The Best Spots for Asian Food in Dubai

With a laid-back atmosphere tucked away in a residential tower, Daikan is a casual spot specializing in ramen. Their menu highlights include a spicy chef’s special ramen and a rich, creamy shoyu ramen, both hailed as among the best in the area. In addition to ramen, they also serve notable dishes such as miso aubergine and chicken katsu bao with kimchi.

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Liam Collens

Writer @itsliamcollens – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A low-key, casual ramen spot in the back of a residential tower. Daikan cooks some of Dubai’s best ramen in my opinion particularly the spicy chef’s special and a rich, creamy shoyu ramen. Other dishes like the miso aubergine and the chicken katsu bao with kimchi are worth ordering. I have to limit myself to eating here no more than once a week!

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Known for its impeccable service and good food, Din Tai Fung at the Mall of Emirates offers a delightful dining experience. Despite not serving Pork XLB, it maintains a reputation for great pricing. It's a destination worth considering for those seeking a quality meal.

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Pallavi Sangtani

Foodie – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

They may not serve Pork XLB here - But the Din Tai Fung in Dubai still has impeccable service, great pricing and good food.

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Hawkerboi offers a diverse menu of Asian favorites, evoking the vibrant hawker stall culture of Singapore. The ambiance is enhanced by mood lighting and music, creating a unique dining experience away from the typical Instagram-centric approach. Highlights from their menu include prawn satay skewers, calamari, chicken wings, beef noodles, spicy beef salad, and a variety of dim sum, with the duck gyozas being particularly noteworthy.

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Hani AlMalki

Writer @BedouinFoodie – Dubai, UAE

All the Asian favorites on the menu This restaurant is very close to my heart because I spent many years living in the Far East. Five of these years were in Singapore where the hawker stall culture rules. Looking at the menu took me back to those years. The restaurant is beautiful and is fully licensed which is a rarity for a free standing structure in Dubai. The staff is awesome as is the ambiance. They went with mood lighting and music as opposed to Instagram friendly lighting. I took the photos at the kitchen counter (the pass). The food was / is excellent! We were 4 at dinner and had many dishes and loved them all with the exception of the chicken which we found on the bland side. The duck was excellent as were the prawn satay skewers, the calamari, the chicken wings, the beef noodles, the spicy beef salad and the dim sum including the duck gyozas. This restaurant is a winner and I can't wait to go back.

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Mimi Kakushi is a Japanese restaurant located in the Four Seasons hotel, offering an innovative twist to Asian cuisine. The ambiance is reminiscent of early 1930s Japan, with glossy woods, portraits, palm leaves, and warm lighting. The menu offers a variety of dishes, including popular items like wagyu foie gras gyozas, Kagoshima wagyu maki roll, and generously portioned king crab, all of which are served in small plates, allowing for a diverse dining experience.

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Liam Collens

Writer @itsliamcollens – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Mimi Kakushi is a brand new opening in Dubai Jumeirah’s Four Seasons hotel combining the best of the La Cantine restaurant group in consultation with local talent, Reif Othman. The stunning decor channels early 1930s Japan with glossy woods, portraits, palm leaves and warm lighting. Mimi Kakushi injects much needed innovation into Dubai’s Asian food scene evolving now stalwart classics with twists. Menu highlights included the wagyu foie gras gyozas with refreshing pickled cucumber and truffle soy butter. A delicious Kagoshima wagyu maki roll with sukiyaki sauce in an onsen egg dip. Lighter dishes included a smashed hamachi with yuzu guacamole, crispy nori and yuzu soy and the generously portions king crab with mizuna, crisp baby potatoes and wasabi dressing. As with many restaurants that focus on small plate dining in Dubai, The bill can add up quickly as you collect a number of small plates to eat. However many dishes stay impressively below 100 dhs. Bookings are absolutely essential as this brand-new restaurant is very popular in an already popular cul de sac of high-end restaurants in Dubai.

