Japanese ContemporaryOtoroFeatured restaurantPlate Snob Pick
Otoro
Al Qana, Abu Dhabi
A relaxed contemporary Japanese restaurant overlooking Al Qana.
Follow the craving
The UAE's Japanese restaurant edit.
From 26 matching venues, 12 researched picks made the cut.
THE QUICK ANSWER
For Japanese restaurants in the UAE, start with 99 Sushi Bar for high-end sushi craftsmanship, Bar des Prés for 51st-floor skyline views, Zuma Abu Dhabi for consistently strong sushi and robata and Zuma Dubai for sushi and robata counters. Every restaurant shown here has enough editorial research to earn its place; the wider directory is kept separate.
Sushi counters, ramen specialists and contemporary rooms where precision comes without unnecessary ceremony.
26 compared12 selected4 Plate Snob picks
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Plate Snob picks
Start with these.
Japanese ContemporaryOtoroFeatured restaurant
CreativeMoonrisePlate Snob PickHot right now
Moonrise
Al Satwa, Dubai
A rooftop chef's counter telling a highly personal Dubai story course by course.
Japanese Contemporary3FilsPlate Snob PickHot right now
3Fils
Jumeirah, Dubai
A compact harbour-side restaurant serving contemporary Asian food with Japanese influence.
JapaneseKinoyaPlate Snob PickHot right now
Kinoya
The Greens, Dubai
An intimate Japanese izakaya and ramen restaurant in The Onyx.
New & hot
The tables making noise.
French-JapaneseBar des PrésHot right now
Bar des Prés
DIFC, Dubai
Cyril Lignac's French-Japanese dining room on the 51st floor of ICD Brookfield Place.
Japanese ContemporaryZuma Abu DhabiHot right now
Zuma Abu Dhabi
Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
Zuma's polished Abu Dhabi outpost at The Galleria, combining sushi, robata and waterfront views with dependable big-night energy.
Japanese ContemporaryZuma DubaiHot right now
Zuma Dubai
DIFC, Dubai
The original DIFC modern-Japanese heavyweight, built around sushi, robata and a perpetually charged room.
CreativeMoonrisePlate Snob PickHot right now
Moonrise
Al Satwa, Dubai
A rooftop chef's counter telling a highly personal Dubai story course by course.
The shortlist
The restaurants that made the cut.
Japanese Contemporary99 Sushi BarFeatured restaurant99 Sushi Bar
Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
An intimate Michelin-recognised Japanese restaurant at The Galleria, specialising in luxury sushi, omakase and precise hot dishes.
French-JapaneseBar des PrésFeatured restaurantHot right now
Bar des Prés
DIFC, Dubai
Cyril Lignac's French-Japanese dining room on the 51st floor of ICD Brookfield Place.
Japanese ContemporaryZuma Abu DhabiHot right now
Zuma Abu Dhabi
Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
Zuma's polished Abu Dhabi outpost at The Galleria, combining sushi, robata and waterfront views with dependable big-night energy.
Japanese ContemporaryZuma DubaiHot right now
Zuma Dubai
DIFC, Dubai
The original DIFC modern-Japanese heavyweight, built around sushi, robata and a perpetually charged room.
JapaneseDaikan Izakaya Yas BayDaikan Izakaya Yas Bay
Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi
A casual Japanese izakaya at The Pier with ramen, yakitori, small plates and a vinyl collection numbering more than 300 records.
JapaneseROKA DubaiROKA Dubai
Business Bay, Dubai
Contemporary Japanese robatayaki in The Opus, with a lively dining room, terrace and dishes built around the open grill.
JapaneseDaikan Izakaya City WalkDaikan Izakaya City Walk
City Walk, Dubai
Ramen, sushi and small plates in City Walk's licensed C2 district, with a separate menu from Daikan Ramen in JLT.
JapaneseDaikan Ramen JLTDaikan Ramen JLT
Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Daikan's ramen-led JLT branch at Lake Shore Tower 1, with published bowl prices and a different menu from City Walk.
Japanese ContemporaryOtoroPlate Snob Pick
Otoro
Al Qana, Abu Dhabi
A relaxed contemporary Japanese restaurant overlooking Al Qana.
CreativeMoonrisePlate Snob PickHot right now
Moonrise
Al Satwa, Dubai
A rooftop chef's counter telling a highly personal Dubai story course by course.
Japanese Contemporary3FilsPlate Snob PickHot right now
3Fils
Jumeirah, Dubai
A compact harbour-side restaurant serving contemporary Asian food with Japanese influence.
JapaneseKinoyaPlate Snob PickHot right now
Kinoya
The Greens, Dubai
An intimate Japanese izakaya and ramen restaurant in The Onyx.
Keep following the craving
Explore cuisines
Change the scenery
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Match the mood
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Useful answers
Before you book.
How does Plate Snob choose restaurants?
We edit for food, character, value, setting and genuine usefulness, not for the size of a marketing budget.
Are prices and opening hours guaranteed?
No. We check official information, show when profiles were last reviewed and recommend confirming time-sensitive details with the venue.
The wider UAE edit