Mathallen 10 years: Short-distance food, good friends and "Mathallenungen"
October 2022 marks 10 years since Oslo got its very first food hall. On Vulkan, an old industrial area right by the Akerselva River in Løkka, Mathallen Oslo was to become a cornerstone in the development of a completely new city within the city. Now, 10 years later, Mathallen Oslo has become a shopping center, meeting place, workplace and tourist attraction for thousands of people.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, we have had a chat with some of these people, and there is one small family in particular who has followed Mathallen closely over the years. So closely that their daughter eventually became known as "Mathallenungen".
With Mathallen as its closest neighbor
What was the very first thing you bought at Mathallen?
I don't remember what the very first thing was, but the duck and mustard baguette from Ma Poule (now Galopin) was one of the first. In the beginning, there were a few lunches at Melkerampa. I think they were some of the first to give up.
Their daughter was born the same year Mathallen opened, and after many visits she eventually became known as Mathallenungen. What kind of relationship does she have with Mathallen today?
Petra loves Mathallen, and hearing about our memories from when she was little and waltzed around there on her own. She is very proud to have previously been "Mathallenungen".
When Petra had her name day party we ordered cupcakes from the lady (Inger Nordgård) who now runs The Cupcake & Pie Co. Petra loves their Red Velvet cupcakes and we always order them for her birthdays and other festive occasions. As a child she also loved the coffee ice cream that Lisbet at Via Italia used to make. Nowadays Nice to Meet U with bubble tea is a favorite. And on Fridays there is sometimes a lot of cured ham from Barramon.
You have also had the opportunity to follow Mathallen's development over the years, with some stores staying the course, while others have come and gone. Are there any specific stores/restaurants that you miss that are no longer there?
There are many we miss. Most recently, Ost og Sånt. In Kongens Have we were very fond of, and Champagneria Bodega. We bought our grill from the store that sold kitchen equipment, it was very nice and had many great workers we enjoyed chatting with. We miss the Skagen tube at Frøya Fisk and Petra misses the employees at Sultan who always gave her love on a stick.
Do you remember the first time you visited Mathallen?
Our first encounter with Mathallen was when an unofficial opening was held before the hall was finished. It was just a warehouse, we lived in Markveien and Petra was only a few months old. Every day during this “pre-opening week” we wandered around the hall, tried the food and soaked up the atmosphere. It was magical, and we decided that Markveien wasn’t close enough - we had to try to get into the apartments at Vulkan. I remember that even before this we had read a lot about Mathallen opening, Jørn Hoel was one of the spokespersons and we followed the developments closely.
Do you have a favorite store?
No, not really. We love Lisbet on Via Italia, Fridays are best spent at the bar at Barramon (always a plus if Jose is at work), and we have always shopped a lot at Gutta på Haugen and Annis Pølsemakeri.
Have you met any of the people who work at Mathallen?
We have made many acquaintances in the hall over the years. Lisbet at Via Italia, Jose at Barramon (and the owner there at the time), the manager at Annis, and the brothers from Mo i Rana at Vulkanfisk to name a few. It is a fantastic environment there, with knowledgeable and pleasant people with a passion for flavors.
How often do you visit Mathallen?
We moved from Vulkan to build a house in Ekeberg when Petra was 3,5 years old. Before that, we stopped by every day, often several times a day, and Trond often joked that he was interested in “short-distance food”. After we moved, there have been periods when we have been to Mathallen a lot and periods when the cabin and boat have become more of a priority. But luckily, bus 34 goes right outside our door and stops right outside Vulkan, so from time to time we go to Mathallen a lot, both for shopping and for eating and drinking.
Top 3 tips from the Ekaas Family
Top 3 places
Via Italia
Barramon
Gutta på Haugen
Top 3 dining experiences
Taleggio at Via Italia
Mont d'Or at Galopin or Guys
Croquettes with ham at Barramon
Top 3 "must do's" on Vulkan
Enjoy a pasta lunch from Via Italia, both the carbonara and the ravioli are super delicious.
Go straight from work and stop by Barramon on Friday, start the weekend with a couple of glasses and some delicious pintxos before the family fun begins.
Shop for your cabin trip with friends at Mathallen, and your breakfasts, outdoor sausage lunches, and dinners will be top notch - and you can enjoy a real gourmet weekend, whether it's in the mountains or by the sea.
