Mimi Kakushi opened at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach in 2022 — the Tashas Group's most ambitious Dubai project — and won TimeOut Dubai's Best Japanese Restaurant award in 2025. In 2026, it defended the title. That kind of consecutive editorial recognition is rare in Dubai's high-turnover dining scene; it usually means a kitchen has settled into a level that other restaurants chase rather than match.
We've eaten at Mimi five times since 2024. The verdict has remained consistent: it is, by a small but clear margin, the most reliable high-end Japanese restaurant in Dubai right now. Better than Nobu Dubai on consistency. Better than Zuma on the robata cooking. Different from FZN at Atlantis Royal — Mimi runs less avant-garde, more Japanese-classical.
Here is the full case for why.
The Setting: 1920s Osaka in Jumeirah
The Mimi Kakushi room is one of Dubai's most beautiful. Designed in homage to 1920s-1930s Osaka tea houses, the space layers dark woods, deep emerald green, hand-painted murals, vintage lampshades, and a central sake counter that anchors the entire dining room. The result is a room that feels older than its 2022 opening — it has the patina of a restaurant that has been there for a decade.
The dining room seats 140; the omakase counter seats 10. The terrace, beachfront-facing, is open from October to April and is the seat to ask for if you can. There is a discreet jazz programme — live trio Thursday through Saturday — that runs at the level of background atmosphere rather than performance, exactly the right call.
Service is the most precise on the Jumeirah strip. Pacing is genuinely Japanese (cold dishes first, hot follow, robata as the climax) and the senior team understands the menu deeply enough to recommend orders rather than just take them.
The Food: Why It Won, Twice
Mimi's menu is a Japanese-classical canon executed with discipline. Sushi, sashimi, robata, claypot rice, hot small plates, dessert. Where many Dubai Japanese restaurants try to outpace each other on theatrics or fusion, Mimi commits to traditional structure and lets the cooking carry the room. The robata section — wagyu, lamb cutlets, sea bass, mushrooms — is where the kitchen separates itself.
The Six Must-Orders
Black Cod Claypot, Saikyo Miso
The dish that defines Mimi's signature pulse. Sablefish marinated in saikyo miso for 60 hours, then finished in the claypot at the table — the rice underneath crisps from the heat, the fish flakes apart at the touch of chopsticks. The miso glaze is sweeter and more complex than Nobu's. This is the dish.
Wagyu Striploin, Robata
Australian wagyu striploin, salt-aged 14 days, grilled over binchotan, sliced and served with grilled lemon and yakiniku sauce on the side. The crust is one of the best wagyu crusts in Dubai. Better than Zuma's, better than Nobu's, full stop.
Spicy Salmon Dragon Roll
Six-piece dragon roll: spicy salmon centre, salmon and avocado on top, lightly torched, sweet eel sauce. Best sushi roll in Dubai right now. Order one between two.
Hamachi Yuzu Carpaccio
Thin slices of yellowtail in yuzu-citrus dressing with crispy garlic chip and fresh chili. Sharper than Nobu's New Style, more delicate than Zuma's tiradito. Mimi's quiet best dish.
Truffle Yaki Onigiri
Crispy grilled rice triangles brushed with soy and topped with fresh black truffle and microgreens. Three pieces — order two portions per table. The room's secret weapon.
Saturday Brunch
Saturdays 12:30–4pm. Set sushi platters at the table, hot dishes from the kitchen brought continuously, plus the wagyu and black cod from the dinner menu. AED 525pp with bottomless sake and wine. Books out 3 weeks ahead.
