CHEF MOON KYUNG SOO

The super chef at the helm of SushiSamba Dubai

Ashe takes up a new exciting post, Chef Moon Kyung Soo spoke to What’s On about the brand’s legacy, sourcing local and his favourite haunts in Dubai

Congratulations on the imminent opening of SushiSamba. You must be so excited?

Thank you. The entire SushiSamba Dubai team and I are extremely excited about the opening, and we are really looking forward to welcoming guests this month. The anticipation is very high, and we want to ensure that every guest gets a chance to enjoy the full experience.

So, it’s more than just a regular high-end restaurant?

It’s not just a unique blend of

Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine, but also culture. The lifestyle element of these three distinct cultures is a part of our DNA and we are going to take guests on an unforgettable multi-sensory journey filled with flavours, artful presentations, aromas and sounds.

There are outposts already in the US and London. Are you able to play around with the menu here?

Ours will be the third generation of the SushiSamba brand. The first started in the US in the ‘90s; a second developed in Europe in the early 2010s and we are a third generation in the Middle East. Being ‘ the youngest child’ and located in such a competitive market, we have to adapt our menu to the local market while keeping most signature dishes on our menu. Also, when creating a menu, we always take into consideration what is available in terms of suppliers and produce, as using the freshest ingredients is our top priority.

Speaking of the cuisine, talks us through it...

It’s a unique blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisines. The menu is mostly Japanese influenced as well as Peruvian, since Peruvian cuisine was molded by Japanese techniques in the early 1900s. Nevertheless, we do have a variety of Brazilian influences, too. Our menu is quite broad with unique flavours. One dish can have influences from all three cuisines.

As you’ve said, Dubai’s restaurant scene is competitive. How will you stand out?

Most restaurants in Dubai offer great food, drinks, beautiful interior, and entertainment. While all these factors are important for a restaurant to succeed, we wanted to have a really unique location, too. And being what I believe is the highest restaurant on the Palm will be a bonus.

Yes, the views must be amazing…

We have a 360-degree view of the entire Dubai skyline which makes SushiSamba a perfect dining location. We also focus on service. We want our guests to always feel welcome and feel like they are at home.

Sourcing local has been important for you when running your restaurants. How do you aim to do this in Dubai?

It is very important to support the local market. We went to visit quite a few green farms in the UAE and we will be sourcing our greens from them. We aim to use more local produce in the future.

Last weekend on earth: What and where would you be eating in Dubai?

I’m always looking for local and authentic restaurants. Currently, my go to places are Streetery Food Hall in JLT, and Noodle Bowl in Satwa, which has fantastic Singaporean street food.

“OUR MENU IS QUITE BROAD WITH UNIQUE FLAVOURS. ONE DISH CAN HAVE INFLUENCES FROM ALL THREE CUISINES.”