To celebrate my birthday, we decided to try out a new (to us) restaurant while my mother watched the babe.

I’ve heard great things about Von’s Bistro—which also has a food truck and well-loved market and eatery down in Bayou La Batre—so it’s been on our radar for a while.

If you didn’t know of this place through word of mouth, you’d probably pass it by. I had no idea where it was located until I saw it on my way to work out at the nearby YMCA a few months ago.

The place is tiny, but it’s rustic and welcoming. Because we didn’t make a reservation, we were seated at the bar, which had a few openings. I had no issue sitting there since the seats were comfortable and we were able to watch the kitchen staff complete their craft!

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So, what is Von’s all about?

Von’s Bistro would best be described as Asian and Southern fusion (if you’re unfamiliar with the area, coastal Alabama has a sizeable Southeast Asian population—largely due to its shrimping legacy).

It’s owned by a local couple, Von and Paul Larson. Paul, who greeted us and explained the night’s specials, appears to run the business side of things. Von, who’s of Laotian decent, is the mastermind behind the recipes (many of which are her own family treasures) and culinary side of the operation.

The menu is a mix of classic Asian, po-boys and fish tacos, southern staples, and other intriguing dishes like Pad Thai Nachos. Per Paul, there are a handful of chef’s specials that change every week (they’re open for lunch every day except Sunday, but for dinner only on Thursday through Saturday). This week’s selections were filet, short rib bolognese, grouper, and shrimp udon).

I knew before we arrived that I wanted an Asian dish, so as soon as Paul described the night’s shrimp curry udon bowl with rice noodles, “6-minute egg” and pork meatball, my decision was made!

Mark had a tougher time deciding—so we began with an order of Crispy Pork Spring Rolls.

The rolls were light and fresh, and the dipping sauce had a nice spicy-sweet kick to it. Mark and I wish the roll’s center had been a little crisper, but other than that, they were some of the better spring rolls we’ve eaten.

We broke our Lenten “promise” of no alcohol—but we didn’t want to ruin the complete experience of dining out.

Although I normally drink red wine, I opted for a white to balance the curry bowl. I was already leaning toward the Luna Nuda Pinot Grigio, so when I asked Paul for his opinion and he recommended the same, I didn’t stray. Mark chose a glass of Liberated Cabernet Sauvignon and decided to branch out with the Lemongrass Chicken Pad Thai Nachos.

Our entrees arrived fairly quickly—and they were well-portioned.

The udon soup was bursting with flavor. I loved the fragrant lemongrass and, surprisingly, really enjoyed the soft-yolk egg (I’ve been loyal to hard-boiled up to this point).

The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the pork meatballs were quite tender. Von’s homemade rice noodles were silky and satisfying, and the seaweed garnish, black sesame seeds, bean sprouts, julienned carrots, and what I assumed to be bok choy completed the bowl perfectly.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the soup and realize that a lot of effort and love must go into making the broth, I thought it was a bit overpriced. I might have preferred a touch less curry, just so the other flavors could shine through more. Still, I had to consult my manners to avoid drinking the remaining broth straight from the bowl!

Mark’s nachos were quite the work of art! They looked monstrous, but he almost finished the entire serving.

I had a bite, of course, and I really enjoyed the flavors. The chicken was incredibly tender, the cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts added a nice crispness, and the Pad Thai cream sauce and Sriracha drizzle were a lovely medley of flavors.

They were a bit messy, naturally, and Mark thought they could’ve included a bit more chicken. Otherwise, they were spot-on!

Mark enjoyed another glass of wine—the Estancia Merlot recommended by Paul—but we chose to pass on dessert, which I deeply regret!

The options were bread pudding with vanilla cream sauce, cheesecake, and cayenne-spiced chocolate crème brulee. We were a bit too full, and we wanted to walk around a while before trying dessert (we ultimately ended up at Serda’s for Irish coffee and gelato).

I was most intrigued by the crème brulee, although Von’s is apparently known for their award-winning, custardy bread pudding.

Although my particular dish was a bit expensive, I thought everything else was very reasonable. I know they bill themselves as “Asian, Seafood, and Southern fusion” with a goal of showcasing both Von’s and Paul’s heritage, but I do wish the menu included a few more traditional Asian dishes. Maybe I’ll change my mind if I try some of the southern dishes, however!

Next time, I’d love to try the Pad Thai, Banh Mi, or Drunken Thai Noodles—although I’ve heard people rave about their filet and their shrimp and grits.

With fresh (all of their seafood is locally caught and straight off the boat) ingredients and a whole lot of passion and heart, Von’s should stay around for a while (in fact, they’re planning to expand). But even if you took the delicious food out of the equation, the owners’ and staff’s friendliness would make the visit worthwhile.

Von’s Bistro is located at 69 St. Michael St. in Mobile, AL. You can find them on the web, Facebook, and Instagram.