The 5 Best Affordable Japanese Restaurants in Dubai
Enjoying a tray of sushi or a bowl of ramen doesn’t have to break the bank, especially when we’re craving some Japanese food and the paycheck doesn’t come until next week.
Thankfully, the city is home to some diverse Japanese restaurants, price-wise! So we went around to scout for some amazing spots and give you our favorite affordable Japanese restaurants in Dubai.
How We Picked the Best Affordable Japanese Restaurants in Dubai
Before we get right into our list of the best affordable Japanese restaurants in Dubai, here are the factors we considered for our entries on this list:
1. Bento-Ya
| Criteria | Rating |
| Affordability | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Ambiance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Service Quality | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Whenever we’re craving no-frills cheap sushi during the middle of the week after work, we always know the answer to it is Bento-Ya.
This underrated restaurant found behind Sheikh Zayed Road is a local favorite of the residents in the neighborhood, and we can clearly taste why.
Friendly on the wallet without giving up taste, Bento-Ya has about 15 sushi offerings that are simple, tasty, and more than enough to answer cravings without breaking the bank.
We love how we individually never spend beyond AED60 every time we order a filling meal here. Oftentimes, we even found ourselves sharing some of our food with each other just so we can finish it.
But because it is a budget-friendly sushi joint, the ingredients are not as up to par as some of the restaurants we have listed here.
That being said, we are not saying the seafood is not fresh, but these are definitely not the best that the daily fish market has to offer either.
As for its ambiance, we like the quaintness and simplicity of the place. Like a Japanese family restaurant, there is nothing luxurious or outstanding about it, but it is cozy and inviting.
The service is as good as it can get for a budget restaurant. The staff was efficient and had our dishes in a timely manner, but beyond that, there is nothing special to note of.
Pros
- Amazingly cheap authentic Japanese food
- Has a wide variety of sushi
- Efficient services
- Quaint ambiance
Cons
- The quality of the seafood is not the best
- Nothing special about the decor or the space
- Nothing special about the service
Customer Reviews
It reminds me strongly of places I used to eat at in Kyoto and Osaka.
“Anyone who has lived in Japan and wants to get that feeling of just going out to get food (rather than going out to somewhere that declares itself to have Japanese food and charges most of the cost of flying to Japan) wants to go to Bentoya.
It reminds me strongly of places I used to eat at in Kyoto and Osaka. The food is authentic, excellent, and great value for money. The atmosphere is laid back and the staff are genuinely friendly and helpful.
Most of the group I went with have never been there before. All love Japanese food and all want to go back.” —Bob Studholme, Google Reviews
We always come to Bento-ya for Japanese food.
“We always come to Bento-ya for Japanese food. Never disappointed us so far. Our kids brought their friends here too. Love the food, staffs are friendly. Will definitely come again. Keep the service and the food quality high people!” —Hanizah Latif, Google Reviews
2. Umami
| Criteria | Rating |
| Affordability | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Ambiance | ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) |
| Service Quality | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Named after the fifth type of taste, Umami’s vibrant space and great cheap Japanese dishes offer exactly that.
This restaurant is designed to be an easy dining option for those looking to have some popular Japanese dishes. So it offers a wide range of ramen, dim sum, bento, sushi, and sashimi.
We have to give a shoutout to our favorite ones like the Umami Ramen with beef and chicken, salmon nigiri, and the Umami Japanese Curry.
However, we can definitely tell that the vegetables and seafood were all frozen and not brought fresh earlier that day.
This is fine except that we can often tell the difference, especially in the texture and taste of the carrots and potatoes of its Japanese curries.
On the bright side, we never individually spend anything beyond AED50 for a meal, a side, and a drink.
This is great because it’s more than we bargained for, especially if we just need something to fill us up.
The ambiance was nothing special. The place felt more like a fast food chain than a restaurant with how busy and loud it gets.
