Sukiyaki Hot Pot: The essence of Japanese cuisine in each tender slice of beef

1 What is Sukiyaki hot pot?

Lau Sukiyaki is one of Japan’s most famous and typical hot pot dishes. This dish is considered premium because it uses premium beef, combined with traditional spices such as mirin, soy sauce, sugar, chrysanthemum, mushrooms, onions, tofu and shirataki fibers. All blend together to create a rich yet light flavor.

According to legend, in the Middle Ages, a farmer grilled beef on his spade (suki) for a nobleman, thus forming the way to prepare “yaki”. Over time, spices were added to the dish and perfected into the Sukiyaki it is today.

Since the late 19th century, Sukiyaki hot pot has become popular throughout Japan, especially popular in winter. This is also the main dish at year-end parties and family reunions. Currently, Sukiyaki not only stops in Japan but also appears widely in many Asian countries, contributing to enriching the regional culinary map.

2 How to cook Sukiyaki hot pot at home properly

If you want to try your hand at cooking Sukiyaki hot pot at home, please refer to the standard recipe introduced by Vietnamtravelio below.

2.1 Raw materials

Ingredients prepared for Sukiyaki

– 4 cabbage leaves

– 50g enoki mushrooms

– 50g shiitake mushrooms

– 250g grilled tofu

– 230g thinly sliced ​​beef

– 100g Shirataki noodles

– Chopped onion

– 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Ingredients for Sukiyaki sauce (Warishita)

– 120ml sake

– 120ml dead

– 120ml soy sauce

– 40g sugar

Ingredients for Kombu Dashi broth (can be added or not)

– 240ml of water

– 5g or 1 kombu leaf

2.2 Processing process

Step 1: Add Warishita sauce

Put sake and mirin in a small pot and heat until boiling. Lower the heat and let the wine evaporate for about 1 minute. Add sugar and soy sauce, stir until sugar is completely dissolved, then turn off the stove and let cool.

Step 2: Prepare Kombu Dashi

Pour 240ml of water into a bowl, let the kombu soak for at least 30 minutes to extract the natural sweetness.

Step 3: Preliminary processing of ingredients

Cut vegetables and mushrooms into bite-sized pieces. Divide cabbage into about 5cm pieces. Remove the legs of the shiitake and enoki mushrooms, then separate the enoki mushrooms into small clusters. Soak Shirataki noodles in water for about 10 minutes then drain. Arrange all ingredients on a plate.

Step 4: Pan-fry beef

Heat the pot with a little oil and add thinly sliced ​​beef and stir quickly for about 10 seconds. Drizzle some Warishita sauce on top. When the meat turns brown, take it out.

Step 5: Cook hot pot

Pour the remaining sauce and Kombu Dashi into the pot. When the water boils, add vegetables, mushrooms, tofu and Shirataki noodles. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low for about 5 more minutes until ingredients are cooked.

Step 6: Complete and enjoy

Put the beef back in the pot, sprinkle the onion on top. Crack raw eggs into a bowl, beat well and serve while enjoying hot pot.

3 The secret to cooking Sukiyaki hot pot successfully the first time

To cook Sukiyaki hot pot at home with authentic Japanese flavor, you need to pay attention to a few important points.

First of all, choose fresh and quality ingredients. This dish is not complicated, so each ingredient determines the flavor. Prioritize beef with clear marbling, fresh green vegetables and rich broth. You should stir-fry the beef first to create a flavor base for the hotpot and keep it perfectly soft.

Do not cook vegetables for too long because Sukiyaki hot pot only needs to be cooked. This dish is usually cooked right at the table, so avoid adding too many ingredients at once to ensure uniform cooking. You can also flexibly adjust the seasoning to your taste, adding sugar if you like it sweeter or increasing soy sauce if you want more flavor.

Use a wide, shallow pot or pan, similar to a Teppanyaki pan, to maintain steady heat and bring out the natural umami flavor. If you are not used to eating raw eggs, you can replace it with soy sauce or a dipping sauce that suits your personal preferences.

4 How to enjoy Sukiyaki hot pot in the true Japanese style

With the Sukiyaki hot pot style of the Kanto region, after the meat and vegetables are cooked in Warishita sauce, the diner will dip each piece in raw egg before enjoying. The soft layer of egg covers the seasoned ingredients, creating a light fatty taste and balancing the richness of the sauce.

When the hot pot is almost empty, you can add Udon noodles to the remaining broth. At this time, Warishita has blended with the essence of meat and vegetables, creating a deep flavor. The noodles soaked in the sauce will be the perfect ending to the meal.

5 Suggest top 3 delicious Sukiyaki hot pot restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

5.1 Mo Mo Paradise

– Address: 96 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ward 6, District 3, HCMC

– Opening hours: 11:00–22:00

Mo Mo Paradise is known as the destination for “Asian standard Shabu Shabu & Sukiyaki hot pot”. If you want to experience this hot pot in the traditional style, this is the address you should visit with your backpack.

The restaurant stands out with four typical hot pot sauces including Shabu Shabu, Sukiyaki, Miso Kimuchi and Goma Tounyu. In particular, Sukiyaki has a naturally sweet but still rich taste, very easy to conquer the taste. When using Sukiyaki here, diners can choose ingredients according to their preferences with a variety of premium beef imported from Japan, America, Australia, pork and more than 20 types of fresh vegetables and mushrooms.

5.2 IBUKI Teppanyaki Restaurant

– Address: New World Saigon Hotel, 76 Le Lai, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

– Opening hours: 11:30–14:30 | 17:30–22:00

IBUKI’s menu is highly appreciated for its quality and attention to detail. Each dish is arranged intentionally, from serving order, flavor, portion size to color and ingredient combination. The highlight of Sukiyaki hotpot here is the premium American beef tenderloin. The piece of meat is located between the rump and the first loin, has a soft texture and beautiful fat marbling. It is the quality of these ingredients that elevates the simple hot pot dish to become more sophisticated and flavorful.

5.3 Sushi World

– Address:

15E Le Thanh Ton, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCMC

L13 Akuruhi Tower, 124 Tran Quang Khai, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, HCMC

202 Hoang Van Thu, Ward 1, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City

– Opening hours: 10:30–00:00

Sushi World is a Japanese restaurant chain with many branches in the city. HCM, chosen by many diners who love Phu Tang cuisine. The menu features 18 types of imported fresh seafood such as salmon, tuna, octopus, red clams, sea urchins, scallops, egg-pressed herring, and Japanese oysters.

If you want to end your meal with a light flavor, you can choose Sukiyaki hotpot. Clear broth, cooked from dried fish and kelp, combined with fresh vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, noodles and imported beef. When dipped in smooth, fatty chicken eggs, the hot pot dish becomes harmonious and easy to eat, well worth experiencing at Sushi World.

A hot pot of Sukiyaki always makes the meal warmer. Whether enjoyed at a restaurant or cooked at home, this hot pot dish still retains Japanese tradition. And who knows, on an upcoming trip to Japan, you will pack your bags and rediscover that flavor right in Sukiyaki’s hometown.