NOTE: Miu Coffee has been rebranded Royal Le Restaurant.
Royal Le is a new sweet spot for Chirn Park locals. It’s a place where everyone is invited to gather, catch up over coffee or an interesting meal.
The Gold Coast is made up of many communities, each with their own distinct vibe. Locals eat, drink and play together in local cafés, gather in community activities for celebration and identify as part of that group.
It’s in one of these villages, Chirn Park, that Miu Nguyen opened her first café, Miu Coffee, in June 2021.
“I’d been working in Brisbane for five years at one of my sister’s cafés, and decided it was time to open my own,” Miu tells us. “I’d been looking for about three months without success when we went to eat at Muso Ramen. This venue next door to Muso had been vacant for a long time, but it was exactly what I wanted. Within a week I’d secured the lease. It all happened so quickly,” she adds.
So Miu’s eponymous café was founded, its name meaning ‘Kitten’, the owner’s nickname.
Located on the most crucial corner of the shopping precinct, Miu Coffee is sweet and shy, almost reclusive due to a lack of prominent signage. Inside, its light airy dining space extends out to undercover verandahs adding to the already spacious area. Buff banquettes line one wall, the shape and furniture layout flexible enough to easily accommodate different sized groups.
Cute murals in musk pink and dusty green feature on two walls. Pops of fresh foliage and a ‘Kidzone’ filled with toys in one corner give playful, homely vibes.
Open every day including public holidays, Miu Coffee offers table service, a rarity appreciated by many.
Unlike some cafés which attract a particular ‘tribe’, when we have visited Miu, the demographic has been mixed. From young families and retirees to international students and tourists, we all feel welcome, along with children and animal companions.
The three-page eclectic menu also provides an inclusive touch. Vietnamese Favourites sit alongside Vegetarian, All-Day Menu, Drinks, Sweeties and High Tea sections. The range is extensive, from breakfast favourites such as Eggs Benedict and Sweet Morning (waffle, pancake or French Toast with bacon, eggs and maple syrup) to substantial meals such as pasta, burgers, beer-battered flathead with chips and salad, or Chicken Parmy; dishes which would suit casual dinners as well as lunch.
Running a two-chef kitchen, Chef Adrian cooks dishes from the international section, while Miu herself prepares the Vietnamese favourites on the menu.
It’s the Vietnamese section that piques our interest as a point of difference, Miu telling us it also holds some of the most popular dishes on the menu.
Pho, Vermicilli salad, Bánh Mi, Spicy beef noodle soup, Rice paper rolls and Crispy crêpe (Viet pancake or Bánh Xèo) all make an appearance. Most of the dishes we tried were mild, geared to an average Aussie palate. Personally we’d love to spice them up with lots of fragrant Viet mint, fish sauce and a bit more chilli, so be sure to ask for extra chilli on the side if you like it hot.
With traditional Viet coffee alongside Di Bella as their chosen brew, loose leaf teas, smoothies, juices and frappes, there’s plenty to sip on hot days, even just for a catch up. The venue is also licensed for those who prefer a wine or beer.
‘Coffee and friends, a perfect blend’, the wall mural says, and it’s true. In its own quiet way, Miu Coffee is inclusive of everyone. This is no clan café for a specific group or demographic. This is a café for everyone; a community hub.
Royal Le, 2/58 Brooke Avenue, Southport QLD 4215 Ph: 0403 508 168 Open daily 7am – 3pm