The food here is exceptional, can’t be more satisfied. I’ll 100% come back for more
Japanese restaurant
Yakiuo Ishikawa Saigon (Thảo Điền) - Japanese restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City
+23
The Story
About This Place
Yakiuo Ishikawa Saigon occupies a considered corner of Xuân Thủy in Thảo Điền, positioning itself at the upper end of the neighborhood's Japanese dining options through an omakase-first format that sets it apart from the izakaya and ramen spots dominating nearby streets. The kitchen builds its identity around seafood — sashimi is the most consistently praised item across the reviews — while the à la carte menu extends that focus into composed dishes like the uni and otoro don and the sanshokudon, a multi-topping rice bowl priced at 1,000,000 VND++. A Caesar salad finished with a poached egg stands out as an unexpected signature that regulars single out by name.
The omakase format draws a crowd that wants to hand the meal's structure to the kitchen entirely, and the dining room suits that kind of unhurried pace. Staff members Cong and Le Quyen are mentioned specifically in reviews — a reliable signal that the front-of-house maintains some continuity rather than the revolving-door service common at newer openings. Mr. Long handles tableside explanations with evident knowledge, though some guests note his delivery can move quickly.
The miso soup carries a mild heat that lands differently depending on the diner, and portion sizes across the menu lean small — consistent with the omakase philosophy, but worth calibrating expectations for those approaching it as a casual à la carte meal. At this price point, the kitchen's sourcing decisions carry significant weight, and the restaurant's 4.9-star average across 127 Google ratings reflects that most diners find the quality justified. For Thảo Điền residents and visitors specifically seeking precision Japanese cooking with a tasting-menu format, options at this level remain limited in the neighborhood.
omakase tasting menuuni and otoro donsanshokudoncaesar salad with poached eggsashimi
refinedintimatequietformaldate-night
Reviews
4.9(227)
I was very excited to try this restaurant at first. Menu is no bad. Come for the uni and otoro don. But I didn’t expect the portion is so tiny and totally overpriced😅. The worst is the chef serve me not fresh uni and I feedback to them but they told me its fresh and just arrived. In my vision, I know it’s not fresh as a fnb people. I also notice which box of uni they use to serve me. But when I feedback and they show me another box of fresh uni which totally different with the one they serve me. They somemore dare to told me it’s the uni they provide me. Very nonsense They didn’t give me a good response on my complain and is totally judging that am I a problem customer.🫠 It really ruin my wonderful night with my love. After that they serve me a new bowl with right fresh uni😅. I wait the answer for my complain at least 15minutes. It’s totally bad for a high charge Japanese restaurant. Please do something match with your restaurant setting, quality and manners Just notice that bowl of uni&otoro is cost us 1m VND, then serve me bad quality thing 🌚 I didn’t get any sorry or explain from my complain .
A total disappointment. This place is overpriced and the food is far from fresh. We ordered the "sanshokudon" special at 1,000,000 VND++. When the small bowl arrived, I was immediately skeptical; the sea urchin (uni) was a dull grey instead of a vibrant yellow. Upon tasting it, I knew something was wrong. When I alerted the waiter, he informed the manager, who proceeded to ignore us for the rest of the night. The sushi from the omakase was even worse—poorly prepared, oxidized, and looked less appetizing than supermarket sushi. I ended up with a $100 bill for a meal that was completely oversold by social media. Save your money.
High end omakase. Good date night location. Le Quyen is standing out. Mr. Long is great but I suggest he slows down his speaking speed. Miso soup is a little bit spice to me but perfect to my sista.
Great meal with friendly and helpful service. It’s a fairly new restaurant. I think open for one month. Specialize in Omakase, but we chose à la carte. Very fresh seafood. Recommend for all. Cong was a great server. Loved their version of Cesear salad with poached egg.
Visit Tips
Visiting Yakiuo Ishikawa Saigon (Thảo Điền)
- ✓
Reservations: Call +84 932 615 068 to book — recommended for weekend dining.
- ✓
Best for: date night, special occasion dinner, omakase experience, business lunch.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked
- What is the best dish at Yakiuo Ishikawa Saigon (Thảo Điền)?
- The sashimi is the most consistently praised item across reviews. The uni and otoro don and Caesar salad with poached egg are also frequently highlighted by name.
- Is Yakiuo Ishikawa Saigon (Thảo Điền) good for a date night?
- Reviewers describe it as a 'high end omakase' and 'good date night location' with a dining room suited to an unhurried pace.
- Does Yakiuo Ishikawa Saigon (Thảo Điền) offer à la carte dining or only omakase?
- Both formats are available. Guests have dined à la carte with dishes like the sanshokudon (1,000,000 VND++) and the uni and otoro don alongside the omakase tasting menu.
- Are portions large at Yakiuo Ishikawa Saigon (Thảo Điền)?
- Portions lean small, consistent with the omakase philosophy. One reviewer described the uni and otoro don as 'so tiny and totally overpriced.'
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