Kapibara Östermalm — Restaurant in Stockholm

Great Food, Poor Service

It’s unfortunate that such a fantastic restaurant is let down by its service.

When we arrived, there were only a few people seated, with some others standing and looking at the menu. The atmosphere seemed casual, so much so that one customer even had their feet up on a chair. The only waitress was just standing, waiting for a takeaway order to be placed.

Our group (four adults and a toddler) decided to seat ourselves at two empty tables. We did not see the “Wait to be Seated” sign, which was placed a couple of meters from the entrance and positioned high up on the kitchen roof. The waitress saw us seating ourselves but said nothing until we were almost settled. At that point, she informed us, in an unnecessarily arrogant tone, that we couldn’t seat ourselves and had to wait for her.

We apologised, and three of us stepped outside while I stayed in line with my daughter to request a table. When it was our turn, the waitress ignored us, went outside to speak to the rest of the group, and asked how many we were. We were seated at a table for four without being offered a fifth chair for the toddler, meaning my child had to eat on my lap despite having her own meal.

Her attitude remained unpleasant throughout the evening. On my way out, I politely asked her name (Alex). She responded by asking for mine, then sarcastically remarked, “That’s a beautiful name.”

It’s a shame that this is the story I’ll have to share when someone asks me about Kapibara – wonderful food overshadowed by...

This is a cool location with an inviting yet industrial vibe, and very mid food. It wasn't bad by any means, but I would only consider the ramen passable. The best ramen places in town have pork belly that practically melts on your tongue and is licked by flames to produce that very special fire grilled flavor... The pork belly here had none of that flavor and was honestly a bit chewy. The eggs were also stone cold in the middle when I ate one, and while I know they're made ahead of time, most ramen places will at least bring them up to room temperature before sticking them in the broth. The fried chicken appetizer however, was excellent and the portion size of the edamame beans was very generous. The wait staff was friendly enough, no complaints there. As mentioned, the atmosphere had this warm, inviting, yet industrial vibe with a lot of exposed concrete, and they even incorporated a plastic sheet dividing wall (like you'd find in a factory) to separate the dining room from the stock area. Quite cool. However, in an effort to fit more tables, each individual table is tiny. There wasn't much space to sit down, and when our appetizers, drinks, and ramen were all on the table, we had to stack our plates...

The broth at this ramen shop is actually quite flavorful—it’s rich, savory, and well-balanced without being overly salty. It definitely leaves you wanting more with every sip. However, I was a bit disappointed with the noodles, as they didn’t quite have the firm, chewy texture you’d typically expect from authentic ramen. That said, the other toppings were solid: the chashu was tender and well-seasoned, and the soft-boiled egg had a perfectly gooey yolk with great flavor. I do wish they had added a bit more chopped green onions, as it would’ve brought out more layers in the overall taste. The shop isn’t very spacious, so if you’re visiting during peak hours, be prepared to wait a little. As for the price, it’s pretty average—nothing too pricey, but not super cheap either. All in all, it’s a place I’d definitely consider coming back to, especially since the staff were friendly and welcoming, which added to the overall...