Fresh sushi
Sushi, sashimi and nigiri are repeatedly praised for freshness, careful presentation and flavour.
Al Barsha
BADA is a Japanese and Pan Asian restaurant in Al Barsha, with sushi, sashimi, ramen and Korean favourites on the menu. Reviews particularly highlight fresh nigiri and rich ramen, while the calm, softly lit setting suits a quiet dinner or catch-up more than a large group gathering.
Source: Google Maps
Sushi, sashimi and nigiri are repeatedly praised for freshness, careful presentation and flavour.
The ramen broth is described as deep, creamy and comforting, with balanced toppings and strong umami.
The quiet, cosy atmosphere works well for conversation, date nights and relaxed dinners.
One Japanese diner praised the light tempura, Japanese-tasting sauces and ingredients they believed were made in Japan.
Service is usually described as warm and attentive, including a smooth resolution when a debit-card charge was incorrect.
Several diners consider the prices reasonable for the freshness and quality, including the sushi set portions.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of BADA Restaurant - Japanese and Pan Asian Restaurant, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
“Lovely cute place. The sushi was really fresh and we got to see the chef in action while waiting for our food.”
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“Lovely cute place. The sushi was really fresh and we got to see the chef in action while waiting for our food.”April 2026
“They’ve rebranded as a Japanese restaurant and are serving up amazing sushi and Japanese food! Some of the best we’ve had so far in Dubai. Waddah gave us great wine recommendations and we felt well taken care of, and Mickey’s hospitality was so warm and genuine. We got to sample some of their items and the team even gave us some drinks on the house! Their head chef is a Michelin star chef, and for the reasonable prices this really is a hidden gem. From the amazing staff to the food and atmosphere, we loved everything and will be back soon! The nigiri were our fave but everything was delicious. Unfortunately, not much photos as we were too busy devouring and talking. But trust me, if you’re thinking about going, just go! You won’t be disappointed :)”January 2025
“Their ramen was so good. Another good ramen in town 🫶”
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“Their ramen was so good. Another good ramen in town 🫶”August 2025
“Bada turned out to be a really good surpris. a hidden gem in Dubai with warm vibes and excellent ramen. The broth was rich, balanced, and comforting, though the meat made it slightly on the sweeter side. Still, the overall experience, extensive authentic menu, and atmosphere easily make it worth coming back for.”October 2025
“The rolls and sashimi were tasty, and their service was excellent.”
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“The rolls and sashimi were tasty, and their service was excellent.”March 2026
“The sashimi was also very fresh.”December 2025
“Tasty korean fried chicken.”
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“Tasty korean fried chicken.”July 2023
“every dish we had were AMAZING. We had the Korean fried chicken, salmon bloom roll and the La galing.”August 2023
“Incredible sushi and set menus! HIGHLY recommend. You absolutely must get the nigiri platter, everything was incredibly fresh. The ambience was also perfect.”
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“Incredible sushi and set menus! HIGHLY recommend. You absolutely must get the nigiri platter, everything was incredibly fresh. The ambience was also perfect.”October 2025
“I ordered the sashimi platter and nigiri platter, and both exceeded my expectations. The variety of fish was impressive, with each piece tasting incredibly fresh and vibrant. The presentation was meticulous, and the flavors were well-balanced, allowing the quality of the fish to shine.”September 2024
“My favorite dish was the tteokbokki. Unfortunately it didn’t make it to this review because inhaled it the moment we were served.”
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“My favorite dish was the tteokbokki. Unfortunately it didn’t make it to this review because inhaled it the moment we were served.”August 2023
“Good tteokbokki and japchae.”April 2023
“The aburi salmon rolls were warm and soft, with a light char on top that gave them a nice smoky aroma. The seasoning was just right, and the nori served standing upright was a unique and thoughtful touch.”
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“The aburi salmon rolls were warm and soft, with a light char on top that gave them a nice smoky aroma. The seasoning was just right, and the nori served standing upright was a unique and thoughtful touch.”July 2025
“Lunch at BADA, tried the wagyu miso ramen and the california maki. Both taste great, just thought that the wagti would be slices and not ground. The raven broth tasted good.”
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“Lunch at BADA, tried the wagyu miso ramen and the california maki. Both taste great, just thought that the wagti would be slices and not ground. The raven broth tasted good.”December 2025
“The dishes were bursting with flavor and the cheesecake was the smoothest.”
