Dubai’s best kept Japanese Secret; an intimate speakeasy restaurant inside Emirates Towers at Sheikh Zayed Road
Some of the city’s finest dining experiences are the ones people can almost walk straight past and Gohan is exactly that one. Located inside the Emirates Towers, tucked behind an unassuming door between the wine fridges, this intimate Japanese speakeasy seats just 50 guests at a time and the kind of word-of-mouth reputation it has quietly earned since opening speaks louder than any signage could. Brought to life by the RIKAS Hospitality Group, under chef Gilles Bosquet, Gohan takes its name from the Japanese word for “meal of any sort,” a term rooted in humility and warmth that perfectly captures the spirit of the place.
The food concept is described as elegant street food, built around a deliberately refined menu of skewers, sushi, and gyoza, with the highest quality ingredients throughout and a willingness to push boundaries with premium additions like foie gras, wagyu, and caviar woven into the mix. Cold dishes span sliced hamachi with shiso pesto and salmon tartare, while warm skewers include octopus with spicy ginger butter, avocado, and beef with cheese. Hot dishes go further, with barbecue lamb short ribs finished in togarashi and Chilean sea bass in Japanese curry sauce among the standouts praised by guests and critics alike. The interiors were designed by London-based Studio Pirajean Lees, draped in deep red tones with Asian art details, dimly lit, and intimate enough to feel like a discovery every single time.
A rating of 4.8 out of 5 is held on TripAdvisor, and the venue has been praised by Time Out Dubai as a hidden gem worth seeking out. The venue is specially popular for date nights and after-work dinners with friends, and a rotating weekly programme keeps regulars coming back. Sushi Matsuri takes place every Tuesday from 6:00 pm to midnight, with unlimited Maki and Nigiri, two sides, and two beverages for AED 290 per person, set to a live DJ playing R&B and hip hop. Maki and Margi Mondays offer any Maki roll paired with a margarita from AED 80, available every Monday from 6:00 pm. Tsuki Brunch runs every Saturday from 6:00 pm to midnight as a two-hour set menu experience with unlimited drinks, with packages starting from AED 290 for non-alcoholic, AED 390 for prosecco and house wine, and AED 460 for the premium cocktail package. Private events are also hosted for up to 50 seated or 80 standing guests, with live DJ entertainment and three unique sharing menus available.
Reservation Details:
- The Restaurant is open daily with Lunch, Monday to Friday, 12:00 pm– 4:00 pm, Dinner: Monday to Friday and Sunday, 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM & Saturday, 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM
- Though there is no proper dress code yet smart and elegant can be a good option. Open shoes, shorts, beachwear, sportswear, and flip flops are not permitted for men.
- Age Policy: 21+ from 10:00 PM onwards on Fridays and Saturdays with valid ID.
- Contact: +971 4 352 7105.
- WhatsApp: +971 50 816 0155
- Location: Emirates Towers Hotel Entrance, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, 1st Floor Sheikh Zayed Road, UAE
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