Three eateries in Hanoi awarded 1 Michelin star

Jenna Duong

Jun 07, 2023 / 02:35 PM

Hanoi's food, with its authentic taste and freshness, has won over the Michelin Guide's judges.

Three restaurants in Hanoi were awarded one Michelin star, the world's most prestigious food ranking organization - the Michelin Guide, for the first time.

Representatives from four Vietnamese restaurants received the title of One Michelin Star Restaurant. Photo: Michelin Guide Vietnam

Gia, Hibana by Koki, and Tam Vi are selected among 33 Vietnamese restaurants in Michelin's list of best restaurants, announced at a ceremony in Hanoi on June 6.

Anan Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City is also among the 1-star Michelin restaurants in Vietnam.

The four awarded 1-star Michelin restaurants are of the 103 recommended restaurants, including 48 in Hanoi and 55 in Ho Chi Minh City, and 29 establishments - the inspectors' best value for money - are awarded a Bib Gourmand for offering good food at moderate prices.

Gia, a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant run by chef Sam Tran, earned a Michelin star for its menu, which changes over the seasons and is inspired by Vietnam's culinary heritage. Deceptively complex, the beautifully crafted dishes showcase well-judged combinations of subtle flavors, with acidity and texture playing prominent roles.

Hibana by Koki offers a theatrical experience at a 14-seat counter in the basement of the Capella Hotel, where chef Hiroshi Yamaguchi skillfully and precisely prepares teppanyaki dishes rich in complex flavors. The menu has a distinctly decadent edge, epitomized by the premium ingredients flown in twice a week from Japan, such as abalone, spiny lobster, sea urchin, Yaeyama Kyori beef, and Hokkaido hairy crab.

Tam Vi: A vintage teahouse that feels distinctly northern Vietnamese with its nostalgic collection of Chinese furniture and handwritten signs. They serve northern Vietnamese dishes with some central and southern options. The Vietnamese ham with periwinkle cha oc (snails) comes with fresh herbs, vegetables, and rice vermicelli with fish sauce. The crab soup with canh cua mung toi (Malabar spinach) has a subtle crab flavor in a clear broth.

Restaurants in Hanoi awarded a Bib Gourmand or Inspectors’ Favourites for Quality Cooking at Moderate Prices.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, said the first Michelin Guide selections in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City highlight the differences and variety in what these two cities have to offer.

"Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, offers a very laid-back and relaxed atmosphere with small shops and restaurants found mainly in the old quarter," he said. "Traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a northern flavor is prevalent in this city, with a clear presentation of natural flavors, enhanced with different types of spices and herbs for complexity," he added.

This is just the beginning of the Michelin Guide's journey in Vietnam, and the inspectors hope to have more opportunities to discover more gastronomic spots in the country in the coming time.

Twenty-nine establishments awarded a Bib Gourmand or Inspectors’ Favourites for Quality Cooking at Moderate Prices include 13 eateries in Hanoi and 16 others in Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition to recommending quality restaurants, the Michelin Guide also aims to highlight talented individuals who contribute to enhancing the gastronomic experience. Three special awards were presented to Nguyen Thi Nu of Vietnam House Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City (Michelin Service Award), Yu Yamamoto of Lua (Fire) in Ho Chi Minh City (Michelin Sommelier Award) and Sam Tran of Gia (Michelin Young Chef Award).