Restaurants

Connoisseurs of Japanese food flock to Kiku for its truly authentic take on sushi and other Japanese cuisine. Head to Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre and gather with friends for a good view from the sushi counter, or to catch front row seats at a lively teppanyaki show. If you have a larger group and prefer privacy, book one of the traditional private tatami rooms for a dose of classic Japanese fare. Telephone +971 [0] 4 217 0000 Email kiku.lmdubai@lemeridien.com

Step into Tokyo@thetowers to discover a corner of Tokyo in Dubai. You could opt to sit at the sushi bar to enjoy a meal of sushi, sashimi and tempura, but the real show is at the teppanyaki grill tables. Sit back as a highly skilled chef cooks up a storm with meat, seafood or ‘surf and turf’ options to choose from. There’s also a private tatami room with mat flooring for a more intimate setting.

Sumibiya, located at Radisson Blu Hotel Deira Creek, is the first Yakinika-style restaurant in Dubai. All the tables are arranged around a central grill (tailor-made in Tokyo), where you are invited to grill your own meat, seafood and vegetables. Sumibiya prides itself on using the freshest ingredients, which are enhanced by a range of classic Korean side dishes, such as the legendary fermented cabbage, kimchi. The restaurant also offers a nightly BBQ buffet.

Named after its main offering, Sushi is a popular spot for visitors to the Grand Hyatt Dubai. Artfully prepared in the open kitchen of this petite venue, sushi and sashimi portions are served up delightfully and your bill is determined by the number of pieces you indulge in. It’s easy to see that careful preparation and thought is put into each piece of high quality, authentic Japanese cuisine at this spot. Telephone +971 [0] 4 317 2222 Email dubai.grand@hyattintl.com

This Japanese restaurant offers delicate and imaginative dishes and doubles up as a trendy nightspot. The huge terrace and the sunshine holiday vibe are the main attractions here. The cream leather furniture, subdued blue lighting and stunning floral arrangements with ingenious fish tanks all combine to create a stylish, hip venue. Tasty drinks, the mix of house and trance music and a gorgeous view of the shoreline make this a must-visit nightspot.

Explore Sushi Art, a Japanese concept restaurant with locations at Dubai International Financial Centre and The Beach at JBR. The sushi is inspired by award-winning chef Thierry Marx’s imaginative approach to sushi. Sample the menu of sustainably sourced fish, with inspirational twists including sea bream kiwi tartare, spicy cucumber salad and a regularly changing collection of rolls. Sushi Art is a lunchtime hub for DIFC workers, and is usually pretty quiet in the evenings.

Chez Sushi by Sho Cho is a fast food sushi outlet that makes a convenient lunch stop. The interior offers comfy soft benches, dotted with sushi and edamame-shaped cushions, and overlooks Dubai’s popular Al Wasl Square. Choose from an assortment of Japanese sushi, sashimi and custom-made rolls, all presented in a cute bento box. Try the red snapper with cucumber, or the avocado and tamago (omelette) topped with a sprinkling of tobiko and sesame oil.

Hashi is one of the city’s most elegant restaurants, and you’ll like it as much for the refreshingly down-to-earth service and exquisite food as you will for the out-of-the-ordinary surroundings. Set against the sparkly backdrop of Downtown Dubai, you’ll need to book prime seats outside for much coveted views of the Burj Khalifa’s sky-piercing spire above and the romantic Dubai Fountain below.

Enjoy Sushi And More At Zuma Restaurant If you’re a fan of Japanese food, check out Zuma, a trendy favourite among DIFC‘s after-work crowd — and listed among the 50 Best Restaurants in the world on the highly respected San Pellegrino list. Known for ‘izakaya,’ a Japanese style of dining that emphasises sharing, Zuma serves its dishes in a steady flow, allowing diners to sample each dish at a leisurely pace. You can order from a comprehensive menu of Japanese classics that includes miso-marinated black cod, sushi, sashimi and a selection of smaller dishes. Choose where you eat based on your…