25 of the best Japanese restaurants to book in Riyadh
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Can’t get enough of Japanese food? From favourites, like Myazu, Nozomi and ROKA, to intimate and relaxed hidden gems, like Finding Sushi and Kokoro, Riyadh’s roster of great Japanese restaurants is waiting to be explored. Here’s our pick of the very best.
Benihana
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Dining here is a visual feast. Decked in warm and inviting earthen tones, Benihana offers an eclectic menu of traditional Japanese cuisine, including a wonderful array of grilled steaks, fresh sashimi, delicately handcrafted maki rolls, noodles and much more. Japanese food lovers get the best of both worlds at Benihana, which houses both teppanyaki and sushi stations. You can watch the mouth-watering food being flipped in the air by the chefs before it lands on your plate. The chefs entertain you thoroughly, so you have the best combination: an exciting show and a plate full of great food to boot, too.
Location: Benihana, Northern Ring Rd, Riyadh 12477
Timings: Daily 12.30pm to 1am
Chotto Matte
The menu here is as eclectic as it is exciting. It brings together the rich heritage of Japan and the spirit of Peru. All dishes – created by Group Executive Chef Jordan Sclare – are artfully curated, combining Japanese and Peruvian flavours and culinary techniques, blending tradition with innovation on every plate. Expect ceviche, tiradito, anticucho BBQ, and sushi all on the menu. Signature items include the pollo den miso (chicken marinated in miso paste), sato maki sushi (yellowtail and salmon with red pepper lime soy, flamed at the table), black cod aji miso (cod with a chilli-miso and yuzu marinade), and cordero Nikkei (lamb anticucho with pear and yellow tomato salsa).
Location: Chotto Matte Riyadh, KAFD, Al Aqiq, 7229 Innovation Blvd, 3004, Riyadh 13519
Contact: Reservations can be made here / @chottomatteruh
Finding Sushi
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Who doesn’t love sushi? This hidden gem in Riyadh has plenty of great dishes to try, but our favourite at Finding Sushi has got to be their beetroot maki sushi, California roll and mixed tempura. Whatever you order, be sure to wash it down with the ice, cold Asahi (non-alcoholic) beer.
Location: Finding Sushi, Prince Talal Road, 7032 Al Fakhiriyyah, Riyadh 12737
Timings: Daily 5pm to 3am
Gold Sushi Club
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Tucked away at Rubeen Plaza, this cosy joint has created the ultimate ode to Japanese culture. Life-size samurai warriors, decorative sake barrels, and colourful murals usher you into a dingy-in-a-good-way izakaya that feels like it’s straight out of a Tokyo back alley. The shtick here is Japanese soul food – big, unabashedly fusion flavours – with highlights including lobster taco, yakisoba, and crunchy fried roll with eel, shrimp tempura, mango, raspberry and cheddar cheese.
Location: Gold Sushi Club, Rubeen Plaza, 4228 Northern Ring Branch Rd, Hitteen District, Riyadh 13512
Timings: Daily 1pm to 1am
Kayzo by Myazu
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If you haven’t heard, this beloved Japanese restaurant gets a glow-up in an elevated ambience. Located in the former space of Billionaire Restaurant, the new Kayzo is truly a sight to behold. Despite the high ceilings, large windows, and polished floors, which would otherwise be right at home in a formal restaurant, the vibe here is friendly and relaxed. Its food exudes a quiet confidence and restrained elegance, making the menu affordable considering the quality on offer.
Location: Kayzo, 2752 Prince Musaid bin Abdulaziz bin Jalawi Street, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12234
Timings: Sat to Wed 1pm to midnight, Thurs & Fri 1pm to 1am
Ki
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It is said that some of the best meals are the ones that go unrecorded. At Ki in Hittin, the dim lighting isn’t an accident, but it’s part of its appeal. Take a seat, and you’ll be provided with a small locker on your table where you are meant to keep your phone for the duration of your meal. Ki wants dinner to be about the simple joy of eating. Fresh sushi, sashimi, and nigiri, as well as a fusion of contemporary cuisine with items like Tom Yum soup and tuna pizza (tuna slices over thin-crust pizza dough with special sauce) are on offer here.
Location: Ki, 7500 Prince Turki Bin Abdulaziz Al Awal Rd
Timings: Daily 4pm to midnight
Kimono
This chain should be your go-to restaurant in Riyadh for a taste of its no-frills menu. Go for the poke bowls topped with shrimp, salmon, or even spicy tuna. Or get rolls stuffed with chicken katsu or hammour tempura to share. Plus, everything’s pretty wallet-friendly, which we love.
Locations: Kimono, various locations, including Riyadh Front & One Square, King Abdulaziz Rd, Ar Rabi, Riyadh 13315
Timings: Daily 6pm to 3am
Kintan
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Kintan has a real do-it-yourself feel. Each table has a built-in grill, so diners can cook their choice of meat and vegetables to their desired preference, yakiniku-style. There is something charming about the participatory nature of this style of dining – it’s perfect for a first date. Grilling your own meat also reveals the quality of the ingredients; it’s quintessentially Japanese, letting the flavours reveal themselves with minimal intervention.
