New restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City to check out this February
The word for this month’s new openings in Saigon is Japanese.
It feels like there’s a new Japanese restaurant opening every week in District 1 or 2 and let’s be honest, the city is more than happy to eat it up. Still, the line between izakaya and omakase is getting increasingly blurry. In an already crowded category, many concepts are trying to stand out by doing more, blending formats and stacking ideas, from yakiniku paired with omakase to multi floor spaces cramming in robatayaki, sashimi, sushi, DJs, and sake bars under one roof, with some even going as far as making their own sashimi and sushi soy sauce (I’m all here for it).
That said, pairings like Yakitori Hachibei and Tiger Omakase in Bình Thạnh show that when it works, it really works and that Japanese dining in Vietnam is still very much being defined.
Pot Au Phở 2.0
Chef Peter Cường Franklin’s playful evolution of phở has moved from teasers at Michelin starred Ănăn Saigon to a dedicated home of its own and thankfully just next door. At Pot Au Phở 2.0, signature hits like the one bite Molecular Phở and Phởjito return alongside new creations in a 10 course tasting menu (3.5M++ VND, optional wine pairing at 2.2M VND) that deconstructs and reimagines Vietnam’s national dish into many different shapes and forms.
Set around a 14-seat counter, the experience feels intimate and theatrical like you’re dining in a friend’s home, if that friend has a noodle tasting bar, with courses served right in front of you amid beef bone shaped details, phở spoon motifs, and an open kitchen. Expect bold, inventive highlights such as Phở Tartare Tart with sea urchin, Wagyu rich Le Pot Au Phở in puff pastry, and a Truffle Phở Soufflé for dessert.
Address: 91 Tôn Thất Đạm, Bến Nghé, Ho Chi Minh City (District 1)
Opening hours: Wed-Fri & Sunday: 5PM–11:30PM; Sat: 5PM-9:30PM
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potaupho2.0
Credit: Moa Moa Pasta Club
Moa Moa Pasta Club
Moa Moa Pasta Club leans hard into what it does best: fresh, house made pasta in a relaxed, city central setting. Tucked inside a clean, modern apartment building right in the pedestrian zone, the space feels airy and calm, with warm lighting, minimalist interiors, comfortable sofa seating, and a balcony that looks out onto the buzz of Ngo Duc Ke, perfect for a sunset dinner after a day of strolling along District 1.
The menu is intentionally tight, and pasta is clearly the star. Standouts include the Creamy Mushroom Truffle Pasta, praised for its silky, egg yolk rich sauce (approachable rather than aggressively truffly), the nduja pasta with a gentle kick of spice, a well executed classic carbonara where the pancetta does the heavy lifting, and a crowd pleasing mushroom truffle option many return for. The Panzanella salad also gets love thanks to its very fresh, house made burrata, while the salmon carpaccio and tortellini have their fans. Mains aside, there’s desserts and cocktails but let’s be honest: the pasta and breezy balcony are clearly the stars.
Address: 40E Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: Tues - Sun (11 AM–2 PM, 5–11:30 PM), Mon (11 AM–2 PM)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moamoa.sgn/
Credit: Yakiuo Ishikawa
Yakiuo Ishikawa
After arriving in District 1 in 2024 and quickly scoring the Vietcetera Flavors Award for ‘Concept of the Year,’ Yakiuo Ishikawa has carved out its own niche in Saigon’s crowded barbecue scene. The Tokyo-born concept does away with traditional beef entirely, instead opting for premium, expertly grilled sashimi-grade seafood. Just over a year since its debut, the bold Omakase x Meatless Yakiniku experience is expanding to a second venue in Thao Dien.
There are six Omakase menus available, ranging from approximately 1 to 3.7M VND, as well as a la carte options. Don’t worry about missing the meat; chefs skillfully sear fatty cuts like Otoro (fatty tuna) to create a smoky, melt-in-your-mouth richness that mimics the best Wagyu. Whether you’re ordering the signature Sanshokudon (a decadent three-color rice bowl with layers of sea urchin, salmon roe, and seared tuna) or a full omakase menu, this is a sophisticated, indulgent barbecue from the sea.
