Japanese Restaurants in Dubai

The Best Japanese Restaurants in Dubai

High End

Nobu $$$$

The Atlantis, +971 4 426 2626

The upscale, fine dining venue which has branches worldwide including New York and London has parked itself a spot at the one of the flashiest hotels in Dubai – The Atlantis.  The restaurant has been opened for over 2 years now but still pulls in mixed reviews.  On our visit, we thoroughly enjoyed the food.  Everyone will tell you about the melt in the mouth black cod in miso, which you probably wont experience anywhere else.  The sashimi options are huge, we opted for yellow tail which was thumbs up.  Be warned though, this is a boutique fare and portions are on the small side, but everything you order will be top notch.  You might want to also consider the lounge food menu which has a select few options all around the 50 AED mark but they don’t however do the black cod, for that you must dine in the restaurant.  If you are unsure about a particular item or confused with the choice, there are specialist waiters who will advise according to your tastes.  On the negatives, children under the age of 10 cannot dine in the restaurant, the only exception is for Friday brunch where kids under 3 can dine for free or between 3 and 12 will pay half of the brunch set menu price.  The biggest downfall of this trendy elite restaurant is the service staff.  You can easily tell the difference between the experienced few who have flown in from other branches to the newbies and two years in and you’d think training period is now over.  Disappointingly not, and this issue seriously needs to be addressed.  Thankfully, many of the clientele are return customers or those who are devout to the Nobu brand, however for the steep price you pay at this place, service has to be a pure ‘sucking up’ experience else it may see the end with so much stiff competition from similar outlets. 

Mid Range:

Tokyo@ The Towers $$$-$$$$

Shopping Boulevard, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 4 319 8088

If you are want to impress friends and family with a theatrical performance, Tokyo @ The Towers will leave you wowed with an entirely 'hands on' experience.  They have a sushi bar, but the Teppanyaki tables are our favourite, where you can experience live cooking your own personal chef.  The whole show is an entertaining act, performed with such elegance you actually feel like buying the knives they have so you can cut meat in the same strokes at home!  Seasoning is thrown in the air and caught with accuracy and the end result is melt in your mouth goodness.  Choose from a selection of three set menus.   Interior is chic and there are several private Tatami rooms, perfect for families and business lunches.

Budget:

Umi Sushi $$

Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai, +971 4 437 0208

With so many glitzy Japanese restaurants opening all over Dubai now focusing on plush interiors and which A-List celeb was dining there the previous night, the real essence of sashimi and tempura as been lost.  Agreed, experiencing a lavish night out amongst good food and fabulous interiors leaves you feeling content albeit short changed, but true japanese fanatics really do like to sample sushi for what it is and without having to preen in the salon beforehand.  Umi Sushi is just that - simple sushi but good quality ingredients and good service.  If you are starving and need a carb kick their noodles, tempuras are yummy.  But if you crave a good sushi platter and out with friends, you can order like a king and not feel guilty about your wallet.  Also a good excuse to head over to Jumeirah Beach Residences and end the night at one of the many alfresco bars.  And yes, you can wear you trainers with pride!

Grapeshisha Choice: 

Zuma $$$$

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

Cuisine: Japanese

Since opening late 2008, Zuma still maintains to create a buzz and leave potential hungry customers waiting for an evening reservation for days and even weeks at this funky large eatery.  Located at the DIFC, you would think the evenings would generally be quiet, not at Zuma.  The lunch time deals are pretty good and actually work out cheaper then its sister locations in Hong Kong and London, however dinner costs are steep, but if you want fresh flavoursome sushi and their brilliant signature dishes coupled with amazing atmosphere and super interior, you may decide to throw your hands up and surrender.  When booking, ask to be sat downstairs as we found the upper lounge floor to become nosier throughout the evening.  Best to head up there for drinks after dinner.  Overall, a sure winner for a special occasion and if it’s a thumbs up for Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – it must be good!