TakaHisa, the illustrious sanctuary, included in 2023 in Michelin Guide, beckons you into a realm of unparalleled Japanese culinary artistry. Here, the air is thick with anticipation as you embark on a sensory journey, where each bite of authentic premium sushi and the world’s most exquisite Wagyu beef is a symphony of flavors crafted by the hands of Japan’s most masterful chefs.
Each dish is a masterpiece, meticulously prepared with an unwavering dedication to ensuring every guest’s experience is nothing short of extraordinary.
TakaHisa, a Japanese restaurant, holds the distinction of being the only establishment in the world to receive two chef’s hats from the esteemed French culinary guide, Gault & Millau, in the UAE 2023 edition.
The restaurant, nestled within the Banyan Tree Hotel on Bluewaters Island, offers a versatile dining experience suitable for various occasions, from business meetings to intimate dinners with family and friends. Its exquisite interior, impeccable service, and innovative fusion of traditional Japanese cuisine with modern trends create an unforgettable dining atmosphere.
The kitchen is led by sushi master Takashi Namekata and wagyu master Hisao Ueda, who have broken away from traditional canons, offering a fresh perspective on traditional Japanese dishes. Their creative duo is one of the most intriguing and ambitious on the Dubai culinary scene.
Chef Takashi, a member of the renowned Tokyo Ukai Group, had been selected for the prestigious Michelin Guide Tokyo for an impressive seven consecutive years. In 2015, he embarked on a new culinary journey by taking over the kitchen at TOMO restaurant in Dubai. As a Sushi Master, Chef Takashi takes great pride in meticulously selecting the finest fish from Toyosu Market, ensuring that his restaurant offers authentic and delectable sushi.
Hisao, a native of Hokkaido, Japan, a renowned region for its abundant seafood, produce, and meat, honed his culinary skills before relocating to Dubai in 2011. Prior to his move, he worked as a chef at the esteemed Japanese restaurant Kaiseki in Hokkaido. With experience as a chef at several award-winning authentic Japanese restaurants, he opened Kohantei Japanese Wagyu beef restaurant in 2017 as an Executive Chef.
Together, they have crafted a unique omakase menu that features only the finest ingredients. This includes seafood sourced from Japan’s Toyosu Fish Market, Kobe A5 beef with the highest 12-point marbling scale, and rare fish such as bluefin tuna from renowned broker Yamayuki and conger eel, which is flown to Dubai weekly from Toyosu auctions.
The menu, we selected is an exquisite symphony of flavors, where every ingredient is a virtuoso, meticulously chosen to orchestrate a culinary masterpiece for each guest.
As a wine accompaniment, you have the option of choosing between two different ones: classic and premium. In our case, we had a mix of both.
STEAMED HAIRY CRAB
Steamed Hairy Crab from Hokkaido with vinegar sauce
Wine suggestion: Dom Pérignon, Brut, Vintage 2015, Champagne, France
OZAKI BEEF SHABU SHABU
Lightly boiled Ozaki Beef with ponzu sauce
OZAKI BEEF CARPACCIO
Thinly sliced fresh Ozaki Beef served with caviar
Wine suggestion: Leon Beyer, Riesling R de BeyeR, 2013, Alsace Grand Cru ‘Eichberg’, France
AWABI KIMO SAUCE
Steamed Japanese abalone with Chef’s special sauce
Wine suggestion: Blandy’s, 20 Years Old Malmsey, Madeira, Portugal
OZAKI BEEF STEW
Ozaki Beef Stew thoroughly simmered for 18 hours
OZAKI BEEF KATSU SANDO
Ozaki beef sirloin cutlet with Japanese milk bread
Wine suggestion: Gaja Barbaresco, 2020, Barbaresco, Italy
As the chefs say, “Our commitment to the highest quality ingredients begins with the legendary Toyosu Fish Market, officially known as the Tsukiji Wholesale Market. This is the largest fish market in the world and offers the finest seafood. Our restaurant’s motto is “Always Freshly Prepared.” We have the ability to directly import the best fish and seafood to Dubai three to four times a week, ensuring that we always create “inspiring” dishes. We also provide exceptional Japanese Kobe beef of the highest quality, the most exquisite beef in the world. We take pride in our commitment to the best quality and offer our guests rare Wagyu beef of A5 grade with a marbling scale of 12, purchased from the best supplier in Japan. This makes us one of the few fine dining restaurants in Dubai to offer this quality of meat.”
BONITO AND AN-KIMO
Bonito tataki with wasabi and fresh monkfish liver simmered with soy sauce
JIKASEI TOFU
Homemade tofu with kuruma shrimp, sea urchin and scallops topped with seaweed starchy sauce
Wine suggestion: Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Au Bout du Monde, 2021, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune
SUSHI OMAKASE
Chef’s selection of sushi
TAMAGO SANDO
Japanese style soft egg omelet sandwich
Wine suggestion: DASSAI Beyond Sake
CHEF’S SPECIALITY
We had two different bestsellers from the À la carte menu available.
Sea Jewelry — Sea urchin mixed with sushi rice, surrounded by salmon roe and topped with chopped bluefin tuna and caviar.
Japanese Crab Risotto — Risotto with Japanese crab, prepared in Japanese style
Wine suggestion: Domaine du Bouchot, Caillottes, 2022, Pouilly-Fumé, France
As the evening draws to a close, you’ll be delighted to receive a special dessert, a surprise from the chefs, prepared using the day’s carefully selected ingredients.
After dinner, you’ll be greeted at the terrace to enjoy signature cocktails, shisha, or other spirits that suit your taste.
We tried Geisha Martini (Lemon Grass infused Roku Gin with Cointreau, Reduced Cranberry Juice, Lemon Juice) and Crystal Lychee (El Jimador, St-Germain Liqueur, Sherry Fino, Lychee Fruit, Dragon Fruit, Lime, Edible Flower)
Menu TakaHisa — 2500 AED
TakaHisa
Address: Banyan Tree Dubai, First Floor,
Dubai, UAE
Opening hours: 12.00 – 02.00
Instagram: @takahisa_dubai
Text: Marina Timo
Photo courtesy: EATWEEKGUIDE
