Japanese restaurant in Hanoi has a secret entrance, customers squeeze through a narrow path

In the heart of bustling Hanoi, Ajigen Yakitori restaurant on Tran Phu street appears as a peaceful corner, where diners can temporarily leave the hustle and bustle of life to fully enjoy the flavors of Japanese cuisine .

The restaurant has a discreet entrance that is hard to find. Guests can also experience the cooking process right at the table, with the fire flickering.

Hidden entrance in the coffee shop, customers feel like they are entering a secret basement

Many people who come to Ajigen Yakitori for the first time are confused because they think they have gone to the wrong place because the outside is just a small cafe, but the restaurant entrance is incredibly discreet.

Ajigen has the appearance of a hidden restaurant - a small shop with a hard-to-find entrance, often hidden behind another store - in true Japanese style, evoking a private, cozy feeling.

Only when the staff came out to greet us, led us through the narrow hallway and opened the iron door that seemed like the entrance to a secret room, did the experience truly begin.

The moment the door opens, the warm yellow light, the smell of grilled meat mixed with light smoke and the bustling chatter rush in, making diners feel like they have just stepped into a miniature corner of Kyoto (Japan) in the heart of Hanoi , familiar yet enchanting.

The most impressive thing about the restaurant is the open kitchen counter with decorative fire effects, where customers can watch the flickering fire and watch each Yakitori skewer being skillfully grilled.

Right from the first days of opening, the fire area quickly attracted diners; everyone was excited and did not forget to take a souvenir photo.

Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, Ms. Kieu Thi Thanh Nhan, the restaurant owner, said the idea of the fire effect was born from the desire to create a warm and connected feeling for diners.

“The fire on the kitchen counter is not only a visual highlight but also brings a feeling of closeness and friendliness,” said Ms. Nhan.

The owner also revealed that the fire effect is created with steam, can change color, is completely safe, is not hot and is only for decoration, not dangerous to customers.

“At first, many customers were hesitant because they thought it was real fire. But when the restaurant staff introduced it, they were reassured because this effect is absolutely safe, allowing customers to comfortably enjoy it near the kitchen counter. If it were real fire, this experience would not be possible,” the restaurant owner added.

It is known that Nhan and a friend brought the entire kitchen process, recipes and techniques from Kyoto, Japan, to Vietnam. In Kyoto, chef Sakaguchi Genchi, 77 years old, who is considered the father of Yakitori grilled dishes at Ajigen Yakitori restaurant, still stands in the kitchen 10-12 hours a day, directly passing on the skills to the young team.

“Mr. Genchi is the soul of the restaurant, the creator of all the recipes and grilling techniques. In Hanoi, we only bring that spirit back, keeping the same taste and Yakitori experience as in Kyoto: meticulous, handmade and intimate,” said the restaurant representative.

In particular, the restaurant uses 100% imported electric grills from Japan instead of charcoal grills, creating a difference compared to other skewer grill restaurants in Vietnam.

Chicken neck and heart stem are always "sold out" every night.

According to the owner, Ajigen Yakitori restaurant specializes in Yakitori - in Japanese, "yaki" means "grilled", and "tori" means "chicken", meaning "chicken skewered on charcoal" - so most of the restaurant's menu revolves around this ingredient: from thighs, necks, heart stalks to chicken giblets. Each skewer costs about 25,000 VND, marinated and grilled according to the Japanese process.

“Ajigen is not just a restaurant, but a way for us to preserve the original Yakitori spirit. Chef Sakaguchi Genchi taught us all the techniques, recipes, even the knife-holding posture and the way to grill. Thanks to that, each Yakitori skewer in Hanoi is almost identical to the one in Kyoto,” the owner said.

Since then, the restaurant has brought the entire Japanese kitchen process to Vietnam. Although admitting that it is difficult to achieve 100% quality like the original restaurant, Ms. Nhan said that the restaurant's goal is to achieve at least 80%, enough for diners to feel the spirit and authentic Japanese flavor.

All ingredients are fresh, absolutely no frozen food. From chicken thighs, neck meat, heart stalks to chicken giblets, all are carefully selected and processed according to Japanese standards to preserve the natural flavor.

Among them, chicken neck and heart stem are considered the “soul” of the restaurant. Chicken neck is varied, grilled with perilla leaves, onion salt, special sauce or combined with green onions.

Each skewer is carefully cut and skewered to maintain a square shape when grilled, both beautiful and delicious. If cut too large, the fresh meat will easily fall down, burn and lose its natural sweetness.

“We start preparing at around 12 noon, preparing fresh ingredients, and cooking the sauce according to Japanese recipes. Due to the elaborate preparation process and limited quantity of ingredients, chicken neck and heart stem meat are always limited every day.

To make 1kg of neck meat, the staff must spend nearly an hour trimming off the bones and skin. Heart stalks are a rare dish, and to complete a skewer, many small heart stalks must be collected.

On weekends, chicken neck meat usually runs out around 10pm, and heart stem is even scarcer. Those who come late will have to make an appointment for another time," said an employee.

In addition, the restaurant also serves light side dishes such as: Cabbage Salad with Ponzu Sauce, Fried Pumpkin, Green Tea Soba Noodles or Japanese Grilled Rice Balls... These dishes help balance the taste buds, while completing the Japanese culinary experience in the heart of Hanoi.

Cozy space, bold Japanese design makes many people feel like they are lost in a small corner of Kyoto in the heart of Hanoi.

Right at the kitchen counter, where the flickering firelight reflects off the golden yakitori skewers, a customer has proposed to his girlfriend. There are also birthdays celebrated privately, with the restaurant delicately preparing small gifts or handwritten wishes for regular customers.

“It feels like sitting in a small restaurant in Kyoto, eating and watching the chef grilling skewers in front of you. The atmosphere is very pleasant, close and friendly,” said Nguyen Duc Long (born 1996), a customer.

Quán ăn Nhật ở Hà Nội có lối vào bí mật, khách đến lách mình qua lối hẹp - 8 — Minh Tam (left), also known by the nickname hot girl Tam Xiu, commented that although the space is small, it creates a sense of privacy, suitable for small groups (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam).

The first time she visited Ajigen Yakitori, Minh Tam (born in 1996) was impressed by the distinctive aroma emanating from the grill and the Japanese-style service. However, she said the food was prepared according to the original recipe, so it was a bit too strong for Vietnamese taste.

“After I gave my feedback, the restaurant adjusted it to be more suitable, reducing the saltiness to suit my taste but still keeping the characteristic aroma and rich flavor, so I am very satisfied,” Minh Tam expressed.

She also commented that the actual space of the restaurant is smaller than in the photo, but in return, the staff is very polite, friendly and the decoration still gives a cozy, comfortable feeling.

Kim Yen, a customer who came to the restaurant on her birthday, said she was not a fan of Japanese food, but was attracted by the restaurant's style.

“Before, when talking about Japanese cuisine, I often thought of sushi or sashimi. But when I saw Ajigen, I was very curious and wanted to try it,” Yen said.

According to her, the food here is delicious, the space is beautiful, the staff is enthusiastic. However, because the restaurant specializes in grilled chicken dishes, the menu is not very diverse. "If the restaurant adds a few other grilled dishes in the future, I think it will be more attractive," Yen said.

Address: 42A Tran Phu, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi

Reference price: 25,000-159,000 VND/dish, average 300,000-500,000 VND/person

Opening hours: 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm or until sold out

Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/quan-an-nhat-o-ha-noi-co-loi-vao-bi-mat-khach-den-lach-minh-qua-loi-hep-20251014102751694.htm