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“The dishes were bursting with flavor and the cheesecake was the smoothest.”June 2023
“Try the matcha beer and chicken ramen 👍 staff are friendly and professional, and a nice relaxed atmosphere”
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“Try the matcha beer and chicken ramen 👍 staff are friendly and professional, and a nice relaxed atmosphere”July 2025
“To elevate the meal even further, I paired it with a glass of Dassai 39. The sake had a wonderfully smooth and delicate profile, perfectly complementing the richness of the sashimi and nigiri. I also enjoyed a crisp and refreshing Asahi beer, which added a nice contrast to the meal, making the entire experience even more satisfying.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“To elevate the meal even further, I paired it with a glass of Dassai 39. The sake had a wonderfully smooth and delicate profile, perfectly complementing the richness of the sashimi and nigiri. I also enjoyed a crisp and refreshing Asahi beer, which added a nice contrast to the meal, making the entire experience even more satisfying.”September 2024
“next we ordered the dragon roll that was amazing, full of flavour.”
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“next we ordered the dragon roll that was amazing, full of flavour.”August 2025
“The food is nothing short of exceptional. The Flying Salmon is a must-try! The presentation alone is a master class!”
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“The food is nothing short of exceptional. The Flying Salmon is a must-try! The presentation alone is a master class!”July 2025
“Second, everything tastes great, from the first salad and appetizers (tuna tartare, fried chicken wings, etc.) to the main sushi and nigiri set dishes without a single failure.”
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“Second, everything tastes great, from the first salad and appetizers (tuna tartare, fried chicken wings, etc.) to the main sushi and nigiri set dishes without a single failure.”September 2024
“The tempura was fried in clean oil, light and crispy, and the gyeran-jjim with cheese was carefully prepared and delicious.”
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“The tempura was fried in clean oil, light and crispy, and the gyeran-jjim with cheese was carefully prepared and delicious.”December 2025
“Staff very helpful and I opted for the Hansang Grill over the sushi as I didn’t want California Roll. They also generously provided an extra tempura selection in place of the volcano egg.”
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“Staff very helpful and I opted for the Hansang Grill over the sushi as I didn’t want California Roll. They also generously provided an extra tempura selection in place of the volcano egg.”October 2025
“I indulged in the Imperial Wagyu Ramen, and let me tell you, the flavors were out of this world! It was such a rich and mind-blowing experience.”
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“I indulged in the Imperial Wagyu Ramen, and let me tell you, the flavors were out of this world! It was such a rich and mind-blowing experience.”January 2025
“Good tteokbokki and japchae.”
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“Good tteokbokki and japchae.”April 2023
“I came for Korean pancake and they offered an assortment of pancakes, shrimp was the best one - others were more like an omelet.”
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“I came for Korean pancake and they offered an assortment of pancakes, shrimp was the best one - others were more like an omelet.”April 2023
“every dish we had were AMAZING. We had the Korean fried chicken, salmon bloom roll and the La galing.”
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“every dish we had were AMAZING. We had the Korean fried chicken, salmon bloom roll and the La galing.”August 2023
“The rolls, soy fried chicken and salmon pizza were great! The rolls come with savory sauce and the salmon pizza was very unique and delicious. The mango mochi was full of ice cream and nice too. Staff was friendly, and the music was good. I highly recommend this place 5/5”
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“The rolls, soy fried chicken and salmon pizza were great! The rolls come with savory sauce and the salmon pizza was very unique and delicious. The mango mochi was full of ice cream and nice too. Staff was friendly, and the music was good. I highly recommend this place 5/5”September 2024
“The sushi was incredibly delicious. The rice was chewy and flavorful. The sashimi and eel melted in my mouth as soon as I took a bite. This place might become the best sushi restaurant in Dubai. All the staff are very friendly and respond quickly. I also recommend the mochi ice cream for dessert.😊”
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“The sushi was incredibly delicious. The rice was chewy and flavorful. The sashimi and eel melted in my mouth as soon as I took a bite. This place might become the best sushi restaurant in Dubai. All the staff are very friendly and respond quickly. I also recommend the mochi ice cream for dessert.😊”September 2024
“Second, everything tastes great, from the first salad and appetizers (tuna tartare, fried chicken wings, etc.) to the main sushi and nigiri set dishes without a single failure.”
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“Second, everything tastes great, from the first salad and appetizers (tuna tartare, fried chicken wings, etc.) to the main sushi and nigiri set dishes without a single failure.”September 2024
“We also ordered the nigiri sushi platter which I absolutely adored. Each nigiri was amazing, with a hint of wasabi and such soft melt in your mouth texture.”
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“We also ordered the nigiri sushi platter which I absolutely adored. Each nigiri was amazing, with a hint of wasabi and such soft melt in your mouth texture.”August 2025
“I am Japanese, and I was genuinely impressed by the quality of the sushi. The taste was excellent, and I was especially happy to find otoro on the menu.”
