Like Most of Abu Dhabi, we’ve got a big thing thing for sushi, and Japanese food in general, and so we were very excited to see what Tokyo Grill (formerly Kaizen) has to offer.
As always, we’re floored by the beautiful setting of the Venetian Village, but as the weather isn’t exactly warm, we choose to dine inside instead of out on the terrace by the Grand Canal.
The interior is fabulously cool and Far Eastern-themed. An imposing suit of Japanese armour greets you as you walk through the door, and paper streamers hang from the ceiling.
We take a seat near the open kitchen, where we can watch the chefs at work and guess what they’re making, and start off with the squid tempura, which is listed as one of the chef’s recommendations.
The pieces of jumbo squid are a bit too big and rubbery for our liking, perhaps because we’re too used to snacking on crispy calamari rings.
However, the sweet yuzu soy sauce that comes with it is a sensation, and we ask to keep some on the table so we can keep going back to it.
Naturally, we have to try some sushi, and the spicy shrimp tempura maki turns out to be an excellent choice. It’s a dramatic-looking dish, filled with sweet potato, avocado and meaty shrimps, doused in spicy mayo and covered with a thick layer of fried shallots.
It isn’t the healthiest sushi we’ve had, but it’s very tasty and provides just the right amount of ‘kick’ without being too spicy.
For mains we go for the miso black cod fillet and chicken teriyaki. The latter is served in a large portion with lots of crunchy pieces of asparagus and peppers. The chicken is a little dry, but the stir fry goes perfectly with our side of sticky rice (served in a cute wooden box to keep it hot).
The cod is a delicate dish that looks stunning. However, it’s a bit small for the price and we feel it could be improved with a side of vegetables, although the fresh fish and sweet plum sauce are both utterly delightful.
Tokyo Grill is perhaps not the best Japanese in the capital, but it does deliver inventive maki rolls, incredible views and lots of fun and charm.
WHAT IS IT…
A Japanese restaurant in the Venetian Village
WHY GO…
For the awesome interior, exciting sushi and wide choice of main courses
