Waterfront views
The terrace looks across the sea, JBR and Dubai Marina, with especially memorable views during the drone show.
Virgin Izakaya DXB
Bluewaters Island
Virgin Izakaya DXB is a modern izakaya-style Japanese restaurant on Bluewaters Island, combining sushi and contemporary Japanese dishes with a lively dining-room atmosphere. Reviews point to the waterfront terrace, drone-show views and standout plates such as duck salad and shrimp popcorn as key reasons to visit.
Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
662 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fresh sushi
Sushi, sashimi and handrolls are repeatedly praised; one review specifically highlights fresh sushi and precisely cut sashimi.
Standout dishes
Duck salad and popcorn shrimp received especially strong praise for their flavour, while chicken fried rice also impressed one reviewer.
Terrace atmosphere
Reviews describe a stylish, vibrant setting with music and a relaxed waterfront terrace suited to evenings and celebrations.
Generous lunch
The four-course lunch was described as generously portioned, with tom yum soup, shrimp popcorn and octopus roti among the highlights.
Celebration service
For an anniversary, the team arranged a table move for a better view and surprised the couple with the cake.
Drink selection
Customers mention creative cocktails and a broad choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including a popular mango mocktail.
What to Eat at Virgin Izakaya DXB How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Virgin Izakaya DXB, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
These items at Virgin Izakaya DXB got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 3
-
Shrimp popcorn Net +4
“My fav plates were the shrimp popcorn and the sushi.”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My fav plates were the shrimp popcorn and the sushi.”November 2022
“For starters we were served Dumplings, Sushi, Prawn popcorn & Crab hand roll. And for main course there were very unique Combos such as Caramelized eggplant, Beef steak & Chicken fried rice. It was the right amount of crispy, soft, tender and delicious!”August 2022
-
Duck salad Net +3
“Loved their Salmon main dish and duck salad from the starters😋👍”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Loved their Salmon main dish and duck salad from the starters😋👍”April 2025
“I took duck salad and salmon rice cake. Food was delicious!”April 2025
-
Chicken fried rice Net +2
“We ate at a lot of good restaurants in Dubai but the flavours that the chefs got into the dishes here were seriously impressive. The duck salad & popcorn shrimp were especially standout. They even made chicken fried rice taste exceptional.”
Positive 3Negative 1
Review excerpts
“We ate at a lot of good restaurants in Dubai but the flavours that the chefs got into the dishes here were seriously impressive. The duck salad & popcorn shrimp were especially standout. They even made chicken fried rice taste exceptional.”April 2024
“Everything we tried was delicious, but the chicken fried rice and miso crab especially stood out.”December 2025
Honorable mentions (27)
-
Avocado salad Net +1
“The food was great, loved the sushi and the avocado salad.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was great, loved the sushi and the avocado salad.”December 2023
-
Beef steak Net +1
“For starters we were served Dumplings, Sushi, Prawn popcorn & Crab hand roll. And for main course there were very unique Combos such as Caramelized eggplant, Beef steak & Chicken fried rice. It was the right amount of crispy, soft, tender and delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For starters we were served Dumplings, Sushi, Prawn popcorn & Crab hand roll. And for main course there were very unique Combos such as Caramelized eggplant, Beef steak & Chicken fried rice. It was the right amount of crispy, soft, tender and delicious!”August 2022
-
Beef udon Net +1
“The food was exceptional; every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor, especially the sushi and beef udon.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was exceptional; every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor, especially the sushi and beef udon.”May 2025
-
Bluefin tuna tataki Net +1
“Salmon handrolls are absolutely amazing! As are the bluefin tuna tataki and salmon sushi, crab tacos...”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Salmon handrolls are absolutely amazing! As are the bluefin tuna tataki and salmon sushi, crab tacos...”April 2024
-
Candification Net +1
“My special recommendation: Candification🍹”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My special recommendation: Candification🍹”March 2022
-
Caramelized eggplant Net +1
“For starters we were served Dumplings, Sushi, Prawn popcorn & Crab hand roll. And for main course there were very unique Combos such as Caramelized eggplant, Beef steak & Chicken fried rice. It was the right amount of crispy, soft, tender and delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For starters we were served Dumplings, Sushi, Prawn popcorn & Crab hand roll. And for main course there were very unique Combos such as Caramelized eggplant, Beef steak & Chicken fried rice. It was the right amount of crispy, soft, tender and delicious!”August 2022
