Mr. Chu’s Taiwan Kitchen and Bar thrived at its Miami Beach location as a Cantonese restaurant serving family style dishes and dim sums. The owners have changed direction with the Coral Gables location, trading in the menu for Taiwanese and Japanese flavors. Once you recall that Taiwan was under Japanese rule and that A.O. Chu’s wife Norika is Japanese, you can see how the changes pull the restaurant closer to its roots.
This place screams a casual, and has a make–yourself–at–home vibe. A half–moon–shaped wooden bar that is stocked to the hilt meets you as you enter the door, signaling that this place is as much about the libations as it is about the food. One of the bartenders is also a financial analyst so perhaps you can pick up some monetary advice as you down the varying Saki concoctions she whips up.
In a time when freebies are more and more scarce, Mr. Chu’s Taiwan Kitchen and Bar comes with a lot of liquid leverage—two–for–one drinks, twice a day, every day. The first happy hour runs from 4:30–7:30 p.m. and kicks into high gear again starting at 10:30 p.m.–close, 2 a.m. weeknights and an hour later on weekends. Try the lycheetini ($8.50), a smooth and sweet concoction of Saki, vodka and lychee syrup with the Crispy Peppery Chicken with basil ($8). The sweetness complements the grownup chicken nuggets and you could pop both all night long.
Parking itself in the former spot of Los Ranchos, Mr. Chu does not look like the quintessential Chinese restaurant. The décor is stained glass windows, meets stainless steel open kitchen, meets concrete floors. Tunes from a Budda Bar CD float from surround sound speakers. Open until two or three in the morning, Mr. Chu’s has the potential to be one of Coral Gables chic hang outs—especially if it keeps the happy hours coming. Get ready to party with this fun–loving staff Saturdays at 11, starting in the middle of July.
Since Mr. Chu’s is a reincarnation of its Miami Beach location, it is expected that some items would migrate to the new menu. But don’t come here expecting to find the General Tao’s chicken or pork fried rice. The Taiwanese–inspired menu is peppered with tapas–size dishes that are still big enough to share. There are a few large plates for the hearty eater with a deeper wallet, too like the crispy snapper with sweet and sour ginger sauce ($36), a carry over from the old location, as is the Peking duck ($40), carved, rolled and served tableside in two courses.
The generous 12–piece portioned steamed pork soupy dumplings ($12) marry well with a spicy chili sauce. Order extra sauce! The Tan-Chai mein ($4) soup is a light broth filled with pork meatballs and perfectly cooked thin, Taiwanese egg noodles. The tuna tataki ($10), slices of fish lying on a thin film of garlic soy sauce, tasted fresh as a Spring breeze. There is no sushi.
And if you get a feeling that you have been here before, you have. Several of the staff, including the manager, used to work at the Miami Beach location so fans should see some familiar faces in Coral Gables.
Mr. Chu’s Taiwan Kitchen and Bar
Address: 2728 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables FL 33134; 786-953-7351
ww.chuskitchenandbar.com