The vibrant wall decor and murals didn’t help with the overstimulation we got with it too. We definitely prefer having our food delivered to dining here.
The service was also more of the fast food type in the sense that it was friendly but inauthentic and scripted. Nonetheless, the efficiency and the timeliness are excellent.
Pros
- Has a wide range of popular Japanese dishes on its menu
- Really low prices
- Efficient service
Cons
- The ambiance is loud and visually overstimulating
- The service doesn’t feel sincere
Customer Reviews
A terrific quick Japanese fast food location
“I went to MOE Food Court with my friends, their food models looked delicious, and so I ordered a lot from almost all categories on the menu. It’s a terrific quick Japanese fast food location. The staff was quite welcoming, and the noodles were fresh and savory. I will definitely come back for more filling Japanese cuisine. You must try this restaurant for an authentic Japanese experience. Did I say that they have excellent service too?”—Romer Galdo, Google Reviews
I recommend this place to everyone
“The lady at the front counter on the night of the 23rd March 2023 were so polite and kind. The chefs also did an amazing job of giving me tasty food. I recommend this place to everyone 🥰thank you.
FYI I ate the beef ramen with the noodles and salad option.” —Claudia Armstrong, Google Reviews
3. Reif Kushiyaki
| Criteria | Rating |
| Affordability | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambiance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Service Quality | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Reif Kushiyaki is a homegrown casual dining spot that serves affordable, street food style Japanese food, and was selected to be a part of the Michelin Gourmand in 2022.
Now while the mention of Michelin may scare some of the frugal foodies away, don’t worry. This restaurant is actually known for serving some amazing meals without leaving a hole in your pocket.
The menu consists of an eclectic collection of fantastic Asian favorites such as wagyu katsu sando with tonkatsu sauce served alongside skewers, ramen, and kushiyaki to die for.
We do spend around AED100-AED120 per meal here, which is relatively higher than our other entries in this article.
But we’d argue the price difference isn’t big, and the food quality is definitely what we’re willing to spend an extra AED30 for.
We also love the ambiance, and how it’s definitely a step up towards the casual dining level.
The decor and the furniture are more sophisticated, yet still, keep a sense of relaxed energy to them.
However, we do not like the solid wooden chairs matching the solid wooden tables because the place feels monochromatic, and the white tiled floors make the space feel cold.
The service was fine. There wasn’t really anything to take note of except for the fact that the staff was warm and quick.
Pros
- Part of the Michelin Gourmand in 2022
- Serves an eclectic collection of Asian favorites
- Warm and efficient service
Cons
- Relatively more expensive than other entries
- Decor feels monochromatic and cold
Customer Reviews
One of my favorite restaurants in town.
“One of my favorite restaurants in town.
Got the chance to seat at the table chef and it was an incredible experience.
The dishes, the ingredients, the flavors… everything was perfect.
I also often come to the restaurant, and I highly recommend the Sando or anything on the menu 🙈” —Dubai Musts, Google Reviews
What a lovely restaurant with food that’s packed with flavors.
“What a lovely restaurant with delicious tasting food packed with flavors. Our favorites were the chilled angel hair truffle pasta, the mushroom clay pot (wow!), and the soft shell crab maki. The staff was kind, but it took a while before someone took our order and one dish was forgotten. Didn’t spoil the experience, however, we’ll be back!”—JDEED Magazine, Google Reviews
4. Wokyo Noodle Bar
| Criteria | Rating |
| Affordability | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Ambiance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Service Quality | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Choose your own adventure at Wokyo Noodle Bar. Personalize your own noodle bowl from the choice of protein to the sauce and base.
Its menu has 9 sauces, 8 bases, 6 proteins, and 12 toppings to choose from, resulting in your own totally unique noodle bowls.
We are big fans of the ultimate customizability of our food, and we always have fun coming up with creative flavor combinations.
However, other than noodle bowls, it does not really have any other kind of mains, but we do appreciate that it serves sweet treats for the post-meal finishers.
