Hey Chú

Hey Chú is Cuong Nguyen's ode to Vietnamese nightlife. The chef and restauranteur is the face behind Hello Auntie in Marrickville and Darling Square, Sydney's ultra-popular "new school" Vietnamese eateries.

With Hey Chú, Nguyen is doing late-night bites and good vibes, operating from within Hotel Downing with a 3am license on weekends. 

Hey Chú's all-star team includes head chef Bremmy Setiyoko (ex-Spice Temple and Sepia and sommelier Patrick Harrowsmith (ex-Love Tilly Devine and Dear Sainte Eloise). 

To eat, there's a list of Asian-inspired snacks like Appellation oysters with jalapeno and lime, fried chicken with hollandaise, tempura pumpkin, and a spectacular must-order chicken congee pot pie with abalone cooked in roasted chicken broth.

Larger dishes include coconut braised pork pappardelle and a selection of dry-aged beef dried in-house. After 9pm, a secret late-night menu kicks in, which involves tableside hibachi grills and a selection of cold smoked meats. 

To drink, there's a neat list of signature cocktails. Try the "Karaoke", made with a loud and vibrant medley of Hennessy VS, Crème De Gingembre, mint, ginger, green tea, and peach tea jelly. Or, the intriguing "What The Pho", with house-infused coriander tequila, ginger liqueur, Cointreau, pho syrup, spiced fish sauce, and lime. 

Dressed up with Vietnamese street art and handmade lanterns with local artists performing through the week and DJs on weekends doing old-school RnB hits until well after midnight, you'll feel as if you've left the city and landed on the streets of Hanoi. 

Image credit: Hey Chú