Morimoto Dubai which is located across the top-two floors of the Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai, celebrates the start of summer by introducing Shoka Teppanyaki, an exclusive live teppanyaki experience with a brand-new menu, that we had to try- and it was absolutely fantastic.

Chef Masaharu Morimoto has created a bridge between the culinary traditions of his native Japan and the western palate, bringing intense excitement, exquisite technique, and perfectly balanced flavours. He has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his seamless integration of Western and Japanese ingredients- and has effectively created a signature style that positions him as one of today’s foremost chefs.

Morimoto Dubai’s contemporary Japanese menu infuses traditional dishes with Western ingredients and preparation techniques- which we got to witness and taste. Chef Morimoto’s seasonal and ever-changing selection of traditional and innovative raw fish preparations is imported from markets around the world, including the famed Tsukiji market in Tokyo. The restaurant’s expansive space comprises of a large dining room as well as a lounge, large bar area, teppanyaki area, as well as a sushi counter, three private dining rooms and four outdoor terraces, including private access terraces with undisturbed views of the famed Burj Khalifa.

We opted for the summer season tasting menu, which was eight courses of pure delight. The curated menu of Morimoto’s signature teppanyaki techniques, which was showcased in front of us by their skilled Japanese chefs. The menu comprised of chilled pudding with soy bean and Japanese sea urchin, as well as flavoursome wagyu tataki with scallion salsa and daikon, to taraba-gani with Japanese fruit tomato, caviar and gold, as well as dobin-mushi with pike Eel, mitsuba and sudachi, and tenshino-ebi with garlic xo sauce. As well as Japanese Rossini with maitake, foie-gras and spinach, truffle fried rice and Australian winter truffle, which was finished off with a summer crepe and fresh yuzu cream.

The menu spoke freshness, fabulous flavours which was an experience within itself- the highly skilled Japanese chefs really bring flair and passion to the dishes. However, they may be contemporary within palate choices, yet the core ingredients and techniques remain true to their tradition.

Morimoto Dubai was a splendid choice, that we thoroughly enjoyed.