Review Iris And The Secret Squirrel - Richmond

Delicious authentic Malaysian food, good coffee and the owner is super friendly. Lovely surprise to find something like this in the heart of Richmond. Looking forward to trying more dishes once the full menu is brought back!

Not a bad place to pop in to to satisfy your breakfast fix. The inclusion of some really tasty Indonesian dishes is a great addition to a menu that's tries to break up the usual offerings with something outside the box. Great for all lovers of SE Asian food. Enjoy some good food and good coffee in eclectic and chilled surrounds.

Went for breakfast and was surprised to see nasi lemak and nasi goreng on the menu! Lovely little restaurant, best thing is you can have Teh Tarik here as well. Would love to see more Malaysian food on the menu and will be back again!

As a first timer placing an order, thank you for making it so seamless. I cannot fault the communication and the food. I am told the Nasi Kerabu and Mamak Rojak was awesome by the happy recipients 😁👌

The food is Malaysian with a twist of western. The Beef Rendang Benedict was interesting. I had the Nasi lemak with fried chicken (chicken was a little burnt for my liking) but the teh tarik was good. Though... service can be quite slow when there is a large group but there are only 2 people working so, just need to wait... good to catch up with others over teh tarik.

Loved the setup, great service by freindly staff. Ordered the Big Breakfast Chorizo, Bacon, Mushrooms, Cherry Tomatoes, Corn Bread, Eggs. Served on a hot cast iron plate. Great flavor fireworks in my mouth. Excellent job! I will most def be back with my friends very soon.

Their food selection is very interesting, well designed and very well prepared. Their decor and aesthetic is typical of a hidden Melbourne laneway. It's definitely on my list to revisit.

Oh, Nathan, your lovingly prepared, soul feeding meals will be sorely missed! The new management has obviously no idea of the size shoes it attempted to step into. The place is neglected, the food carelessly prepared and a shadow of what it used to be. I will not be back.

Asian menu for breakfast. Yes please!!

Awesome service and coffee

My fellow Malaysians... 👀🌟 <br/><br/>Food: 7/10<br/>Service: 6.5/10<br/>Ambience: 6.5/10<br/>Pricing: $<br/><br/>This Malaysian was craving nasi lemak so bad... and Iris and the Secret Squirrel delivered just about enough to tame that craving. However, sambal (the two small little bowls of chilli paste as seen in pic) was more onto the sweet side instead of spicy, which was not the best kind of sambal to me. Ikan bilis (fried anchovies) were also not very pleasant to chew on. Not because of the crisp, but as far as I know, it’s either that the ikan bilis’ bones are fried to the point where it is ‘at one’ with the fried flesh, or it’s rid of during preparation. Because quite a few anchovies had the tiny fish bones sticking out, which, again, was not ‘syok’ (‘great’) if you have it with rice.<br/><br/>But did it fix my Malaysian craving overall? I’d say yeah, it did.

Ordered Nasi Lemak and Mee Goreng, they both good. Teh tarik is brilliant although it’s a bit sweet, but this is once a while treats. Love it. Friendly service and cozy place. May come back to try their other dishes.

I called into this cafe for a coffee. This is a cute little cafe on the eastern side of Swan St, and it’s nice and cost inside w what appears to be a courtyard out the back. <br/><br/>The service was friendly enough, and my piccolo tasted watery as if it had been poured too fast. The flavour was ok. <br/><br/>I’d like to go back and try some brunch next time as the sandwiches looked good.

Went in and found out it's a cafe that serves Malaysian food. We ordered a nasi lemak and mee goreng. Food was ok, but the teh tarik we ordered was way too sweet although we told them to make it less sweet. Cafe is small and not very pram friendly. I would say avoid the busy hours if you want to visit the cafe with a baby.

Awesome quiet friendly cafe with a backgarden sitting area straight out of a fairytale, really cheap good food and coffee. Highly recommended if you need a chilled out cafe to go to.

Delish and lovely staff - we had the hangover broth, Bircher, smashed avo with mushrooms and smoothies and coffee - all really yummy - would recommend

Interestingly enough the venue has changed hands. Similar vibe with a fresh perspective—Malay inspired menu with good, consistent Coffee. <br/><br/>Excited to see how Iris evolves.

