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Japanese cuisine is globally renowned for its sophistication, intricacy, and rich traditional cultural heritage. Recently, high-end Japanese restaurants have also emerged in Vietnam, offering delightful dining experiences beloved by many Vietnamese food enthusiasts. In Saigon, you can explore the following 5 Japanese restaurants for the most authentic Japanese experience!
2 Famous Concepts in Japanese Cuisine
Omakase
Omakase is an exquisite dining experience where you entrust the chef's menu, completely surrendering to the chef's culinary creations. The principle of Omakase is to refrain from ordering specific dishes, not asking about prices, and refraining from making demands. The Omakase menu exclusively features the freshest ingredients of the day. Diners are only required to request changes if they have allergies. Otherwise, every dish on the table is determined based on ingredients, creativity, and the culinary philosophy of the chef.
Kaiseki
Kaiseki, with its intricate nature, embodies a sense of Zen in culinary appreciation. I came to know about Kaiseki through watching the Japan episode of The Final Table on Netflix, which I highly recommend if you want to delve deeper. The Kaiseki menu is also a testament to the chef's culinary creativity based on seasonal Japanese ingredients. If you pay attention, you'll notice that Japanese cuisine greatly values eating seasonally to maintain harmony and respect for nature. Kaiseki typically consists of 9 courses from appetizers to desserts, all inspired by nature.
A common characteristic of both Omakase and Kaiseki is their relatively high prices. In Japan, you can spend anywhere from 4,000,000 to 9,000,000 VND for a meal like the above, while enjoying Omakase & Kaiseki in Vietnam is more economically feasible with prices ranging from 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 VND per person for one set meal.
Maguro Studio - Exquisite Omakase Experience from an Ocean Tuna Specialty Store
When it comes to delicious and authentic Omakase in Saigon, Maguro is the first place that comes to mind. Omakase is now easily found everywhere, no longer a hidden gem as it used to be. However, not every place offers a complete and attentive dining experience. Maguro Studio is a rare omakase restaurant where you'll want to return after your meal because of the deserving experience it provides. With Maguro (tuna) as the main dish, the chef handles flavors with finesse and skill, accompanied by side dishes that create a memorable culinary journey.
Maguro is the Omakase restaurant I highly recommend in Saigon.
This is just a part of the Omakase set menu, so stay tuned.
Everything from appetizers to desserts is impeccable. Even the accompanying rice, which I rarely finish during Omakase or Kaiseki meals (usually I get too full by the rice part). I must emphasize the impressive wasabi ice cream here, with its intense aroma and harmonious spicy-sweet taste, concluding the meal satisfyingly. The sake selection at Maguro is also extensive and served with great care. Definitely worth experiencing. Prices range from 1,400,000 to 2,500,000 VND per person for an Omakase set.
Watching the chef prepare the dishes at the counter is also very enjoyable.
Sushi Kobayashi - Professional Sushi Omakase
Kobayashi restaurant is located in the alley of Thai Van Lung, with only 10 seats available, so reservations are necessary. The specialty here is sushi, but I was more impressed with the appetizers. The sushi is delicious, but the portions are quite small. I think the restaurant adjusts to suit Vietnamese tastes, as most of the clientele are locals. I also noticed that Vietnamese diners eat less and drink less sake (so the sake selection at the restaurant is not as extensive by the bottle). Sushi Kobayashi has held a prominent position and is renowned in Saigon when it comes to sushi omakase, so if you have the chance, it's still a place to enjoy with family. Prices range from 1,400,000 to 2,500,000 VND per set per person.
Sushi Kobayashi is a small restaurant with minimalist Japanese design.
The restaurant has only about 10 seats and you can observe the chef making sushi right there.
A small portion from the sushi set I had that day.