Location: Kintan, 3747 Wadi As Sarh, Al Wadi, Riyadh 13313
Timings: Sat to Wed noon to midnight, Thurs & Fri noon to 12.30am
Koi
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In a beautifully designed setting overlooking an outdoor water feature, the menu at Koi features Japanese cuisine fused with some Peruvian-inspired flavours thrown in. Expect the likes of sushi, robata and teppanyaki items. And if you adore sashimi, you’ll be pleased to know that they’re thickly sliced and uber fresh here. Plus, Koi serves up some pretty attractive promotions that’ll make you come back again and again, such as its sushi happy hour with all-you-can-eat sushi rolls for SAR120. It’s one of our top picks when we need a full-on feast.
Location: Koi, Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention, Wadi Al Muaydin, Unit 4, Imam Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz Road, Riyadh 12382
Timings: Sun to Thurs 12.30pm to 3.30pm & 5pm to midnight & Fri 5pm to midnight
Contact: 055 167 0703 / @koiriyadh
Kokoro
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If you love Japanese curry, you’re going to love Kokoro. It’s an almost hole-in-the-wall spot free of frills and fuss and full of the casual, inviting warmth one usually finds at a space like this.
Location: Kokoro, Al Yasmin, Riyadh 13325
Timings: Thurs & Fri 4pm to 1am, Sat to Wed 4pm to midnight
Kuuru
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A staple in the Jeddah dining scene, Kuuru is a Nikkei restaurant that is an ode to Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. Look forward to a unique Nikkei bar where you can catch the chefs in action producing inventive nigiri, hand-rolls, ceviche and more. You’ll also find popular menu items like chicken panca truffle, black cod criollo and tiger shrimp anticuchero.
Location: Kuuru Riyadh, KAFD, 3.05, Al Aqiq, Riyadh 13519
Timings: Sat to Wed noon to 11.30pm, Thurs & Fri noon to 12.30am
Myazu
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Myazu is well-loved not just for its creative and refined Japanese cuisine, but for its undeniable atmosphere. The restaurant boasts an open kitchen that houses a robata grill and sushi counter with wrap-around counter seating. A compelling feature is Myazu Arts, which features a mocktail bar and DJ counter and acts as an intimate area for high-profile guests and private gatherings. Among the restaurant’s best-seller dishes are marinated yellowtail sashimi, popcorn shrimp with spicy sauce, and crispy sushi rice with salmon and tuna tartare.
Location: Myazu, Musad Bin Jalawi, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12244
Timings: Sat to Wed 1pm to midnight Thurs & Fri 1pm to 1am
Nozomi
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One of Riyadh’s most exciting new openings for 2023, Nozomi returns to the capital with an excellent pedigree. Setting up shop at the Century Corner complex, get ready to be whisked away for an exquisite dining experience at this opulent restaurant. Here, Japanese classics are made with finesse, like lobster croquette and signature dishes, including Nozomi gold-seared salmon roll with truffle cream and baked miso-marinated black cod. Set over two floors, the atmosphere is buzzy, and the mocktails are also delectable. A delicious blend of the authentic and the innovative.
Location: Nozomi, 7448 King Fahd Rd, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12331
Timings: Daily 9pm to 2.30am
Robata
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Set across two floors, swish spot Robata has a similar look to its older sibling Myazu: minimalist and elegant, with lots of oak, timbers and tan leathers. It may be a low-key setting, but the food is anything but, thanks to an impressive menu that serves up everything you’d expect from a Japanese restaurant of this calibre.
Location: Robata, The Canopy, Hittin, Riyadh 13512
Timings: Sat to Wed 1pm to midnight, Thurs & Fri 1pm to 1am
ROKA
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Fire up your senses at ROKA, a trendy restaurant serving contemporary Japanese robatayaki cuisine. The highlight of the menu: yellowtail sashimi splashed with yuzu-truffle dressing, crispy baked potato, miso black cod, and juicy Korean lamb cutlets. Don’t miss the robata-grilled delicacies, too – best enjoyed at the counter seats. But, during winter, if you prefer alfresco dining, park yourself on the beautiful terrace upstairs.
Location: ROKA, 5140 Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12243
Timings: Daily 6pm to 1am
Shiro
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This restaurant offers up a carefully curated menu that showcases a true flair for modern Japanese food. Guests can expect both small plates and larger sharing dishes .
Location: Shiro, District Central Province, 3634 Anas Ibn Malik Rd, Al Malqa, Riyadh 13524
Timings: Daily 12.30pm to 1.30am
Sumosan
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If you want to impress your business counterparts, the beautiful contemporary Japanese restaurant Sumosan is the place to be. Designed by Bishop Design by Paul Bishop, the space is sleek and ultra-modern with warm and earthy accents, complemented by wooden panelling and statement chandeliers. The menu is centred around high-quality sushi, sashimi, and innovative Japanese cuisine. So come hungry – the thinly sliced sashimi served with a touch of citrus dressing, tuna and truffle rolls, and salmon rice pizza are some of the must-order dishes. It’s an expertly curated feast for the eyes and palate alike.
