Vegan Spots: Oslo, Norway
Happy Vegan
First stop on the Rain Parade EU/ UK tour! Arriving at the hotel straight from the airport, I’m famished. A quick search shows several nearby options, and this Vietnamese spot is close and well rated. I walk over, taking in the lovely sights of Oslo which felt so grounding after the long flight. I haven’t been here in over a decade, but am reminded of why I have such fond memories. There is such a happy feeling here!
The menu at Happy Vegan is very appealing; so many choice, all of which look outstanding. I chose the BBQ Banh Mi; a great Banh Mi is one of life’s true pleasures. This one did not disappoint! There was an explosion of flavors; so much so that I felt guilty topping it with chili sauce! The veggies were super fresh, and the soy ‘beef’ was seasoned so well and cooked to a fantastic texture. The bread was house made, and excellent. An iced Vietnamese coffee helped make me feel human.
This charming little spot is a winner.
Nordvegan
Before the trip, I was reading about Oslo options, and Nordvegan came up highly rated, and I made a point to have dinner there. The cafe has a very smart, stylish Scandinavian décor that’s very cozy and attractive. The menu has a reasonable (but not overwhelming) amount of options, and everything sounded appealing! Having a glass display case at the counter showing the options helped make everything seem more scrumptious!!
I asked the super friendly staff for a recommendation, and chose the special of the day; a soba noodle stirfry with fried oyster mushrooms. The first few bites were very flavorful but subtle. The dish was delicious and inviting! Small bits of tofu are roasted to perfection and mixed in well. Even though I crave spicy/ super hot, I didn’t ask for any chili sauce. I found myself really enjoying the textures of the food, which often gets lost when I drown things in chili sauce. The fried mushrooms weren’t served hot, and I liked this style far more than I would have imagined! The noodles were full of with peanuts sautéed with onions, Cilantro, and shaved carrots (that are as long and thin as the noodles); all lovely touches!
In the US, a dish like this is typically over salted, making the first few bites seem scrumptious, but then veering into dehydration territory. Thankfully, this one wasn’t. With this dish, I found the more I dig in, the more the natural flavor revealed itself.
Another excellent meal in this charming city.