The Menu — What to Order, What to Skip
| Dish | Category | Price (AED) | Order? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Cod Claypot | Hot | 215 | SIGNATURE |
| Wagyu Striploin Robata | Robata | 285 | MUST |
| Spicy Salmon Dragon Roll | Sushi | 165 | MUST |
| Hamachi Yuzu Carpaccio | Cold | 175 | MUST |
| Truffle Yaki Onigiri (3) | Hot | 95 | ORDER 2 |
| Lamb Cutlets, Robata | Robata | 245 | Excellent |
| Sea Bass Salt-Crust | Hot | 225 | Excellent |
| Toro Tartare | Cold | 195 | Very good |
| Omakase (10 courses) | Set | 650pp | FOR FIRST-TIME |
| Saturday Brunch | Set | 525pp | BRUNCH |
| Sake Pairing (5) | Drinks | 245 | Worth it |
The Verdict
Mimi Kakushi defending its TimeOut title two years running is not a fluke. The kitchen runs with the discipline of a Tokyo restaurant that has been open thirty years; the sourcing is clean (uni from Hokkaido, wagyu from accredited Australian farms, fish from Tsukiji-supplier networks); the service team understands the menu in a way most Dubai dining rooms can't match.
Our Scorecard
Why It's Worth It
- Defended TimeOut Best Japanese 2026 title
- Robata cooking strongest in Jumeirah
- 1920s Osaka room — Dubai's most beautiful
- Service the most precise on the strip
- Sake program 80+ deep with sommelier
- Saturday brunch under-the-radar value
Things to Know
- Books 3 weeks for Fri/Sat dinner
- Pricing creeps quickly past AED 600pp
- Side dishes (edamame, miso) are fillers
- Acoustics get loud at full house
- Four Seasons valet often delayed at peak
- Lunch service less consistent than dinner
If you are hosting a special-occasion dinner with one Japanese restaurant pick this year, this is the pick. If you have eaten at Nobu Dubai and Zuma already and want to compare, the head-to-head order is Mimi black cod versus Nobu black cod — Mimi wins on the rice underneath. If you have never been, the Saturday brunch at AED 525pp is the cleanest entry point.
Compare against: Nobu Dubai remains the heritage choice with the better signature canon; Zuma Dubai is the more theatrical DIFC peer; Mimi edges them both on consistency.
How to Book / Get There
Mimi Kakushi uses SevenRooms; Four Seasons concierge available for VIP holds.
Friday/Saturday dinner: 3 weeks ahead. Cancellations open at 48 hours.
Thursday dinner: 14 days.
Weekday dinner: 7 days.
Saturday brunch: 3 weeks ahead.
Best tables to request: Booth 4, 6, or 8 (perimeter, view of central sake counter). Omakase counter for solo or two-people. Avoid central floor tables — they're loudest.
Parking: Four Seasons valet — complimentary for diners (4 hours).
Reserve a Table at Mimi Kakushi →
Your Questions Answered
Why did Mimi Kakushi win TimeOut Best Japanese 2026?
Consistency. The kitchen has held its standard for two consecutive years — the black cod claypot, wagyu robata, and dragon roll have been at the same level on every visit. TimeOut explicitly cited the menu's restraint and execution as the deciding factor.
How much does Mimi Kakushi cost?
Budget AED 400–700 per person. Two people sharing the must-orders with a sake pairing usually lands around AED 1,300–1,800. The omakase is AED 650pp; the Saturday brunch at AED 525pp is the cheapest full experience.
What should I order at Mimi Kakushi?
Black cod claypot (AED 215), wagyu striploin robata (AED 285), spicy salmon dragon roll (AED 165), hamachi yuzu carpaccio (AED 175), and truffle yaki onigiri (AED 95). For first-timers, the AED 650 omakase is the right introduction.
Is the Mimi Saturday brunch worth booking?
Yes — at AED 525pp with bottomless sake/wine and signature dishes from the dinner menu, it's the best-value entry point to the kitchen. Books 3 weeks ahead.
How does Mimi compare to Nobu and Zuma?
Mimi is more consistent than Nobu (where service has slipped on busy nights) and runs a stronger robata than Zuma. Nobu still has the better signature heritage (black cod miso 30 years older); Zuma has the better DIFC location for business; Mimi has the best room and most reliable kitchen.
What's the dress code?
Smart casual evolving to smart at dinner. No shorts, beachwear, sportswear after 6pm. Lunch slightly more relaxed.
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