If you have spent any time following food culture in Asia, the name Hikiniku To Come probably needs no introduction. If you haven’t — you’re about to. FYTE Hospitality has just confirmed that the Japanese capital’s most talked-about Hamburg concept will open its first GCC location at CMPLX, Al Quoz, Dubai, in September 2026. It will be the brand’s debut anywhere in the Middle East, and FYTE holds the Exclusive Master Franchise rights across the region.
What Exactly is Hikiniku To Come?
Hamburg, in the Japanese dining context, is not a burger. It’s a freestanding patty, no bun, no distractions. It is cooked with precision and served as the centrepiece of the meal. Hikiniku To Come built its reputation in Tokyo around one thing and one thing only: Wagyu Hamburg done to a standard that most restaurants, even in Japan, couldn’t match.
The concept is deceptively minimal. Freshly ground Wagyu beef, custom-built grills, a carefully choreographed cooking sequence. What sounds simple on paper is, in execution, extraordinarily refined. And that tension between simplicity and craft is exactly what made it a cult destination across Asia.
Why HIKINIKU TO COME Opening in Dubai?
The opening was originally planned for earlier in the year, but FYTE Hospitality made the call to delay rather than cut corners. Specialized kitchen equipment, essential to replicating the Tokyo experience was caught in supply chain disruptions linked to ongoing regional conflicts. Rather than open with substitute gear, the team held the line.
“We have always believed that if we are going to introduce Hikiniku To Come to the GCC, we need to do it properly,” said Tamer Elkhayat, CEO and Co-Founder of FYTE Hospitality. “While the delays were unfortunate, they allowed us to ensure that every piece of equipment, every design detail, and standard aligns with the experience guests receive in Tokyo.”
That kind of decision absorbing a delay rather than compromising on the product says something about how FYTE operates. And their track record backs it up. Kokoro Handroll Bar reshaped the Japanese dining conversation in the UAE. Window, their live-fire restaurant in Alserkal Avenue, now carries daily waitlists.
What to expect at the HIKINIKU TO COME Dubai?
The CMPLX site in Al Quoz will be among the most premium Hikiniku To Come restaurants in the world. The Dubai version will serve 100% Halal-certified Wagyu beef. It will be sourced specifically to meet both the brand’s international standards and GCC market requirements.
Expect custom-built grills, premium interiors, and the same choreographed Hamburg ritual that made the original concept famous. COO and Co-Founder Faisal Yabroudi framed the ambition plainly: “We are confident that our first Dubai location will become one of the flagship Hikiniku To Come restaurants globally.”
Two more UAE locations are already being scoped for 2027.
Details and Location
- Opening: September 2026
- Debut: First GCC location
- Cuisine: Japanese Wagyu Hamburg concept
- Signature: Freshly ground Wagyu Hamburg patties grilled over custom-built equipment
We’ll be updating this space with reservation details, menu previews, and everything else you need to know as soon as Hikiniku To Come opens its doors in Dubai. So, keep checking back.
Images: Supplied
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