Location: Sumosan, Laysen Valley, Umm Al Hamam Al Gharbi, Building 25, Riyadh 12329
Timings: Daily 6pm to 2am
Sushi Art
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At Sushi Art, sushi is the name of the game. The options here are jaw-dropping as well, with over 30 types of sushi to choose from. Of course, there are also rice bowls, grilled meat and seafood, and tempura available to diners. Order the platter if you can’t decide, and you’ll get your sushi fix with an array of tuna, salmon, and shrimp options.
Location: Sushi Art, 7750 King Abdulaziz Rd, Ar Rabi, Riyadh 13316
Timings: Daily 11am to midnight
Sushi Library
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This brightly lit family-friendly casual restaurant specialises in a wide array of Japanese fusion dishes made with fresh, quality ingredients, available at price points that don’t break the bank. They have various menu items, from appetisers and hearty ramen to special sushi rolls and bentos, but a meal here isn’t complete without some sashimi.
Locations: Sushi Library, various locations, including Al Nakheel Mall & The View Mall
SushiSamba
Since its launch last August, SUSHISAMBA Riyadh has maintained the buzz of its opening and remains a hard reservation to nab, week in and week out. That’s partly due to the inventive and diverse menu, which is made up of Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian flavours. Really, though, SUSHISAMBA’s popularity is owed to the buzzy atmosphere where, on any given night, everyone in the room feels like they are loosening up.
Location: SUSHISAMBA Riyadh, KAFD
Timings: Sat to Wed 12.30pm to midnight, Thurs & Fri 12.30pm to 1am. Business lunch is available from Sun to Thurs 12.30pm to 4.30pm.
Contact: 011 269 5347 / @sushisamba.riyadh
Tokyo
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Tokyo, known as the first Japanese restaurant in Saudi Arabia, set the stage for a deft showcase of Japanese cuisine tastefully balanced with contemporary touches. Enjoy its signature beef teppanyaki, chicken katsu curry, ramen, and its array of sushi. The restaurant is spacious, with plenty of blond wood, and the prices are easy on the wallet.
Location: Tokyo, Al Urubah Rd, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12245
Timings: Daily 6pm to 2am
Wakame
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Set over two floors, Wakame occupies a tall open space, where wood panelling, low lighting and upholstered chairs all contribute to a cosy atmosphere. Menu wise, the restaurant’s selection, from gyoza to picture-perfect karaage and robatayaki, has enough going for it that you really will have to become a regular if you ever want to try it all. Which we’d highly recommend doing. Coupled with its reasonable prices – which are all the more remarkable given this is Riyadh, Wakame has scored the winning formula of being a feel good Japanese place.
Location: Wakame Riyadh, Luxury Plaza, 6850 Olaya Street, Riyadh 13325
Timings: Daily noon to midnight
Contact: 9200 05036 / @wakameksa
White Robata
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Found within Laysen Valley is White Robata, a Japanese concept from Kuwait, inspired by international flavours. With a sprawling open-plan kitchen, diners enjoy the spectacle of skilled chefs combining traditional techniques with unexpected ingredients to create inventive signatures. As its name suggests, the menu is centred around robatayaki – dishes cooked over fire. You’ll find all the contemporary Japanese staples here, with a unique spin, of course. These include a six-hour braised short rib finished on the grill with a maple glaze, spicy tuna wonton taco and the truffle hamachi crispy rice with tobiko roe and ponzu. Read our review here.
Location: White Robata, Laysen Valley, 2252 Al Urubah Branch Rd, Umm Al Hamam Al Gharbi, Riyadh
Timings: Sun to Wed 6pm to 12.30am, Thu to Sat 1pm to 1.30am
Yokari
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For those seeking gourmet-style Japanese cuisine, Yokari is the place to be. With its stylish minimalist interior and devoted chefs, this upscale restaurant has much to offer. Boasting a menu with fresh sushi, authentically prepared robatayaki fare, and more, each dish is beautifully presented and prepared with technical precision. This Japanese wonderland is ideal for just about any occasion.
Location: Yokari, Centria Mall, Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12241
Timings: Daily 1pm to midnight
Zuma
The two-floor Zuma Riyadh is all sleek and sophisticated, oozing the same modern Izakaya cool that you’ll find in Zuma restaurants around the world. Guests are welcomed into the ground floor restaurant, where you’ll find interactive sushi and robata counters. Then you’re invited to dine in the vibrant restaurant, one of three private dining rooms, and enjoy sips at the sophisticated bar or signature lounge. As is customary of Zuma venues, music plays a big part – and as such the DJ counter is the place to see and be seen for a high-octane evening of enjoying the beats.
Location: Zuma Riyadh, 2.09 King Abdullah Financial District, Metro Blvd, Al Aqiq
Timings: Daily 12.30pm to 1am
Contact: 9200 14597 / @zumariyadhofficial
Images: Social / Supplied
