Interview of Supporter Stores itadaku（いただく）

Nestled in a mall slightly off the main road and away from the coastline in the heart of Dubai, itadaku is a Japanese restaurant established two and a half years ago with a clear mission: to offer visitors an authentic experience of Japan.

The name itadaku embodies deep gratitude—toward the ingredients, the producers, the suppliers, and the chefs who prepare the meals. It reflects a core Japanese value: to appreciate every element that contributes to a meal. Through its cuisine, itadaku aims to convey the spirit and culture of Japan.

Chef Sakagami and Manager Sakagami, the driving forces behind the restaurant, are committed to faithfully recreating traditional Japanese culinary culture abroad. Their dedication extends beyond the food itself to the ambiance, hospitality, and even the way tableware is handled. From the height of the chairs to the timing of dish presentation, every detail is carefully considered to reflect Japanese aesthetics and etiquette. Guests often remark that dining at itadaku feels like being transported to Japan.

At itadaku, ingredient selection is carried out flexibly according to the season and climate, while maintaining an uncompromising commitment to quality.

The restaurant primarily uses ingredients imported from Japan, sourcing them through long-standing relationships with producers such as sweet potato farmers in Kawagoe, Saitama, and onion growers in Awaji Island, Hyogo. Shiitake mushrooms and apples from Iwate, as well as Kuroge Wagyu beef from Kumamoto, are among the many regional specialties actively procured from across Japan. By engaging in transparent transactions, the restaurant ensures reliability, elevates the quality of its dishes, and embodies a sense of gratitude toward the ingredients themselves.

Locally available ingredients are also utilized after rigorous quality assessment, with high-quality items such as green onions and potatoes actively incorporated to optimize costs. Operating in an environment where pork and alcohol cannot be served poses significant constraints for a Japanese restaurant; however, itadaku maximizes the appeal of halal ingredients, employing creative approaches to seasonings and flavor composition to deliver a highly satisfying dining experience.

Furthermore, menus clearly indicate the origin and composition of ingredients, while providing options that accommodate diverse dietary habits and restrictions, thereby respecting multiple food cultures. In addition, the restaurant marks frequently ordered dishes, and these marked items tend to be chosen more often by customers.

itadaku attracts a diverse clientele, reflecting the multicultural fabric of the UAE. Emiratis, Japanese expatriates, other Asians, and Westerners all frequent the restaurant. In recent years, interest in Japanese cuisine among Emiratis has grown significantly.

Some visit itadaku to prepare for upcoming trips to Japan, while others return after visiting Japan, seeking to relive their culinary experiences.

Compared to when the restaurant first opened, customers’ palates have evolved. There is now far less hesitation toward raw fish, and more guests are seeking truly authentic Japanese dishes. This shift indicates that Japanese cuisine is increasingly being recognized not just as a healthy or trendy option, but as a cultural treasure.

While many Japanese restaurants abroad adapt their menus to local tastes, itadaku strives to serve dishes just as they would be in Japan. This approach encourages local diners to understand and appreciate Japanese preferences and food culture.

Chef Sakagami is driven by a strong desire to share the true essence of Japanese culinary culture with the world. For him, expanding the restaurant is not just about opening new locations—it’s about creating spaces that communicate cultural value.

Looking ahead, he envisions establishing more restaurants rooted in local communities that serve as hubs for sharing the beauty of Japanese cuisine.

itadaku will continue to evolve as a restaurant that touches hearts through food, embodying the spirit of omotenashi (hospitality) and Japanese aesthetics. Just as its name suggests, itadaku aspires to spread the value of Japanese food culture infinitely across the globe.

By introducing our establishment as a certified supporter of Japanese ingredients, we hope that even more residents and tourists in the United Arab Emirates will have the opportunity to savor and enjoy the worldview embodied by the concept of itadaku.