I’ll give it a go though as it looks delish.
The closest thing to a soup nazi I can think of is Petersham Charcoal Chicken. If you’re not sure what you want when you get up to the counter and/or if they don’t know you, watch out…
eeeeep.
this all looks amazeballs.
Oh, I love dumplings and I am always looking for somewhere new! A work colleague mentioned Miss Chu a few weeks ago and I have been hankering to try it ever since. He said the satay chicken salad is fantastic and that’s what I plan to try when we manage to get there…
I haven’t encountered a soup nazi as such but I once witnessed a chef going a bit postal when someone (not with us – at another table) sent his steak back three times because it wasn’t cooked to his specifications. Frankly I didn’t blame the chef…
The first time I went I encountered Miss Chu screaming at a cowering employee – made for an unpleasant experience.. but I’ve been back. I had a catered function recently. The food was very good but I had three phone calls, each one asking me to pick up earlier than I had booked. What a bonanza this would be if she were pleassant!
Soy and I have always thought that Australia lacks the little snacks that you find everywhere in Asia, for times when one is only a little peckish and not wanting a full meal. Miss Chu’s seems to fulfil this for sure- the baos and rice paper rolls are perfect for stopping by for a quick bite! And how adorable are the decor and packaging!
I used MissChu for office catering last week – we got 20 BBQ pork buns (ours looked much nicer than the ones you were served though) and 20 vegetarian spring rolls (the netted ones). It was so good, everyone loved it, and it made me want to visit the store
This is on my route home and being a regular patron of Marrickville pho shops (and occasionally, Bankstown and Cabramatta), I shudder at the thought of Vietnamese in the Eastern Suburbs.
My fears were confirmed when I picked up an unremarkable Wagyu Pho from MissChu.
However, based on your review, it looks like I’ll need to give the rolls a shot!
I’m reading this at midnight and it has made me hungry! LOL!
That looks delicious, Lorraine! Everything (even the pork buns) looked delicious and the rice paper rolls made my mouth water. It’s amazing how a “soup nazi” can still attract so many customers!
Mmmm, I love netted spring rolls, and the variety of rice paper rolls here is fantastic.
Pork belly stew in a takeaway cardboard box?
It sounds like a real experience! The food looks not bad from what I can tell
I shudder at the thought of meeting Miss Chu personally (Tiger Lady alert!), but the food looks fascinating and scrumptious.
And I can’t imagine anything more refreshing than that coconut-lychee-cucumber slushy. :3
I’m so glad you ended up going! I’m still a fan!!
All of this food looks amazingly good, but my all time fave is Peking duck – love it! I haven’t met any Soup Nazis – yet.
Ahhh! This is one of those posts where by the time I’m here at the comments I’m so overwhelmed with wanting all of it that I can’t remember what I particularly wanted to comment on! I know there was amazement abotu banana flowers and caramelised onions in rice paper rolls, and longing for the green mango/papaya salads, and then swooning for the desserts…
haha lol – I LOVE Seinfeld. The soup nazi episode is brilliant. I have never found one myself. This place looks absolutely fabulous. From the slushies to all the food – honestly it all made me hungry! You’re making me want to move to Sydney!
Heidi xo
Mmmmmm Prawn and crab net spring rolls!
Haha there is a woman like that at an RSL near us. The family always insists on going but no one is game enough to order so they make me do it. Now Iv started writing it down and speaking slowly so she doesnt spit on me lol
Oh wow! There is a lovely little takeaway near the kids’ school … you have to line up, say what you want, pay, and step to the side. The lady is never nasty, as in a Soup Nazi way, but she isn’t exactly friendly. The price changes every day …it’s like she plucks a figure out of the air. But it’s always yummy and reasonable so we keep going back.
xo
I’m torn – the food looks great but I’ll have to keep Nick away as he asks waaay too many questions when we go out.
Pretty sure I’ve worked with a lot of ‘soup nazi’ types
I would have quite enjoyed going toe to toe with a Soup Nazi…
I haven’t come across a ‘Soup Nazi’, but at the Golden Harbour Chinese Restaurant in Haymarket, the floor is run by this little (ie: I’m 5ft and she’s a little shorter than I am!) Asian lady. Now I have to admit, I don’t understand the commands she shouts out to her staff, but when she does, they all move at high speed to do what she says. But then she’ll turn to the customers and be all sweet and smiles.
This place looks awesome, will definately have to give this place a visit.
I love this sort of Asian eating. Fresh or quick or little – it’s all good.
I love the food at MissChu’s but have never met her myself. Sounds similar to the Sushi Nazi from Sushi Suma at Surry Hills! But to his credit in all the times I’ve been there (alot!) not once has our order been wrong and the food is worth the service.
Do you remember in that Seinfeld episode, Elaine found the Soup Nazi’s recipes in the old piece of furniture bought from him? Some of that food looks tasty, in a “slumming it” sort of a way.Sorry, but, that furniture is super depressing. Is this a test?
I’m coming to Sydney next week and this is on the itinerary my friend has written for us. Now I’m looking forward to it even more!