Have walked past this cafe for five years now and finally came! Not sure what has held me back. I wish I had come earlier.<br/>Service was honest and friendly. The owner/chef really is proud of his food. It's love on a plate. The menu is Asian inspired.<br/>I ordered the corn fritters with avocado, poached egg and slaw. This was a delicious dish. I also tried some of the pork dumplings which are handmade there - I will definitely be back to have some of these in a bowl of soup over the coming winter months.

A good little cafe run by a couple of locals which is always good to see and support. Menu reads pretty well and I was very happy with the food. Ordered scrambled eggs with a side of tomato and wait for it... two dumplings. Dumplings were hand made and exceptional tasting (up there with the best I've had). Scrambled eggs were good but would prefer them creamy and can do without the parsley. All in all a great joint and worth getting along too

Great little unpretentious cafe with friendly service and good coffee. Tried the pulled pork brioche. Beautifully done with great flavour and juiciness. The pan o chicken burger was tasty too. We sat in the little courtyard at the back on a beautiful sunny day.

👍The staff. Friendly, cheerful and helpful.<br/>👎 The fresh chilli was not hot and there were too many anchovies in the chilli 🌶 oil.<br/>🙂 Will I go back? Yes, to try the steamed Asian dumplings in broth.

Sublime, the flavours created here are some of the best I've had a year of zomatoing<br/><br/>Really funky vibe and interior<br/><br/>This place has topped my melbourne experience

I really love this place and reckon it's one of Richmond's best kept secrets! The food here is absolutely amazing, the staff are extremely friendly and down to earth. Great big courtyard out the back too for those sunny days! Love it! !

Most amaziing big breakfast ever, nver had a breaky on a sizzle platter before<br/>great cofee and such lovely folks , smiley happy service :)<br/>Highly recomend going.<br/>

Great coffee and Dumplings here>You can see them make making Dumplings in the open kitchen . Tastes better then most in the area and it is fresh and prices are easy.It is small family Buss but that is ok for us.

Awesome. Try the Korean BBQ omlet

Makes me wanna move!. Yesterday I was only in Melbs for about 9 hours, coming from Brisbane for a meeting. Was dumped by cab in Swan Street which I had never been to before and was starving. Searching, searching, come across this place....and now I kinda wanna move to Melbourne! A lovely dude welcomed me in and I had the most sensational breakfast I've had. The corn fritter stack was fabulous. Fresh, delicious and affordable. Loved it and told everyone I met that day about it. Cheers! xx

So this is a bit of a weird story, we were in Richmond looking for this Mexican food truck that I read about, because hey, you take some food, you put it in a truck, all of a sudden everyone wants to eat it. I can’t explain it really, since it gets me too, must be some issue people have with regular kitchens. Anyway, as we were walking we kind of got a bit lost, and a bit tired, and decided to go into whatever door happened to be to our left. That happened to be Iris and the Secret Squirrel! This place is a quirky little shop that you would barely even notice from the street, just a metal door with frosty glass but towards the side of the door, there’s a tiny alley way and keeping in line with my “go into every alley ever” philosophy we went inside for a look and found that it opened up to a small area with tables, chairs and a massive chalkboard menu. There was some sitting inside which we saw when we ordered our dishes. However, we settled for an outdoor seat, purely because well, I’m not outside much. Need to take these chances when they come. Anyway, food time. Time to talk about food. You know, food talk time. First up, a Pulled pork with slaw and chilli jam slider ($4.50) . This was absolutely fantastic, a lot better than I was expecting from a random place and it made me seriously consider doing stuff like this more in the future. Pulled pork, to me, is something that can be fantastic, or it can also go really wrong. Pulled pork has got great texture, and the flavours can really pop because it’s just been cooking for so long, but I find that most people go crazy with pulling it apart and then letting it sit in some sort of apple vinegar sweet and sour concoction and it just makes it a bit too much for me. Otherwise, it’s rad. The pulled pork in this sandwich at Iris and the Secret Squirrel was pretty fantastic, and this is going to to against the last five or so lines, but it was actually pretty apple vinegar’y. In this instance however, it actually worked wi

Iris & the Secret Squirrel is one of those places that would be best described as a 'neighbourhood gem'. While it is tiny, has minimal seating and an order at the counter policy, the food is a step above your typical Melbourne breakfast offering. An Asian breakfast menu? Where else but Richmond. Ridiculously cheap, your most expensive breakfast dish prices in at AU$12.50. Banana fritter stacks with maple, lychees and a sesame seed glaze set you back AU$8, while a sizzling son-in-law egg, crispy on the outside and runny on the inside, perched atop vermicelli noodles and tofu with a tamarind fish sauce makes a hearty snack at AU$5. I can't go past their corn fritter stack with a poached egg, avocado, tomato relish and an incredible Asian slaw (AU$11).

This man can cook!. We have followed this chef Nathan around a bit and man he can cook. Nice quiet courtyard out the back with great food. The sliders are a must and too reasonably priced I feel guilty! Dumplings are awesome and fabulous coffee. You have to eat here!

Good vibes, Great food!. Just happened across this lovely spot today on a stroll to find some new places to grab lunch in Richmond. I popped in with the lure of dumplings and Sriracha from street view and man, was not disappointed. The staff were very friendly, approachable and accommodating. I'm veggie, so the chef recommended the veggie burger, and I took the bait. After I had placed my order, the chef walked up (the kitchen is nicely open to the front) with a pan of freshly baked brownies - not sure if I was in the right place at the right time or if it's a dead giveaway I love brownies.. but couldn't resist so grabbed one of those too. My lunch came out lightning quick and WOW - very impressed with the flavor! The Chickpea and lentil pattie was stunning with some avocado, lettuce and some perfectly spicy chutney to boot. It was served with crinkle cut chips with this amazing perfectly (again) spicy mayo for dipping. Not to mention the adorable outside eating area! I'll defineitely be back :) Thanks guys! Now to eat that brownie....

New favourite. This place! So great. Don't think twice you must visit! The corn fritters and pork omelette thing . Incredible . No waiters in Nike runners with leather aprons. So comfortable and relaxed. LOVE IT

Never Been Anywhere Better!. Iris and the Secret Squirrel is without a doubt my favourite breakfast spot in Melbourne. From the moment you walk in, Nathan makes you feel like you're having brekky with an old friend; inviting, hilarious and warm. He recommended the Quinoa and Brown Rice Porridge, and I don't think I have ever felt a religious experience from porridge before - until then. The Funky Fungi and Chilli Baked Beans are beyond human comprehension in terms of deliciousness, and the coffee is always strong and creamy. Absolutely the best around town and I look forward to every morning I'm there.

Your coffee makes my morning. I am so grateful to have you so near my house, your coffee is amazing and makes my morning commute more bearable. Coffee supreme beans :) deeelish. Pulled pork sliders, dumplings in broth, the korean omelette, the chilli jam.... everything here is unique and delicious. Highly recommend for a fun, relaxing breakfast/lunch

Brekky that pushes boundaries. Love this place - dumplings and noodles for brekky paired with rad coffee and a owner that knows exactly what he's doing. Couldn't recommend it highly enough. It's different, and that's what makes it so good.

Great service, sensational food for a great price!

Korean BBQ pork omelette is a tall poppy in a field of tall poppies. A delightful dish that will clear your sinuses (courtesy of the chilli jam). Device was excellent.

Fantastic coffee and breakfast. The owner and staff offer great service. I love that it is my local.

Great atmosphere, more spacious than initially appears, side alley extends into a gorgeous courtyard. Service brilliant, friendly, relaxed but not too cool. Food different and creative. The dumplings are good but not what you expect, think chunks rather than ground meat wrapped in traditional dumpling wrapper. Pulled pork salad topped with chili jam a winner although could do without mayonnaise.

Thank you for the most wonderful lunch I have had in ages! Dumpling broth very tasty, friend had corn fritters and they looked amazing also. Great prices and cool decor. Will be back soon :) YUM 10/10

Fantastic dumplings and very chilled space. Thank you Nathan for making our night so memorable :)<br/>This was a great dinner but the coffee by Coffee Supreme is awesome as is the breakfast and lunch menu with an Asian flair.

Breakfast. Outside area is awesome. Food is delicious. Service is loose but cute lol <br/>Good work guys :)

Went here for brunch. Its a great place with friendly service and yummy food! Definitely going back :-)

Don't let the unassuming shop front fool you - this place is awesome! We had a seat out the back in a cute little beer garden. The waiter's recommendations for our starving hungover selves were spot on. Dumprings in broth were authentic and delicious, made better by the ample amounts of chilli available on the table. Pork slider and a corn fritter were also delicious, filling and delivered with Aussie good humour. Washed down with a smoothie and a great coffee, this gem is now a hangover staple. Get into it!!

