Izakaya Unatoto Bến Thành Nishin Kazunoko

Post by Chiefeater VK

Dinner was at Izakaya Unatoto Bến Thành, a Japanese chain supposedly best known for its unagi. We had the Unadon Double, and while it was alright, I don’t quite share some of the superlatives that have been lavished on it. The eel was nicely glazed and had some char on the surface, but for me it didn’t quite reach the level where I would call it exceptional.

The sashimi platter was good though, and there was one item in particular that I really liked.

The piece with the silver herring skin sitting over that thick yellow layer is herring with roe, commonly sold as nishin kazunoko or herring with capelin roe.

This is slightly different from eating a whole kazunoko roe sac on its own. In this form, seasoned or lightly cured herring fillet is pressed together with a compact layer of roe. The roe gives it that distinctive firm, slightly crunchy texture, while the oily herring provides the softer, richer contrast.

That texture was what made it memorable for me.

Jen had the cold tempura soba, and that turned out to be really good.

The broth had a very evident umami character, while the soba itself still had a nice bounce rather than turning soft. That combination of cool broth and firm noodles worked very well.

There was also an interesting Sapporo-style sour plum beer on the menu. I really enjoyed that too. The sour plum brought acidity and a slight fruitiness to the beer without making it overly sweet.

Funny enough, at a place famous for eel, it was the herring with roe, the cold soba and the plum beer that left the stronger impression on me.

Pricing

Plum Beer – VND79,000
Green Tea – VND19,000
Unadon Double – VND249,000
Sashimi 6 Types – VND299,000
Cold Tempura Soba – VND99,000

Subtotal – VND745,000
VAT (8%) – VND53,280
VAT (10%) – VND7,900

Total: VND806,180
Average per pax: VND403,090

MVX Summary

MVX Score: 8.0/10

M – Meal Value
At just over VND403,000 per person, this was not a cheap dinner, but there was a fair amount of variety between the unagi, sashimi, soba and drinks. The sashimi platter accounted for the largest part of the bill.
Score: 7.5/10

V – Venue
The Bến Thành outlet has a warm Japanese izakaya feel and the location in central Ho Chi Minh City makes it an easy dinner stop.
Score: 8.0/10

X – X-Factor
The herring with roe was the standout for me. That contrast between soft, oily herring and the firm, slightly crunchy roe layer made it much more interesting than the unagi that the restaurant is better known for.
Score: 8.5/10

Business Hours

Monday to Thursday
11:00 am to 11:00 pm

Friday to Saturday
11:00 am to 12:00 am

Sunday
11:00 am to 11:00 pm