Lisa R.
Google
We visited ÅbyTung in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate a birthday and had high expectations for a memorable fine dining experience. Having enjoyed tasting menus across Italy and Europe, we were familiar with the level of hospitality and generosity typical of this price range. Unfortunately, our experience fell short in several key areas.
While tasting menus naturally involve smaller portions, the servings were unusually small even by fine dining standards, leaving us less satisfied than expected. The wine pairing, consisting of only three wines for 14 courses, was notably insufficient. At this level, it is common to see 6–10 different wines, which allows for a balanced progression alongside the menu. The pours were very small — approximately 3–4 cl per serving — and at one point, I had four dishes left when my wine was already finished. One of the wines, a Spanish bottle with a retail price of approximately 18 EUR, was served in such minimal quantities that it felt particularly underwhelming. In previous experiences at a lower total price (around 275 EUR), we were served a full bottle of wine alongside the tasting menu, contributing to a more generous and harmonious experience. Here, with a total cost close to 4,00EUR, the overall impression was markedly less generous.
Water was not included in the menu, which felt unusual for a fine dining tasting experience.
We had informed the restaurant in advance that this was a birthday celebration and were told — in the booking confirmation email — that a plate with text would be prepared for the birthday guest. While this removed the element of surprise, we naturally expected that something more would be presented as part of the celebration, such as a dessert or small personalized touch. What arrived was so simple and sparse that it felt like a hastily thrown-together afterthought — not something the chef or restaurant had genuinely planned or valued as a thoughtful gesture to celebrate the occasion.
Unfortunately, several dishes on the tasting menu did not meet expectations in terms of taste. There were unusual flavor combinations, such as rice with a strange cinnamon-like note served with rum, and a drink made with almond milk and caviar that we were expected to consume through a straw — an odd concept that did not translate well on the palate. Portions were extremely small, for example, one “miniature” dish consisted of only half a spring roll, approximately 1 cm in size. These choices made the tasting feel experimental in a way that was more confusing than enjoyable.
Additionally, we noticed visible scratches on some walls and dust on certain decorative details. At this price point and level of dining, attention to ambiance and detail is essential, and this was unfortunately lacking.
The service staff, however, were consistently professional and attentive throughout the evening. That said, the final part of the experience — being asked to give a rating using a “card game” that required only positive cards reflecting our mood after dinner — felt unusual and somewhat awkward.
Finally, the payment process was unnecessarily complicated. I was asked to place my card in a box at the table, be called to the counter to enter my PIN, walk back to the table, and then wait for the card to be returned in an envelope along with receipts and various fees. This added a cumbersome conclusion.
Overall, fine dining is not only about portion size, but about harmony, generosity, and thoughtful execution. Sadly, these qualities were missing in our experience, which felt restrained, less hospitable, and often confusing rather than delightful — particularly on a special occasion.