Å by TUNG — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

What a disappointing end to Ho Chi Minh! It was our last dinner in the city and I was really looking forward to it with my partner. Unfortunately, the restaurant was not even close to the mark! I did read some of the bad reviews just before I left my hotel but was hoping that they were really picky diners. Hence. I was excited and feeling positive on my drive there.

Firstly, the restaurant’s decor which was supposed to be akin to dining in an ice cavern under the Northern Lights, amounted to two plastic protrusions on a couple of walls, which I assume must have been the ice. And The Northern Lights was a rather badly printed poster adhered to ceiling. Additionally, it was a bit gimmicky and kitsch for fine dining with a pine tree to the side of the room and reindeers added near the windows. We felt downstairs could actually work better as a dining area with the open kitchen and lower ceilings and interesting walls to create more of an ambiance for the diners.

The physical menu, (see pics) which they attempted to align with the theme of a lighthouse was rather try-hard in a school project way. I acknowledge that they must have spent a great deal on making the menu look creative, but as the adage goes, money cannot buy style.

Next, I agree with all the other critics of this restaurant that most of the 14 dishes presented lacked balance. The food was sickly rich, sweet, over sauced and the scallops, prawns and fish overcooked. I rarely leave food on the plate at a degustation but there were many dishes I just left after a mouthful. They even left poo in my prawn which should never happen at a restaurant where I spent nearly 8 million VDN ($463 AUD) They offered me complimentary jasmine tea to make up for this which I do not think is adequate for this major faux pas.

On the positives, I did enjoy their dessert dishes and my partner liked their deconstructed version of pho. I also thought their main wagyu beef was delicious yet again over sauced and too many elements on the plate. I think the chef who I acknowledge is skilled needs to go back to ‘less is more’.

For the service, the waitstaff were enthusiastic & attentive but lacked the sophistication you would expect at a fine dining establishment.

Finally, I do not like giving bad reviews but I hope the restaurant will take it on constructively and improve on the good things they...

I just had one of the most memorable experience dining in A by Tung last night. I love how they set the tone for the guest right away when I stepped into the door. By the way great looking exterior of the restaurant, feels very nordic and cozy. The dining room is on the 2nd floor so we had to go through the kitchen at the 1st floor, and when passing it, I already felt like it was gonna be a good meal.

Amazingly beautiful, clean and neat open kitchen that surprisingly not messy or full of yelling and shouting like I thought how a kitchen would be. All the chef looked disciplined and focused on their work, they looked like a well oiled machine, professional that I know my dinner is in good hands. The 2nd floor was so beautiful, I was in aww and look all around all the time to admire it. All pieces of furniture are well put together and overall bring out this nice nordic ambience but still cozy.

The menu I had this time was the new tasting menu name Light House, I like that they care for the details that make my experience exciting. From model of a light house decor on the table , to the interactive menu with the image of a light house that lighten up when I clicked to it, so so cute.

About the food, I love the freshness and quality of the ingredients, I love how the flavors are put together, and I like how the ingredients are clear to the taste, not hinting of flavors, therefore for Vietnamese spices or ingredients that they introduced in the menu, I can really taste it. My favorite dishes are oyster, toothfish, and tofu and I truly got so full after so many courses, but that something to be happy about cause I feel like I was getting my money worth. Abit slow service on my table but I think the restaurant is full so.

Staff were supportive, attentive, I feel very taken care of. This was truly a...

Probably the worst restaurant in HCM even in comparison with some street side restaurants.

The worst dishes:

1. Prawn that is butchered with cheese and gimmick of liquid nitrogen
2. Guava dish that could have been simple and great was again butchered by thick gelatine for no good reason
3. Scallop also butchered with bad cooking
4. Eel was overcooked. Such a pity
5. Most protein except the pork were not well done

Great stuff: The sweet potato dessert was really good. Texture was amazing with multiple layers of depth

Actually felt like puking throughout the meal (and kinda did once). I need a pill and digestive after. I think now that I read comments from the other reviews (that are not marketing from this shop), it’s true that people felt that this is not fine dining but some guy trying to pull wool over others eyes with some fancy small portions and plates that did not taste anywhere good.

Edit: Just looking at the responses from the restaurant and you’ll know they will never improve. If someone says they are bad, it’s always pointing fingers (as per the other feedbacks as well). Actually we have even feedback DURING the session. So don’t come back and say “I don’t know what your intent is”. I paid full price for a sub par meal so yes, we have the rights to feedback. The worst kind of restaurants are these that just think everyone else is at fault. Taste is subjective but balance and techniques are not. Please wake up your idea.

Also, please don’t say you are doing juice pairing when there is no synergies or thoughts behind the pairing. It’s just selling juice because you can. With your response, I am now VERY sure you’re the worst restaurant...