Best Japanese Fine Dining Spots in Dubai
Dubai has a large selection of restaurants to choose from for anyone craving Japanese cuisine. This holds true as well even if you want to get a fancier or more ‘authentic’ experience than your usual options.
So if you’re in the mood for fancier Japanese-style dining then you’re definitely in the right city! There’s plenty of fancy spots here in Dubai for you to satisfy your sushi, ramen, and tempura cravings!
While all of these restaurants serve up a Japanese-themed menu, we do think they’re all able to offer their own interesting spins on these classics for you to check out here in Dubai.
TOMO
TOMO immediately stands out as one of the best restaurants when it comes to Japanese fine dining in Dubai. It manages to combine good food preparation and a stunning view in order to deliver a refined experience.
The restaurant has a tatami terrace seating arrangement, giving you a nice view of the surrounding cityscape. Aside from this, they also have a more private meeting room that you can choose for corporate or social events.
Guests who want to try a more ‘authentic’ experience can also opt for Japanese-style seating where you take off your shoes to sit on the floor.
There’s two ways you can enjoy the food here in TOMO. Guests can either order a curated set menu designed by the chef to really deliver a good experience, or you can order à la carte.
Either way, we found the experience and taste to be very good overall. Ingredients for most of their stuff are flown in straight from Japan so you really get a chance to try some authentic sushi and sashimi here at TOMO.
As for our main courses, we enjoyed their Wagyu dishes, finding that it has just enough marbling and tenderness due to the quality of the ingredients used.
Sadly, some items were unavailable due to the lack of ingredients. But the helpful and courteous servers let us know in advance, and helped us order our food. . In this case, we did like how the staff were able to notify us in advance.
Prices are quite expensive as expected, costing around AED 400 to AED 500 for a two-person meal. The good combination of top-notch service, amazing food, and an excellent view does make it one of the best Japanese fine dining spots in Dubai.
How to Get To TOMO
Starting from Maria Bonita, travelers may walk to the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, where they can wait for a bus to the Dubai Mall. After a 24 minute ride, they can transfer over to the Business Bay Metro Bus Stop Landside for a ride to South Ridge Tower.
From there, they may walk 5 minutes to the Raffles Hotel, where TOMO is located.
Things to Do around TOMO
TOMO and the Raffles Hotel are quite close to the Wafi City Mall, so you have a lot of shops and amenities to try out. For example, Al Washia International is a great spot for browsing for different fashion items here in Dubai.
A little further from the restaurant is the Omni Club; a nice establishment for you to dance the night away should you be in a party mood after a nice, luxurious meal at the restaurant.
Zuma
Zuma offers a refined dining experience when it comes to Japanese cuisine in Dubai. Set in the iconic Burj Khalifa, this restaurant has withstood the test of time ever since they started operations back in 2008.
The first floor is suited for a more formal dining arrangement. It also places you right near the sushi counter which we think is amazing if you’re in the mood for a nice tuna or salmon sushi and would like to see the preparation.
Otherwise, we did find the more plush setup upstairs to be just as good. It has more of a lounge-feel thanks to the softer chairs and glass partitions. There’s also a private dining table on the side, though that seems to be more suited for corporate dining and events.
For those who want something more fancy, you can also try out their Japanese wagyu beef sushi made with oscietra caviar. It’s a little pricey but we think the taste is well worth the price of admission.
Food is served buffet style so you can easily get a platter containing only the meals that you personally like. Their jumbo sweet shrimp and fatty tuna are very good options to check out.
There’s even vegetarian options for those looking to cut back on their meat consumption. You can choose from cucumber, asparagus and avocado to stuff your roll if you prefer to keep things light and healthy.
As expected, prices are quite high when starting at around AED 100 and reaching up to AED 400 per person. We think it’s a great deal overall though, especially when we consider the great ambiance and delicious food in the restaurant.
How to Get to Zuma
Starting from the Dubai International Airport you can drive towards Garhoud Bridge, taking the first exit to Jebel Ali. After that, take the fourth exit and follow the signs towards the DIFC/Convention Centre.
Take a right to the first signal and drive until the third signal and then turn right, going straight through the roundabout. Make a U-turn and take the first right to finally reach the DIFC Gate Building.
The restaurant is located at Gate Village 6 on the podium level.
Things to Do around Zuma
Just near the Zuma restaurant area is the Museum of the Future by the Emirates Towers. The place itself already provides a lot of activities and exhibits for kids and adults alike here in Dubai.
Otherwise, you can choose to burn off some calories near the Warehouse Gym in DIFC.
TakaHisa Japanese Restaurant
TakaHisa is another notable Japanese fine dining establishment here in Dubai. It’s located at the ground floor of the Caesar’s Palace, which should make it a fun stop right out of the gate.
