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One of the premier Japanese fine dining experiences in Dubai, this restaurant offers impeccable service and top-quality cuisine. It is a branch of a renowned international chain, which began its journey in 2002 with the opening of a restaurant in London’s Knightsbridge. At that time, the izakaya concept, featuring contemporary Japanese food and an informal approach to Asian cuisine, was entirely new for European audiences and it marked the beginning of 20+ years of tremendous success. Many restaurant brands attempt to emulate Zuma’s model, but not all can achieve the same outstanding results. This venue is ideal for any occasion. Be sure to try the Wagyu beef tataki with truffle ponzu and the miso-marinated black cod wrapped in hoba leaves.

This restaurant offers a unique combination of a classic ramen shop with a wide variety of options and an izakaya featuring alcohol and traditional Japanese cuisine, ranging from sushi to yakitori. The ramen shop provides eight different kinds of ramen, including tantamen and a vegetarian option with various Asian mushrooms. It is one of Dubai’s most popular local ventures managed by the Queen of Ramen, Emirati native Neha Mishra, who has won multiple culinary awards and is a local food celebrity. We recommend making an advance table reservation.

A casual dining establishment with traditional cuisine and authentic interiors, featuring light wood, noren curtains, and calligraphy boards. The à la carte menu offers a selection of classic Japanese dishes, including a variety of vegetable, beef, and seafood yakitori cooked on the Robata grill, as well as sushi and yōshoku dishes, which are Japanese versions of European dishes like potato salad or deep-fried items. The dessert menu includes Hokkaido milk ice cream and Purin caramel custard.

An izakaya featuring a music salon and a speakeasy bar, Honeycomb is one of the most unique establishments offering contemporary Japanese cuisine. Visit not only for the excellent food but also for the vibrant and trendy nightclub atmosphere perfect for unwinding at the end of the week. The menu, though small, offers intriguing highlights such as meat and fish dishes prepared on binchotan charcoal, accompanied by a fine selection of wine, sake, signature cocktails, and Japanese beer. Entrance is through the secret door in the vinyl record store on the second floor of the Pullman Hotel.

Food as art: This is the Emirates’ most important omakase bar under the leadership of hereditary sushi chef Masahiro Sugiyama. Sugiyama personally selects the finest fish and seafood, delivered to Hōseki directly from Japan, for each lunch and dinner. He adjusts the content of tasting sets according to the guests’ personal preferences. The menus vary by the number of courses and the presence of premium options, and they include several starters, desserts, and an exclusive set of signature sushi. Table reservations are essential.

A specialty coffee house and restaurant serving Japanese and European cuisine, Otaku one of the nicest casual establishments in the Design District. The menu features the famous Japanese soufflé pancakes and traditional Japanese curry with chicken, tempura prawns, or salmon, which easily coexist with classic Italian pasta and burgers. For breakfast, try the excellent egg sando and the signature scrambled eggs with truffles. This is definitely the best lunch spot if you find yourself in the neighborhood.

A veteran of the Dubai culinary scene, this restaurant offers contemporary Japanese cuisine, a welcoming atmosphere, and a creative menu. It’s located in the fisherman’s harbor and is affiliated with one of the city’s most exciting pastry shops. The kitchen of the nearby Brix café is the birthplace of Dubai’s famous lemon and basil tart, which is also a bestseller on 3 Fils’ dessert menu. Other legendary dishes include the truffle carpaccio from Wagyu A5 beef, braised lamb ribs, and signature hand rolls. If you plan to visit for dinner, it’s best to reserve a table.

This might well be the most stylish restaurant on the list, featuring glistening art deco interiors, a bohemian atmosphere, and elegant plating. Located at the Four Seasons Resort, it is popular among celebrity guests. The extensive menu offers a variety of options, ranging from classic and traditional Japanese dishes to contemporary fusion cuisine. There is a separate omakase bar for six guests that provides exclusive dinners personally hosted by chef Go Nagano and the restaurant’s chief bartender Manja Stankovic. The omakase dinners are held from Monday to Wednesday and advance reservations are required.

This seafood restaurant and nighttime bar is located in the heart of downtown, offering an excellent view of the Burj Khalifa and the dancing fountains show. It is the perfect place to spend an evening surrounded by the city’s two main landmarks while capturing impressive photos. The menu features a fusion of Spanish, Greek, and Turkish cuisines, with an extensive selection of fresh fish and seafood dishes prepared on a coal grill. Additionally, there are classic Mediterranean appetizers such as tartare, carpaccio, and more, along with an exceptional cocktail menu. If you plan to visit during dinner or on the weekend, it is advisable to book a table in advance.

Offering a refined take on classic French cuisine, this restaurant is among the finest in the smart casual dining category at the Dubai Mall. It captures the essence of a charming Paris café with a nostalgic 1990s atmosphere, featuring white tablecloths, intimate tables for two, custom-engraved porcelain, and warm lighting in the evenings. The establishment is the brainchild of the talented young British-Nigerian chef Izu Ani, a devotee of Mediterranean culinary traditions and already one of the region’s most seasoned restaurateurs. It is a prime downtown destination for enthusiasts of timeless French gastronomy.

