Shams El -Mutwalli Dubai

Introducing Goldfish, a new UAE-based, sushi and yakitori restaurant that values quality food, service, and ambiance.

Akmal Anuar is the chef at Goldfish and has concocted a diverse menu including a selection of sushi, noodles, sliders and a range of starters, informed by his extensive travels to Japan.

Goldfish, was founded on a set of fundamental values which include serving food with clean flavours, offering service to customers in a non-intrusive manner, and constructing a setting that is minimalistic.

Chef Anuar is responsible for balancing operations in the kitchen as well as outside it to ensure “perfect harmony,” says Director of Marketing, Sara Stosic. 

The restaurant is the by-product of a partnership between Sunset Hospitality Group and White Rice consultancy,

Sunset Hospitality has acquired a reputation for their leading hospitality concepts that have resulted in the birth of a number of successful restaurants including: Skypool, Cloud Restaurant & Lounge, Lola – Taberna Espanola, Black Tap, Drift, Azure and Mood.

Goldfish is still exploring, testing out various options and working towards augmenting to their existing selection.

Some of the options on their menu include their spicy noodles, made with either prawns or chicken, their wagyu sliders, and their yakitori—translates to mean yaki – grill/ charcoal, tori – chicken.

“We are newly opened, and we are still finding our signatures. Every item moves well and have been received with great compliments. Soon we will introduce new items and seasonal produce,” Stosic told Arab News Japan

Goldfish have reworked the sushi eating experience by serving rolls with rice and seafood that are already seasoned with soy sauce, straying away from the tradition of dipping sushi in the sauce.

Chef Anuar spoke to Arab News Japan about the inspiration behind the newly opened restaurant’s name, sharing how “the name sticks in your head and so simple to say. Gold always relates to value and in this region Gold represents itself well. It reflects our quality and weight. In Asia Goldfish means luck in a way too. It is a very delicate fish that needs attention and care. SO that’s Goldfish!”

Goldfish’s food, concept and overall ambiance have attracted customers from a diverse demographic and has resulted in overwhelming support from Dubai’s food scene.

This support comes at a time when the success of new businesses wanes amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and members of the Goldfish team are continually showing gratitude by trying to give back to the community.

Goldfish is open daily from 12pm-midnight at Galleria Mall on Al Wasl Road, the restaurant serves walk in customers, and they do not take reservations. @goldfishubai