City guides · Japan in Dubai
Japan in Dubai
Dubai has more serious Japanese food than almost any city outside Japan, and most visitors only ever see one end of it. This guide covers the whole range and tells you what to order, what it costs and when to book.
What's inside
78 places, chosen on merit. Partner content is always labelled.
- 78 places across 13 sections, from Bluewaters counters to Deira izakaya
- Omakase and chef's counters: what each costs and how far ahead to book
- The big rooms for birthdays, deals and first dates, and what to order at each
- Fire: robata, kushiyaki and teppanyaki, including the newest counter in town
- Ramen: both Michelin Bib Gourmand bowls, plus where to go for shio, paitan and tsukemen
- Izakaya and neighbourhood spots in JLT, Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah
- Hand roll bars, and how to eat a temaki before the nori goes soft
- Sake, whisky and highballs: the places where the drinks are the reason to go
- Almost Japanese: Nikkei and fusion, from three Michelin stars to walk-in favourites
- Cafés, matcha, Japanese groceries, a head spa and the dojos
- Japan in a day: a morning-to-night route across the city
- Every Michelin star and Bib Gourmand marked, plus a directory by area and A to Z
Words you'll meet
Omakase, robata, kushiyaki, temaki, paitan. A one-page glossary so you order like you've been before.
Order this
Every entry tells you the dish to order, the price for two and the hours, so you can book from your phone.
Same-day delivery
Pay, and the PDF lands in your inbox the same day, usually within a few hours.
Questions
How do I receive the guide?
By email, the same day you buy it, usually within a few hours. It's a 32-page PDF you can keep on your phone.
How do I pay?
Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe. It takes about twenty seconds.
Can I get a refund?
The guide is digital and delivered straight away, so we don't offer refunds. If anything goes wrong with delivery, email info@letsvote.com and we'll sort it.
Is it only restaurants?
No. Alongside omakase, ramen and izakaya there are cafés and matcha, Japanese groceries, a head spa, martial arts dojos, the festivals worth knowing about and three places in Abu Dhabi.
Does it say which places are licensed or halal?
It tells you where to check. Hotel restaurants usually pour sake and highballs, many standalone spots don't, and many places serve halal-certified wagyu. Ask when you book if it matters to you.