Celebrity Chef Izu Ani, Is Opening A New Japanese Restaurant, KIGO In Dubai

Dubai doesn’t exactly have a shortage of swanky restaurants, but when Chef Izu and the powerhouse team behind GAIA, Shanghai Me, and Maison de la Plage decide to launch something new, you know it’s going to turn heads. Come September, DIFC will welcome KIGO, a Japanese dining experience unlike anything else in the city, and it’s setting up shop inside the Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre.

KIGO, DIFC’s Next Big Dining Obsession

 

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The KIGO experience starts before you even enter the restaurant. Even before you sit down, KIGO is already working its charm. You wander along a quiet stone path, the kind that somehow makes you slow down without noticing. To your side, a minimalist dry garden sits there, looking effortlessly perfect, like it was airlifted straight out of Kyoto and dropped here just for you. Step inside and the world narrows to just 44 seats. It’s cosy enough for whispered conversations, yet still carries the gentle buzz of people enjoying themselves.

A Walk Into Japan, Without Leaving Dubai

Right in the middle, stealing all the attention, is the sushi counter, a solid slab of rare Aji stone, hewn from a single mountain in Japan’s Kagawa region. That stone has around 40,000 years of history etched into its skin, and you can feel every bit of it the second your palms meet its cool, worn surface. Then you look up, and even the walls have a story to tell.

Works by Japanese artist Eiki Kimura, painted in the elegant Rimpa style, wrap the room in subtle beauty, each brushstroke a whisper of tradition meeting modern craft.

What’s In A Name?

“KIGO” comes from Japanese haiku poetry, a word or phrase that captures the feeling of a season. True to its name, the restaurant’s menu evolves with nature, reflecting seasonal flavours at their absolute peak. Every dish here is an ode to timing, precision, and storytelling through food.

Omakase Or Kaiseki, You Decide

At the heart of KIGO is omakase, the Japanese tradition of letting the chef decide your meal. You sit at the stone counter, watch each course come to life, and experience a personalised tasting journey prepared by Head Chef Akinori Tanigawa.

You could dive into the kaiseki menu, a multi-course journey straight out of Japan’s luxury dining playbook, ideal if you like having a clear culinary roadmap. Either way, every ingredient is carefully chosen for its cultural meaning and only served when it’s bursting with peak flavour.

Drinks With A Story

The drink menu isn’t an afterthought here. KIGO features rare sakes exclusive to the region, including one from the Head Chef’s birthplace. Every cocktail comes with a poetic “micro story,” making it as much a conversation starter as a refreshment. This is the kind of detail that turns a dinner into an experience.

Also Read: Chef Izu Ani’s Gaia Restaurant Is Coming To Abu Dhabi & We’re Already Drooling!

Chef Izu’s Royal Stamp Of Approval

Chef Izu isn’t just a big deal among foodies; he’s got fans in very high places. Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, is a regular at his restaurants. If it’s good enough for Fazza, let’s just say it’s probably worth getting a booking early.

Dubai has plenty of fine dining options, but KIGO feels like it’s bringing something fresh to the table, a mix of Japanese tradition, seasonal storytelling, and the kind of craftsmanship you can literally taste. September can’t come soon enough.

Cover Image Courtesy: Fundamental Hospitality/Website