Okku was known for its Japanese dishes, including freshly prepared sushi and sashimi. Photo: Okku
Okku was known for its Japanese dishes, including freshly prepared sushi and sashimi. Photo: Okku
Okku was known for its Japanese dishes, including freshly prepared sushi and sashimi. Photo: Okku
Okku was known for its Japanese dishes, including freshly prepared sushi and sashimi. Photo: Okku

Lifestyle

Food

Okku, Dubai's home-grown Japanese restaurant, set to return

The original at The H Dubai closed in 2018. Now, it is preparing to reopen on The Palm this year

Farah Andrews
Farah Andrews

January 17, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Okku is coming back to Dubai.

The popular Japanese restaurant closed its doors at The H Dubai hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road in 2018, but is set to reopen in the first half of the year.

Ramzy Abdul-Majeed, the restauranteur behind Okku and Claw BBQ, announced the restaurant is hiring on LinkedIn. Speaking to The National, he confirmed the restaurant is opening on The Palm Jumeirah, with no more specifics about the location.

Describing it as "Okku 2.0", he says it will be coming back to deliver a "spectacular dining experience" for customers, with the "same great vibe" it had before closing in 2018.

The advert mentions Okku is looking for managers, supervisors, bartenders, waiters, chefs, receptionists and hosts, as well as members of the guest relations team.

Okku was open at The H Dubai from 2009 to 2018. Photo: Okku
Okku was open at The H Dubai from 2009 to 2018. Photo: Okku

"Do you have what it takes and want to be part of this incredible team and journey ahead?" the LinkedIn post reads.

Okku was known as a popular home-grown Japanese restaurant, which had a lively atmosphere and served reliably good sushi and robata dishes.

There is no word, yet, whether the jellyfish-filled aquarium wall will be making a comeback, or if we'll see old favourites return to the menu, including the popular O-style ginger salmon sashimi, yuzu-saikyo miso black cod or the O-style dynamite kani, which was two whole baked king crab legs with a spicy mayonnaise dressing. For carnivores, the past menu featured a number of steak dishes, including a rib-eye robata and Wagyu Himalayan shioyaki, cooked on a salt stone with a garlic, soy and ponzu sauce.

The original Dubai restaurant launched in 2009 and a regional outpost opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2018.

Three restaurants, one venue — say hello to JLT's new dining hub The Park

  • The Park is a new three-in-one dining destination opening in JLT, Dubai. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The Park is a new three-in-one dining destination opening in JLT, Dubai. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The venue is surrounded by greenery and open spaces
    The venue is surrounded by greenery and open spaces
  • The Park will houses Splendour Fields, Hawkerboi and Franky in Florence
    The Park will houses Splendour Fields, Hawkerboi and Franky in Florence
  • Splendour Fields, on the ground floor, was the first of the three eateries to open
    Splendour Fields, on the ground floor, was the first of the three eateries to open
  • A chia bowl at Splendour Fields
    A chia bowl at Splendour Fields
  • Splendour Fields has an outdoor terrace with a sandwich and juice station
    Splendour Fields has an outdoor terrace with a sandwich and juice station
  • The terrace overlooks the JLT park after which the venue is named
    The terrace overlooks the JLT park after which the venue is named
  • Supper club Hawkerboi has opened a permanent restaurant on the first floor
    Supper club Hawkerboi has opened a permanent restaurant on the first floor
  • The interiors of Splendour Fields have been created to instill a feeling of tranquility and joy
    The interiors of Splendour Fields have been created to instill a feeling of tranquility and joy
  • The open-air interiors of Slendour Fields
    The open-air interiors of Slendour Fields
  • EATX founder Tom Arnel commissioned two artworks by Sarah Black, inspired by the Australian Outback
    EATX founder Tom Arnel commissioned two artworks by Sarah Black, inspired by the Australian Outback
  • Acacado on toast with marinated tomatoes at Splendour Fields
    Acacado on toast with marinated tomatoes at Splendour Fields
  • Scrambled egg on toast at Splendour Fields
    Scrambled egg on toast at Splendour Fields
  • Franky in Florence will open on the rooftop of The Park
    Franky in Florence will open on the rooftop of The Park
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