Amin Abbas

Dubai: Built around the Japanese concept “Iki”, Iki Sushi is a Japanese restaurant in Dubai that provides a unique and exclusive dining experience.

The restaurant provides professional Japanese traditional performances upon guests’ requests, bringing them closer to Japan.

The atmosphere is a cross between a private dining room and a supper club, as there are limited numbers of people per table.

The dining place features two menus. The Kyo menu starts at ¥40,819 (1,000 AED) and includes three appetizers, 10 pieces of sushi, miso soup, maki rolls, and an omelet. The Miyako menu starts at ¥61,232 (1,500 AED) and includes five appetizers, 11 pieces of sushi, miso soup, maki rolls, and an omelet.

A representative of the restaurant shared exclusively with Arab News Japan the story and challenges of opening the restaurant. “Iki Sushi was established around the end of 2022. Our goal is to bring the authentic Edomae Sushi Omakase experience to Dubai,” she said.

She shared that it was hard to find a location in Dubai that fit the concept and the price point.

About the response and feedback from people who tried Japanese food at Iki Sushi, the representative said, “A lot of people told us they had never tried the real Edomae Sushi Omakase and they loved it, so guests told us it’s as good as eating in Tokyo.”

About distinguishing Iki Sushi Dubai from other Japanese restaurants in Dubai, the representative said that “our seafood ingredients are 100% from Japan. Our head sushi chef, Koji Sagawa, has around 40 years of experience, and our sous chef, Takamichi Niiya, has around 15 years of experience. No other restaurant in Dubai is as authentic as we can be. Also, we have put our price (at) almost half from.. other Omakase restaurants in Dubai. The reason is that we want people to experience the real Edomae sushi.”

Koji Sagawa, Head Chef at Iki Sushi Dubai, is the chef behind the menu. He has a career spanning almost 40 years and has worked in Dubai and Japan. He started his career in Dubai in 2018 and was awarded as Dubai’s Japanese Michelin Star Chef in 2022 for spreading his intricate techniques, rigorous service, and exceptional service.

Sagawa shared exclusively with Arab News Japan his story and experience with Japanese cooking. “After graduating high school, (I) started working at a sushi restaurant in 1983. Till now, sushi has been everything to me. In 2018. I moved to Dubai as a sushi chef for Hoseki in Bulgari restaurant, and in 2022 I got the first Michelin Star and was rated 26th of the 50 best in MENA.”

About his style of cooking Japanese food, Sagawa said, “It’s the preparation. You have to understand the condition of each ingredient and make the best use of it. Not always the freshest seafood is good for sushi.”

Regarding the restaurant’s upcoming plans, the representative said, “(We are) looking for our own location to set up better experiences for our guests.” 

About her recommendations for those who want to try the food at Iki Sushi or learn how to make Japanese food, the representative said, “We provide the real Edomae style sushi in front of the guest. No other restaurant in the world will offer the sushi experience we do. You will see all the details of the art of Edomae sushi.”

Iki Sushi is located in LOWE’s private dining room in KOA Canvas and opens from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.