Missing Japan? Check out these 3 restaurants in Hanoi!

1. Masu Japanese Restaurant

Masu is located on the wide Ly Thuong Kiet street, in the city center. Its most distinctive feature is the exterior wall with its light-colored, sparsely slatted wooden slats, characteristic of Japanese design, accented with the restaurant's name in a sea-blue color, creating an impression of understated elegance.

Despite being a relatively new establishment compared to other Japanese restaurants on the same street, Masu still possesses a unique appeal – perhaps due to its style, quality, and... price.

Masu's space features a harmonious blend of warm, light wood tones, from the partition walls and furniture to the napkin holders and woven mats. The brand's visual identity on the menus and decorations creates an impression of unity and elegance. Private dining rooms are named after the seasons. Wooden windows let in city sunlight, creating a harmonious overall picture of vibrant colors. As Masu describes it, "this space is a stage where the main character—the essence of Japanese cuisine—shines."

Japanese cuisine is renowned partly for the exquisite beauty of its dishes and presentation; just looking at them is enough to whet the appetite. Masu recreates this characteristic in its dishes, focusing on the quality of fresh seafood, using seasonal ingredients to ensure freshness and novelty every day. At Masu, diners can sample sashimi cooked at 15°C – the average temperature of the Japanese sea in autumn and early winter, the season for many specialty fish. Omakase, a refined and expensive Japanese culinary style, is also served at Masu and consistently garners curiosity and appreciation.

Besides a variety of fresh fish and exclusive sake, Masu also offers some creative dishes such as: Hanabi cake (birthday cake made from sturgeon roe), Nigari Hokkaido Special, Sea urchin roe pizza, etc.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Fanpage:Masu

Address: 60 Ly Thuong Kiet

Opening hours: 10:00 – 14:00, 18:00 – 23:00

Price range: average from 400,000 VND/person, or from 1.5 million VND/person if ordering Omakase.

2. Vege-ro Vegetarian Ramen Shop

Vege-ro is a vegetarian ramen shop located in a small alley next to Truc Bach Lake, like a hidden gem in the heart of Hanoi, "modest" with its shop name printed on a piece of cloth.

The restaurant has a cozy, simple atmosphere in the style of traditional Japanese cuisine. Vege-ro is small, with a counter design and an open kitchen, allowing customers to witness the entire elaborate cooking process by the chef right in front of them. Vege-ro only seats a maximum of 6 people; if you don't reserve a table in advance and the restaurant is already full, you'll likely have to wait a long time or leave disappointed.

The broth for each type of ramen here has a distinct and rich flavor, true to Japanese taste. Each ramen broth is made fresh after the customer orders. Respecting and thanking nature, each bowl of ramen at Vege-ro is filled with the vibrant colors of seasonal vegetables. Here, you can try ordering different types of noodles.gluten free(Not made from wheat flour) is also equally unique and worth experiencing.

Because it's a small noodle shop that only sells vegetarian ramen, every dish and drink at Vege-ro seems to be meticulously planned and prepared in limited quantities. The menu only has about 10 types of ramen along with some creative appetizers; and the drinks/cocktails are also creatively based on "Japanese" ingredients such as matcha, wasabi, Japanese whisky, plum wine... But surely, once you've tried it, you'll want to return many more times to discover all the other unique items.

In that small, quiet space, always filled with the scent of smoke, each customer instinctively quiets down a bit, their curious eyes fixed on the chef – who also serves, cashiers, and is... the owner – as he prepares bowls of ramen with skillful, professional, and attentive manners. "I love the atmosphere here, it's cozy, intimate, and feels like I'm slowing down. I'll definitely come back to enjoy it more," shared a first-time customer at Vege-ro.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Fanpage:Vegeta

Address: 105A2 Lac Chinh

Opening hours: 17:00 – 22:00, Saturdays and Sundays open from 11:45 – 13:45

Price range: average from 100,000 VND/person

3. Moto-san Tam Thuong

While Vege-ro is a place you can quickly grab a hearty ramen meal, and Masu is the ideal spot for special dates, Moto-san is a journey, making diners forget about the present moment and time.

After turning two corners into Tam Thuong Alley, you'll find Moto-san. Moto-san doesn't have a large, prominent sign; only a winding path leading into the alley leads the way. The architecture and layout here might surprise you, making you feel like you're actually in a hidden corner of Kyoto, Japan.

Moto-san's space is a symphony of light. The lights "reside" on the ceiling, under the dining tables, and interspersed in the corners of the room, blending harmoniously with the dark wood tones. The place has two floors with seating areas to suit different moods – whether you want to retreat to a quiet corner or share a meal with other diners at a large table.

In Japanese culture, "kintsugi" is the technique of manually polishing and reassembling broken pottery using a mixture of lacquer and gold, silver, or platinum; in simpler terms,kintsugiIt is about cherishing and appreciating imperfections.

With that "healing" spirit, Moto-san revives fragments of nature that are no longer vibrant. Lampshades, business cards made from wood, tinder, branches, and withered leaves... still thrive and look beautiful here.

Moto-san is very Japanese, but also very Hanoi. The catchy food invitations are written in witty, simple Vietnamese. The dishes here are also adapted to suit Vietnamese tastes: from ramen, sashimi, and sushi to banh mi, hu tieu, dumplings, and grilled skewers. Notably, Moto-san also has a small bar with a selection of expensive gin and whiskey, for discerning patrons who want to linger late into the night. The restaurant also offers wine, plum wine, and sake to complement the meal.

In the famous Japanese storybook about education and children, "Totto-chan by the Window," there's a recurring phrase throughout the children's meals: "Have you brought enough things from the land and the sea?" If not, try visiting Moto-san.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Fanpage:Moto-san Tam Thuong

Address: 15 Tam Thuong

Opening hours: 11:00 - 14:00, 17:00 - 23:00

Price range: average from 100,000 VND/person

Quynh Phuong