Toki

Stylish Japanese sister spot of Wasabi... 1 Reviews

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Okay, so it’s no secret that we fancy Toki’s big sister. Wasabi, at the Al Diar Mina Hotel, has won our coveted Best Far Eastern Restaurant award twice in a row, so our initial response to the news that a sibling was on the way involved flailing limbs and general joyous abandon. Once we’d calmed down, however, we became pensive. How could the owner of Wasabi possibly top it? And if it turned out to be any good, how could we possibly split our allegiance. Too many qualms. If we said we waited patiently, we’d be lying.

The first question is answered as soon as you step through the doors: she may be the younger sister, but she dresses to impress. Wasabi is fun and boisterous – the boyish daughter with the scuffed and scabbed knees who dresses off the peg. Toki rarely breaks into a run – her knees are safe –and her clothes are entirely bespoke. This place is elegance defined, with minimalist rooms concealed behind spotless sliding doors. We kick off our shoes and settle in.

A group of Japanese businessmen get louder and louder in the room next door, but it only adds to the sense of being abroad, a feeling common to Wasabi also. The menu is similarly extensive, but Toki has a few surprises that we haven’t seen anywhere other than in Japan itself. You might try the mentaiko dishes, if you want a uniquely Kyushu taste (the spicy cod roe hails from the southern port city of Fukuoka), but the usual Japanese fare is here, and prepared exquisitely. The chirashi don overflows with chunks of fresh, raw fish; splashes of green, orange and deep red make an almost Pollack-esque picture of your plate. The grilled fish is also worth picking at, representing Japanese cooking in its most homely state; the breakfast of the salaryman and fisherman alike.

While the bill is likely to get threatening if you order Japanese beverages, the food itself is extremely reasonable. We’re not talking gutter prices here – she’s not going to be too chuffed if you turn up in ripped jeans and a scruffy shirt – but for somewhere that looks so classy, it’s something of a bargain. Ideal for business or romance, whether you bring your boss or your beloved, you’ll find Wasabi’s younger sister most welcoming any day of the week.

Bill for two
Tatsuya chicken Dhs33
Chirashi don Dhs73
Grilled fish Dhs68
Onigiri set Dhs34
Total Dhs208

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