Koka restaurant in Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest city, specializes in modern Swedish gastronomy and has been awarded a Michelin star.
Opened in 2014 by chefs Johan Björkman and Jonas Larsson, Koka offers an affordable, casual fine dining atmosphere.
The daily set menu offers diners a choice of four-, five-, or seven-course dinners, featuring about 90% organic ingredients from local producers.
The three-course dinner, which I ordered to save time, was just 545 Swedish Kronor, or about $57 at the current exchange rate.
A five-course dinner costs $77, and a seven-course meal is $97. Dishes feature traditional West Coast Swedish ingredients, such as cod, clams, and oysters.
Dinner at Koka
Upon being seated, I immediately appreciated the small, modern light fixture built into the table. Attention to good mood lighting makes me happy!
The cutlery needed for dinner was stacked to my right in a custom wooden tray. I was served a warm broth to drink, followed by a waffle-and-caviar cream snack and two types of Swedish bread.
The butter was slathered on a rock sitting on a wooden plank, which served no other purpose than to be a terrific way to present it.
I had become a big fan of Swedish butter earlier in Stockholm and Lapland. It's usually presented soft, at room temperature, with a few salt flakes on top. Swedish butter will spoil you.
See also: Fika: The Art of Swedish Coffee Breaks
The first course was soup with clams and broad beans. I don't usually eat clams; however, they tasted fine here. It felt and looked healthy, too.
My main course was a cod dish that came covered in ribbons of white something. I don't recall what, though I did find it odd that they covered the whole dish, hiding the fish and mushrooms underneath.
Dessert was my favorite course. Housemade coffee ice cream and hazelnuts were covered in colorful fermented plum shavings. This tasty food was pretty to look at and fun to eat.
And last but not least, a delicious snack was offered at the end of my meal at this elegant restaurant.
Had I not needed to get to the closing party of the Adventure Travel World Summit, my last evening in Sweden, I would've taken the time to eat the five or seven-course meal.
While I'm grateful to have tasted modern Swedish food at Koka in Gothenburg, three courses didn't feel like enough.
Plan Your Visit
- Address: Viktoriagatan 12, 411 25 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Hours: From 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday
- Dress: Casual, given the relaxed atmosphere.
- Reservations: Recommended-visit their website to book a table.
