8 Best Japanese restaurants in the Maldives

The complexity that so beautifully hides behind the simplicity of Japanese cuisine is the primary reason for its popularity worldwide. Mind you, the art of taking only a few ingredients and transforming them into delightful bites of food is no easy task. No wonder Japanese chefs spend years mastering techniques that often come across as mundane in the hope of achieving culinary perfection.

The real magic of a Japanese meal is that you can enjoy it as a couple, a family, or all by yourself. Eating Japanese food is a wholesome affair that promises bold flavors, exotic ingredients, traditional practices, and delicate presentations.

Since Japanese cuisine is a favorite among world travelers, most Maldivian resorts offer Japanese food in some form. They either have specialty restaurants or include dishes such as sushi and ramen in menus of their multi-cuisine restaurants.

A few resorts have gone out of their way by hiring talented chefs and creating spaces to highlight the magnificence of Japanese cuisine. As a result, the best Japanese restaurants in the Maldives are exclusive culinary destinations that serve traditional food in ideal Maldivian settings.

By The Sea – Gili Lankanfushi

For a fairytale-like vacation in the Maldives, book a stay at Gili Lankanfushi. The resort is a beautiful rendition of paradise where luxury and extravagance coincide with outstanding facilities and service.

Gili Lankanfushi is also home to By The Sea, one of the best Japanese restaurants in the Maldives. Although the eatery has a somewhat contemporary yet appropriate name, it does not forget to honor the sanctity of Japanese culture.

A fine-dining establishment, By The Sea serves distinct Japanese preparations, including a seasonal tasting menu with an array of sushi and sashimi. The restaurant also boasts of an extensive sake list.

The highlight of a meal here, though, is the teppanyaki menu. Not only is the food inventive, but you are also privy to entertaining “culinary acrobatics” by the specialty chef.

Divided into three sections, the main restaurant opens up to sweeping ocean views. Next to it is a cozy room with a sushi bar. The teppanyaki room has a bright island feel and sits only six diners at one time.

Hashi – JW Marriott Maldives Resort and Spa

JW Marriot’s cuisine-specific restaurant, Hashi, has interiors that display Japanese esthetics through its subtle décor and clean design lines. Its over-the-water setting further adds to the restaurant’s elegance. However, the vibe at Hashi is understated, just like the required “smart casual” dress code.

When planning a stay at JW Marriott Maldives, you’ll notice that the resort has nine bars and eateries. Even with plenty of options, a meal at Hashi, one of the best Japanese restaurants in the Maldives, is a must. With its focus entirely on food, Hashi starts service at 7 PM and stays open until 10 PM.

As for the preparations, Hashi has a teppanyaki grill, a separate sushi bar, and it primarily serves classic Japanese cuisine.

Koko Grill – Conrad Maldives

Located in the kid-free Quiet Zone of the Conrad, Koko Grill is among the top Japanese restaurants in the Maldives. It invites you to the edge of the beach for an immersive and sensory dining experience. Here, only six to seven couples can dine simultaneously, sitting under the open skies while listening to nearby crashing waves.

Plan your meal around sunset, and watch how nature transforms the ambiance into the most romantic arrangement ever.

The food at Koko Grill consists of a 10-course tasting menu that changes based on in-season and freshly caught ingredients.

You do get to savor quintessential Japanese dishes such as sushi, wagyu beef, sashimi with sake pairings in a laidback leisurely fashion.

Tapasake – One&Only Reethi Rah

Sometimes, to appreciate and relish the finer things in life, one must make a little effort. A meal at Tapasake, for instance, requires guests to dress up in “upscale elegant” clothing.

Moreover, the restaurant opens exclusively for dinner, from 7 PM to 10:30 PM. So, when planning to eat here, make sure you reserve a table at the time of booking a room at the One&Only Reethi Rah.

The good thing being these minor plights are a precursor to a gastronomically brilliant experience. Eventually, Tapasake impresses its visitors in every way possible. Its location, over the water, grants spectacular ocean views. The food is equally unique, a surprisingly tasty fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines.

