Some tantalising Japanese ticklers for your tongue

There is no dearth of Japanese-themed eateries around Dubai. While some feature classic delicacies and others boast fusion styles, each in their own right can be named best of the best.

A little Japanese restaurant called Ichiban Steak House, along the Bank Street in Bur Dubai, is one location that Karim Noorali, a Sharjah-based network specialist, heads straight to when he craves grilled Japanese dishes.

“I like ‘Teppanyaki’ a lot and I find it refreshing to sit and eat in a lively atmosphere, specially after a long day in the office. It’s a feat to see a chef prepare your food in front of you,” he said. The restaurant features a large square-ish booth with chefs in the centre cooking dishes live while flanked by customers sitting on high chairs along its sides.

“Getting to the place can be frustrating because of the traffic in the area. But because the aroma is more than enough to set my mouth watering, I feel it is worth going back again and again,” he said, adding that he adored ‘Ebi Meshi’ (shrimps fried rice) and varieties of Tempura from the menu.

Another bustling point in the area is Yo! Sushi located in Bur Juman Centre where dishes are set on a conveyor belt that motions across seated customers. “From what I remember, each plate is colour-coded and it is funny to see eye-catching delicacies moving past you. It is actually tempting and gives the urge to try out everything, specially the desserts,” said Damiana Zuhairin, adding that her six-year-old daughter kept picking up whatever caught her fancy and placing it in front of her parents the last time they had visited.

Bentoya, set close to Financial Centre Metro Station on Sheikh Zayed Road, seems to be a popular spot, specially among Japanese nationals, and the food offered is affordable, according to Damian Duran, Dubai-based cost-control engineer. “I think it’s reputed as a ‘real’ Japanese restaurant because it is usually full. Sometimes you even have to wait for vacant tables during the normal working days. It feels a bit crummy and cramped inside, just as I imagine, a cheap restaurant in Japan,” he said.

Besides the food, Duran said the restaurant’s toilet was one of the main attractions for him.

“I think the most Japanese experience you can get is the loo. There you find a full-fledged automated TOTO with electronic command control suitable for a space ship’s commander throne. I never dared to use it properly for fear of the untold things it may do to my back side,” he joked.

Still want a completely different experience? Enter Manga Sushi in Jumeirah Park Plaza Centre, opposite Jumeirah Beach Park, and you will be thrown into a fantasy-tinged ambience where walls are painted with colourful characters, shelves stocked with the owner’s personal manga and figurine collection, and bubbly attendants in cosplay uniforms.

Apart from being an Otaku haven, a manga character-inspired menu of contemporary edible creations whipped up by resident Chef Renate Mariano (lovingly known as Chef Rey), not only looks good but every morsel is guaranteed to leave an unforgettable buzzing sensation on taste buds.

farhana@khaleejtimes.com