Morico Lê Lợi - Japanese restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

Morico Review – Vincom Center vs. Lê Lợi (July 20, 2026) I first discovered Morico at Vincom Center and was pleasantly surprised. We ordered Mango Passionfruit, Berries Snow, Yuzu Chuhai, Guava Chuhai, Chawanmushi, Kaki Garlic Butter Yaki, Mango Salmon Ceviche, Yasai Tempura, Sake Toro Sashimi, Soft-Shell Crab Tempura, and Japanese Purin with Vanilla Gelato. Everything was fresh and delicious. The service was average—not outstanding—but the food was good enough that I brought my family back to try another branch. Unfortunately, our experience at the Lê Lợi branch was completely different. Before we were seated, I asked for help registering my Morico membership because the OTP never arrived. The staff member didn’t seem interested in helping. We ordered Mango Lassi, Mango Passionfruit, Sake, Yuzu Coffee, Eihire Yaki, Mushroom Miso Yaki, Sake Toro Sashimi, Mango Salmon Ceviche, Kimchi Gyu Yakimeshi, Kimchi Ramen, Negi Sake Maki, Salmon Roll, Suzuki Miso Yaki, Saba Yaki, Yellow Nishin Sashimi, and Tatsuta Age. Only the Sake Toro Sashimi and the drinks (except the Yuzu Coffee) were good. Everything else was disappointing and not nearly as good as the Vincom Center branch. The biggest issue was the service. Almost every dish was brought out at the same time, filling the table and causing much of the food to get cold before we could enjoy it. It felt rushed instead of thoughtfully paced. When we politely mentioned that one salad tasted different from the Vincom location, the server simply walked away without apologizing or explaining. The manager later came over, listened to our feedback, and things improved slightly, but the experience had already been affected. What disappointed me most was the hospitality. Japanese restaurants are known for making guests feel welcome. Restaurants like Hokkaido Sushi, Ippudo Ramen, and many other Japanese brands set a great example with warm, attentive service. At this branch, several servers rarely smiled, didn’t seem welcoming, and acted as if customers were an inconvenience. Being friendly is one of the most important parts of working in customer service. Without customers, there is no restaurant. A smile, a warm greeting, and a helpful attitude cost nothing but make a huge difference. If you want to try Morico, I recommend the Vincom Center location. The food is much more consistent, and although the service is only average, it’s still much better than the Lê Lợi branch. I hope Morico improves the staff training and consistency because the restaurant has great potential.

Stopped by Morico Le Loi today to try it out, and honestly it was so good! The place has a really nice vibe, and the food looked so good I just wanted to dig in right away. Ordered the chicken ramen, and the broth was rich and flavorful, the soft-boiled egg was perfectly creamy, plus a little kimchi on the side that was spicy and crunchy — such a good combo. Then the teriyaki grilled chicken topped with fried shallots smelled amazing, the meat was tender and seasoned just right, served with salad and some tobiko for an interesting little crunch. The cold soba with sesame sauce paired with garlic-grilled chicken was another combo you really can’t complain about. For dessert, there was green tea warabimochi with berry panna cotta — sweet but not too much, left you feeling satisfied without being too heavy. But honestly, what I liked most was the staff — so friendly and attentive, gave great recommendations, and kept checking in every now and then to see how the food was. It made the whole meal feel really comfortable.

Came here for dinner with my extended family and tried a bit of everything.. which I’m so glad we did! I really enjoyed the tempura (but that doesn’t say much bc I loved fried anything much to my dismay) but the favourite was definitely the oysters and matcha!!! Beautiful restaurant with the space to feel busy but not overcrowded and very fairly priced! Only thing I didn’t like so much was the tiramisu but I take that as a sign that I need to stop overindulging and the spaghetti options - otherwise highly recommend trying their ice cream!

Morico used to be one of our go-to spots, but coming back this time definitely made us question it. The quality just didn’t hold up compared to other top Japanese places we’ve tried. The rice was too soft, and the noodles were overcooked. The sushi rolls were overloaded with sauce, which took away from the balance. The grilled fish was also overcooked and ended up too dry. The only real highlight was the tempura—light, airy, and crispy. But even then, a few pieces were slightly overdone. Desserts were decent overall, but the parfait was disappointing. We didn’t quite understand the choice of using Greek yogurt ice cream instead of fresh cream. It just didn’t deliver the same richness or texture. On top of that, the service felt underwhelming compared to what we remembered. Overall, a pretty disappointing revisit. Unfortunately, not a place we’d come back to or recommend anymore.

Quite a pleasant experience here. Nice setting on the first floor but much better on the second one with a view over the surroundings if sitting in the outermost room. Food is good but the soy sauce dip is too much diluted, and the wasabi and ginger slices are subpar.