The restaurant’s pride is its sushi counter, where guests can pick and choose what they want to eat from the laid-out fresh seafood. However, don’t miss out on relishing their omakase menu, which gives the chef a free hand in cooking the ingredients any way they like.

If looking for a private affair, the restaurant has four open-air teppanyaki seating arrangements. Here, up to eight diners can sit around a live cooking counter and watch the chef create delicious recipes.

Among the must-haves at the restaurant are Maldivian yellowfin tuna, Norwegian salmon, Chilean seabass, saga beef, tacos with chicken, and Tapasake’s “Avante-Garde nigiri.” Also, not to miss is Naraman Daiginjo, the restaurant’s limited-edition sake, perfect for a saketini.

Fukuya Restaurant – Paradise Island Resort

Fukuya is a laidback and colorful Japanese restaurant. It has a rather quaint entrance requiring you to walk on a tiny bridge over a fish pond.

Promoted as “Maldivian style sushi,” the food at Fukuya is scrumptious. Their a la carte menu is relatively extensive. Still, pick one of the teppanyaki meals with chicken, seafood, or steak for an evening with a hint of theatrics.

Fukuya at Paradise Island Resort also serves sake and a selection of Japanese beers that go splendidly well with the food.

Iwau – The Ritz-Carlton Fari Islands

The Ritz-Carlton is the second resort to welcome guests in the Fari Islands and the company’s maiden venture in the Maldives. Attracting gourmands from around the world, the resort has an impressive collection of restaurants serving a range of cuisines. However, when booking a stay at The Ritz-Carlton Fari Islands, make sure you keep at least one night for dining at Iwau.

Among the best Japanese restaurants in the Maldives, Iwau offers a wonderful gastronomic adventure packed with fantastic foodie delights. The pool-view open-air establishment operates only at dinner time, from 7 PM to 10:30 PM. The dress code is “island chic.” The restaurant also has a kid’s menu.

Iwau translates to “celebrate,” and the restaurant’s ambiance has a certain romantic aura about it. Guests can either sit on poolside tables or pick one of two chef’s table seating per night. The latter is quite an indulging affair, restricted to only eight diners per seating.

The menu at Iwau is a mix between fusion and classic Japanese. The favorites are king crab and egg drop soup, sashimi, Japanese saga wagyu, the restaurant’s extensive nigiri selection, and mochi ice cream. 

Tsuki – Coco Bodu Hilthi

Tsuki at Coco Bodu Hilthi celebrates the essence of Japanese cuisine by serving appetizing creations in a serene environment. Perched on top of the resort’s poolside bar, Latitude, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

Guests dining at Tsuki can sit at the sushi bar and watch the master chefs work their magic. Or else, opt for al fresco dining to enjoy panoramic views and the cool sea breeze.

The menu features sushi, sashimi, bento boxes, soups, hot dishes, and tempura. However, Tsuki’s five-course chef’s menu is a good choice as it never fails to excite and surprise the palate.

Umami – The LUX* South Ari Atoll

Fun and fashionable yet very much aligned with Japanese ethos, Umami is first and foremost a visual treat for the eyes. The restaurant combines tropical décor elements with Japanese minimalistic aesthetics to create a colorful ambiance. Consequently, this sets the mood for an unforgettable dining experience.

The standout design feature at Umami is the cobalt blue counters. Guests can sit here and observe the chefs showcase their culinary skills as they go about preparing tasty dishes.

The outstanding food preparation is eventually what makes Umami at the LUX* one of the finest Japanese restaurants in the Maldives. While the menu includes classic choices, the chefs use traditional techniques to give the food a distinct taste.

In particular, order the dishes cooked on a robata grill, which gives the meat and seafood a delicious charcoal flavor. Moreover, you can choose from over 30 varieties of sake to pair with your food.

If you’ve booked a stay at the LUX* South Ari Atoll and plan to dine at Umami, remember that it follows an “elegant” dress code. Also, the restaurant opens only for dinner service, from 6:30 PM to 10 PM.

N.B.: All the information in the article is correct as of the date of publication. The prices mentioned, if any, are subject to change.