Address: 79 Xuân Thủy, Thảo Điền, Thủ Đức City, Ho Chi Minh City (District 2)
Opening hours: Mon–Sun: 6PM-10PM
Credit: Doobie Doo Bar
Doobie Doo Bar
Doobie Doo Bar is the new lovechild of a Singaporean-Japanese-Vietnamese cultural affair. Backed by the teams behind Singapore’s Apollon/Am-bar, Mobomoga, Hearth, and Sakemaru, this ‘Disco Sakaba’ (groovy drinking den) brings a fresh, high-concept energy to Bình Thạnh’s Phạm Viết Chánh.
Forget typical house pours; the curation focuses on artisanal sakes like the Amabuki Strawberry Yeast (brewed with flower yeast for a vibrant, juicy finish) and the Hououbiden Black Phoenix, a lush, aromatic brew made from rare Aiyama rice. For a sharper hit, the 'Kobe Style' Kaku Highball is a masterclass in chill, served ice-free to ensure zero dilution. The menu offers perfectly matched Otsumami (Japanese tapas), including the smoky Gakko Cheese spread and the Kitsune Banh Mi, a clever local fusion featuring seasoned deep-fried tofu.
Address: 118 Phạm Viết Chánh, Ward 19, Bình Thạnh District, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: Mon–Sat: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doobiedoo.bar
Credit: Yukimi
Yukimi
At first glance, walking past on busy Quoc Huong, Yukimi can be a little misleading (confusing).
The menu is tight to the point of raising eyebrows, just a few categories with two or three dishes each, and prices that feel almost too good to be true. We are talking eight pieces of sushi for 550k, assorted tempura at 210k, and appetisers starting from 45k. You can snack lightly with tomato in amazu sauce at 90k or marinated tuna yukke at 120k, move on to clean, bright plates like white fish with ponzu at 270k, then scale up to sashimi sets from a very reasonable three type platter at 310k.
Step inside, though, and the picture shifts. An omakase style counter showcases pristine seafood, house made sashimi and sushi soy, and a wall lined with serious sake bottles, signalling that this is anything but casual. Behind it all is a head chef with over a decade of training in Japan and experience at Vietnam’s top omakase kitchens, including Sushi Rei, and the technique shows. Case in point: the tempura here is easily some of the best in Saigon.
Address: 71A Quốc Hương, Thảo Điền, Thủ Đức City, Ho Chi Minh City (District 2)
Opening hours: Mon–Sun: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yukimi_dining
Credit: La Scène
La Scène | Bistro Cafe x Listening Bar
Bistro-café by day and vinyl listening bar by night, La Scène is a passion project built around its owner’s personal collection of 3,000+ records, with a high-fidelity “living room” vibe that makes you want to stay for one more track.
Inspired by Japan’s Jazz Kissa listening cafés, this is a rare all day hang where you can start with artisanal coffee and breakfast from around 100K VND, ease into lunch, then slide straight into tapas, dinner, natural wines, and cocktails without changing venues. The menu leans French and snack friendly, with dishes like Croque Madame, smoked duck breast and orange salad, duck leg confit, baked Camembert, and Chateaubriand steak.
Dinner starters begin at 135K VND, mains from 245K VND, while cold cuts and cheese boards are clearly designed for lingering over a full album side. Cocktails land at around 180K VND, wines from 170K VND a glass, and the soundtrack rotates between soul, funk, R&B, disco, and low fi sessions depending on the night.
Address: 27 Trần Quang Long, Ward 19, Bình Thạnh District, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: Mon–Sun: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Featured Articles
Follow me on Instagram
Like what you read?
Discover Vietnam’s coming-of-age food and drink scene with one of our tours and experiences exclusively available at Saigon Social