The restaurant has taken great steps to replicate a typical dining atmosphere in an actual place in Japan albeit, with more luxurious furniture and fittings. We found their ambiance to be quite warm and welcoming as well.
We definitely recommend getting a nice seat that gives you a great view of the blue water outside. It definitely adds to the experience in our opinion.
TakaHisa takes great pride in their A5 Kobe beef as it has received a very high marbling score. Additionally, they are also very proud of their seafood, importing them directly from Toyosu Market back in Japan.
Similar to Zuma’s beef sushi, we also recommend trying out TakaHisa’s A5 Kobe beef sushi topped with caviar and layered on top of vinegared sticky rice. It has a nice texture that really melts in your mouth.
Past diners also recommend checking out their tuna dishes, whether it’s in the form of sushi or sashimi, allowing you to really savor its natural taste. You could also opt for a platter with different varieties in one plate for more flavour.
The whole dining experience is then capped off by trying out some of their mocktails. Diners are particularly impressed with the bartenders showing off some flair as they mix the requested drinks.
Prices start at around AED 100 for two people though you could easily spend up to AED 1,000 if you’re going for some of the more expensive items. Either way, the experience should be very good overall here at TakaHisa Japanese Restaurant.
How to Get to TakaHisa Japanese Restaurant
Starting from the Burj Al Arab Hotel at BarZar, visitors may wait at the Ibn Battuta Metro Bus Stop in order to take a 20 minute bus ride, riding to the Jumeira, Royal Meridian – 01.
Upon walking to Bluewaters Island, visitors may then locate the Caesars Palace hotel, where the TakaHisa Restaurant is on the ground floor.
Things to Do around TakaHisa Japanese Restaurant
There’s a lot of things to check out on the artificial island where TakaHisa is located. For one, you can explore the Ain Dubai Boulevard, checking out all the other small snack stores and shops in the area.
And in case you just want to tuck in and relax, why not head by the water to enjoy the Drone Light Show? It’s definitely a great way to cap off the evening, especially when out with friends.
Roka
Roka opened their first Middle East branch back in 2020 and has steadily worked in order to grow and improve its world-class experience in the time it has been in operation.
The brand takes on a more modern and sustainable-looking approach, granting their diners a nice view of the Business Bay as well as the cityscapes adorning much of downtown Dubai.
As a result, there’s a good amount of waiting involved before one can dine in their surprisingly modest space.
When it comes to the food, it’s their robata dishes and the grill which take centre stage. We really enjoy their Spicy Beef and Padron Pepper skewers cooked at just the perfect level of done-ness.
Of course, they also have all the traditional Japanese fare such as sushi, sashimi, and tempura dishes. All of these are made with a wide variety of fish, ranging from premium yellowtail tuna to freshwater eel.
You even have a show of sorts thanks to their raw food preparation counter. In our experience, seeing all the fresh seafood and quality beef being cooked is enough to really whet the appetite for the next course.
Prices are quite high at the restaurant, easily costing around AED 200 to AED 500 per meal, especially when going for expensive options.
Execution and service are quite superb though and we can easily see Roka going strong for the years to come thanks to their excellent dishes.
How to Get to Roka
To find Roka, visitors starting from Melia Dubai must walk to Raffa – 01, waiting at the Business Bay Metro Bus Stop Landside for a bus riding to The Binary Tower. The Opus by Omniyat is only a 2 minute walk upon alighting, and Roka is located on its first level.
Things to Do around Roka
Just a few steps away from Roka is the Bay Avenue Park. This stretch of green features recreational facilities and playgrounds where both kids can play and adults can take a short break from the urban bustle.
The park also features yoga lessons for those who want to stretch their bodies as well as a jogging terrace. If you’re up for some skating action, then make sure to check out the nearby Bay Avenue Skate Park as well!
Kiku – Dubai
If you’ve been to Japan, you should know how popular teppanyaki is in the country. As such, we recommend fans of these Japanese dishes to check out Kiku in the Al Garhoud area.
Kiku is a relatively modest yet upscale-feeling restaurant with a luxurious air thanks to the interior’s earthy tones as well as impeccable glass displays. Tables are also spaced out decently, ensuring good sound levels even on a busy service.
They also keep things a lot more authentic as well; a stark contrast to the fusion dishes of nearby establishments. As such, we think Japanese food purists should be able to enjoy all the simple dishes done well in the establishment.
Teppanyaki is a popular dish here at Kiku and you shouldn’t be too surprised to see diners ordering these most of the time. It offers some decent customization too, allowing you to choose the type of meat and ingredient used in the dish.
Whether you want a taste of their yakisoba, or wagyu beef grilled to perfection, you can watch your food take shape thanks to a great view of their live grilling station. We also recommend checking out their yakitori and tempura dishes as well.