Coffee & Dumplings. Homemade dumplings , great coffee and good old time friendly service. Do yourself a favour and casually visit this casual venue - these guys know there trade. Obviously been there before , as the simplicity of there food married with quality ingredients , makes this a must visit to fill the tummy and enrich your day with pleasant service . So Melbourne with its quirky little lane and window box ordering , do yourself a favour and get away for a new taste mix of coffee and dumplings - then back to the real world!!

We had prawn and chicken lemongrass dumplings and coffee. Dumplings were served in a nice sesame flavored sauce and were extremely tasty. It was good that we could order dumplings separately at $1.50 each.<br/><br/>However, coffee needs some Improvement. My latte was a bit watery and lukewarm.<br/><br/>Guys are very friendly with big smiles!

Ok. Needs a good clean, the tables had chunks of leftovers on them and the sauces were oily and grubby. Decent coffee and bits and pieces to eat. The 95% score is a bit misleading.

Went for dumplings but.... Ended up getting sliders as well. Pulled pork is highly recommended. As for the dumplings, a little pricey for them being overcooked and overfilled. Broth was nice, but the chili oil on the side must be the best I've tasted, even in Asia.

Kooky but great... I had walked past this place about a dozen times before I even gave it a second glance because it was hidden between two shops in a service lane. When it expanded into the shop next door I thought I'd try the coffee... <br/>The staff were great with their friendly banter and relaxed attitudes. Not urban hipsters or mega cafe franchise types but just really down to earth regular guys. Well done to them. The cafe is a kooky mix of styles which didn't seem to be working but I think because it’s new, they will get there...When they offered me some dumplings I was a little confused but accepted the coffee substitute and was amazed. They were awesome! With a little chilli (there was plenty of weird types and varying heats) the dumplings in broth were fantastic.<br/>I was surprised that these guys did dumplings and was impressed they did other things like cakes, sliders and sausage rolls. I'll be back to try more dumplings and yep, the coffee ain bad either.<br/>Kooky but worth the dumpling broth.

Had the most delicious sausage roll I've ever had, made with succulent herbed pork meat and flaky home-made pastry. The coffee is decent and the manager is friendly. I will have to come back for lunch some day and try the dumplings.

Holiday Feel. Word-of-mouth seems to be the only way you'll discover this place; tucked away at the back of an alleyway next to its sister florist is a little hole-in-the-wall cafe serving superb Supreme coffee and honest, tasty cheap eats. We stopped by for coffees and a couple of "sliders" - mini sourdough toasted sandwiches with a choice of fillings; I had corn fritter with tomato relish, yum! - and with the cool tunes, genuine friendly service and decor reminiscent of a Bali beach hut, overall it gave our day a little bit of a holiday feel :-)

Delicious coffee, awesome service and wonderful atmosphere!

Great coffee and homemade cakes. Friendly staff. I only tried the veggie dumplings and they were OK. Would go back.

Love the Squirrel. If you love a good coffee and love dumplings, you need to check out Iris & The Secret Squirrel! Nestled in a laneway behind Iris the florist, The Secret Squirrel offers the best dumplings you will ever have. You can have them on their own or in a delicious soup infused with corriander and other fresh Asian tastes. Also, check out the great assortment of home-style sweets - all made in house. This is the perfect brunch or lunch!

Great coffee and little egg tart to start a cold Saturday morning.

I like this little place, coffee is good and so are the homemade cakes.

LOVE this place. Hidden down the side of a gorgeous florist you will find the secret squirrel with great coffee, dumplings mini cakes SO YUM and so groovy. highly recommend you drop by and grab a coffee and a bunch of flowers for your loved ones

Stumbled across this place by accident on a Saturday afternoon. The cafe has been set up in an alleyway alongside a florist and (very nice) coffee plus food is served from the kitchen through a hatch at the back. Really liked the atmosphere - rustic and friendly. The place is so cosy that you cannot help but chat to everyone there.

Great little nook. Lovely coffee. Give the dumplings a miss.

The hot chocolate: It is worth mentioning as a slight cut above the plethora of ordinary ones around town. The owner uses a premium powder that includes dark chocolate, thus why I liked it. This makes for a richer drink in colour and flavour over those that are just a chocolate milk. A sprinkle of real chocolate bits on top was a tasty touch.