Japanese cuisine has become increasingly popular in Dhaka. From diverse sushi selections to the thrilling teppanyaki experience, Dhaka now offers everything from Japanese fusion to authentic and lively teppanyaki experiences.
Over the year, quite a few new Japanese places have opened up and these are our top three favourite places.
Teppanyaki Dhaka
Located in Gulshan 2, Teppanyaki Dhaka captivated our hearts with its bona fide Japanese meals, but what impressed us initially was the variety of sushi and sashimi, which is rare in Dhaka city. The teppanyaki experience where you observe chefs flinging the knives into the air at high speed is pure magic and an entertaining dining experience.
Teppanyaki Dhaka's nuanced flavours, flawlessly seared salmon skin, seemingly unlimited variety of sushi, and overall visual entertainment makes it a winner in our book.
Must-haves: Salmon fillet. We recommend the salmon fillet because, even if you don't like salmon, you'll love this delicate fillet with kettle-chip-crisp skin and lemon rind. Also, you should try at least one of their sushi platters. Otherwise, your meal will remain incomplete.
With their price range at Tk680 to Tk6,500, we do recommend choosing to go to Teppanyaki Dhaka when the occasion calls for it.
Takumi
Unlike the extravagant Teppanyaki experience and any other Japanese fusion restaurants in Dhaka, Takumi offers homely Japanese food. Takumi’s menu intriguingly consists of dishes that have not crossed your palate before. Takumi is run by the Japanese, for the Japanese.
This hidden gem located in Gulshan 2 introduced us to dishes like shiratama kinako, takoyaki and yodare chicken. These are all dishes that Dhakahites may be unfamiliar with, unless they have had the privilege of dining in Japan or been able to enjoy a homemade meal at a Japanese home through a friend.
The understated elegance and nuance that homemade “lesser known” Japanese food holds is truly remarkable.
Must-haves: The handpulled Ramen with the lightly spiced yet richly umami broth had half chicken and half beef thigh pieces, the subtle sweetness that comes in from the preserved soy infused eggs. This warm bowl of ramen was truly unlike any other we have tried.
One of our favourites from their menu was the shiratama kinako, which is a savoury dessert featuring rice balls washed in blackened syrup that adds a robust flavour finished generously sprinkled with roasted soybean dust as soon as you bite into it.
The texture of the rice balls will instantly remind you of lychees without the extra sweetness, the sticky texture and the natural flavour of the rice balls really works wonders as a dessert and the soybean dust adds a savoury touch that elevates the dish to another level. Savoury desserts don't get better than shiratama kinako.
The price range for a meal at Takumi is Tk450 to Tk1500, which in our opinion is reasonable, especially for authentic Japanese cuisine,
Konami
Last but not least, Konami, which opened just a few months ago in February 2024, in Gulshan 1, is another establishment offering the Teppanyaki experience in Dhaka. What sets Konami apart in essence to its competitors is not just the food and the live cooking experience, but also their service. They pamper you with complimentary drinks, some edamame and a fresh wet towel.
Their Teppanyaki menu consists mostly of combos, to serve a variety and a fulfilling meal rather than just a stand-alone dish to enhance the experience.
Must-Haves: While they also served both salmon and lobsters, what we truly relished during our meal was the rib eye steak made in butter garlic sauce and their fried rice, made masterfully, in front us, while the chef entertained us with his impressive knife skills and friendly banter, and yet perfecting the flavours with flare.
Their house-made matcha ice cream is one to look out for. The fact that you can tell that they did not skimp and had a generous portion of green tea powder, giving us the earthy bitterness that we crave for in matcha truly won us over. The thickness and the smoothness from the whole milk and cream is also to be appreciated.
The price range for a meal at Konami is Tk2,500 to Tk4000 per person, also calling for a special occasion to try it out.
