Duy-Tan
“Are you getting tired of Vietnamese places?”
What? Another Vietnamese restaurant? Yes. Pascalito likes Vietnamese food and I am running out of funky intros, but it’s my favourite type of cuisine, so it’s my mission to investigate all of them in Gothenburg. This time, an old acquaintance. Duy-Tan at Kvilletorget. Last time I have been here was during the pandemic, so that feels like ages ago. But how is it now?
Kvilletorget is really a little foodie heaven. So many interesting places, and some of them really good. Duy-Tan has been here for quite a while and is a popular lunch place. Me, I am not a fan of the lunch rush, but some good Vietnamese food any other time? Count me in!
The place itself is a bit tired by now, but they try to make up for it. Friendliness goes a long way! So the big smiles of the staff are quite wholesome. The menu itself has a vegan section with a few dishes. Some stir fry, some red curry (excuse me?) and some Bun Chay. Only the latter really home to Vietnamese cuisine and the expectations I have, so this is the fighter. We took some spring rolls on the side as an extra, because, why not.
Food comes quickly and is served with some soy/chili sauce. Quite nice. The Bun Chay itself, a cold rice noodles dish with veggies and spring rolls, is a bit so-so. Vegetables are fresh, rice noodles have a good bite and the sauce is nice. But the spring rolls are the cheap ones from the wholesale, though plentiful, and instead of peanuts you get cashews. Also, there is a lack of koriander and mint. It just feels a bit off and not really like this umami/fresh herbs wonderland. I mean, I like cashews, but my taste buds expect a different flavour.
The spring rolls are just more of the same, cheap wholesale ones. I’m okay with that, they charge not much for them and I like them.
So, it’s not bad by any means, but a little bit like the place, tired. Like a business as usual approach to the food that is just not kicking it.
And I am okay with that, don’t get me wrong, especially for 119 SEK. But it’s not why I go to a Vietnamese restaurant. However, as a lunch place I can see it work very well. It’s competent enough, fresh and the lunch crowd is usually not a big critique, so no worries here.
I can see myself come back every now and then for a cheap snack, but Duy-Tan is a bit of an average affair only, I fear.
Price:
Bun Chay: 119 SEK
Wok vegetables: 119 SEK
Red Curry: 119 SEK
The Verdict
With so many good Vietnamese restaurants in Gothenburg, it’s a well competed field. Duy-Tan at Kvilletorget has been around for a while and that’s something you can feel. The place is a bit tired, but the wholesome smiles of the staff try to make up for that. In terms of food, however, options are limited. Few dishes, mostly not Vietnamese such as a Red Curry, are found for vegans. If you do go for Vietnamese flavours, such as Bun Chay, you get a bit of an interesting composition with cashews instead of peanuts and a lack of fresh herbs. Topped with some cheap spring rolls, but the vegetables are fresh and crunchy. It’s not bad, by any means, and cheap as well with 119 SEK, but it’s not really what you want from a Vietnamese restaurant. Alright is the best expression I can come up with. I can see myself come again, but more if I am hungry and not really picky. Duy-Tan does this quite adequately, and I guess that’s one achievement in it’s own way.
3/5 Leaves
Pro
Affordable
Good quality vegetables
Con
Rather cheap ingredients (spring rolls)
A bit of an odd flavour combination (cashews instead of peanuts)
Not many options (nor really Vietnamese)
Location
Kvilletorget 19
Opening Hours
Mo-Fr: 11:00 - 21:00
Sa: 12:00 - 21:00
Su: closed
