Pho Hanoi Yatai 33 — Restaurant in Tokyo

As a Vietnamese, I definitely know what authentic Vietnamese food is all about! After two weeks in Japan, I started to feel a bit tired of the local cuisine. I appreciate Japanese food for its quality and freshness, but some dishes can be a bit too sweet or rich if you’re constantly eating it on the daily. I craved something spicy, zesty, and just different overall.

I didn't expect much from this restaurant in Shinjuku. I thought, "How good can Vietnamese food really be here?" But I was desperate for a change, so I decided to give it a shot. I ordered the extra spicy bun bo hue. Be warned—this is seriously spicy! Mix in the chilis to your taste; don’t go overboard. I initially underestimated the heat, thinking Japanese isn’t usually used to spicy, but I was pleasantly surprised!

The bun bo hue tasted pretty good. Sure, it’s not quite like the authentic versions you find in Vietnam, but you can’t expect that when you’re in Japan! It definitely hit the spot, and I left feeling satisfied. I can’t wait to go back and try more dishes from their menu. This place is officially my new spot to go when I crave for...

Came in with low expectation bc Shinjuku and Vietnamese food don’t go hand in hand together. Left with an utter disappointment. Spring roll is a average at best. Pho soup base is light, which obviously caters towards the local people’s taste. It heavily lacks the richness of charred bones and the distinct fragrance of toasted cinnamon, star anise, etc. The way they prepare the meat and spring onions just shows laziness. Who uses beef belly for pho??!?!! I’m quite convinced they just use pre-sliced beef belly from Gyoumu Supermarket. And they can’t even julienne the spring onions, just cut it into chunks and throw it in the bowl … Not to mention all the strange side veggies that I’m not even sure is for the pho or a separate salad - but there’s no dressing 🤷🏻‍♂️. The only good things out of the meal are the fried dough sticks, chè (which I doubt is made in-house anyway), and tea.

If you’re craving an authentic Vietnamese food experience, save yourself some time and money and stay away...

The food was unique from the smaller portions and presentation of the food, perfect for an easy meal. The bahn mi and pho were great, and the ice cream wasn’t too sweet. Unique from the Vietnamese restaurants I’ve visited in the past.

Ordering by phone did work but it was a bit difficult figuring out the menu without calling for staff.

Edit: It was my first time eating Vietnamese food in Japan, and I was not familiar with the online menu without some information about the food. Because I had Japanese speakers with me, there was no language barrier that would require...