Review: SushiSamba in Dubai wows with sky-high views and multifaceted menu


Selina Denman
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More than 20 years after making its debut in New York, SushiSamba has launched a Dubai branch on Palm Jumeirah.

Breathtaking views, courtesy of the restaurant's location on the 51st floor of The St Regis Dubai, The Palm combined with a multifaceted menu that blends Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian influences, are already making it a firm favourite with Dubai diners.

Only time will tell if SushiSamba can end Zuma's longstanding reign as the emirate's most-loved Japanese-inspired eatery, but it is certainly a strong contender.

What to expect and where to sit

The floor-to-ceiling glass windows that wrap around the entirety of the restaurant offer great views of the city. Photo: SushiSamba
The floor-to-ceiling glass windows that wrap around the entirety of the restaurant offer great views of the city. Photo: SushiSamba

Dubai’s latest hotspot is defined by its sky-high location, and the spectacular views it offers from this unique vantage point 230 metres above the ground. In a city that prides itself on its stunning vistas, SushiSamba leads the charge.

You’ll want to sit next to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that wrap around the entirety of the restaurant, and then be prepared to spend a good portion of your meal gawping at views of Palm Jumeirah extending out beneath you, and the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa in the distance. Our meal is lent extra drama by the odd flash of lightning illuminating the sky.

The 1,115-square-metre interior is dark and evocative, with a 3D-printed bamboo-effect ceiling and lush greenery that pays tribute to the Amazon rainforest. Backlit leather bar fronts, a theatre-style open kitchen, plush seating and a live DJ all contribute to the sumptuous tropical vibe. The atmosphere is lively – full without feeling crowded and intimate without feeling unsafe.

Service is attentive but not overbearing, with our Uzbek waiter doing a stellar job of talking us through the nuances of the various dishes.

The menu

The asevichado roll. Photo: SushiSamba
The asevichado roll. Photo: SushiSamba

SushiSamba has already made its mark in London and Las Vegas, and the Dubai venue is its fourth. The concept is a mix of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian flavours that the brand likes to call a “tri-cultural coalition”.

The cuisine harks back to the early 20th century, when Japanese emigrants began settling in South America, and combining their culinary traditions with those of cities such as Sao Paulo in Brazil and Lima in Peru.

The menu includes an artful mix of Japanese sushi and tempura, Brazilian churrasco and moqueca, and Peruvian anticuchos and ceviche.

Our initiation starts with crispy taquitos (Dh50) packed with yellowtail, avocado, white miso, coriander and lime, setting the tone for a meal that playfully melds textures and flavours. The Japanese A5 Wagyu beef gyoza (Dh92) are served with tiny moreish swirls of kabocha puree and a sweet soy sauce, while the Peruvian corn salad (Dh54) combines grilled corn, sweet onions and avocado, offset with the subtle zing of red chilli.

There’s an extensive selection of seviches (spelt with an "s" on the menu in tribute to the restaurant's name), but we try the sea bream (Dh57), which is enhanced with green chilli, coriander, cancha corn and panca oil. The scallop tiraditos (Dh110) offer a break from the more zesty flavours, and come with a sweeter-tasting Nikkei-style leche de tigre and wasabi dressing that is perhaps more of an acquired taste.

The Samba Dubai roll is unique to the UAE venue. Photo: SushiSamba
The Samba Dubai roll is unique to the UAE venue. Photo: SushiSamba

Sushi rolls are generously served on a tiered, table-hogging ceramic platter, topped with a cloud of dry ice. The Samba Dubai (Dh150) is exclusive to the UAE venue and combines Maine lobster, mango, avocado, soy paper and ahi honey truffle, somehow still managing to feel light and delicate.

Similarly, the asevichado roll (Dh78) brings tuna, salmon and yellowtail together with avocado, cucumber, cancha corn, ahi Amarillo and leche de tigre, all expertly topped with a shaving of sweet potato.

Standout dish

Chilean sea bass anticuchos from SushiSamba Dubai.
Chilean sea bass anticuchos from SushiSamba Dubai.

There are plenty to choose from. The beef gyoza are perfectly seared, with a slight browning on one side, while the Chilean sea bass skewers (Dh95) or robata, prepared over a traditional Japanese charcoal grill, melt in the mouth.

A chat with the chef

“The food and beverage scene in the UAE is a bit elevated, so we want to create something special for Dubai customers, to take it a level up, make it simple and yet amazing,” says chef Kyungsoo Moon, culinary director of SushiSamba Dubai.

Chef Kyungsoo Moon specialises in traditional Japanese cooking techniques, has trained in International kitchens, and enjoys working with Peruvian flavours. Photo: SushiSamba Dubai
Chef Kyungsoo Moon specialises in traditional Japanese cooking techniques, has trained in International kitchens, and enjoys working with Peruvian flavours. Photo: SushiSamba Dubai

He recommends trying a little something from every cuisine to fully appreciate the SushiSamba experience. “You can order the sushi, sashimi, ceviche as a starter, and something from the robata grill for a main. The important thing is to enjoy the different flavours.”

Value for money and contact information

You’ll definitely need to call and book ahead as, rumour has it, there’s already a sizeable waiting list.

The restaurant is generating a lot of buzz and there was barely an empty seat to be found when we visited on a Saturday evening. It is priced at the higher end of the scale, with ceviches ranging from Dh48 to Dh127, tiraditos from Dh78 to Dh110, and sushi rolls from Dh68 to Dh192, but you get what you pay for.

From January 28, the restaurant will offer daytime dining between 12 and 3pm. In addition to the a la carte menu throughout the week and weekends, the restaurant will launch the Vivo Business Lunch from Monday to Friday, offering two courses for Dh139 and a great opportunity to sample the SushiSamba vibe midway through your day.

SushiSamba is located at The St Regis Dubai, The Palm, and tables can be booked by calling 04 582 1555.

This review was conducted at the restaurant’s invitation

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Manchester United 2
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Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung

How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever

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The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic

Power: 169bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Price: Dh54,500

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Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
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Name: Thndr

Started: October 2020

Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: FinTech

Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000

Funding stage: series A; $20 million

Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC,  Rabacap and MSA Capital

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Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

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Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

About RuPay

A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank

RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards

It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.

In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments

The name blends two words rupee and payment

Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs

Updated: January 24, 2022, 9:02 AM`