Kaiseki Hanabi - Enjoying Seasonal Kaiseki
If Omakase focuses on showcasing the distinctive personality & skill of Japanese chefs, then Kaiseki delves deeper into expressing the artistic sensibilities of chefs based on the four seasons of Japan. In the Kaiseki sets I've had, I often feel the 'zen' essence in the symbolism of each dish, perhaps because this culinary refinement also stems from Buddhism. This time, I had the opportunity to enjoy Kaiseki at Hanabi in Thao Dien, a thoroughly fulfilling dining experience from form to content.
Hanabi is a restaurant that cannot be overlooked when it comes to enjoying Kaiseki in Saigon.
Even the appetizer was very appealing, with a delicately delicious taste as refreshing as spring.
The menu I chose for April (replacing shrimp with fish due to allergies, you're only allowed to suggest ingredient changes if you have allergies) brings a gentle, pure, and fresh spring flavor. What's special about Hanabi's Kaiseki set is the crispy hot tempura parts eaten with a dipping salt set like an interesting journey for the taste buds. Sitting at the counter, each time a tempura part is finished, you can eat it right away while it's hot. The meticulous decoration is evident in the appetizer with strong Japanese features and the dessert with pure Vietnamese characteristics, a refinement to be highly valued.
A part of the Kaiseki set I had, I often get lost in eating so I forget to take complete photos hehe
In addition to showcasing the 'eating in season' aspect, the dishes in a Kaiseki set are often intricately connected, blending flavors smoothly and creating a sensation of just enough, not too full. And above all, Kaiseki culinary art demonstrates the reverence for what nature bestows - a fundamental lifestyle of the Japanese people. The price for enjoying a Kaiseki set here ranges from about 800,000 VND to 1,600,000 VND per person.
Yamawa Saigon - Premium Wagyu Beef Omakase
All the beef at Yazawa is premium Wagyu A5 grade beef, where you'll experience truly 'melt-in-your-mouth' beef, perfectly delicious. But delicious beef alone is not enough, the chefs and staff at Yazawa are extremely professional and time the grilling to perfection, bringing the beef to its most complete deliciousness. It's truly rare to find a place where every bite, from the first to the last, makes you react like that, truly outstanding.
Yazawa Saigon's Unique Entrance
Yazawa is a premium yakiniku beef brand present in many famous locations worldwide, starting from Tokyo, Kyoto to Beverly Hills, Milan, Singapore - all places known for their discerning food and beverage scenes, and now in Ho Chi Minh City (seems like Hanoi will have it next year). The space at Yazawa Saigon is very special, at first glance it looks like a hidden place but it's located right on Dien Bien Phu Boulevard. Inside, the overall atmosphere is luxurious, perfect for business dinners or family gatherings in private dining rooms. The price for a set of Yazawa omakase ranges from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 VND per person, excluding drinks and desserts.
This is just a part of the Omakase set I ordered
Il Corda Charcoal Steakhouse - European-style Japanese Restaurant with Excellent Steaks
When it comes to premium steak or gyutan (beef tongue), Il Corda is a must-visit place. The ambiance resembles a Japanese office dining establishment, with evenings exuding a touch of sophistication and romance. Besides the excellent beef steak, you should also try the fresh Hiroshima oysters and thinly sliced beef tongue. Overall, the menu offers consistently delicious dishes, with no variation in quality in the two years I've dined here. The lunch set at Il Corda is priced lower, around 700,000 VND per person including dessert and drinks, making it a set worth trying. A dinner at Il Corda will range from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 VND per person, excluding drinks.
The ambiance at Il Corda is elegant and cozy.
The delectable beef steaks at Il Corda.
Japanese cuisine always offers an enticing and enjoyable culinary journey for diners. In addition to upscale restaurants with aesthetic culinary concepts mentioned above, Saigon also has small Japanese-style eateries that are equally delicious and special. Keep an eye on Mytour Go & Share so you don't miss out on any exquisite dining, entertainment, or accommodation suggestions!
Author: Lê Vũ Tú Uyên (Chiaki)
*This article is part of the Mytour Golocal program
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