It is also impressive that we never spend more than AED90 for a meal here. We love how its dishes remain flexible and customizable without having additional fees.
The space is entirely alfresco, which is actually fun and a relaxing way to spend lunch breaks during the work week.
However, it is impossible to go here during the summertime and still enjoy a bowl of hot noodles under the sun.
The staff is super friendly and always accommodating. We love how they don’t make us feel like they are skimping us out on the ingredients and the sauces.
We also love how whatever order we give them they always manage to serve up in a quick and efficient way.
Pros
- Serves affordable customizable noodle bowls
- Alfresco dining is relaxing
- Warm and efficient service
Cons
- Doesn’t serve other mains other than noodle bowls
- Alfresco seating is unbearable during summer
Customer Reviews
The place has a really great vibe to it
“Very friendly and helpful people. The place has a really great vibe to it, it’s distinctive and lovely!
And the food… Just delicious! It’s a “choose your own adventure” type of menu where you get to pick different ingredients combinations (sauce, protein, rice/noodles…).
Will certainly be trying again!” —Ismaël Chabs, Google Reviews
Wokyo is one of my favorite places to eat at.
“Wokyo is one of my favorite places to eat at.
The food is always delicious.
They offer inside and outside dining options.
You get to build your own meal which is cool.
They have vegetarian options which is great.
All the staff are happy and helpful.
The price is fair considering the size of their portions.” —Joshua Taylor, Google Reviews
5. Yo! Sushi
| Criteria | Rating |
| Affordability | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambiance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Service Quality | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
With over 50 types of sushi on its iconic Kalten conveyor belt, Yo! Sushi has made a name for itself all over the world with its diverse selection of traditional Japanese favorites.
On top of its amazingly varied sushi, it also has a lot of ramen, nigiri, teriyaki, katsu, and poke bowl offerings.
When we are not snatching our hoisin duck rolls, dynamite rolls, and tuna tataki off the conveyor belt, we like to get the prawn katsu curry or the chicken teriyaki bowl.
We also love that we don’t spend more than AED80 for two dishes here, and we always leave fuller than we intended to. No regrets, though!
When it comes to its ambiance, most of its branches are located in malls, so the stray noise comes into the restaurant and can be a distracting aspect of the dining experience.
However, the space is nicely decorated and made to look like an actual conveyor sushi restaurant in Japan.
It had booths instead of tables which made for such a cozy seating arrangement which we thoroughly enjoyed too.
The service was just fine. There wasn’t anything to write home about mostly because the food was brought to us via the conveyor belt.
However, we do love how the staff kept the space very clean and organized.
The staff also had no problem helping first-timers get acquainted with the restaurant’s ordering system and how it works with the conveyor belt.
Pros
- Wide range of Japanese food
- Affordable prices
- Food gets delivered through the conveyor belt
- Clean restaurant
Cons
- Nothing special about the service
- Stray noise from the mall leaks into the restaurant
Customer Reviews
The staff I met is very kind to make my time comfortable.
“This is the first time to visit here. But very authentic. I really love sushi and used to eat sushi very often in my country. The sushi I had here reminded me of the food I had before.
As soon as all the sushi and rolls are made, they put on the belt so all the dishes are turned around. That’s why we can eat such fresh sushi while we are sitting. The price is reasonable as well. And the staff I met is very kind to make my time comfortable.
These days, they have promotion from Monday to Thursday.” — JH Kim, Google Reviews
Great selection of food.
“Great selection of food. All staff were very accommodating. We spent our anniversary lunch date here with our little one and we enjoyed it a lot. Will definitely come back!” —Renee Theresa Jarina, Google Reviews
FAQs about Affordable Japanese Restaurants in Dubai
We hope this helped you find your favorite affordable Japanese restaurant in Dubai. Also, if you’re looking for more restaurant recommendations, then check out these articles: