The recently launched beachfront property now boasts a speakeasy and a fusion “omakase atelier.”
Ex-Nobu chef Andy Huynh leads the kitchen at Oku. (All photos courtesy of Regent Phu Quoc)
Holidaymakers staying at Regent Phu Quoc while on vacation in Vietnam have every reason to visit two of the latest additions to the resort’s culinary lineup. Oku is a French-Japanese restaurant styled as a modern brasserie that bridges the two culinary realms. Making use of ingredients harvested at their peak, the seasonal menu here has been conceptualized by ex-Nobu chef Andy Huynh, who came up with dishes like Japanese golden-eye snapper with umeshu and dill, wagyu beef croquettes, dover sole with yuzu caviar beurre blanc, and A5 wagyu striploin with wasabi crème fraiche and aged balsamic.
Guests seated at the omakase counter can choose between a gourmet and a classic menu. Courses might feature foie gras chawanmushi and a salad Niçoise that combines French ingredients with soy-marinated egg, pickled kombu, ohitashi tomatoes, and bonito flakes for a hit of umami. Seasoned with chopped, soy-marinated wasabi, the wagyu beef striploin tartar is served on a nori chip and accompanied with French caviar. For the complete Oku experience, patrons should pair their meals with artisanal sake, wine, or cocktails that hail from different regions of Japan and France.
The omakase counter at Oku, Regent Phu Quoc’s new French-Japanese restaurant.
Left to right: Chef Andy Huynh plating up Japanese A5 wagyu croquettes; Japanese A5 Wagyu striploin with Brussels sprouts and wasabi crème fraîche.
The interiors by Blink Design Group — the studio that was also behind the rest of the resort — nods to Paris with classic elements such as globe lights, patterned floors, cozy banquettes, and modern ironwork. Japanese-inspired ornamentation takes the form of precisely carved woodworking details, wall murals, textiles, and lacquer work, but reinterpreted for the 21st century. Open from 6 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday, Oku encompasses two private rooms, an omakase counter, as well as indoor and outdoor seating areas. Non-resident guests are welcome.
Down the same alley where Oku and all-day restaurant Rice Market are located, a discreet patterned wooden door leads to newly opened speakeasy parlor Bar Jade. Its vaulted ceiling and plush fittings recall a luxury train carriage of old, while experimental cocktails featuring rare spirits are inspired by gemstones. Bartenders can also prepare tailor-made tipples for visiting drinks connoisseurs. Blink Design Group took its design cues from Phu Quoc’s jade-green waters and traditional Vietnamese crafts, alluding to the venue’s namesake gem with furnishings in rich shades of green. Bar Jade is now open from 7 p.m. onward, Thursday to Sunday.
The design of Bar Jade was partly inspired by a luxury train carriage.
