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Japanese restaurants have traditionally been associated with a formal, quiet, and highly structured image. Many people think of Japanese food as limited to sushi, sashimi, and ramen, unaware that Japanese cuisine offers much more than that. Join Travellive as we explore three modern Izakaya-style Japanese restaurants with incredibly unique dishes.
Izakaya - the modern beauty of cultural fusion.
Izakaya is a type of restaurant that serves dinner, parties, and after-work meals. Izakayas are extremely popular in Japan because of their "casual" approach and focus on the comfort and enjoyment of diners, rather than adhering to the traditional etiquette of a Japanese restaurant. Izakaya restaurants often have a modern, Westernized design. Occasionally, some restaurants retain a classic design.
Office workers in Japan often choose Izakaya-style restaurants to relax and enjoy drinks after work.
These eateries not only sell regular food, but also focus on serving cold beer, sake, spirits, and soft drinks, with the aim of "stress relief" for customers who have experienced too much pressure in their work and lives. Because of this, a common characteristic of Izakaya establishments is their noisy, bustling, and lively atmosphere, no less so than any other pub.
As for the food, Izakayas focus on serving grilled (yaku/yakiniku), stir-fried (itameru), and hot pot (nabe) dishes, usually served on large plates. Each diner in the group scoops a portion of food from the plate and places it on their own small plate (torizara) to eat.
Izakaya, the casual drinking establishments, are often found in small alleyways throughout Japan.
Izakaya restaurants serve a wide variety of food. Some may focus on their specialties, such as fish, meat, or unique dishes. Others offer basic, familiar dishes found in most Izakaya-style restaurants, such as raw fish (sashimi), Japanese-style grilled chicken skewers (toriyaki), boiled soybeans (edamame), stir-fried soba noodles (yakisoba), and hot pot (nabe)... Izakaya are also a prime example of cultural fusion, selling many Western-style dishes such as french fries and fried chicken...
One unique aspect of Izayaka bars is that they sell a wide variety of alcoholic beverages. Two of the most popular are sake and Sapporo beer (a long-established beer originating from Hokkaido, Japan). In addition, plum wine (umeshu), soda, and rice wine (sochu) are also extremely popular.
Here are 3 suggested Izakaya-style restaurants in Hanoi.
Kanko Izakaya - Bringing music shows into your meal.
Located on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, this restaurant has a unique and bustling atmosphere unlike anywhere else. More than just a simple izakaya, it combines various activities alongside the dining experience.
Kanko often organizes games to attract customers. The image shows a Japanese-style sake pouring game.
Open from 12 PM to 2 PM and 6 PM to 12 AM every day except Sunday, the restaurant specializes in hosting music shows. They frequently invite famous rappers and singers to liven up the already vibrant atmosphere. With a DJ playing music every night, Kanko Izakaya creates a truly impressive drinking and dining experience. In addition, unique games like card drawing, soybean picking, and the "mega-size ramen bowl eating challenge in 20 minutes for a 1 million VND prize" attract customers who come to party or simply gather with friends.
A minor drawback is that the restaurant closes quite early in the evening compared to other Izakayas. The menu here also features familiar Japanese dishes such as sushi rolls (California Sushi), ramen noodles with braised pork, and Karaage chicken (a famous Japanese chicken dish perfect for drinking with drinks).
Izakaya Yancha - a restaurant serving seasonal ingredients.
Located on the charming Trieu Viet Vuong street, Yancha impresses with its rather small, somewhat secluded and modest exterior, but is incredibly vibrant inside.
The restaurant is open every day of the week, primarily catering to Japanese customers. While retaining the characteristics of an authentic Izakaya, Yancha emphasizes certain unique features, such as focusing on seasonal dishes. This is what makes the restaurant even more authentically Japanese; no matter how bustling and noisy the exterior may be, the menu always comes first.
The view outside of Yancha restaurant.
The dishes served here typically include sashimi, Sukiyaki beef hot pot, and Tempura (traditional deep-fried dishes). One drawback of Yancha is that its menu and service style are too distinctly Japanese, lacking the open and relaxed atmosphere of many other Izakaya restaurants.
Izakaya Hanzo - a typical Japanese izakaya (pub/restaurant).
Izakaya Hanzo is located in a small, quiet alley on Linh Lang Street. Hanzo is a legendary izakaya (Japanese pub) that Japanese office workers often stop by after stressful overtime shifts. The pub stays open until 3 AM and focuses on serving a wide variety of alcoholic beverages.
Hanzo is like a mini-bar with an incredibly wide selection of delicious wines and beers. The food here is also very tasty and visually appealing.
The alcoholic beverages here are mostly Sapporo beer and traditional sake. At the counter, countless types of liquor with eye-catching labels are displayed, making the place a very impressive mini-bar. Although they sell a lot of alcohol, the food is also served carefully and thoughtfully, with authentic Japanese-style appetizers such as stir-fried octopus tentacles, grilled chicken skewers, spicy chicken stir-fry, and other familiar dishes like ramen and hot pot.
This restaurant focuses more on grilled dishes than other Izakayas. One drawback is that the food retains its authentic Japanese flavor, which may not suit the tastes of many Vietnamese people.
Hopefully, through the three suggestions above, readers can learn more about a new type of dining that is becoming very popular in Japan, a place with a vibrant atmosphere and like a "miniature Japan" in the heart of the city.
