Taiga Japanese restaurant is now open on Bluewaters Dubai.
Chefs Takashi Namekata and Hisao Ueda lead the 19-seat omakase teppanyaki counter.
The menu features A5 BMS12 Kobe, Matsusaka and Ozaki beef, alongside seasonal Japanese seafood.
Backed by the team behind FACT award-winning TakaHisa, Taiga is now welcoming diners on Bluewaters Island.
Dubai’s appetite for Japanese dining shows no sign of slowing down. From omakase counters to robata restaurants, the city has embraced the cuisine in all its forms. Now, a new arrival offers another reason to book a table. Taiga, the latest Dubai venture from the team behind FACT award-winning TakaHisa is now open.
At its heart is a 19-seat omakase teppanyaki counter, led by Group Executive Chefs Takashi Namekata and Hisao Ueda, better known as Chef Taka and Chef Hisa. Here, the appeal lies in watching the chefs work up close, judging the heat, timing and treatment each ingredient needs. The sizzle of the teppan and the aromas rising from the grill set the scene for a meal shaped by Japanese technique and seasonal produce.
Service at the counter follows an omakase format, leaving the selection to the chefs. Wagyu and seafood feature in a sequence built around the ingredients arriving from Japan, with the menu changing according to availability and season. The guiding principle is shun, the Japanese concept of enjoying an ingredient at its seasonal peak.
Ingredient sourcing is central to the experience. TakaHisa Group operates its own seafood processing facility inside Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, supplying its Bluewaters venues through a shared network. Fish and produce reach Dubai six times a week, while Taiga’s seasonal seafood comes from Toyosu and other regions across Japan and is cooked on the day it arrives. Uni and abalone feature when the season allows.
For meat lovers, the menu showcases Kobe, Matsusaka and Ozaki beef at A5 BMS12, the highest marbling score in the Japanese grading system. Each receives an individual approach at the grill, reflecting differences in the beef and the precise timing required to serve it at its best.
Beyond the counter, Taiga offers yakiniku, shabu-shabu and sukiyaki at table seating, giving diners several ways to explore its Japanese ingredients. A private dining room accommodates up to eight guests, providing a setting for business dinners, anniversaries and celebrations.
The opening marks TakaHisa Group’s third address on Bluewaters Island. Taiga sits directly beside Maison Shibuya Supermarket, the group’s Japanese food hall, while its flagship restaurant at Banyan Tree Dubai is a short walk away. With the venues sharing the same supply line, diners can even seek out an ingredient they enjoyed at dinner in the supermarket next door.
Where: Taiga, Bluewaters Dubai, Dubai
When: Daily from 12pm to midnight
Contact: @taiga.japaneserestaurant