Yakiuo Ishikawa Saigon (Thảo Điền) - Japanese restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

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.