Is there anything more comforting than a steaming bowl of umami-packed ramen served with a massive spoon? An abundance of fresh ingredients, plenty of broth and long, slurpable noodles… Swoon. So the next time you’re at Yas Bay Waterfront and want a dish that feels like a hug, head to Daikan.
You’ll find Abu Dhabi’s first branch of the Dubai favourite on the pier, where a regular crowd has already started to assemble on the stools and high tables outside. The terrace has a buzzy vibe and makes it easy to soak in the pretty views of Yas Bay.
Unlike the Dubai OG, in Abu Dhabi, Daikan takes the form of an izakaya (including drinks licence), expanding on its menu to include a wider variety of dishes.
It’s still small in scope, but a touch more varied, featuring a handful of starters and salads; small plates including gyoza, avocado steak and a katsu chili bao; sushi and sashimi; three kinds of ramen and a charcoal grill.
Hungry? Order the katsu chili bao, which comes with chicken, fish or oyster mushroom. The chili sauce, kimchi, coriander, peanuts and Taiwanese sugar all combine to create a crunchy, peppery bite that leaves plenty of room for further exploration of the menu.
And explore you should, particularly Daikan’s small but well-formed sushi and sashimi selection. Shout out to the dragon rolls, crammed with crisp tempura shrimp.
But ramen is what Daikan is rightly renowned for. Go straight for the chef’s special, swimming with tofu, tantan soy, shiitake bacon, egg, kimchi, shallots and menma. Purist? You can’t go wrong with the restaurant’s classic shoyu.
Get yourself to Yas Bay. Daikan has appeal by the bowlful.
