Best Japanese Restaurant in Vietnam! A Day at Vietnam’s Beloved Tantanmen Shop

Best Japanese Restaurant in Vietnam! A Day at Vietnam’s Beloved Tantanmen Shop

The best Japanese restaurant in Vietnam! Bye! Thank you! That was great! Such kind words. I’m so grateful. It really makes me happy. This is the best part of this job. Truly. Hanoi, Vietnam 01 -wan- Tantan Ramen Located on Lãn Ông Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. A street lined with herbal medicine shops, also known as the “Herbal Street.” Owner Ms. Matsuo and her husband Minh. First, they head to the market to shop for ingredients. In Japan, pedestrians usually have the right of way. But here, the bigger you are, the more priority you get. Buses come first. Then luxury cars. Then motorbikes, and lastly, pedestrians. Hang Da Market, also visited by Japanese tourists. Famous for Bat Trang pottery. They also have a wide selection of fresh vegetables. In Vietnam, QR code payments are super common. Even in markets like this, you can pay by QR pretty much everywhere. Want some pineapple? They grab breakfast before work. Xôi xéo — a Vietnamese sticky rice dish. A classic breakfast made with turmeric rice and mung beans. Hanoi has a strong culture of eating breakfast on the sidewalks. The restaurant has three floors with a modern design. Ten years ago, Ms. Matsuo moved to Vietnam alone. She ran a lounge for about eight years. Then, with zero experience in food service, she opened this restaurant. I was a total beginner when it came to food. I knew absolutely nothing. Even designing the kitchen layout, I didn’t know how the flow should work. I couldn’t even imagine it — that was really hard. Japanese and Vietnamese tastes are totally different, so figuring out how to meet in the middle took a lot of trial and error. For Japanese customers, we made it richer. For Vietnamese, lighter. It took a long time to reach that balance. Now she works with her husband Minh, whom she met in Vietnam. Their goal is to expand using Japanese-style service. There were struggles with managing staff, but now, the team runs smoothly together. Spicy miso pork topping. Delivery orders are already coming in. Tantan curry rice. Toppings include soft-boiled eggs and chashu pork. Finished with fragrant chili oil and Sichuan pepper. Thank you for the meal! When we first introduced tantanmen, I was worried it might be too heavy. Especially for Vietnamese customers. We had them try it several times. At first they said it was too rich, or they’d get tired of the taste. So we adjusted the soup balance. Lighter for Vietnamese customers. And the original richness kept for Japanese customers. They offer a wide variety of tantanmen. Dry-style, seafood-based, and more. The clam salt ramen is also popular. Here, pho costs around 50–60k dong (about 2$). But our ramen is around 200k dong (about 8$). That’s about four times more. So we try to make the entire experience feel special, not just the food. We want them to feel like it’s a little escape from the ordinary. This is Hong Kong-style garlic spicy fried chicken. They’re particular not just about taste, but also the vibe. There’s one more thing Ms. Matsuo really values. We try to maintain Japanese-style service. No phones allowed in front of customers. We’re strict about appearance too. No long nails, and no flashy accessories. We enforce these rules firmly. Even with all the tasks they have, our staff really give it their all, and I truly appreciate them. The first and second floors have counter seating. You can watch the chefs cook right in front of you. The close interaction between customers and staff is part of the charm. When I can talk with my customer and they want to share about their travel
trip they have a lot of experience when they come to Vietnam, like they want to explore the new culture, explore the our food… And this Old Quarter too. We had a lot of, like, foreign people. They want to know more about our culture. Just stepping outside, you can feel the history of the Old Quarter. A lot of unexpected things happened, that’s for sure. There are things you just can’t prepare for. No matter how much info you have. But once I tried, it turned out better than I thought. That happens a lot. So maybe you should just go. Jump in and try it. That’s what I think. Because if I could do it, so can you.

[01-wan- Tantan Ramen Google Maps]
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jyqkEqctNdv2KXN7A

[01-wan- Tantan Ramen Official Instagram]
https://www.instagram.com/01wantantanramen/

Welcome to Japanese Kitchen Tour – The channel that brings you inside the kitchens of Japan, where dedicated chefs craft authentic Japanese cuisine with incredible skill and heart.
We capture the behind-the-scenes stories of sushi masters, ramen artisans, yakitori grillers, and traditional chefs across Japan.

If you’re passionate about Japanese food culture, love discovering how real Japanese kitchens operate, or simply want to feel the craftsmanship behind every dish, this is the channel for you!

From world-famous sushi and ramen to local diners, street food, massive food portions, and hidden gems, we show it all – real kitchens, real stories.

▶️ Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/japanese_kitchen_tour/

▶️ Check out our new channel Amazing JAPAN for deeper insights into traditional culture, craftsmanship, and tourism in Japan:
https://www.youtube.com/@AmazingJAPAN-Youtube/videos

こんにちは！Japanese Kitchen Tourです。
このチャンネルでは、日本の台所に密着し、料理人たちの技と想い、そして日本食の素晴らしさを世界に届けます。

寿司・ラーメン・うどん・そば・刺身・屋台グルメなどの王道和食はもちろん、町中華やデカ盛り店、ストリートフード、スイーツまで、様々な料理の仕込みや裏側をリアルに記録。
料理人の一日や、伝統を守る職人の人生にも深く迫るドキュメントチャンネルです。

【Japanese Kitchen Tour 公式Instagram 】
https://www.instagram.com/japanese_kitchen_tour/

日本文化やものづくりを紹介する新チャンネル
「Amazing JAPAN」もぜひご覧ください！

【 Amazing JAPAN 】
https://www.youtube.com/@AmazingJAPAN-Youtube/videos

【動画クリエイター募集中】
一緒にチャンネルを盛り上げてくださるクリエイターも募集しています！
グルメや飲食店が好きな方、人とのふれあいが好きな方、ぜひInstagramのDMからご連絡ください！