Not so scared about trying Ms Chu’s now. Food looks as good as I have read about and you didn’t have attitude, nice.
Oh..My…GOODNESS!! I literally squeeled with excitement at seeing this post! What amazing looking food my mouth is watering! No WONDER you went back TWICE! I’m going to be going down there very very soon, I think it’s actually walking distance from my brothers apartment…happy days!!
What an interesting little place and the food looks awesome! Thanks for sharing Lorraine ;D
Petersham Charcoal chicken on Canterbury Rd, There is a chicken Nazi running the show. I know she says horrible things about the customers in portugese and I have felt the seething resentment from her at orders placed on the phone. That’s some damn fine portugese chicken though and I am happy in my blissful non portugese speaking ignorance!
I love how well prepared you went, shivering in your boots…and it all fell to nothing! Teehee… love the drama in your posts. My O my…what a layout. I quite enjoy the laid back, informal style of food here. Sometimes tastes so much better, more like home. Great review Lorraine. Enjoyable!
Must agree with your friend’s comment on the opening, that the owner can be rude
My cousin catered from them for her birthday party, not only did they forgot to make the order on the day (which has already been paid for in advance), she was verbally abusing my cousin as well – it was horrible !! Understand that you are under stress, but really, do you need to take it out on a paying customer ?
Yes. Haha. Several times. Mostly in hawker stalls.
Seems like a few misses, but I want to try those netted spring rolls, please!! Do you think the dude on the bike could come to Perth?
haha I have a miss chu story! THE miss chu literally threw chopsticks into my brown bag when I said she forgot them! But the eggnet spring rolls made up for it – and because I wanted more, I had to face her again hehe!
Oh and I will happily share a tray of those duck pancakes with you, yum!!
Oh oh! I love those outdoor chairs! They look like rabbit ears, for the year of the rabbit!! Very smart
The rice paper rolls sure look delicious, I’m getting hungry..
I also really like how they decorate the outside, makes it look like a photo from some Asian country.
Sounds like so much fun! I don’t think I’ve encountered a soup Nazi yet, but I’ve definitely had my fair share of rude wait staff. What a great menu they have there — the Prawn and crab net spring rolls really caught my eye as I’ve never seen anything like it before!
Craving dumplings and other goodies just by reading your review. Might make a trip to the local Taste of Shanghai soon. Miss Chu sounds scary =(
There’s a sushi Nazi in Los Angeles. Sushi Nozawa. If you sit at the counter, you cannot order per se; you just eat what he puts in front of you. Apparently, there are horror stories of uninformed patrons daring to order California rolls, only to be thrown out. Who knows if it’s myth or truth. I will say that whatever Chef Nozawa puts in front of you is worth it, though. Wonderful, fresh, sublime sushi.
Fantabulous bolg. I was recently at Forresters pub for a meal with a friend, while ordering wine and dinner at the bar, one of the delivery guys from MissChu delivered dinner to the bar staff, we asked what it was and the staff explained it was the best food in town… to that, we were a bit unsure what to order or even if to stay! We jokingly asked if we could try theirs to which they quickly ran from behind the bar and scoffed at our request!
I had known about Miss Chu for a while but it never occurred to me that I walk past it often without realising! I went there recently for the first time and was served by Miss Chu herself and while abrupt, she was not that scary!
Anybody seen the “Miss Sour Chu” cocktail at Fei Jai, cantonese place around the corner in Potts Pt…?
Wow that’s a lot of food there! Did you 2 eat that all in one go?? I love the idea of different flavours of rice spring rolls, as long as the flavour combinations work. I would love to try all of those things!
There was a sushi joint just like that near my apartment, where the food was great but the owner invariably barked at you and scared you, turning you into a 3-year old instead of a paying customer with rights. But when the food is that good, sometimes you have to endure the abuse, although I would really only do so in very rare cases.
That was very brave of you to go there after such scary reviews! Although it just might be worth it for the rice paper rolls, some great sounding combinations there.
there is a “soup nazi” at one of my favorite noodle houses. she is so unpopular that several people i know have boycotted the place based on her alone (the noodles are fantastic).
misschu’s looks amazing. i would certainly brave her potential wrath for some rolls…
I used to visit MissChu practically every day for lunch. My faves: the coconut mousse and watercress jelly dessert, spring roll nets, lemongrass beef. I’ve seen MissChu’s cheerful side. Though, more often than not, she could be blunt. I put that down to her being Very Busy.
One day, I took my brand-new colleague to MissChu, raving about how fabulous the food was all the way. Unfortunately, MissChu was not having a good day. She abused my colleague because she apparently was ‘incompetent’ at ordering, My colleague ended up asking for her money back. (Which led to more swearing abuse.) I was mortified.
I haven’t been there in months, but God, I miss that food! It’s the best in a 1Km radius. And her staff are all lovely.
Oops–I meant water *chestnut* jelly.
Love your site! It takes me to so many places and through so many virtual experiences.
My friends brother recently opened up a Miss Chu in Melbourne. I’m visiting soon for a dinner and taking all your advice with me.
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