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Last night, my dear colleague and I went to Cyclo on Theresienstrasse for Vietnamese food. Many thanks again to my other colleague, Lena, for the tip. From the outside, Cyclo doesn't look particularly inviting, in my opinion, but it quickly proves otherwise once you step inside: friendly staff, beautifully set tables with a rose and dark, wooden chopsticks, warm lighting, dark walls with a few decorative touches, a stylish bar running the entire length of the restaurant, and overall a very cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
I had booked a table for 6:30 pm, which is only possible by phone from 12 pm onwards, as the restaurant doesn't open until noon. The waiter gave me a table for a maximum of 1.5 hours, as the entire restaurant was already fully booked. In fact, after our meal, we were asked at precisely 8 pm to take a seat at the bar, as they had just received more food.
Upon entering Cyclo, we were immediately greeted by a friendly waiter – after the bartender I had initially approached hadn't understood my "Good evening – we have a reservation for two!" due to a lack of language skills. We chose a small, cozy table in the corner. The menus were brought to us as soon as we were seated, and we were able to order our drinks right away. Unfortunately, despite being listed on the website, the menu isn't accessible, which I consider a significant drawback, as I almost never go to a restaurant without checking the menu online beforehand. Well, we made do with the restaurant's menus and quickly discovered that there wasn't a single (!) vegetarian appetizer. Of course, one can expect a Vietnamese restaurant to be very meat- and fish-heavy, but there should at least be a vegetarian option. Even among the soups – which are listed separately on the menu (three in total) – there wasn't a single vegetarian soup available. (One sounded very appealing with coconut and lemongrass – but it contained shrimp). So we skipped the appetizers and focused on the main courses.
The menu offers a relatively wide range of main courses: noodle dishes, meat or fish dishes, curries, spicy soups, and—thankfully—vegetarian options. We opted for Dau Hu Xao Cary—rice with vegetable curry and tofu—and Hu Tieu Xao Chay—Vietnamese ribbon noodles with vegetables and tofu. The food arrived relatively quickly and almost simultaneously. My girlfriend's curry had an incredibly creamy consistency—like custard—which was probably due to the coconut milk. The vegetables were well-chosen, the tofu fresh—and contrary to all stereotypes—not at all bland, even suggesting that it was freshly prepared in the restaurant. The spiciness of the curry was also very good—somewhat piquant, but not so hot that you couldn't taste anything but heat. The Vietnamese ribbon noodles were exceptionally delicious. The vegetables were crisp and fresh, not too saucy—which, in my opinion, can ruin even the best dish. Furthermore, it wasn't spicy at all – just the way I like it – and – just like the curry – a perfectly adequate portion that kept me feeling full for a long time afterwards.
As mentioned, we were asked to vacate the table at 8:00 PM, which certainly detracted somewhat from the pleasant atmosphere. We then decided to leave. Of course, eating "with a bit of time pressure" wasn't ideal, but since I had already been informed of this when making the reservation over the phone, we naturally had the option of choosing a restaurant without a time limit for the evening. It's worth noting that, as in so many Asian restaurants, card payments are not accepted. However, at €33 including tip for two absolutely satisfying main courses and two drinks, Cyclo's price is perfectly reasonable.
Overall, a visit to Cyclo is definitely worthwhile. Even on weekdays, it's difficult to get a table without a reservation. Cash is required, but the atmosphere is very cozy and friendly – you immediately feel comfortable and enjoy lingering and chatting. Around 7:30 pm, it became noticeably busier and a bit louder. I would definitely recommend Cyclo as a good Vietnamese restaurant.
I'll be back: Yes – absolutely. The food was delicious and the price was perfectly reasonable. But first, a trip to the bank for cash!
Place visited: Cyclo
Address: Theresienstraße 70, 80333 Munich
Website: Cyclo
Pictures:
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