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“I am Japanese, and I was genuinely impressed by the quality of the sushi. The taste was excellent, and I was especially happy to find otoro on the menu.”December 2025
“Bada restaurant is serving authentic Japanese food. They have literally the best sushi in town. And the Wagyu Sando was melting by the first bite. All ingredients are so fresh and even Sake and draft beer is refreshing. If you couldn't find any proper Sushi places in dubai(just like me... who's from that part of the world), Bada is the best option to have the real Sushi. About Parking, you can park your car in the parking lot of the Novotel Suite without any issues.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Bada restaurant is serving authentic Japanese food. They have literally the best sushi in town. And the Wagyu Sando was melting by the first bite. All ingredients are so fresh and even Sake and draft beer is refreshing. If you couldn't find any proper Sushi places in dubai(just like me... who's from that part of the world), Bada is the best option to have the real Sushi. About Parking, you can park your car in the parking lot of the Novotel Suite without any issues.”September 2024
“every dish we had were AMAZING. We had the Korean fried chicken, salmon bloom roll and the La galing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“every dish we had were AMAZING. We had the Korean fried chicken, salmon bloom roll and the La galing.”August 2023
“The rolls, soy fried chicken and salmon pizza were great! The rolls come with savory sauce and the salmon pizza was very unique and delicious. The mango mochi was full of ice cream and nice too. Staff was friendly, and the music was good. I highly recommend this place 5/5”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The rolls, soy fried chicken and salmon pizza were great! The rolls come with savory sauce and the salmon pizza was very unique and delicious. The mango mochi was full of ice cream and nice too. Staff was friendly, and the music was good. I highly recommend this place 5/5”September 2024
“I ordered the sashimi platter and nigiri platter, and both exceeded my expectations. The variety of fish was impressive, with each piece tasting incredibly fresh and vibrant. The presentation was meticulous, and the flavors were well-balanced, allowing the quality of the fish to shine.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered the sashimi platter and nigiri platter, and both exceeded my expectations. The variety of fish was impressive, with each piece tasting incredibly fresh and vibrant. The presentation was meticulous, and the flavors were well-balanced, allowing the quality of the fish to shine.”September 2024
“hight quality food and we love soju so they got great selection of that.”
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Review excerpts
“hight quality food and we love soju so they got great selection of that.”February 2023
“The rolls, soy fried chicken and salmon pizza were great! The rolls come with savory sauce and the salmon pizza was very unique and delicious. The mango mochi was full of ice cream and nice too. Staff was friendly, and the music was good. I highly recommend this place 5/5”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The rolls, soy fried chicken and salmon pizza were great! The rolls come with savory sauce and the salmon pizza was very unique and delicious. The mango mochi was full of ice cream and nice too. Staff was friendly, and the music was good. I highly recommend this place 5/5”September 2024
“Highly recommend the weekday lunch! We had the sushi set and it was amazing, great portion size and fantastic flavor. Just a heads-up, the sushi set is available only from 1 PM.”
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“Highly recommend the weekday lunch! We had the sushi set and it was amazing, great portion size and fantastic flavor. Just a heads-up, the sushi set is available only from 1 PM.”November 2025
“The tempura was fried in clean oil, light and crispy, and the gyeran-jjim with cheese was carefully prepared and delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The tempura was fried in clean oil, light and crispy, and the gyeran-jjim with cheese was carefully prepared and delicious.”December 2025
“Second, everything tastes great, from the first salad and appetizers (tuna tartare, fried chicken wings, etc.) to the main sushi and nigiri set dishes without a single failure.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Second, everything tastes great, from the first salad and appetizers (tuna tartare, fried chicken wings, etc.) to the main sushi and nigiri set dishes without a single failure.”September 2024
“The volcano roll had us in love and it was hard not to order it again and again. She also comes and blowtorches the volcano roll which just added the cherry on top.”