-
Crab hand roll Net +1
“For starters we were served Dumplings, Sushi, Prawn popcorn & Crab hand roll. And for main course there were very unique Combos such as Caramelized eggplant, Beef steak & Chicken fried rice. It was the right amount of crispy, soft, tender and delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For starters we were served Dumplings, Sushi, Prawn popcorn & Crab hand roll. And for main course there were very unique Combos such as Caramelized eggplant, Beef steak & Chicken fried rice. It was the right amount of crispy, soft, tender and delicious!”August 2022
-
Crab tacos Net +1
“Salmon handrolls are absolutely amazing! As are the bluefin tuna tataki and salmon sushi, crab tacos...”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Salmon handrolls are absolutely amazing! As are the bluefin tuna tataki and salmon sushi, crab tacos...”April 2024
-
Crispy tuna Net +1
“My reco from the menu: green salad, octopus kushiyaki, crispy tuna.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My reco from the menu: green salad, octopus kushiyaki, crispy tuna.”January 2023
-
Dumplings Net +1
“For starters we were served Dumplings, Sushi, Prawn popcorn & Crab hand roll. And for main course there were very unique Combos such as Caramelized eggplant, Beef steak & Chicken fried rice. It was the right amount of crispy, soft, tender and delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For starters we were served Dumplings, Sushi, Prawn popcorn & Crab hand roll. And for main course there were very unique Combos such as Caramelized eggplant, Beef steak & Chicken fried rice. It was the right amount of crispy, soft, tender and delicious!”August 2022
-
Eel rice Net +1
“The food is mediocre. The prices are atrocious. The authentic Japanese 居酒屋 atmosphere is all wrong. However the least expected dishes like eel rice of plain miso soup were surprisingly good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is mediocre. The prices are atrocious. The authentic Japanese 居酒屋 atmosphere is all wrong. However the least expected dishes like eel rice of plain miso soup were surprisingly good.”January 2026
-
Green salad Net +1
“My reco from the menu: green salad, octopus kushiyaki, crispy tuna.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My reco from the menu: green salad, octopus kushiyaki, crispy tuna.”January 2023
-
Hands rolls Net +1
“Hands rolls and salmon with rice - were TOP TOP !!🔝Friendly and smiley stuff, and good selection of signature drinks 🍷.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Hands rolls and salmon with rice - were TOP TOP !!🔝Friendly and smiley stuff, and good selection of signature drinks 🍷.”January 2025
-
Milk cake Net +1
“Amazing! All the food was really delicious. An unusual combination of flavors. I especially recommend trying the milk cake.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Amazing! All the food was really delicious. An unusual combination of flavors. I especially recommend trying the milk cake.”January 2025
-
Miso crab Net +1
“Everything we tried was delicious, but the chicken fried rice and miso crab especially stood out.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Everything we tried was delicious, but the chicken fried rice and miso crab especially stood out.”December 2025
-
Octopus kushiyaki Net +1
“My reco from the menu: green salad, octopus kushiyaki, crispy tuna.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My reco from the menu: green salad, octopus kushiyaki, crispy tuna.”January 2023
-
Octopus roti Net +1
“Took my mum to Virgin Izakaya for their lunch offering. 130AED for 4 courses. Go hungry as their portions are pretty generous! We loved every bit , with highlights being their tom yum soup, shrimp popcorn and octopus roti (unique dishes as well!) Highly recommend you give it a try, as it's also got really nice views from their outdoor terrace :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Took my mum to Virgin Izakaya for their lunch offering. 130AED for 4 courses. Go hungry as their portions are pretty generous! We loved every bit , with highlights being their tom yum soup, shrimp popcorn and octopus roti (unique dishes as well!) Highly recommend you give it a try, as it's also got really nice views from their outdoor terrace :)”March 2024
-
Plain miso soup Net +1
“The food is mediocre. The prices are atrocious. The authentic Japanese 居酒屋 atmosphere is all wrong. However the least expected dishes like eel rice of plain miso soup were surprisingly good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is mediocre. The prices are atrocious. The authentic Japanese 居酒屋 atmosphere is all wrong. However the least expected dishes like eel rice of plain miso soup were surprisingly good.”January 2026
-
Salmon handrolls Net +1
“Salmon handrolls are absolutely amazing! As are the bluefin tuna tataki and salmon sushi, crab tacos...”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Salmon handrolls are absolutely amazing! As are the bluefin tuna tataki and salmon sushi, crab tacos...”April 2024
-
Salmon rice cake Net +1
