The Time Out Dubai Award-Winning Japanese Restaurant Brings Its Original Neighbourhood Spirit to a Sprawling Outdoor Downtown Setting
Fujiya Downtown is the second location of one of Dubai’s most respected and consistently authentic Japanese restaurant brands, opened in June 2021 at the Swissotel Al Murooj on Al Mustaqbal Street in Downtown Dubai, directly opposite Dubai Mall. The brand was founded by former professional sumo wrestler Akio Hayakawa, who built Fujiya’s original location at the Millennium Airport Hotel in Al Garhoud in 2018 with a single-minded commitment to providing the most authentic, affordable, and genuinely fun Japanese izakaya experience in the UAE, and has since won the Time Out Dubai Award for his efforts.
The Downtown branch takes the same soul and philosophy and expands it into a significantly larger space, with extensive outdoor seating in a resort-like setting that is one of the most generous outdoor dining footprints of any Japanese restaurant in the city, making it an especially popular destination in the cooler months between October and April. Highly rated across Google, TripAdvisor, and Zomato, it is widely praised for the quality of its ingredients, the warmth of its team, and its strong value positioning relative to comparable restaurants in the Downtown area.
Restaurant Features and Dining Experience
The interior of Fujiya Downtown is warm and cosy, decorated with traditional Japanese design elements, warm lighting, and an atmosphere that guests consistently describe as reminiscent of a neighbourhood izakaya in Tokyo or Osaka rather than a hotel restaurant in Downtown Dubai. The outdoor seating area, the star feature of the Downtown branch, extends across a broad resort-like garden setting with table-top grill stations that allow guests to cook at their table, and provides a genuinely relaxed and sociable dining experience that adapts well to both casual evenings with friends and larger group celebrations.
The restaurant has a smart casual dress code, is halal, offers wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking, and restrooms, and provides free Wi-Fi throughout. A private room is available for group and corporate bookings. Bar, cocktail, and wine service is available, and outdoor smoking areas are provided. Delivery is also offered for guests who prefer to enjoy Fujiya’s cuisine at home.
The menu is the most comprehensive and broad of any Fujiya branch, with all the brand’s signature offerings available alongside additional options introduced specifically for the Downtown setting. The Yakiniku Unlimited BBQ is the headline experience, an all-you-can-eat Japanese BBQ format where guests grill a variety of premium cuts of fresh, well-marinated meats at their table on built-in grill stations, accompanied by a selection of side dishes, ramen soup, and dipping sauces.
Wagyu BBQ and a Wagyu Shabu Shabu hotpot buffet are among the most popular choices, with the interactive cooking format making them a favourite for groups and special occasions. Sushi, sashimi, and nigiri are prepared fresh and cover both traditional and contemporary Japanese approaches. Tataki, tempura, yakitori skewers, karaage chicken, katsu sando, ramen, and a broad Japanese tapas selection round out the main menu categories, all using high-quality ingredients imported directly from Japan to maintain the level of authenticity the brand has built its reputation around.
The Chicken Karaage is repeatedly singled out by guests for its crispy exterior and juicy interior, the sushi salad rolls are praised for freshness and seasoning, and the shabu shabu hotpot is described by regulars as a genuine highlight, particularly for group visits in the cooler months. The beverage programme covers rare sake, yuzu and shiso-based drinks, Japanese beers, cocktails, wines, and non-alcoholic options designed to complement the umami-driven food. A weekend brunch is also available, described by the brand as a unique Japanese brunch experience guaranteed to create lasting memories.
Fujiya Downtown is open daily from noon to 1am. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for dinner from 7pm to 10pm on weekdays and all-day on weekends, as the restaurant fills up quickly and is often fully booked. Burj Khalifa is a short walk away, Dubai Mall is directly opposite and accessible in under 5 minutes on foot, Dubai Fountain is within a 5-minute walk, Souk Al Bahar is nearby, and Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall Metro Station on the Red Line is approximately a 15-minute walk or a very short taxi ride. DIFC is approximately 10 minutes by car and Dubai International Airport is around 20 minutes away.
Address: Fujiya Downtown, Swissotel Al Murooj, Al Mustaqbal Street, Opposite Dubai Mall, Trade Centre, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +971 4 547 7171
WhatsApp: +971 54 508 6609
Email: downtown@fujiya.ae
Website: fujiya.ae/downtown-dubai
Opening Hours: Daily, 12pm to 1am
Average Cost for Two: AED 200 to AED 400
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