As soon as you walk through the sparkling glass doors of Stock, a Southeast Asian eatery specializing in all things noodles, it is clear that attention to quirky detail reigns king. Vibrant green chopsticks bring a pop of color to the otherwise minimalist, monotone decor. Located in Fishtown—proximity may be the only downside to this insanely good noodlery—Stock serves traditional Vietnamese and Thai cuisine with fresh flair and a spicy kick.
The spicy peanut noodles are the perfect amount of savory, sweet, and spicy. The dish comes with a heap of wheat noodles doused in a thick, peanuty sauce, and topped with with lime, radish, carrot, mint, basil, and cucumber. The Vietnamese coffee, which is complete with sweetened condensed milk, dark roasted coffee, and cinnamon, is the perfect complement to the noodles, bringing a lightness to what could otherwise have been an overwhelmingly heavy appetizer.
But as good as all of the cold noodle dishes on the menu sound, the main star of Stock is the pho. The mushroom pho may be the most basic item on the menu—how can it not be when stacked against dishes like yam samun phrai and khao soi?—but it packs a nuanced, flavorful punch. Endless rice noodles marinate in a sweet, garlicky broth infused with tofu, lime wedges, Thai basil leaves, beech mushrooms, bean sprouts, and jalapeños.
The tofu khao poon is essentially a curry soup with a coconut milk base, complete with tons of shredded cabbage, long beans, lime, mint, cilantro, basil, and, of course, peanuts. Large pieces of tofu complement what feels like a gallon of broth. The bowl is enormous, and you can hardly finish half of it before feeling full. Rich, and slightly spicy, this bowl of soup feels like a cozy hug. The Thai iced tea is pretty standard—sweet and refreshing with its characteristic bright orange hue. In the future, I would skip it, if not only because the food alone is filling enough.
Beyond the amazing food, the wait staff is small and attentive, driving home the fact that when you go to Stock, you’re going to an intimate establishment. The seating consists of one long bar and about six tables total, which may be a little tiny for a rowdy BYO. But for days when you want to get off of campus and not see a single familiar face, Stock is comforting, relaxed, and delicious.
TL;DR: Broth as warm as a cozy hug.
Location: 308 E Girard Avenue
Hours:
Monday–Friday: 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 12:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Price: $$
