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Japanese cuisine is delicious. From ramen to yakitori and donburi to sake, there’s so much more to Japanese cuisine than sushi and sashimi.
Delve deep into Japanese cuisine and you’ll discover that there’s so much more to it than just sushi. Explore the wonders of Japanese food through the various Japanese restaurants in Dubai. Take your pick, there’s plenty to choose from.
Benihana
For a really great night out and fantastic Japanese food, Benihana offers a variety of Japanese theme nights during the week. So if you’re craving a sushi all-nighter, go on a Tuesday or a Saturday. If Teppanyaki’s more your style, they also have Teppanyaki (Sundays) and Seafood Teppan Nights (Wednesdays). You can enjoy a lavish buffet along with beverages for the price of AED 179.
Where: Al Bustan Rotana Dubai
T: 04 282 0000
Yo Sushi
The thing we like best about this place is the conveyor belt - that’s what you call convenient Japanese food! Seat yourself right beside the belt, choose which dish you want, pick it up and get your chopsticks going. You can also ask for the chef to cook from their à la carte menu. Enjoy platefuls of the ‘hairy’ prawns (tempura) and the crispy Salmon skin sushi, which are fabulous. There are branches of Yo Sushi in almost every mall in Dubai, so there’s just no excuse to miss out on the conveyor belt dining experience.
Where: BurJuman Centre
T: 04 359 5479
Momotaro
Enjoy tasty Japanese dishes in a trendy restaurant done in traditional Japanese colours of red, black and white. Momotaro offers Friday Brunch (so popular, you’ve got to book for this), which will get you through the entire range of Japanese delicacies far beyond sushi and sashimi. Don’t miss out on the green tea crème brûlée and check out the freshly grated wasabi – right at your table! Prices are from AED 185 – AED 225, depending on the beverages.
Where: Souk Al Bahar
T: 04 425 7976
Kitsune
It’s a strangely beautiful place, almost like a winter wonderland from a Japanese anime movie. But it’s not just the place that’s gorgeous; they’ve got the service and the dishes to match too. Go for the Black Cod and Wagyu Beef – both of which are melt in your mouth delicious. We enjoyed ours with lychee sake cocktails, which were way too moreish.
Where: The Fairmont Dubai
T: 04 332 5555
Nobu
Preceded by its sister restaurants’ reputations, Nobu at the Atlantis continues to live up to the worldwide acclaim. The interiors are stunningly elegant and contemporary. While Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature creations, including the Broiled Black Cod with miso, are still the stars of the show, there are new masterpieces that have been crafted for this branch of Nobu. Just say Omakasi, which means, “I am in your hands”, and the chef will do the choosing for you. Have faith - you are, after all, in the hands of a Master Chef!
Where: Atlantis, The Palm
T: 04 426 2626
Zuma
Zuma has an amazing ambience – it’s full of light and is very contemporary and vibrant. It’s even got a bar and lounge with a resident DJ during the evening. The dishes are delicious – simply presented but with a dash of panache. Their best dish is on centre stage every Friday for the Zuma Black Cod Brunch. You get a variety of sushi, sashimi and salads from the counters, hot robata dishes brought to your table, the Black Cod in miso, and a dessert bento box for AED 285 or AED 385, depending on beverages.
Where: Dubai International Financial Centre
T: 04 425 5660
Sho Cho
This place has always been popular with Dubai’s beautiful people. If you’re looking for some good Japanese food, a really fantastic outdoor setting and great vibes, then Sho Cho is it! Show up in your most gorgeous and munch some marinated duck and rock tempura - that’s one of their nicest dishes and get ready to party with the hip and the cool crowd!
Where: Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
T: 04 346 1111
Okku
Incredibly stylish with contemporary and funky interiors, cool jellyfish floating above the bar, and a resident DJ dishing out chilled-out tunes, Okku successfully fuses cuisine and ambience to give you a dazzling Japanese dining experience. On a weekday, they’ve got the Okku Tezukuri lunch for AED 59. The set comes with a standard miso soup and Donburi (dish with rice). Or if you want more, they also offer other set lunches to suit your cravings. Our favourite dishes are the calamari – yummily spiced with peppers and garlic, and the grilled unagi (eel).
Where: The Monarch Dubai
T: 04 501 8777
Wagamama
Fashioned after a Japanese ramen bar, Wagamama offers a variety of authentic Japanese dishes and more. There’s always a buzz to the place, especially during lunch and dinner hours. We like the fact that they serve your order as soon as it’s cooked, so you get it hot and fresh. When you do drop by to try their fare, we recommend the moyoshi soba – a vegetarian ramen with wholewheat noodles, the chicken ginger udon and the lime and ginger cheesecake – strange sounding but simply divine!
Where: Crowne Plaza Dubai
T: 04 305 6060
And yes, don’t expect massive portions, Japanese dishes usually come in small portions, but that just means you have room to try out more.
By Ayesha Taha
March 2010
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