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With an unexpected location inside a neighborhood mall, Nama Yoso brings a casual take on Japanese cuisine, offering a range of dishes including seafood gyozas, fatty otoro, wagyu, aburi nigiri, and fresh crab salads. The restaurant is led by a highly regarded chef in the region, ensuring an authentic experience. Emphasizing the raw essence of Japanese tradition, Nama Yoso is a place where timeless artistry is passed down through generations.

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Liam Collens

Writer @itsliamcollens – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A casual, unlicensed Japanese restaurant under the helm of one of the region’s most lauded chefs placed inside of a neighbourhood mall where you would not typically expect seafood gyozas, fatty otoro or wagyu, aburi nigiri and fresh crab salads, but nonetheless this and more is available in spades.

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Specializing in hotpot dishes, Nine Squares Restaurant (Jumeirah Branch) offers a dual hot pot, one spicy and one mushroom-based. The buns with condensed milk are also a popular choice among the customers. The staff is noted to be attentive and the location is easily accessible.

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Pallavi Sangtani

Foodie – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The best hotpot in Dubai! Loved the buns with condensed milk. The staff is great and this new location is easily accessible. We ordered the dual hot pot - One spicy and one mushroom based, really enjoyed both!

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The Reif Japanese Kushiyaki restaurant offers a unique dining experience that combines traditional Japanese cuisine with a modern twist. The menu features a variety of dishes, such as seared prawn toast, cauliflower black sesame kushi, chicken or wagyu sandos, and duck ramen with a thick broth. It's not just about the food, but also the relationship with the culinary art process driven by the heart and talent of the chef, REIF Othman.

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Liam Collens

Writer @itsliamcollens – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Casual, elevated Japanese dining with a modern twist - and licensed! Reif expands his reach with a new kushiyaki in residential Dubai Hills offering a licensed casual restaurant (rare in Dubai) turning out the sublime like their seared prawn toast, cauliflower black sesame kushi, chicken or wagyu sandos and duck ramen with a broth so thick, you could walk across it. It’s a run don’t walk situation. I’ve been every week since its opened.

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Streetery Food Hall JLT is a unique dining spot that brings together authentic street style food from countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes, from barbecued meats to aromatic Asian spices, all designed to awaken your food memories. It's a place where you can unwind and indulge in comforting food from around the world, consistently good and always hitting the spot.

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Pallavi Sangtani

Foodie – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Fav casual Asian spot in Dubai. Authentic and true street style food from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and more. You will not get tired of sampling their menu options!

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TÀN CHÁ Restaurant is well-known for its delicious dim sum, offering unique options such as wagyu bumblebee buns, cordyceps dumplings, and mushroom cheung fun. The place provides a stylish, yet cosy setting with a terrace that offers a canal view and a DJ playing well-selected tunes. The restaurant also serves other signature dishes like Honey Nut Beef Cubes, Peking Duck and is known for its house made XO sauce.

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Zoe Bowker

Food Consultant – Dubai, UAE

If you’re looking for great dim sum in Dubai, make this your next stop. Newly opened Tan Cha is delivering divine dim sum and creative cocktails in a stylish, yet cosy setting. Don’t miss their wagyu bumblebee buns, cordyceps dumplings and mushroom cheung fun. There’s a lovely terrace up top with a canal view, and the DJ has got the tunes (and volume) spot on. Be prepared to drown everything in their house made XO, it’s sensational.

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TakaHisa is a high-end establishment offering premium sushi and wagyu, using the finest quality produce imported directly from Japan. Their menu includes delicacies such as chilled Ozaki beef carpaccio with caviar, smoked bonito, steamed Japanese hairy crab, and abalone in a thick uni and light soy dressing. With an extensive and well-selected range of wine and sake, this restaurant provides a memorable dining experience in an elegant setting.

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Hani AlMalki

Writer @BedouinFoodie – Dubai, UAE

High end Japanese sushi and wagyu restaurant. They use the highest quality produce flown in from Japan.

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