Best Flavours Of Asia: Dubai Must-Visit Spots

by Barbara Yakimchuk

Best Flavours Of Asia: Dubai Must-Visit Spots

7 Dec 2024

Each month in Dubai, we see new venues with unique concepts and flavors opening! Unsurprisingly, at least one of them is always Asian-inspired. Asian food blends flavours from Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and more! So, it is time to share our top must-visit Asian spots that will keep you coming back.

Kinoya

Japanese

This Japanese restaurant has earned plenty of praise, including the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand. Its interior reflects traditional Japanese aesthetics — minimalist design, ample wood accents, and soft pastel tones. The restaurant features multiple dining areas, including a terrace. Just a small tip: it is best to book a table in advance, as the restaurant is often fully booked, even though the tables are placed quite close to each other.

The staff is friendly and happy to assist, especially if you are new to Japanese cuisine. What makes Kinoya unique is the opportunity to try authentic Japanese dishes (in addition to well-known sushi and ramen), like Donabe, Onsen Tamago, Dashi, or Omurice. Other must-tries include their four types of gyoza (I love the classic chicken one) and really tasty sushi and sashimi. The Toro Taku Temaki and Salmon Okura Temaki are especially nice, with crispy nori and rich, fresh fish flavors.

For dessert, the restaurant staff recommended us a matcha pudding with ice cream that was off the menu, and it was absolutely divine!

Instagram: @kinoya.ae

Tang Town Restaurant

Chinese Seafood

If you are a fan of Chinese cuisine, this is the place to be! The interior immerses you in an authentic Chinese ambiance, with dark-toned furniture complemented by greenery. The restaurant is quite spacious, making it ideal for hosting large groups.

The menu is extensive, offering something for every taste, but the Crab Roe Wuchang Rice Ball stole my heart. For the hungry ones, there is an option of the Dynasty Brunch, held every Saturday from 12 pm to 4 pm — it features a traditional multi-course menu.

The Brunch includes starters (dried bean curd rolls with zucchini or marinated squid in garlic chilli oil), followed by steamed dumplings with unique fillings. For mains, the options are almost endless, but one recommendation stands out: Roasted Peking Duck with pancakes. If you have never tried it, you should definitely give it a go! And, of course, make sure to save room for dessert.

Instagram: @tangtown_dubai

YUi Ramen House

Japanese Ramen

An amazing Japanese ramen spot — my favourite place to dine after work, located right in the heart of the Design District. While the weather is nice, you can enjoy sitting outside at small, cosy tables, although the inside is just as nice — bright, compact, and welcoming. The restaurant is mainly known for its ramen — delicious Japanese noodles with rich flavours and generous portions (sometimes, we even share one between two people). My favourite is the Yuzu Shio Ramen with roasted beef, which has a subtle peanut undertone, making it even more flavourful.

If you are not in the mood for ramen, I recommend trying their chicken gyoza — despite being made with dough, they are very light, so one plate might not be enough. By the way, the dessert is also fantastic: Castella parfait, made with Castella cake, local strawberries, yoghurt cream, muesli, all served with ice cream.

Instagram: @yui_dxb

Pai Thai Dubai

Thai

A wonderful Thai restaurant located in Souk Madinat, right by the water. The space is designed in traditional Thai style — a lot of red, wooden accents, and golden Buddha statues create a warm and authentic atmosphere. The restaurant also has a large terrace, perfect for dining outdoors.

For those unfamiliar with Thai cuisine, there is a 5-course tasting menu featuring small portions of Thailand’s most popular dishes, available daily from 6 pm to 10 pm.

If you already have your Thai favourites, this is the place to find them all — the menu is really extensive. A couple of recommendations: don’t miss the GOONG YAN (Grilled Prawns and Lemongrass Skewer) and the dessert, TAKO 55 — a traditional Thai pudding.

Instagram: @paithaidubai

Tero

This Dubai restaurant offers a truly unique concept — there is no fixed menu or attachment to a specific cuisine. Instead, Chef Reif and his team create a new menu based on a distinctive culinary theme. While the restaurant does not focus on a single cuisine, it is safe to say that the flavours are predominantly Asian, with dishes such as Japanese sushi, Korean trout Yukhoe, and Seaweed Churros among the highlights.

Two key advantages come with dining here: first, you will not need to make any choices (for me it is huge advantage). By paying a fee to reserve your spot, you are assured of being served ten different dishes to experience a range of flavours. Second, every dish is a work of art, with chefs preparing everything in front of you, so you can watch the creation of these culinary masterpieces. I know this will definitely be added to my next must-visit list!

Instagram: @terobyreif

Nama Yoso

Contemporary Japanese

Unlike the other restaurants on our list, this one is perfect for a weekend outing. It has a modern feel, with light interiors accented by blue tones and comfortable, spacious sofas.

The highlight here is the sando, available in several varieties, with my favourite being the A5 Wagyu sando with truffle and beef. The overall serving reminds a luxury street food vibe — simple yet incredibly appetising. From my personal recommendations, I suggest trying the grilled prawns from the starters and the Matchamisu for dessert (which, as you can guess, is tiramisu with matcha). Enjoy!

Instagram: @namayoso

by Barbara Yakimchuk