Anthony B.
Yelp
Found my way here on a cold, snowy night (perfect for some Vietnamese comfort food), and after discovering my first choice (Nystekt Stromming in Sodermalm) appeared to be closed for winter. I walked in and was pleasantly surprised to find a warm, cozy and trendy ambience - was lucky to grab the last available table for the evening. Judging by the small size of the restaurant and the number of young Stockholm professionals I saw eating there, seems that the place has no problem filling up.
I ordered the Pho Tron Vit with a bottle of the Modernist Brewery's "Szechuan Pepper Wit" beer - disappointingly, this beer didn't have much in the way of Szechuan pepper's famous numbing spice, but was more similar to a cider in its slightly sour flavor. But, it was my last night in Stockholm, and figured I'd try something unique from a local brewery. The entree was a bit of a surprise for me - having grown up in the U.S. and eaten at my fair share of Vietnamese restaurants, I was accustomed to thinking of a beef- or chicken-based soup with noodles whenever seeing the word "pho." This dish only had the flat, wide rice noodles ("banh pho"), and no broth. Instead, it was served with duck meat, a mango slaw, and a mixture of roasted shallots, red onions, and cilantro, with a peanut sauce on the side that could be added on top. Despite my initial skepticism, the different flavors of the dish complemented each other in a perfect blend, and I happily took my time eating in order to savor every bite.
For dessert, due to the late hour the kitchen had already closed, so I wasn't able to try my first choice (a type of cheesecake if I remember correctly). Instead, I opted for the orange chia seed pudding - tasty enough, and a plus if you're vegan (I'm not, but the menu carries a lot of vegan options for both dinner and dessert).
As I was grabbing my coat and preparing to venture out into the snow again, the owner approached me to ask how I liked the food (in English, guessing she heard me talking to the waitresses in English). She asked if I lived in Stockholm or was just visiting. When I told her the latter, I also told her (truthfully) that even living in San Francisco, this was better than a lot of the Vietnamese places back home. It's nice to see owners take a genuine interest in their customers' dining experiences.
The one downside I will note here is the price - the entree came out to be around $22 USD, and with beer and the dessert, the entire meal was around $40 USD. Considerably more expensive than most Vietnamese places in the U.S., but if you can afford it, the food is well worth it. Also, restaurants in Stockholm tend to be more expensive than the U.S. in general, particularly the ones that are seen as more trendy.
I happily will come back here if I have the chance to return to Stockholm.