This is more than a restaurant; it’s an attraction, and it’s best to arrange a visit here for a special occasion. People come to Krasota not just for dinner but to participate in a unique culinary show for 20 guests and enjoy a variety of unusual visual and sensory experiences. When booking tickets, you can choose between two regular shows: Imaginary Future or Imaginary Art. The shows occur on different days of the week and are paired with special tasting menus. The tasting sets are crafted by Russian chef Vladimir Mukhin, a winner of numerous culinary awards.

This sophisticated Paris brasserie is just a six-minute taxi ride from downtown. In the mornings, it offers one of the best spots for romantic breakfasts, featuring crab omelets and authentic French crepes. In the evenings, it is one of the city’s few restaurants offering nighttime burlesque and cabaret shows along with high-quality classic dishes of contemporary French cuisine. The menu includes tartare, onion soup, lobster Thermidor, and an abundance of sparkling wine. Tables at Josette even feature special buttons for instant champagne orders. All of this can be enjoyed in the beautiful interiors created by the renowned British artist and designer Luke Edward Hall. For dinner and weekends, table reservations are highly recommended.

This restaurant offers a fusion of Mediterranean, Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines, also known as third culture cooking. At Jun’s, the blend of these three artistic cuisines is enhanced by the flamboyant culinary style of chef Kelvin Chang, a Canadian with Asian heritage. He grew up in Chicago, studied in France, and traveled extensively in search of inspiration. This is one of Dubai’s most intriguing and successful recent openings. Jun’s opened in 2022 and quickly became one of downtown’s top spots due to its open ambiance and creative cuisine. It is a ten-minute walk from the Burj Khalifa or Dubai Mall.

This place provides the best view of downtown from the rooftop of the Eden House skyscraper located in the Al Satwa neighborhood, Dubai’s oldest area. It is one of the city’s most intriguing omakase-style restaurants. Moonrise offers a tasting menu with 12 courses, where each dish is an ingenious combination of European and Asian culinary techniques and an original take on the traditional cuisine of the Middle Eastern region, where the establishment’s chef Soleman Khaddad grew up and gained experience. The location is a ten-minute taxi ride from the Dubai Mall, and advance booking is required.

This contemporary Japanese cuisine restaurant offers a menu featuring a diverse selection of creative interpretations of traditional Asian dishes and pan-Asian cuisine. The menu ranges from black cod croquettes to a mushroom hot pot with fresh truffles. The lounge bar, located on the second floor above the main dining area, is worth a visit. Here, you can enjoy unique versions of classic cocktails and innovative mixes made with original Asian ingredients like hibiscus infusion, yuzu tonic, or homemade Japanese cola. We recommend to book in advance.

A branch of the large international chain of Chinese and pan-Asian cuisine restaurants originating from Taiwan. It is one of the world’s most successful ventures offering comforting and diverse casual Asian dishes. Visit this restaurant for the signature steamed dumplings, xiao long bao, which marked the beginning of the Din Tai Fung empire, as well as the legendary spicy cucumber appetizer, exemplary sweet and sour chicken, exceptional Mongolian-style beef with vegetables, and ja jian noodles. The latest menu additions include mapo tofu, a staple of Szechuan cuisine, perfectly adjusted for European tastes in terms of heat and spiciness.

This bar and restaurant, known for its excellent Asian cuisine, is the creation of the region’s renowned DJ Lobito Brigante, a devoted fan of 1970s urban culture and the Bohemian aesthetics of New York’s Chinatown. The menu offers an eclectic yet delightful mix of Korean, Japanese, Szechuan, and Thai cuisines, featuring designer dishes inspired by contemporary pan-Asian classics. Highlights include tuna tataki, crab salad with yuzu aioli, teriyaki beef, and Peking duck sando, among others. The establishment also boasts a sophisticated bar menu with unique cocktails. Be sure to try the Love Hotel 75, which features yuzu sorbet.

A city gastro café and Japanese cuisine restaurant renowned for its exceptional hand rolls, the most outstanding of them being the spicy marinated tuna. Other popular menu items include a fantastic salad made from hijiki brown seaweed, a salad with Chinese-style marinated cucumbers, tomatoes, crispy garlic, and shallots, and the signature raw fish crudo featuring bluefin tuna, salmon, scallops and amberjack. Kokoro’s menu is small, just like its premises, and you can’t book a table, but you should definitely visit at least once.

This Asian food restaurant in the DIFC offers a diverse menu and exceptional dishes inspired by the culinary traditions of East Asia. Be sure to explore the extensive selection of spring rolls, dim sum, and other Asian dumplings. The interiors reflect the aesthetics of the post-imperial Chinese capital of the 1930s, creating an elegant atmosphere and inviting pleasant crowds of guests. One of the best ways to brighten your mood on a weekday is to visit Shanghai Me for a business lunch. Opt for the quick lunch featuring Vietnamese Pho soup and katsu sliders, available on weekdays from noon to 3:30 pm.

Contemporary Japanese cuisine with a view of the port. This is one of Dubai’s most successful and charismatic establishments that continually updates its menu with seasonal offerings and intriguing culinary collaborations. On the regular menu, look for the croissant with tuna and black caviar (check with the waiter and order it if it’s available), sando with Wagyu A5 beef, salmon carpaccio with ponzu sauce, and the spicy beef tartare. If you plan to visit in the evening or on a weekend, it is advisable to book a table in advance.