Akira Back shares a first look at Namu Korean BBQ in Riyadh  

Located in The Esplanade, the yakiniku concept lets you grill your own meats.

Riyadh is fast becoming a dining destination. The capital has welcomed big brands and celebrity chefs. The latest chef making his mark is the internationally renowned Akira Back. On Instagram, he shared a first look inside the upcoming Namu Korean BBQ, and we are buzzing with excitement.  

Namu Korean BBQ is located in The Esplanade. Drawing inspiration from Korea, the menu will boast freshly prepared meats, seafood, vegetables and traditional Korean food. Plus, the focus will be on meats, which you can grill to your preference.

Namu Korean BBQ looks set to be a sophisticated spot. The exterior includes a bronze logo on a black background and floor-to-ceiling windows. The interiors include mustard colour seats around circle tables, booths with white sofas around square tables, and swanky shoji-inspired wall dividers. The tables come with space for grills, so you can play chef.

This isn’t Akira’s first restaurant in the Middle East. He is behind Dasha in Riyadh, which is a modern Chinese restaurant. The menu ranges from Cantonese Dim Sum to Peking Duck. Plus, he is behind the self-titled restaurant on W Dubai – The Palm in the UAE.  

Akira Back was born in Seoul, Korea and had an unusual route into the restaurant industry. When he was 15 years old, he started snowboarding and competed professionally. He later studied at the International Culinary School at The Institute of Colorado, and went on to work in Aspen, Texas and Hawaii.

Today, he has restaurants across the globe including San Diego, Singapore and Seychelles. In 2018, he was awarded a MICHELIN Star for his restaurant Dosa in Seoul. Plus, he has restaurants opening in Bali, Jakarta, London, Montana, Rome and San Francisco.

Check in with FACT for the latest details.  

GO: Visit www.akiraback.com for more information.