Of course, the restaurant doesn’t miss out on the Japanese seafood staples either. You also get a good show at the open sushi counter where you can see the chefs prepare your next set.
Prices are quite affordable, allowing you to get a good meal for two for around AED 300 to AED 400. The lack of any more fancy things on the food also leads to surprisingly fast service so we definitely think it’s a good spot for when you’re really hungry.
How to Get to Kiku
Starting from Al Wahda Road, travelers must go to the Deira City Center Bus Station for a bus, riding to Deira City Center Bus Station – 02. After that, they may transfer buses over to the Qusais Bus Station, this time for a ride towards the Cargo Village Gate – 01.
The Le Meridien Dubai Hotel is only a 10 minute walk away, where Kiku is located.
Things to Do around Kiku – Dubai
Those who need to relax after a tiring day and a heavy meal can do so at the Natural Element Spa inside the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre. Here, you can get massages and beauty treatments done as you unwind.
If you’re up for more activity, you can also head on over to the Discovery Gardens and even play a few rounds of tennis with friends in one of their courts.
Akira Back
Of course, you don’t always have to stick to tradition in order to deliver a luxurious experience. Sometimes, fusion cuisine and style can be quite an upscale experience too, especially here at Akira Back.
Led by the celebrity chef of the same name, the restaurant combines both Japanese and Korean cuisine in order to deliver a surprising take on a few established classics.
The atmosphere even accents this playfulness in our opinion, opting to dazzle with a swirling neon entrance that soon opens up into a modern-looking interior complete with metal surfaces and textures.
The food also lives up to the hype as well in our opinion. Their Raw Tuna Pizza is possibly the most head-turning dish in the room when it came out, given its surprising yet simple presentation.
It’s tasty and definitely on the heavy side as well so we recommend grabbing it for sharing with friends. Alternatively, their grilled octopus with salsa and Josper grilled salmon are also great, lighter options to choose.
You also get some view of the food prep thanks to their see-in kitchen area and sushi bar.
Prices can reach up to AED 1,000 when dining with two or more companions though the huge sharing portions does make it easy to order a good variety of food. So if you’re up for some creative dishes, then definitely check out Akira Back in Dubai!
How to Get to Akira Back
From the Dubai International Airport, visitors driving to get to W Dubai The Palm may first get on E11 from Casablanca St. Driving down E11 to Crescent Road.
They can then take exit 34 and drive to Crescent Rd, where W Dubai The Palm is located, with Akira Back in it. It takes roughly 35-45 minutes to arrive from the Dubai International Airport to W Dubai.
Things to Do around Akira Back
As they are located in W The Palm, you do get to see all the different hotels as well as the sea while walking down the Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk in the area.
You might also want to pop in at the Sola Jazz Lounge at the nearby Raffles in case you’re interested in watching live jazz play in the evenings, especially after having a nice dinner at the restaurant.
Miyako
Last on the list would be Miyako, located at the lobby level of the Hyatt Regency at Deira. It’s another great spot for those looking for a cosier experience while still retaining its authenticity.
Miyako definitely feels the most like an eater you’ll find along the streets of Japan, with its warm tones and gentle ambient scenery. Nonetheless, it does possess its own sense of class and the spaces are all well-managed.
Of course, the food is very good at Miyako as well. Personally, we think the atmosphere is very good for enjoying our very own Hot Pot, picking out the meat and vegetables we’d like to include in their bowl of hot and flavourful broth.
There’s also their sushi bar where you can get well-prepared slices of fresh tuna and salmon and they serve decent teppanyaki on live grills as well. It’s definitely a fun show seeing the food take shape in front of you.
Prices are also quite affordable, costing you around AED 200 to AED 400 for a delicious meal for two. So if you’re in the mood for some fancy Japanese cuisine while still retaining its authenticity, then Miyako should be one of the places to check out.
How to Get to Miyako
Visitors hoping to dine at Miyako may wait for a bus at the Gold Souq Bus Station. Riding to Gold Souq Bus Station – 12, The Hyatt Regency hotel is only a 7 minute walk away, with Miyako being located at the lobby level.
Things to Do around Miyako
Given its proximity to the Hyatt Regency, you can check out amenities such as the Club Olympus Fitness and Spa where you can relax and get a nice massage after a nice meal.
Alternatively, you can also check out the Hibiki Karaoke Lounge in the hotel where you can either sing in front of a bigger audience or just have fun messing around with tunes with friends in one of the private rooms instead.
Japanese cuisine is a great match with fine dining sensibilities. A combination of expertly-prepared food and an amazing restaurant ambiance presents a very novel dining experience here in Dubai.
Make sure to check out some of the other fine dining restaurants here in Dubai as well. We think you’ll be surprised at what you can get in this amazing city.