Gumiho Grill & Shabu in Ha Noi provides a comfortable atmosphere in which women can unwind and enjoy delicious food. Mộc Miên reports.

Korean culture, especially its food, has become popular in big cities in Việt Nam. It is now so easy to find a Korean restaurant on streets, but I followed a friend’s recommendation and visited a restaurant in Hà Nội’s Bùi Thị Xuân Street named Gumiho Grill & Shabu.

This is the first bistro for women in Hà Nội. The owner sees it as an initiative for Vietnamese women to relieve their sorrow, unlike men who can disappear in bars and bia hơi. The objective is for the place to become a civilised and safe place for women to unwind, like in South Korean movies.

Curious, I went along and immediately felt in love with the cozy and simple atmosphere. The restaurant is not too luxurious. On the first floor, there is a path with flower lights alongside. The second floor is cozy which is suitable for a family gathering, while the third floor is furnished with round tables and decorated with wine pots. Since I was alone, I chose a small table on the third floor.

I was excited about the delicious and diversified menu. There were many options, such as meat and sauces made with an exclusive recipe, grilled tripe, pork belly and beef. There were also more than 50 types of panchan (side dishes). I decided to choose the grill combo, including pork, rib and tripe for only VNĐ179,000 with unlimited meat and panchan. This is such a reasonable price in comparison to other restaurants in Hà Nội.

The special dish was five-layer pork belly, which was thick and succulent, not dry and naturally sweet without much seasoning. Home-made sauces had a distinctive flavour unlike any other restaurants. The table was covered with side dishes such as kimchi, chili, sliced garlic, onion, pickles, seaweed soup, bean sprouts mixed with ground sweet potato covered with coconut milk, salad and Japanese perilla.