Kata is an award-winning homegrown restaurant that brings contemporary Japanese cuisine to Dubai. It is located right at the Waterfront Promenade in Dubai Mall, treating guests to spectacular views of the iconic Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain.
Offering a day-to-night concept and delivering a world-class dining experience, Kata is a multicoloured splash of impressive Japanese design. One of the walls features a large mural of a geisha, hand-painted by renowned graffiti artist Wong Ting Fung, better known as TF.
The eye-catching mural evokes a mix of over-the-top graphics and the refined retro style of the 1970s and is based on a punk rock aesthetic.
Plush velvet seating, accents of red and a lively sushi bar complete the indoor section, while the USP of the outdoor terrace seating is the brilliant front-row views of Dubai’s famous, 902 foot long sky-rocketing fountain.
The menu of this hip, homegrown spot has been curated by award-winning chef Marwan Sardouk, who has trained under maestros like Alain Ducasse and Heinz Beck.
Sardouk’s bold creations are brought to life in the kitchen by executive chef Ricardo Bojador and draw inspiration from many of the Japanese sushi and izakaya classics, all centred around premium ingredients, with only the best and freshest making the cut (subject to change due to seasonality and product).
Highlights include salmon tacos with wasabi aioli, baked Chilean seabass and wagyu gyoza served with spicy ponzu and butternut purée. Meanwhile, a truffle wagyu tartar remains one of Kata’s most popular dishes, along with crispy wagyu short-ribs and chicken katsu sando.
The vast sushi selection includes specials like the Dancing Fountain – made of fried hamachi and drizzled with unagi sauce – and Burj Khalifa, a towering portion of salmon, potato and avocado, served with typical Kata theatrical flair.
Guests have access to an impressive Business Lunch offer at only AED88, serve daily between 11am and 3pm. Showcasing a three-course meal, the lunch offering redefines quick dining with a touch of Kata sophistication.
Created by Sardouk, guests can choose from an array of options spanning seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes, including Scottish salmon tataki, chicken katsu curry, and the star of the menu, the deliciously nose-tingling mushroom truffle rice pot.
Part of the AMAI Gourmet Restaurants Group from businessman Moklasur Pinto, Kata opened in November 2022, shortly followed by Slaw in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in May 2023. With a passion for food and travel, Pinto operates businesses across automotive, textiles, luxury furniture, and technology. From his hospitality portfolio, AMAI is set to expand rapidly in the coming months, targeting Dubai, Dhaka, and other international locations.
Kata are scheduled to open second venue in Jumeirah early in 2025.
Waterfront Promenade, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, www.kata.ae (04 273 3800)