Tokyo is a city of taste. It’s a place where food isn’t just eaten — it’s studied, perfected, and celebrated. With one of the world’s most discerning dining scenes and a culinary heritage that spans centuries, winning the hearts (and stomachs) of Tokyo’s eaters is no easy feat. According to Statista, Tokyo is home to over 200.000 restaurants and over 300 of them serve Vietnamese cuisine. It’s a modest number, but one that’s steadily growing.
The rise of Vietnamese food in Tokyo speaks volumes about its evolving appeal. Whether it’s a nostalgic bowl of phở or a refined tasting menu inspired by different Vietnamese regions, there’s a new wave of restaurants redefining what “Vietnamese food abroad” can look like.
But how do you stand out in a city where food is both an art and an obsession? Especially when you’re bringing a cuisine that has its own rich roots but is still relatively underrepresented in Japan? From fine dining to street food, two Vietnamese restaurants in Tokyo are doing just that: staying true to the soul of Vietnamese cuisine, while speaking fluently in the language of Japanese culinary excellence.
Nén
Behind a quiet door in Daikanyama, the creative district in central Tokyo, is Nén - a Vietnamese fine dining experience unlike any other. The restaurant takes its name from “nén,” a small but powerful herb native to Central Vietnam, somewhere between a shallot and a garlic clove. Humble, yet deeply essential. It’s an ingredient that rarely takes the spotlight, but without it, something’s missing. That spirit of quiet strength and soulful depth is what Nén carries into every dish.
At the heart of Nén is Chef Summer Le, who believes Vietnamese cuisine is not just a collection of recipes, but a storytelling medium. She has combined both visual and flavor elements to create a menu that is both original and "local." Although nearly 99% of the ingredients are sourced from Japan, the flavors are distinctly Vietnamese.
Even the space tells a story. The restaurant is housed in a structure designed by famed architect Oki Sato of nendo, known for designing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Cauldron. It’s a fitting home for a place that redefines Vietnamese cuisine, not just as something nostalgic, but something that belongs here, in the heart of Japan’s capital, looking toward the future.
Cô Hương Béo
If Nén is Vietnamese fine dining reimagined, then Cô Hương Béo is street food with soul. After six years of serving up comforting bowls of bún riêu (crab vermicelli) in Vietnam, the beloved Hanoi-born eatery has opened its first location abroad right in the heart of Tokyo.
That legacy continues with the signature northern bún riêu, topped with crispy pork cracklings and juicy meatballs, still the star of the menu. Visitors can also tuck into crunchy nem rán (fried spring rolls), crispy bánh mì, and other familiar staples all served in a setting that balances casual warmth with a touch of Hanoi charm.
But more than just food, Cô Hương Béo is a taste of home. Vietnamese customers, students, workers, and families often leave heartfelt messages after their meals. Some return multiple times, saying, "Just having a place like this in Japan makes everything feel warmer."
A taste of Vietnam, for everyone in Tokyo
So what explains the growing success of Vietnamese restaurants in Tokyo? Perhaps it lies in their ability to strike a delicate balance: staying rooted in the flavors of home, while embracing the expectations of a new audience. Whether it’s a meticulously plated dish in Daikanyama or a steaming bowl of noodles on a Tokyo street corner, these stories show that Vietnamese cuisine can thrive anywhere as long as it carries the soul of where it came from, and the humility to learn from where it’s going.
And for the Vietnamese living in Japan, these places offer more than a good meal. They offer a familiar taste, a comforting scent, and a little warmth on a cold Tokyo day. In a city as fast-paced and polished as Tokyo, sometimes all you need is a bowl of bún riêu to feel a little closer to home.
If you’d like to hear directly from the people behind two Vietnamese F&B brands making their mark in Japan, don’t miss the special panel “When Vietnamese Flavor Finds Its Place in Japan's Dining Scene” at Vietcetera Open 2025 in Tokyo.Representatives:
- Nguyễn Mạnh Đức - Founder & CEO, Cô Hương Béo
- Chef Summer Lê - Founder & Executive Chef, Nén
They will share how they’ve stayed rooted in the spirit of Vietnamese cuisine while winning over one of the world’s most discerning dining scenes. It’s a conversation not just about food, but about cultural identity, adaptation, and the ambition to bring Vietnam’s flavors to the world.
Register here for Vietcetera Open - Tokyo, Japan 2025
Special thanks to our sponsors & partners for accompanying us in this event:
- Title Sponsor: FPT Japan
- Program Sponsor: Reazon Holdings & Money Forward
- Engagement Partner: Vilasia
- Travel Partner: Vietjet Air
- Strategic Partner: Solara & Co
- Communications PartnerPartner:
VANJ - Vietnamese Academic Network in Japan
VYSA (Vietnamese Youth and Student Association in Japan)
Cộng đồng DHS Đông Du
Overseas Vietnamese
FTU Alumni in Japan