[New Spot] EN Group Restaurant in Vietnam

Aburi-EN: Aburi & Donburi | Kiwami: Ramen & Gyoza Bar | Chura: Sushi Bar

May 30, 2025

Hello friends,

Last week I stumbled on a new restaurant and couldn’t keep it to myself, it’s too good not to share. Let’s explore with me!

EN Group Vietnam

📍 Address: 116 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
💵 Price: 200,000 - 300,000VND/person
📖 Check out the menu here

A restaurant chain from Singapore called EN Group that opened about 2-3 months ago in District 1, HCMC. They’ve squeezed three Japanese places into one location, which is perfect if you’re indecisive like me and want ramen, sushi, and donburi all at once.

Here’s what they’ve got going on:

Kiwami: Ramen & Gyoza Bar
Solid bowl of ramen and crispy gyoza. Perfect combo if you're in a “soup and snack” kind of mood.
Aburi-EN: Aburi & Donburi
Grilled food on rice. Everything comes slightly smoky and satisfying.
Chura Sushi Bar
Sushi is fresh, portions are decent and you don’t have to sell a kidney to enjoy it.

It’s all under one roof, right in the middle of town, so you can pop in whether you’re hungry after work or just pretending to be cultured over lunch.

What I ordered

1. Gyoza

Let’s start strong. I’m a gyoza fan, and this place surprised me in the best way—they’ve got your usual gyoza, but also a few wildcards. I went for the Smoked Duck Gyoza and Cheese Teppan Fondue Gyoza.

Yes, I was excited. And yes, it lived up to the hype. The duck one was smoky and juicy, with a slice of cucumber inside to balance it all out.

Also, bless them for keeping the onion flavor in check — loved it! (Some places go wild with it and it’s not really my taste.)

Pro tip: Enjoy this dish while it’s hot. The cheese can get a bit too clingy to the pan. Haha.

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2. Sashimi

I always end up ordering sashimi at Japanese restaurants, it’s just one of those things. Usually, I go for salmon belly, but I decided to mix it up and try Tuna Sashimi this time.

The slices were thick and neat and the fish was soft and fresh. Honestly, what more can I ask? Oh, and the soy sauce wasn’t too salty which I liked. Big win.

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3. Roll Sushi

Since sashimi was a hit, I figured why stop now? I went for the Spicy Salmon Tartare Roll. It came packed with veggies and topped with spicy salmon.

My partner loved it. I liked it too, though I wished it had a bit less sourness so I could taste more of the salmon itself. But hey, more for him. Teamwork! Haha

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4. Hokkaido Hotate Mentaiko Yaki

Since the big hope is there, let’s go for some grilled scallops.

No regrets. The scallops were fresh, not rubbery (thank goodness), and the sauce gave it a nice boost of flavor.

Heads up: The shell is very hot. Try to hold around the edges.

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5. Agedashi Tofu

As always, my eyes are bigger than my stomach.
Did I need more food? No.
Did I still order tofu? Absolutely.

It looked smaller on the menu than it actually was, but I’m not complaining about it, the more the merrier.

Deep-fried tofu topped with radish, ginger, spring onion, and bonito flakes. The tofu itself was pretty plain (as tofu does), but once I added a bit of soy sauce, it hit the spot.

Happy Hour

Well, any place instantly becomes cooler in my book if there’s a Happy Hour.

Everyday | 2.00 – 7.00 PM
Beers and highballs on discount
Add-on food: 15% off Yakimono (grilled dishes)
when order drinks during Happy Hour

Perfect excuse to clock out mentally at 1.59PM

Ambience & Service

1. Ambience

The restaurant’s pretty cozy, with a few floors. I sat on the ground floor because it wasn’t too crowded when I went. Even though the kitchen is nearby, there was no smoke or smell clinging to my clothes. Great right?

Suggestion: It might get packed on weekends, so if you don’t want to wait around, a quick reservation isn’t a bad idea.

Let me know in the comments if you go! I’d love to hear what you ordered.

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2. Service

There was a small issue with the cheese gyoza, but the staff handled it super well. They apologized quickly, brought us a fresh one, and even gave us complimentary ice cream at the end. That kind of service really stood out.

Honestly, the staff was nice from start to finish. Everyone was helpful without being over the top. That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to share this place with you—it’s rare to find a spot that gets both the food and the service right.

Would I go back?

Big yes. Bring stretchy pants.

Thanks for hanging out and reading this little food update.

If this helped you pick your next meal (or just made you hungry), feel free to subscribe or share it with a fellow food-loving friend. It helps me keep doing this fun little thing.

Until next time ✨