Amin Abbas

DUBAI: Kanji is a cloud kitchen in Dubai made to deliver tasty Japanese dishes to people’s doorsteps.

A representative of Kanji shared exclusively with Arab News Japan the story and challenges of opening the cloud kitchen in Dubai, saying, “Kanji was established in 2020 during COVID-19. At the time, most restaurants in Dubai, like 3Fils, were limited in their in-house services to avoid the spread of the virus. Kanji was created to deliver 3Fils favorites to guests at home.”

About the response and feedback from the people who tried Japanese food at Kanji, the representative said, “We’ve been receiving positive responses ever since (we launched). Customers were describing their delivery experience as ‘Ordering from 3Fils without going to 3Fils.’ At Kanji, we try to serve the same quality that 3Fils offers without compromising on flavor or the freshness of the dish delivered.”

“Kanji also focuses greatly on customer service. Every comment counts, no matter how big or small. Our aim at Kanji is to deliver the best food through the best delivery service,” he added.

Christopher John Ibona, Head Chef of Kanji, shared with Arab News Japan that his first encounter with Japanese cuisine was when he tried salmon nigiri at 3Fils six years ago. “I was not a big fan of sushi, but I did eat a bit of Japanese food here and there. I had a few encounters with Japanese food, but my very first and best one was that simple salmon nigiri I had on my first day at 3Fils,” he said. “Being able to experience this explosion of flavors from only four ingredients was mind-blowing. It wasn’t only with the salmon nigiris but also with other items on the menu.”

“Each (dish) has a different set of ingredients and flavors, but they hit the spot every time. Luckily, I was working behind the scenes in the kitchen, and I got to witness how all that magic comes to life. The techniques doesn’t need to be Japanese, but you have to understand them to get inspired by them. A big portion of learning how to cook the Japanese way is knowing how to handle your ingredients,” he added.

Regarding his methods for cooking Japanese food, Ibona said he relies on grilling; sharing it offers a great presentation to the food. “After all, this has been the simplest and most original way of cooking since the dawn of time,” he said. “To add to how heat maximizes the flavors of the dish, whether it’s a protein or a vegetable, it enhances the flavors and adds different forms of texture to the dish if cooked right. Take in mind the amount of heat used; unlike American barbecue, where they tend to overdo it, the Japanese way of doing things is more precise with minimum intensity. A philosophy that I like to go by is less is more.”

For people interested in trying their food, the representative recommends the bento box, the Tokyo box, or the Saitama box since they offer a little bit of everything. In the future, the cloud kitchen is looking forward to expanding their service across the United Arab Emirates.