The Best Japanese Restaurants in Dubai

Nestled within the iconic Palm Jumeirah, Nobu Dubai offers a unique blend of Japanese cuisine with a Peruvian twist. The restaurant is known for its stunning views of the Palm and Dubai Marina skyline, and dishes such as black cod miso, premium wagyu beef tacos with a Japanese twist, and sushi, all crafted by head chef Damien Duviau. In addition to its regular menu, Nobu Dubai is also a popular spot for weekend brunch, featuring a wide variety of sushi and other signature dishes like mini salmon tacos and crispy shiitake salad.

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Hrvoje Petric

Food & Wine Writer – Zagreb, Croatia

Nobu Dubai restaurant, located on the iconic Palm Jumeirah (Atlantis the Palm hotel), offers a world-renowned Japanese cuisine with a Peruvian twist for a great culinary experience. With the stunning views of the Palm and Dubai Marina skyline you can taste some iconic dishes by chef Nobu Matsuhisa like black cod miso, premium wagyu beef tacos with a Japanese twist, Dubai’s best sushi, all prepared by head chef Damien Duviau.

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This Japanese eatery, Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, offers a fun and tasty twist on traditional cuisine, best enjoyed in a group to sample a variety of small dishes. The restaurant's decor combines personality with comfort, featuring dark wood, generous window light, and an open plan kitchen that adds a lively touch. The menu focuses on flat iron grilled food, with highlights including the nearly soupy beef gyoza, crispy baby squid katsu, and the Sanchoku Wagyu Sando, while also showcasing subtler dishes like raw seabass with yuzu soy.

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Malgosia Minta

Food journalist – Warsaw, Poland

Fun and tasty play on Japanese food. Fun and tasty play on Japanese food. Best to come with a few people to enjoy as many small dishes as possible, such as raw hamachi with umeboshi and almonds, melo with kimchi sauce and sesame (this I will copy at home) maki with soft shell crab or a variety of kushi (beef with black pepper teriyaki and bonito flakes eryngi mushrooms and seaweed butter). PS Reif was also named the best ramen place in town - and not without a reason!

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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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Moonrise is an Omakase restaurant that provides a unique dining experience, combining Middle Eastern ingredients with Japanese techniques. The 12-seater restaurant is helmed by self-taught Chef Solemann Haddad, who crafts an 8-course tasting menu inspired by his own interpretation of Dubai's food culture. The rooftop location offers a remarkable view of the city's skyline, adding to the overall ambience while you enjoy the ever-evolving menu.

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Himanshu Saini

Chef – Dubai , United Arab Emirates

This place has a very unique concept and stands out because it does something very different. Chef Solemann Haddad cooks around the Dubai food culture which is a mix of Indian, Sri Lankan and Pakistani influences. He's grown up in Dubai, and has seen since he was a kid what the city started from and what it has become. Now he brings back the nostalgia for people who have lived in Dubai for many years. He is self-taught, which is why he has his own interpretation in his cooking - it's not derived from working with another chefs.

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This restaurant, 3 Fils, is located by the Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, providing a casual dining experience with community style seating. The menu features dishes with a Japanese influence, such as the signature 'Charcoal' surprise, the seaweed salad with sweet apple and crunchy walnuts, and the wagyu truffle burger. The restaurant, which started in 2016, prides itself on serving premium Asian dishes with a Japanese twist in a comfortable setting.

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Kaylee Folster

Food & Travel Writer – Johannesburg, South Africa

Flavourful Abundance 3 Fils holds the title of Best Restaurant in Middle East & North Africa 2022 and after just one visit you’ll understand why. This casual and reasonably priced dining spot overlooks the Jumeirah Fishing Harbour and it’s, arguably, one of the most popular restaurants in Dubai (with good reason, of course). The restaurant offers unique community style dining with large shared tables. You can look forward to a menu selection of Japanese influenced dishes. Each and every dish is loaded with flavour to impress. The ‘Charcoal’ surprise is one of their signature dishes that’s not to be missed; a secret dish that will not only keep you guessing but wanting more too. Another classic 3 Fils dish is their seaweed salad which boasts sweet apple and crunchy walnuts. And of course, you can’t go wrong with the mouth-watering 3 Fils wagyu truffle burger; simply superb. Great food, great service and a great setting; you don’t want to miss out on 3 Fils when visiting Dubai.

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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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With a focus on sushi and yakitori, Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori offers a fresh and unique dining experience. The restaurant, which opened its doors in January 2021, is led by Chef Akmal Anuar and his team who are committed to creating delicious and affordable dishes. Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori is quickly gaining popularity for its no-nonsense approach and tasty creations.

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Flip Dejaeghere

Flip World Foodie – Duffel, Belgium

A very very fresh newbie not to be missed when in Dubai. Chef Akmal Anuar & his team just opened in January 2021 this exquisite sushi & yakitori spot. No nonsense, uber tasty creations and very democratic prices will quickly make this newbie a Dubai hotspot. One not to miss when in Dubai!!

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With a strong commitment to authenticity, Itadaku offers a purely Japanese dining experience. The restaurant prides itself on staying true to traditional recipes and practices, with no fusion elements in sight. All aspects, from the food to the staff, are genuinely Japanese, making it a real gem for lovers of this cuisine.

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Hani AlMalki

Writer @BedouinFoodie – Dubai, UAE

Authentic Japanese Everything Itadaku is an authentic Japanese restaurant and everything and everyone is from Japan. It's a gem of a restaurant that stays true to the recipes and traditions. There is no fusion here.

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With a relaxed and fun atmosphere, Kinoya offers an authentic Japanese dining experience. This place is well-known for its delicious Japanese izakaya classics, with the duck ramen and sando being particularly popular. The menu is designed to transport you to the heart of Japan, featuring everyday dishes like Donabe, Onsen Tamago, Dashi, Omurice, and many other traditional delicacies.

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Mohamed El Baroudi

Foodie – Marrakech, Morocco

An Izakaya with great food and vibes Hidden in an unimpressive building, Kinoya became a Dubaï institution in just a few months. The restaurant reflects its chef Neha Mishra’s personality : passionate, relaxed and fun. Trendy atmosphere (very good playlists!) and delicious japanese izakaya classics. The place is famous for its ramen (the duck one is outstanding). The sando is also a hit.

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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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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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This dining spot offers an informal omakase experience, a Japanese tradition where the chef designs a bespoke menu for guests. The menu features dishes like uni nigiri, raw scallops brushed with seaweed butter, and Kagoshima Wagyu beef shabu-shabu, showcasing the chef's focus on simplicity and quality ingredients. The restaurant is unlicensed and provides a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy a casual yet exceptional culinary journey.

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Liam Collens

Writer @itsliamcollens – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Local favourite Reif Othman re-launches his more casual omakase inside his successful Reif Kushiyaki. Reif’s fingerprints are all over this omakase. His signature simplicity focuses on doing less but more, drawing the best out of quality, premium ingredients. Dishes such as uni nigiri, raw scallops brushed with seaweed butter and a caviar-studded otoro gunkan wrapped in nori make for exceptional and special mouthfuls. These are followed by larger courses including a Kagoshima Wagyu beef shabu-shabu steeped in the clearest of wagyu dashi lifted by pools of yuzu oil. Unlicensed, it’s an excellent way to tip toe into an informal omakase.

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