ICHIHANA OMAKASE SUSHI BUFFET — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

Visited in Nov 2024 for a weekday lunch. Boss Van came over and intro himself, how he went to US when 17 and had a Japanese chef as mentor blah blah blah, how he managed to keep his food fresh and price low blah blah blah....how we can have a discount on the meal if we gave a 5 star google review..

2 of us went for the 499K omakase sushi buffet. Boss said his chef would serve us the fresh fish of the day as omakse and we can order the rest of the buffet. When the boat of sashimi arrived, we were pleased as we thought this was the omakase served. We realised we were wrong only when we tried to order the sashimi which allowed 1 piece per patron. The only omakase served was the sushi roll. Yes.. the only omakse.. 1 item..!! We then asked to serve the rest of the sashimi which were not served and we had to ask twice before all the sashimi were served. All sushi and sashimi were allowed 1 piece per patron. we did not even order all the sushi.

Rest of the food were served very slowly though it was a quiet weekday lunch. Had to reorder my tempura when it was not served after 40 mins as I thought it was left out. Quite impossible to check with the staff even using google translate. First order of the tempura arrived 10 mins after I made the reorder.. Then 5 mins later, the 2nd order of tempura arrived which I made the staff bring back. Why would I need to wait for so long for a serving of COLD tempura??? Look at that batter.. it was so thick till it looked like a dough. How would the Japanese chef mentor think if he saw this tempura. I hope he wont commit harakiri.

While we were settling bill at the counter, boss did asked if we gave a 5 star google review for the discount.. I said no......

Ichihana is a refined sushi buffet and sushi bar located in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and it truly stands out as one of the best places to enjoy Japanese cuisine in a quiet, intimate setting. The restaurant is beautifully laid out over two floors, with a calm and private atmosphere—making it an excellent choice for a date night or a relaxed dinner with close company.

What impressed me the most was the service: the chef was exceptionally attentive to our preferences, and you could genuinely feel his passion in the way he prepared and served the dishes. This kind of personal care is a rare and valuable touch.

The food was outstanding. Everything we tried was incredibly fresh, and the quality of the fish was remarkable—definitely above average. One dish that truly stood out was the crab with cheese (I believe that was the name). It was absolutely delicious and unlike anything I’ve tasted before—definitely a must-try!

Ichihana offers several dining options, including à la carte and three buffet formulas: 499k, 699k, and 1.1 million VND. Based on my experience, I would recommend the 499k option. It offers great value, and given that you can only order most dishes once (even in the higher-tier options), it’s not really worth going for the more expensive menus unless you have very specific cravings. For instance, even with the 699k menu, the crab dish I loved was limited to a single portion—something they did not mention upfront despite advertising “unlimited” servings.

Overall, Ichihana is a fantastic sushi spot that combines premium ingredients, a peaceful setting, and heartfelt service. A great pick for sushi lovers looking for both quality...

Honestly where to start. If you’re fancying a break from traditional Vietnamese food and fancy sushi this is the place to go.

If you go solo or with a partner there is space to sit in front of the chefs station where you can see the preparation take place. The owner/chef is Vietnamese having spent many years abroad before coming home and is wonderful to speak to. It is clear they are passionate about sushi and takes their product very seriously.

I did wonder why the restaurant was situated in district 3 given the quality of it however the owner explained that rent in district 1 is 3x more expensive which would have left them no choice but to increase prices. For example I chose the ultimate Buffet experience at 1,199,000 and the chef explained in district 1 it would be over 2million. They were not willing to sacrifice on portion or food quality to lower the price.

I have never taken to time to write a lengthy review however I couldn’t not write one about this restaurant it was an amazing experience. The price is incredible for what you get and the variety is larger than what I have witnessed in this city.

The sashimi was so fresh and it was such an enjoyable experience and atmosphere with the chef explaining the dish and the preparation along with the ingredients. (The chef has also created a few unique dishes and snacks such as crispy salmon skin)

I have been to many sushi places and this stands out as the best. Will 100% come back next time I am in Ho Chi Minh.

Ps I never really take photos of food and forgot to take photos of the many many other dishes that were served. My photos do not do this...