OKKU
with 3 user reviews
Price: $$$$
This restaurant in Dubai has:
Live Music
Dubai foodies are already spoilt for choice when it comes to Japanese cuisine, with international super-chains like Nobu and Zuma dominating the city’s dining scene. Now Dubai has its own home-grown version – Okku at The Monarch – and this stylish newcomer does not disappoint.
Dining at Okku is a more intimate experience than some of its peers. The dark, funky interior is split in two by a fibre optic style wall that acts both as divider and light source. The bar, full of hot young things, sits on the upper level while the main dining area is downstairs. Music is a mixture of world beats and Latin lounge provided by a live DJ.
After the waitress guided us skillfully through the menu, we settled on a few appetizers to start off. As at Zuma, dishes arrive as they are prepared, so you know everything that reaches your table is freshly made.
First up was the Spicy Rock Shrimp. Always a personal favourite, it was surprisingly sweet, deliciously crunchy and had a little wasabi kick at the end. Next was the Aubergine Shigiyaki, glazed in a sweet miso sauce and boasting a generous portion of firm aubergine meat. Last to arrive was the ‘O-style’ Yellowtail Carpaccio, wafer-thin and beautifully presented, with a topping of spring onions and a dash of wasabi.
Although our eyes kept wondering over the page to the Black Cod, we decided to hold off and try a couple of the waitress’ recommendations first. The Sashimi Salad came loaded with tuna, salmon and hamachi, all fresh and full of dense flavour. The Scallop Ceviche ‘On The Shell’ was another highlight, a tasty combination of scallop, onions and avocado with a zesty sauce.
There’s one final question that every lover of contemporary Japanese cuisine will be asking – how does the Black Cod at Okku compare to Nobu and Zuma? The answer is – very well. Offering a citrusy variation on the traditional miso sauce, Okku’s interpretation tasted lighter yet still had that melt-in-your-mouth quality. Crispy on the outside but soft and flaky in the centre.
Fully sated, we skipped dessert and enjoyed one last drink at the bar to reflect on the meal. The friendly bar staff were happy to chat with us, reflecting the excellent service throughout.
With a nightclub vibe to complement its excellent food, Okku is a welcome addition to Dubai’s growing list of Japanese restaurants. The cozy atmosphere contrasts nicely to some of its peers in this city, and reminded both me and my dining companion of evenings out in New York. Okku seems destined to become a regular meeting spot for Dubai’s trendiest foodies.
jessica on October 16th, 2009
Wafic on February 25th, 2010
The waitstaff is efficient, polite and knowledgeable, which is extremely rare in Dubai.
The food is outstanding, far better than Zuma or Nobu, great place all in all.
jordana on April 9th, 2010
Okku is much smaller than Zuma and Nobu so its nice to dine in an intimate setting, a little dark with black walls and a black sushi counter. Altho I enjoyed the dishes i ordered I could not help to think that the menu was a copy of Nobu. It lacks originality and even though it is executed fairly well, the only difference i saw was that of the portions and quality of some of the ingredients. It will do well as a cheaper more intimate alternative to Nobu and Zuma but Nobu still stands out as the tops to me, having inspired all the other restaurants to take a copy out of Chef Nobu’s cookbooks.
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| Credit Cards Accepted: | Yes |
|---|---|
| Delivery: | No |
| Opening Times: | Lunch Dinner |
| Alcohol Served: | Yes |
I’ve been to okku a few times now. it has a great party vibe and, while the food is not quite on the same level as Zuma, the atmosphere is much better. Zuma often gets overcrowded and has too much of the “drinks-after-work”, whereas Okku is a younger crowd that are less likely to be bankers or lawyers and more likely to be in marketing or media. If it was the same price as Zuma I’d probably give it a 4-star rating, but as its a little cheaper I’ll go for a 5!