Review of Hay Ho Restaurant – Dong Co Luong Son, Nha Trang: Beautiful Space but Unimpressive Service

1. Location & Space

On the afternoon of August 10, 2025, I decided to ride from Nha Trang to Dong Co Luong Son to visit Hay Ho Restaurant. I had passed by many times before and was drawn in by the fresh air and open countryside scenery. The restaurant is located quite far from the city center (about 8km), with a slightly steep and narrow road leading in, but there is a spacious parking lot.

However, if you’re coming from Nha Trang, I don’t recommend going by motorbike because the road is rather deserted and can be unsafe, especially at night.

The restaurant has a spacious, open area surrounded by green fields – a very “chill” spot suitable for sightseeing, having coffee, or hosting BBQ parties. However, upon arrival, I was a bit disappointed as there was no receptionist or anyone to greet me, making the initial impression rather cold.

2. Service Experience

The staff were quick and attentive, but the restaurant lacked a chef, so food preparation took a long time.

• I ordered grilled meat, fried rice, and hotpot.
• Usually, many restaurants prepare the hotpot on the table so customers can start whenever they like, but here, I had to call a staff member, who then went to call the kitchen.
• I only ordered the hotpot after finishing the grilled meat, and it took more than 30 minutes to arrive. If the restaurant were busy, the wait time would probably be even longer.

3. Food Quality

• Grilled pork belly: When served, it looked quite unappetizing – the marinated meat didn’t look like a proper dish but rather… a lump of something. However, after grilling, it tasted okay.
• Sea snails: I ordered them from the menu, but the restaurant said they were out. This was a big minus because after traveling so far, finding out a listed dish wasn’t available was disappointing.
• Seafood hotpot: Very bad – the broth was bland and not tasty. I only had a few bites before leaving it.
• Fried rice: Quite cold, unclear whether it was reheated or had been left out for too long before serving.

I felt the restaurant’s investment wasn’t sufficient, far from the standards of BBQ places in Da Lat – where dishes are prepared quickly and presented beautifully.

4. Summary & Rating

Pros:

• Spacious area with a refreshing countryside view.
• Ample parking space for cars.
• Attentive and quick staff.

Cons:

• No receptionist to greet guests – initial experience not friendly.
• Lack of chef – dishes took a long time to be served.
• Many menu items were unavailable.
• Food quality did not match expectations, especially the hotpot and fried rice.
• Far location and deserted road, not suitable for motorbike travel at night.

Conclusion: Although Hay Ho Dong Co Luong Son has advantages in space and scenery, it needs significant improvement in service, serving speed, and food quality. Based on this experience, I won’t be returning, and it’s likely that first-time visitors will be reluctant to come back.