• 4
• Still up to par and worth a visit

My expectations were very high having heard and read great things about Lao Wai. One of Stockholm's first and most popular vegan restaurants. The place is small and the interior is stripped back with wooden furniture and plain walls with photographs of scenes from the Sichuan province whose cuisine is the inspiration for many of the dishes. My company and I were there on a Monday around 6 pm. The restaurant gradually started filling up until all the tables were occupied so it's advisable to book in advance by phone. I opted for Fruits of the Sea which consisted of pak choi, vegan shrimp (soy protein), wakame seaweed, oyster mushrooms and soft tofu served in a ginger and spring onion bouillon/light sauce. The flavour was mild yet rich and interesting. My company chose no 24 on the menu which was; "Spicy Sichuan dish with smoked tofu, taro root, shiitake, chilies, baby corn, garlic shoots, snowpeas, and black beans." It was also tasty but we both agreed that the flavour wasn't perhaps as groundbreaking and inventive as that of the other dish. We went all in and opted for the homemade ice cream. I couldn't resist the flavour pistachio-cardamom-bergamot. You could taste actual pistachio nuts and cardamom seeds and it was rich in flavour. The orange-ginger ice cream was also good but milder. Do note that the alcohol is not all vegan, ask to be sure! I chose the vegan white wine to go with my dish which worked very well. I look forward to trying more dishes on the menu. As the a la carte menu is rather pricey, I'm aiming to try the lunch options although I've heard that it's difficult to get a table! Highly recommend a visit to Lao Wai. The food is well-thought out and excellently presented with interesting flavours and high quality.