Eating out in Frankfurt isn’t always easy for a vegan. It’s not like Australia where in many places a vegetarian option can be made vegan without too much trouble and a chef will have no problem with it. German cuisine is all about meat. Every dish is centred around meat and vegetables are an after thought, a real meat and veg culture. If a dish is vegetarian here it is usually covered with cheese or cream and unfortunately those two ingredients make up an essential component of the dish, making them irremovable (unless you just want a boiled potato). The other problem you run into is butter. Butter is often used to fry with, so if you order a plate of mushrooms chances are they have been fried in butter. Egg mayonnaise based sauces are also popular and will drench asparagus and other vegies of the season. So unlike Australia you can’t just go anywhere and hope they can do something for you. We haven’t attempted making a reservation and asking 24 hours in advance whether a vegan option can be created. Germany just doesn’t seem like the place! BUT there are still a few options for us Vegans. One of the main sources of vegan cuisine in Frankfurt comes from the Asian restaurants and bistros. Although you have to be careful as some Asian bistros are German-Asian cuisine which means covered in sauce, huge servings and something you would expect in a bad food court. We hate it but there are some good ones.
We stumbled upon Coa after just arriving in Frankfurt. Life was frantic as we had to find an apartment, register and then set up bank accounts, get mobile phones, etc. It’s a challenge starting in a new country and this was one of those days we’d run around organising things. We were in My Zeil and starving. We went to the top of the My Zeil and came across this restaurant. It was packed – good sign. We looked at the menu and I saw rice noodles and tofu, it was a done deal. Since then we have been back numerous times. The food is flavourful without being overpowering and so it's a delight to eat any time. The serving sizes are just right too. The only downer is that it can get a bit crowded at lunch and dinner. Coa advertises themselves as Asian Feel Good Food and I think they are right!
Avocado Papaya Salad
Avocado and yellow papaya with watercress, crumbed peanut and spring onions with a fruity mango-chilli dressing refined with sesame oil.I had never really thought of putting avocado and papaya together in a salad but it works really well. This dish is good as an entre or dessert as it is sweet and refreshing.
Energy Dim Sum
Four steamed dim sum with an energy-packed vegetable filling.Pretty sure these are the same dumplings we used to find the freezer section of a shop in Central Markets in Adelaide. I think you can get them here at Junvin Asia Supermarkt in the freezer section too but I like to have them at Coa as I just like a couple with dipping sauce! They are nice bite size bursts of flavour.
Chinesische Nudelsuppe mit Gebackenem Tofu
Energy-rich noodle soup with fresh vegetables, marinated tofu strips and shitake mushrooms.This soup is one of Mike’s favourites but can vary in intensity. We like it at it’s most intense with lots of garlic and a strong broth. It has a nice variation of vegetables and is a large serve. Be sure to ask for it with rice noodles as it usually comes with egg noodles.
Thai Style Reisbandnudeln mit Gebackenem Tofu
Thai style rice noodles with homemade tamarind sauce, spring onionsThis is my favourite dish. I’m a real sucker for thick rice noodles so I always get this dish. If you have made Brooklyn Pad Thai from Vegan with a Vengeance then this is what this dish tastes like. It could almost be the same as it has the same ingredients (visually, minus the egg) and tastes very similar. Maybe that’s why I love it so much!!! Make sure to say “ohne ei” to get it without the egg.
Melon Ice Tea
Love this tea! Very refreshing.
 | Coa can be found in Frankfurt at: 1. The Willy-Brand Platz Address: Kaiserstraße 29, 60325, Frankfurt am Main Phone: 069 97698287 Opening times: Monday - Saturday: 11 am - 11 pm 2. My Zeil Address: Shoppingcenter MyZeil, 4.og, zeil 106 – 110, 60313, Frankfurt am Main Phone: 069 21657824 Opening times: Monday - Saturday: 10 am - 23 pm and Sunday: 12:30 pm - 20 pm 3. Near the Old Stock Exchange Address: Schillerstraße 4, 60313, Frankfurt am Main Phone: 069 92039966 Opening times: Monday - Saturday: 11 am - 11 pm and Sunday: 1 pm - 10 pm Website: http://www.coa.as/feelgoodfood.php |
3 comments:
Ahh, I miss the Adelaide central markets! You're completely right about how vegan-unfriendly restaurants here are... I'm not a fan of German food in general (baked goods are the notable exception!) and on moving here, I realised how much I missed authentic Asian food. So it's nice to hear about good places to eat!
That looks like a wonderful place. The salad is gorgeous.
The food looks lovely, especially the salad and the Thai style dish! Thanks for linking to their website, turns out there is one not too far away from where I live. :)
I remember a couple of years ago my mother took me out for lunch. I figured there wouldn't be much choice for me, but it was summer and I was in the mood for some refreshing fruit salad and after all you'd think that'd be vegan, right? They drenched the entire thing in a thick layer of gelatine (probably to prevent browning) - mind boggling!
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