WAWA is a modern Japanese izakaya with Korean influences located inside the Golden Tulip Hotel in Al Barsha, Dubai. The word wawa translates roughly to ‘whoa’, and is a Japanese exclamation used when you meet something exciting or eye-opening. That’s exactly what the team at this contemporary restaurant aims to do, offering guests an unforgettable dining experience that will make them sit up and take notice. It’s coined this fusing of Japanese and Korean cuisines as ‘JAKO’.
WAWA is open for both lunch and dinner, with a more relaxed bento offering available for lunch and an extensive a la carte menu in the evening where guests can pick and choose a selection of sharing plates. The latter includes starters, sushi, robata dishes, rice and noodles, raw plates and more. You might like to start with a selection of sushi and raw dishes, for example, in keeping with the Japanese theme. But you can also order things like salmon tacos, wagyu beef gyoza and rock shrimp tempura. For something more substantial, look out for warming ramens and sticky rice bowls, as well as more luxurious robata grills such as wagyu sirloin and black cod.
To drink, a short wine list includes bottles primarily from Chilli, Argentina and South Africa, although a few others hail from across the globe. Japanese sake, beer and whisky are also available, as well as a number of signature cocktails which offers twists on classic drinks.
The décor offers the relaxed feel of a Japanese studio with lots of wooden surfaces, hanging spherical paper lampshades and pretty pink blossom trees. A large wooden cabinet showcases its selection of sakes and wines, while colourful Japanese artwork provides bursts of vibrance throughout.