We’re here to bring you some breaking hospitality news: Pat Gennari of the Gennari Group (Koi, Loose Moose, Roosevelt Lounge) has done it again. And by “it” we mean “open a fabulous new restaurant.
Inspired by the street food and hawker markets of Southeast Asia, Maggie Choo is Broadbeach’s newest Asian fusion hotspot, and it was love at first sight for us.
Just stepping inside this joint is like stepping into a warm, neon pink hug. Black tables and fit out really draw the pink accents out, including the dozens of paper umbrellas and paper cherry blossoms hanging from the ceiling. The space opens up on Surfers Parade, and although it feels more like a bustling, sleek VIP lounge when you step in, don’t be fooled; this is not a watering hole masquarading as a restaurant.
Boasting a typical share plates style menu with both big and small portions, the menu at Maggie Choo is everything you’ve ever wanted from hawker-style fare and more. Between the banquet menus and the vegan menus, plus the plethora of choices for both, we promise you will not go hungry. If you’re anything like us, you might actually go home too full to move.
We’re talking salmon sashimi tacos, Indonesian fritters, Kingfish sashimi, oysters, it’s all here. If you’re of the vegan/vegetarian persuasion, get excited, ‘cause Maggie Choo will not just throw some random stir fried greens your way and call it a day. Besides a full vegan banquet menu, you can also nom your way through some epicly delicious stuff: eggplant katsu (which is absolutely killer), haloumi baos drenched in a finger-licking tangy spicy sauce, luscious green curry and more.
The drinks aren’t anything to scoff at either. With a list of pretty interesting twist on some classic cocktails, like the Not Today Satan (a spicy twist on the Blood Mary, which comes with its own dedicated Tabasco bottle), Lady Luck (a lychee cocktail served with a cute fortune cookie) and an espresso martini that’ll knock your pants off, Maggie’s has you covered on the booze front. They even have a boozy bubble tea!
Of course there’s also a decent wine, sake, and beer list, but even if you’re not a cocktail person, we definitely recommend trying at least one.
If you still have room to eat dessert after all that, first off, we commend you. And secondly, we suggest you dip your spoon into a black sesame ice cream sundae that’ll knock your taste buds out of orbit or crunch your way through the Mars bar spring rolls (yep, they're a thing and they're delicious). By then you’ll probably need to be wheeled out via wheelbarrow but unfortunately, you’ll have to bring your own.
So if you’re looking for a spot that has that big city vibe, with casual but killer eats and a picture-perfect backdrop (we predict Maggie Choo will feature in many, many selfies), you know where to head.
Maggie Choo is open every day to 11:30am to 12am and we strongly suggest you make your way there soon.
The Details
What: Maggie Choo
Where: 89 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Image credit: Brooke Darling Photography