Famed for its prime Mayfair spot in London, Roka is the brainchild of Zuma co-founder Rainer Becker. The Japanese restaurant brand made its way to Saudi Arabia first with an outpost in Riyadh in 2021, followed by one in Jeddah this year.
I have visited both restaurants in the past year, and came away impressed with not only the food, but also the stylish venues and savvy chef Libor Dobis, who oversees the restaurant’s Middle East operations.
What to expect and where to sit
Roka in Riyadh benefits from a prime corner location amid the cluster of restaurants in Tahlia Street.
The 5,629-square-foot venue has indoor seating on the ground floor and terrace seating on the first level, ideal for the cooler months.
The Jeddah outpost, meanwhile is located on Jeddah Walk on top of a structure that resembles a cruise ship, fitting for the coastal city. The bright and airy venue has floor-to-ceiling windows and wood panel interiors, as well as a terrace which, we are told, “comes alive every night”.
Both venues are instantly recognisable by their stylish exterior and wavy design, symbolic of the restaurant’s Mayfair and Charlotte Street outposts in London.
The menu
Roka specialises in Japanese robatayaki cuisine (or “fireside cooking”) and the robata grill is the base for the dishes at both venues.
In Riyadh, my dining companion and I started with the delightful soft shell crab maki (90 Saudi riyals, $24) and panko Spanish red prawns (SAR85). The latter are a must-try and pair well with a delectable wasabi mayonnaise. The iceberg lettuce salad with caramelised onion dressing (SAR65), too, offers a complexity in taste that belies the simplicity of its ingredients.
At the Jeddah restaurant, we started with spicy edamame (SAR40), albeit it was more sweet than spicy, and a small but tasty white miso soup with chilli oil (SAR40). By comparison, the fried soft-shell crab with chilli and shiso sauce (SAR90) was well cooked but underwhelming.
A classic on this menu, the rock shrimp (SAR95) was perfectly crunchy on the outside and tender within, with the dressing on the side for those who want to keep things light. Both the salmon nigiri (SAR45) and seafood dumplings (SAR100), however, were a touch too dry.
When it came to the mains, the delightful yellowtail sashimi with yuzu truffle dressing (SAR115), which we had as a main in Jeddah, had a tangy, zesty kick that served to refresh the palate.
In Riyadh, we tried the chicken wings with yuzu kosho honey (SAR50) – which was outstanding in taste and presentation, and the lamb cutlets with Korean spices and sesame cucumber (SAR200) which infuse the beautifully marinated meat with a strong, moreish flavour.
The rice hotpot with Japanese mushrooms and shaved truffle (SAR240) went a bit overboard with the mushrooms and would benefit with some space for the rice to shine.
The star of the show in both outposts, however, is the black cod.
Standout dish
For a seafood dish to outperform the meats is interesting, but that’s exactly what the black cod marinated in yuzu miso and pickled radish does (SAR240 at both branches).
Unlike most restaurants that tend to drown the tender fish in sauces, the chefs at Roka have managed to achieve the perfect balance of flavours, while still letting the beautiful simplicity of the flaky and moist cod shine through. This is definitely one of the better versions of the dish we have tried in Saudi Arabia, and punches well above its weight.
The desserts, too, deserve a shout-out. I would visit Roka simply for its sweet treats.
In Riyadh, we had the dessert platter (SAR99) with a smoked coconut parfait with passion fruit, raspberry and lychee, all tasting outstanding. The cotton-soft cheesecake (SAR75) was a sensory delight that came with robata-grilled pear and cream cheese ice cream, as was the crunchy banana ice cream puffs with miso-lime toffee (SAR75).
In Jeddah, we picked a cheesecake again, this time with strawberry (SAR70), which did not disappoint and was at once light and luscious. The passion fruit sorbet (SAR15) is a good option for those who like sour desserts.
A chat with the chef
Unsurprisingly, chef Dobis says fish is his favourite ingredient, not least because it is extremely rich in protein. “On Roka’s menu, we tend to cook fish in different ways, such as blanched, seared and fried, as well as on an open fire with charcoal, which is where our robata grills come in handy. It is the heart and soul of our restaurants and also allows guests to see the chefs in action.
“I believe in respecting nature, keeping our food simple and clean, and keeping an open mind to customer feedback. After all, food has the power to connect people and bring happiness,” adds Dobis.
Other than those dishes we tried, the chef’s recommendations include: yakisoba noodles or baked potato with yuzu cream for vegetarians, which he says is “specifically designed for Middle Eastern tastes”; beef fillet with sesame, chilli, and ginger sauce for meat eaters; grilled tiger prawns with Japanese hollandaise, yuzu, and tobiko for seafood lovers; and chocolate matcha pudding for those with a sweet tooth.
Prices and contact information
Appetisers range from SAR55 to SAR100 ($14 to $27); mains from SAR65 to SAR485; and desserts from SAR70 to SAR110.
For reservations, contact Roka Riyadh on 00966 9200 12327 and Roka Jeddah on 00966 9200 17652.
These reviews were conducted at the invitation of the restaurants
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The%20trailblazers
%3Cp%3ESixteen%20boys%20and%2015%20girls%20have%20gone%20on%20from%20Go-Pro%20Academy%20in%20Dubai%20to%20either%20professional%20contracts%20abroad%20or%20scholarships%20in%20the%20United%20States.%20Here%20are%20two%20of%20the%20most%20prominent.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeorgia%20Gibson%20(Newcastle%20United)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20reason%20the%20academy%20in%20Dubai%20first%20set%20up%20a%20girls%E2%80%99%20programme%20was%20to%20help%20Gibson%20reach%20her%20potential.%20Now%20she%20plays%20professionally%20for%20Newcastle%20United%20in%20the%20UK.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMackenzie%20Hunt%20(Everton)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAttended%20DESS%20in%20Dubai%2C%20before%20heading%20to%20the%20UK%20to%20join%20Everton%20full%20time%20as%20a%20teenager.%20He%20was%20on%20the%20bench%20for%20the%20first%20team%20as%20recently%20as%20their%20fixture%20against%20Brighton%20on%20February%2024.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
More on Quran memorisation:
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
