Dubai’s First Sushi Handroll Bar Opens in Alserkal Avenue

Dubai’s first dedicated handroll bar has launched at Alserkal Avenue, bringing the dangerously easy-to-eat delicacy to the heart of the city. Kokoro Handroll Bar has already caught the attention of the city’s foodies, even in its soft opening phase. Founded by chefs Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee in Houston, Texas, Kokoro Handroll Bar brings their 20 years of combined experience in Japanese cuisine to Dubai with their playful twists and unexpected combinations.

Seats are currently limited to the bar, a huge slab of polished wood that beams across the entire space, separating guest from chef as they prepare for you that perfect blend of crunchy, creamy, umami and zesty elements, wrapped in crispy nori. With abstract artwork behind the bar from Dubai-based artist Olga Karika, and a growing collection of international rubber ducks brought by globe-trotting guests, Kokoro is a place that balances the old and the new.