NAZO Sushi - Restaurant in Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

NAZO Sushi occupies a narrow alley off Nguyễn Đăng Giai, close to Amanaki Hotel, and has built a reputation among Thao Dien regulars largely through word of mouth rather than visibility. The menu focuses on Japanese staples executed with care: nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, and hand rolls, all sourced with evident attention to fish quality. Presentations are clean, and the rice work on the rolls holds up under scrutiny. A full meal—multiple rolls, nigiri, and a cold filtered sake—lands around USD 22, which continues to catch diners off guard given what arrives at the table.

The room splits across two floors. The ground level is compact and close, which suits couples or pairs; the upper floor opens up considerably and handles small groups more comfortably. Ordering runs through an electronic app, a practical workaround to language differences that trades some warmth for efficiency. Staff are attentive when the room isn't overwhelmed, though a handful of reviews note inconsistency on busy nights—sashimi slice sizing and floor service are the most common friction points across an otherwise high-rated review pool.

For Thao Dien's Japanese dining landscape, which spans omakase counters at one end and mass-market conveyor-belt restaurants at the other, NAZO Sushi sits in productive middle ground: the kitchen takes the fish seriously without requiring the formality or price point of a destination meal. It draws expats running honest comparisons to sushi back home, couples after a low-key evening, and neighborhood regulars who cycle through the creative specialty roll menu. Split hours—10 AM to 2 PM and 4 to 10 PM daily—keep service focused and the kitchen consistent across both sittings.