Osaka Meets Dubai at Spheerz in The Marina Cubes

Located at the Mina Rashid Marina— Spheerz is situated at the site of one of Dubai’s largest harbors—Marina Cubes, and is the city’s latest seaside destination complete with niche, industrial designed eateries dotting the tranquil streets. Spheerz first emerged on Dubai’s foodie scene at Global Village in 2016, launched by Ahmed Abdulla Tahnoon whose passion for Japanese food prompted this double-storey eatery.

With an industrial grey and black contemporary ambianceand views overlooking the docks with the beautiful Queen Elizabeth 2 ship, Spheerz has an open kitchen where you can see the chef cooking your meal. We started out with mocktails; one that stood out was the ‘Bloody Cherry’—made of hibiscus tonic water, Fallernum spices, mint, lemon, cherries, and cherry tomatoes—garnished with cherry tomatoes.

We tucked into fresh edamame, a super light and crispy shrimp tempura, and chicken gyoza with an accompanying unjo sauce—made of lime, soya sauce, and orange juice. We really enjoyed the Onigiri—a platter of three different rice cakes with mushroom, salmon, and kimchee fillings. These were satisfying and had subtle flavors.

Next was our absolute favorite—Okonomiyaki, a street food from Osaka which was pan fried cabbage and batter mixed with shrimp, then topped with Okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, red pickled ginger and tiny Bonito flakes which fluttered. The taste was multi-faceted with creamy, yet slightly crunchy textures.

From the Yakotori or sticks, we tried three different kinds. The miso black cod, the zesty prawns, and the miso butter Wagyu. Each had its own distinct flavor, but the winner for us was the miso Wagyu as it was super tender, buttery, and of course, who doesn’t love Wagyu steak?

From the seasonal sushi we indulged in salmon teriyaki which was topped with a sliver of avocado and plated with a splash of teriyaki sauce. And finally, Spheerz namesake—the original small spheres that are buttery, soft balls made of chicken and egg.

Complete novices to Japanese desserts, we were urged to try all three—the Matcha Takoyaki, encased with a warm white chocolate filling. Then my favorite; Taiyaki—an Insta-worthy traditional Japanese fish shaped cake filled with sweet red bean paste and served with vanilla ice cream. Then the light pink balls of Mochi—Japanese rice cakes shaped in delicate balls, filled with ice cream and garnished with a fresh strawberry.

The Verdict: Offering a very laid-back atmosphere, Spheerz offers super fresh and authentic Japanese food you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else in Dubai. This is a must-try, especially for die-hard fans of Japanese cuisine.

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