Fans of Japanese street food will already be aware of Akiba Dori as they have garnered a cult following in the region. This month they’ve opened two new outlets in Pavilion at The Beach (which is licensed) and Dubai Hills Mall. Both ready to thrill with their usual line-up of Asian-inspired bites and famous Tokyo Neapolitan pizzas.
Open daily, 12pm-midnight. Pavilion at The Beach opposite JBR (04 458 1741). Open daily, 10am-mightnight. Dubai Hills Mall, Al Khalil Road (058 124 1909).

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Those visiting Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue this summer will delight in a chic new dining addition serving up Japanese fusion cuisine in a minimalist and seductive setting. Origami, a fixture on Dubai’s dining scene for eight years, has opened its third brand, and perhaps its most stylish one to date. It’s easy to walk right past (a simple plaque marks the entrace), and once inside guests are treated to a contemporary, minimalist interior and a dimly-lit an sultry atmosphere – transporting them away from the bright lights of Fashion Avenue. Dishes include Origami classics like sushi rolls and Japanese and Arab fusions, alongside new dishes like chicken karaage, beef katsu, cauliflower popcorn and unagi and foie gras.

Fashion Avenue, The Dubai Mall; @eatorigamisushi

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Situated on the 23rd floor of The St. Regis Downtown, Tabu is a stylish new addition to Dubai’s high-end Japanese dining scene. In a sultry red and black Tokyo-inspired dining room with lots of decorative Oriental touches, the restaurant serves dishes like O-toro tartare in sesame cones, steamed buns, Chilean seabass claypot and Hibachi Konro lobster, alongside a 6-8-course Omakase menu. Offering something a little different, the restaurant has many staging areas where low-key acts appear throughout the night, adding a theatrical element without detracting from dinner and conversation. The outside terrace boasts spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai and a speakeasy-style spin-off bar, The Other Side, beyond Tabu, is located on the 24th floor for intimate nighttime drinks and private dining.

St Regis Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, tabudubai.com

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Hot new Japanese restaurant Gonpachi is now open in Dubai. The restaurant is famed for being in Quentin Tarantino’s 2004 film Kill Bill, and the Dubai branch boasts a nostalgic vibe, promising to bring you back to a Japan of bygone times. Gonpachi is also known for being the location of former-US President Bush and former-Prime Minister Koizumi’s Izakaya Summit. The speciality dishes are whipped up by the Japanese chefs and will include a range of starters, mains and desserts including maki rolls, edamame, tuna tataki, popcorn shrimp, karaage, prawn tempura, California rolls, spicy tuna rolls, black cod and more.
For Time Out’s brunch review click here.
Open daily noon-midnight. Al Habtoor City reservations@gonpachidubai.ae (054 791 3321/ 04 379 1380).

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This cool new restaurant promises authentic Japanese flavours and has a casual setting at its home at The Galleria Mall on Al Wasl Road. Expect plenty of super-fresh sushi and tasty grills, with interesting ingredients sourced from Japan. Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori comes from White Rice Consultancy’s Akmal Anuar and partner Inez Tantyanna along with Sunset Hospitality Group. Foodies in the city will know Anuar well, as the chef founded Time Out award-winning restaurant 3 Fils at Jumeirah Fishing Harbour.
For Time Out’s review click here.
Open daily noon-midnight. The Galleria, Al Wasl Road (04 886 4966).

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Big fan of super-authentic Japanese restaurant Fujiya? There’s now a second branch of the Time Out Dubai Award-winner. The new restaurant is at Swissotel Al Murooj in Dowtown Dubai. Outdoor seating is the star of the newly opened Fujiya Downtown branch, so roll on winter, as we’re ready to dine al fresco. Owned by former sumo wrestler Akio Hayakawa, the restaurant aims to provide authentic, affordable food. Dishes on the menu include tataki, sushi, sashimi, ramen, Japanese barbecue and more, so get ready for traditional eats in a casual setting.
For the best Japanese restaurants in Dubai click here.
For Time Out’s review click here.
Open noon-1am. Swissotel Al Murooj, Downtown Dubai (054 508 6609).

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Self described as bringing innovation and creativity to a traditional Japanese social dining experience, KOYO is the newest opening from Solutions Leisure, the parent company behind brands including Lock, Stock & Barrel, STK and Asia Asia. Accepting reservations from August 5, the playful Japanese restaurant will present a culinary experience that inclues a range of tempuras, katsu sandos, sushi, robata and yakitori dishes against the backdrop of ‘kabuki’ style arts and entertainment. It’s located inside the InterContinental Dubai Marina.
@koyodubai

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Step into Mimi Kakushi, an immersion to Osaka in the 1920s, merging modern art and western fashion into the nightlife and street life of Japan. The two-floor space, brought to life by the team behind La Cantine du Faubourg, Ninive and Twiggy by La Cantine pays homage to the modernist Mavo movement celebrating the radical and avante-garde. The food offers a playful twist to well-known Japanese favourites with sharing plates of sashimi, sushi, tempura and gyoza, as well as the Kagoshima wagyu beef, paired with an extensive beverage menu, and an eclectic dessert selection rounding off the grand finale.

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Award-winning chef Reif Othman launched his first licensed venue Ikigai, a venue that celebrates the food of izakayas (Japanese pub taverns). This laid-back restaurant and bar serves excellent dishes of Japanese street food as well as a diverse beverage selection. Inside, there are colourful artworks and wooden interiors, as well as a cosy terrace where guests may enjoy signature sharing dishes al fresco. Expect a menu full of foods like grilled tiger prawns with Kombu butt and other dishes inspired by Japan’s bustling izakayas.

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Created by the brainchild behind the famous supper club ‘A Story of Food’, the Dubai based ramen genius Neha Mishra, finally launched her own restaurant Kinoya. With waiting lists to get seated, diners are raving about the quality of food. By serving typical Japanese foods like Donabe, Onsen Tamago, Dashi, Omurice, and many other traditional delights, Kinoya provides an all-encompassing experience of atmosphere and taste. Kinoya has been meticulously designed to revolutionize the Japanese culinary narrative in Dubai. Make sure you try her famous ramen and burnt butter scallops.

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