My family and I tried a new vegan South/East Asian restaurant in our area called Shyama for my birthday! And oh man, it was DELICIOUS.
Upon walking in, I was transported into a land of spicy and savory smells that filled the air. The place had a very cozy feeling to it, like you were stepping inside someone's home instead of going out to eat at a restaurant.
There was a lovely painting that hung on a wall that resonated calming energy throughout the room. It made me feel calm and relaxed just looking at it!
They offered many different dishes including rice plates, noodle soups, and salads. They also served appetizers such as spring rolls, chili wontons, and calamari.
We decided to get several things off their menu so we could sample more than one thing. What was interesting is that some dishes were Asian fusion (such as a banh mi burger) while others seemed traditional (such as pho). There seemed to be an eclectic mix of flavors which I really enjoyed.
We ended up ordering two starters: "Bun Hoi Bo La Lot" and chili wontons. Both these items looked amazing when they arrived at the table and smelled delicious too!
The Bun Hoi Bo La Lot came first and it did not disappoint.
This dish consisted of tender pieces of lemongrass beef that was then wrapped in leaves before being topped with pickled daikon, carrot, herbs, bean sprouts and fish sauce.
Each bite contained all sorts of wonderful flavor from the various ingredients combined together. The Bun Hoi Bo La Lot tasted great because it used fresh vegetables but still gave the meat enough taste to satisfy your palate. Overall this starter was phenomenal.
The chili wontons were next to arrive.
These little bites of heaven were wontons stuffed with beef that were drizzled in a house chili oil sauce. Once again each bite contained all kinds of wonderful spices and textures. In addition to the yummy filling there was crunchy wonton skin sprinkled around them. As soon as I bit into one of these bad boys, I knew I would enjoy every single morsel within.
Then, the main courses arrived. First, the Kimchi Bacon Burger.
This item sounded interesting but my brother said it turned out pretty good. He liked how much kimchee he got on his burger along with the crispy bacon that added another layer of texture to this already tasty creation. He was surprised by how the egg looked and tasted just like the egg inside a normal hamburger.
Next was the Veggie Pho.
My mom ordered this soup and she loved everything about it! She thought the broth was perfect and complimented its spiciness well. The noodles were soft and chewy without being soggy or falling apart. The veggies included chinese broccoli, bok choy, zucchini, carrot, jalapenos and bean sprouts. All of these items mixed together perfectly to create a warm and comforting meal.
My sister-in-law ordered a linguine, which was another Asian fusion dish.
This pasta had a miso white pepper sauce with crispy oyster mushroom, seaweed, and chinese broccoli. She doesn't typically eat spicy food so she had to eat slow to make sure she didn't overdo it. Despite that, she still enjoyed this dish and found it delicious!
Lastly, I ordered a Khao Soi. I absolutely love curry noodles so I couldn't wait to try this dish!
It was a hot bowl of goodness. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the broth was rich and flavorful. The dish was topped with crispy thin noodles and there were bits of crispy duck in there as well. It was delicious and I enjoyed every last bite!
Overall, we had a great time trying these new dishes at Shyama. I can't wait to go back and try more!
All images taken by me.