KUROYA Sukiyaki 黒家 VN - Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

KUROYA Sukiyaki—whose Japanese name 黒家 translates as "black house"—operates as one of Thao Dien's dedicated Japanese hot pot destinations, focused on two classic table-cooking formats: sukiyaki, with its soy-sweetened broth and beef cooked tableside, and shabu shabu, the lighter clear-broth alternative where diners swish thin slices of meat through simmering stock. Located on Nguyễn Bá Lân, the restaurant maintains evening-only hours—5 to 11 PM every day of the week—positioning it as a deliberate dinner destination rather than a casual drop-in spot.

Both formats are inherently communal. Hot pot meals unfold slowly, with ingredients arriving in stages and conversation built naturally into the rhythm of cooking together. In Thao Dien, where the dining scene leans heavily toward cafes, brunch spots, and Western bistros, a specialist Japanese hot pot restaurant occupies a distinct niche. The 4.8 rating across 24 Google reviews reflects an audience that has consistently found what it came for.

The six-hour evening window, seven nights a week, suits the format well. Sukiyaki and shabu shabu are not meals designed for speed; the pleasure is partly in the process, as broth develops and the table settles into a shared pace. Whether the occasion is a couple's dinner or a gathering of friends looking for something more involved than a fixed set menu, the tableside cooking format gives the meal a shape and focus that most Thao Dien restaurants do not offer. For a neighborhood that can feel oversaturated with quick-service options, this kind of slow, interactive dining stands apart.