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“The volcano roll had us in love and it was hard not to order it again and again. She also comes and blowtorches the volcano roll which just added the cherry on top.”August 2025
“Lunch at BADA, tried the wagyu miso ramen and the california maki. Both taste great, just thought that the wagti would be slices and not ground. The raven broth tasted good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Lunch at BADA, tried the wagyu miso ramen and the california maki. Both taste great, just thought that the wagti would be slices and not ground. The raven broth tasted good.”December 2025
“Wagyu Ramen - 8.3 ❤🔥”
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Review excerpts
“Wagyu Ramen - 8.3 ❤🔥”October 2025
“Bada restaurant is serving authentic Japanese food. They have literally the best sushi in town. And the Wagyu Sando was melting by the first bite. All ingredients are so fresh and even Sake and draft beer is refreshing. If you couldn't find any proper Sushi places in dubai(just like me... who's from that part of the world), Bada is the best option to have the real Sushi. About Parking, you can park your car in the parking lot of the Novotel Suite without any issues.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Bada restaurant is serving authentic Japanese food. They have literally the best sushi in town. And the Wagyu Sando was melting by the first bite. All ingredients are so fresh and even Sake and draft beer is refreshing. If you couldn't find any proper Sushi places in dubai(just like me... who's from that part of the world), Bada is the best option to have the real Sushi. About Parking, you can park your car in the parking lot of the Novotel Suite without any issues.”September 2024
Mixed feedback
“Kimchi is made in-house and delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Kimchi is made in-house and delicious.”January 2025
“To elevate the meal even further, I paired it with a glass of Dassai 39. The sake had a wonderfully smooth and delicate profile, perfectly complementing the richness of the sashimi and nigiri. I also enjoyed a crisp and refreshing Asahi beer, which added a nice contrast to the meal, making the entire experience even more satisfying.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“To elevate the meal even further, I paired it with a glass of Dassai 39. The sake had a wonderfully smooth and delicate profile, perfectly complementing the richness of the sashimi and nigiri. I also enjoyed a crisp and refreshing Asahi beer, which added a nice contrast to the meal, making the entire experience even more satisfying.”September 2024
“Bada restaurant is serving authentic Japanese food. They have literally the best sushi in town. And the Wagyu Sando was melting by the first bite. All ingredients are so fresh and even Sake and draft beer is refreshing. If you couldn't find any proper Sushi places in dubai(just like me... who's from that part of the world), Bada is the best option to have the real Sushi. About Parking, you can park your car in the parking lot of the Novotel Suite without any issues.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Bada restaurant is serving authentic Japanese food. They have literally the best sushi in town. And the Wagyu Sando was melting by the first bite. All ingredients are so fresh and even Sake and draft beer is refreshing. If you couldn't find any proper Sushi places in dubai(just like me... who's from that part of the world), Bada is the best option to have the real Sushi. About Parking, you can park your car in the parking lot of the Novotel Suite without any issues.”September 2024
“Try the matcha beer and chicken ramen 👍 staff are friendly and professional, and a nice relaxed atmosphere”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Try the matcha beer and chicken ramen 👍 staff are friendly and professional, and a nice relaxed atmosphere”July 2025
“Their matcha mochi is a must-try and a perfect sweet ending to an amazing meal!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their matcha mochi is a must-try and a perfect sweet ending to an amazing meal!”January 2025
“Worst of all, the matcha cake, it’s too hard. I think it’s not freshly made on the day. There’s not much matcha taste. I only had one bite. All of above I can accept, but this is unacceptable. I made a complain as well.”
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Critical review excerpts
“Worst of all, the matcha cake, it’s too hard. I think it’s not freshly made on the day. There’s not much matcha taste. I only had one bite. All of above I can accept, but this is unacceptable. I made a complain as well.”June 2023
“The steamed egg was burnt on the bottom, which clearly shows a lack of care in food preparation.”
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Critical review excerpts
“The steamed egg was burnt on the bottom, which clearly shows a lack of care in food preparation.”February 2026
“Tofu stew should use soft tofu, not medium firm. There were only 3 cubes of tofu.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Tofu stew should use soft tofu, not medium firm. There were only 3 cubes of tofu.”June 2023
Time lunch. If you want the weekday sushi set, arrive from 1 PM because the set is only available then.
Book small. Keep group plans compact or check ahead, as one reviewer said the small dining room could not fit a large group.
Allow time. Give yourself extra time to locate the restaurant on your first visit; a reviewer found the location difficult to spot.
Check parking. Ask about the current parking arrangement; reviews mention parking at Novotel Suite, with conflicting descriptions of whether it is paid or free.
Try nigiri. For a first sushi order, consider the nigiri platter, which several diners described as especially fresh.
Plan the visit
The restaurant is quite small and may not be able to accommodate large groups comfortably.
One diner found the tteokbokki stale, so freshness may not be equally reliable across every dish.
A review reported that the steamed egg was burnt on the bottom, indicating an isolated preparation problem.
The location can be tricky to locate on a first visit.
One Korean-food-focused diner found the tofu stew and rice portions too small and the tofu too firm.
The Bottom Line
BADA is a Japanese and Pan Asian restaurant in Al Barsha that suits diners who want sushi alongside Korean comfort food. The strongest review pattern is around fresh sushi, sashimi and nigiri, with the nigiri platter and volcano roll receiving especially enthusiastic mentions. Ramen is another reliable draw: diners describe the broth as rich, creamy and comforting, with the wagyu version appearing often in reviews.
The room is small, calm and softly lit, making it a better fit for a date, quiet dinner or catch-up than a large celebration. Service is generally warm and attentive, and one billing mistake was handled smoothly after payment had already been made. Drinks also get attention, including sake, draft beer, cocktails and a matcha beer.
There are practical details to note. The weekday sushi set is available only from 1 PM, and the location can be a little hard to find. Parking is mentioned at the Novotel Suite, although reviews differ on whether the available parking is paid or free, so it is worth checking when you arrive.
Most feedback is strongly positive, but consistency is not perfect: one diner found stale tteokbokki and another reported a burnt steamed egg. Korean-food purists may also find some portions and preparations less traditional.