Okonomiyaki Shu – an old shop in Saigon’s Japan Town
In Saigon’s famous Japan Town lies a little shop called Okonomiyaki Shu – a Japanese pancake store that has stood firm for 28 years with its delicious, carb-rich okonomiyaki, made in Hiroshima-style – a rare variation in Saigon.
Located on the street of Lê Thánh Tôn, the shop is recognizable by the red lantern hanging just outside the door.
Paper lanterns and Japanese manga
The shop is right next to the entrance of the residential area of Japan Town, easily recognized by its signature red banners and hanging paper lanterns.
Once you walk in, you will most likely notice the front cooking station and bookshelves filled with mangas printed in Japanese, giving you the impression of an authentic Japanese restaurant.
Chefs cook in front of guests
Customers can sit at the tables or right in front of the iron plate to watch the chefs making food. A good drink best accompanies the sizzling sounds of cooked food and some light snacks ordered right from your table.
Speaking of drinks, there’s beer and sake to pair with the hot, sizzling okonomiyaki, as well as iced oolong tea for those who want to be sober afterward.
Saucy and tasty okonomiyaki
The okonomiyaki here is cooked in Hiroshima-style, where ingredients are stacked on each other, instead of getting mixed into a batter like the Osaka-style version found in almost every Japanese restaurant in Saigon.
Image credit: Okonomiyaki Shu
Once the dish is on the table, hot and crispy, you can enjoy the sight and smell, then cut up the food and savor the taste of each ingredient. The fried egg, cabbages, noodles, and meat are the stars of the dish, each offering a different flavor.
Most of the pancakes here can be a bit pricey, ranging from VND170,000 to VND230,000 (~USD6.84, ~USD9.26).
Besides okonomiyaki, the menu also contains a variety of other dishes such as stir-fried noodles, egg rolls, takoyaki, and a variety of other dishes one may find in a typical Japanese restaurant.
Okonomiyaki Shu – the place to go when you’re craving savory pancakes
Okonomiyaki Shu, with its delicious food and an atmosphere that oozes authenticity, has definitely become a mainstay in our list of places to go on paydays.
If you suddenly crave something savory, perhaps try out this place for once.
Okonomiyaki Shu Saigon:
Address: 15B11 Lê Thánh Tôn Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 10.30am-11.30pm, Daily
Contact: 077 777 3113 | Okonomiyaki Shu’s Facebook page
For more places in Saigon, check out:
Cover image adapted from: @OkonomiyakiShuSaiGon
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