“I took duck salad and salmon rice cake. Food was delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I took duck salad and salmon rice cake. Food was delicious!”April 2025
-
Salmon sushi Net +1
“Salmon handrolls are absolutely amazing! As are the bluefin tuna tataki and salmon sushi, crab tacos...”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Salmon handrolls are absolutely amazing! As are the bluefin tuna tataki and salmon sushi, crab tacos...”April 2024
-
Salmon with rice Net +1
“Hands rolls and salmon with rice - were TOP TOP !!🔝Friendly and smiley stuff, and good selection of signature drinks 🍷.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Hands rolls and salmon with rice - were TOP TOP !!🔝Friendly and smiley stuff, and good selection of signature drinks 🍷.”January 2025
-
Sashimi Net +1
“The food was absolutely incredible. We tried a variety of dishes, and each one was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The sushi was fresh, the sashimi was perfectly cut, and the robata grill had a smoky, mouth-watering aroma. The highlights for me were the wagyu beef skewers and the signature cocktails, which complemented the meal beautifully.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was absolutely incredible. We tried a variety of dishes, and each one was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The sushi was fresh, the sashimi was perfectly cut, and the robata grill had a smoky, mouth-watering aroma. The highlights for me were the wagyu beef skewers and the signature cocktails, which complemented the meal beautifully.”January 2025
-
Signature mango moctail Net +1
“Ps: try their signature mango moctail🥭🍸10/10!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Ps: try their signature mango moctail🥭🍸10/10!”April 2025
-
Tom yum soup Net +1
“Took my mum to Virgin Izakaya for their lunch offering. 130AED for 4 courses. Go hungry as their portions are pretty generous! We loved every bit , with highlights being their tom yum soup, shrimp popcorn and octopus roti (unique dishes as well!) Highly recommend you give it a try, as it's also got really nice views from their outdoor terrace :)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Took my mum to Virgin Izakaya for their lunch offering. 130AED for 4 courses. Go hungry as their portions are pretty generous! We loved every bit , with highlights being their tom yum soup, shrimp popcorn and octopus roti (unique dishes as well!) Highly recommend you give it a try, as it's also got really nice views from their outdoor terrace :)”March 2024
-
Udon Net +1
“The rolls and sushi were delicious, and the udon was excellent as well.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The rolls and sushi were delicious, and the udon was excellent as well.”January 2026
-
Wagyu beef skewers Net +1
“The food was absolutely incredible. We tried a variety of dishes, and each one was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The sushi was fresh, the sashimi was perfectly cut, and the robata grill had a smoky, mouth-watering aroma. The highlights for me were the wagyu beef skewers and the signature cocktails, which complemented the meal beautifully.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was absolutely incredible. We tried a variety of dishes, and each one was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The sushi was fresh, the sashimi was perfectly cut, and the robata grill had a smoky, mouth-watering aroma. The highlights for me were the wagyu beef skewers and the signature cocktails, which complemented the meal beautifully.”January 2025
What to Avoid (3)
Food 3
-
Miso soup Net −1
“Miso soup with 1-2 small pieces of crab - totally not worth 110 AED.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Miso soup with 1-2 small pieces of crab - totally not worth 110 AED.”December 2023
-
Tuna steak Net −1
“Tuna steak for 105 AED is oily/fat.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Tuna steak for 105 AED is oily/fat.”December 2023
-
Tuna tacos Net −1
“Tuna tacos for 80 AED are small and bad quality (definitely not premium - full of sauces, e.g., wasabi, mayo).”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Tuna tacos for 80 AED are small and bad quality (definitely not premium - full of sauces, e.g., wasabi, mayo).”December 2023
Tips for a Better Visit
Choose terrace. Ask for the second-floor terrace if you want the strongest waterfront view, particularly during the drone show.
Try lunch. Consider the four-course lunch if you want a filling set meal; one reviewer specifically said the portions were generous.
Check parking. Parking was reported as easily available, and public transit was also described as accessible.
Order highlights. For a first order, consider the duck salad or popcorn shrimp, both singled out for their flavour.
Check drinks. Inspect drinks when they arrive; one reviewer reported finding small plastic pieces and criticised the delayed management response.
Plan the visit
Practical details
SHOPSB001 BLUE WATERS METAL BLDG 23 SB MARS PLOT 3630
Marsa Dubai - Bluewaters Island, Dubai
| Mon | 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Sat | 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Sun | 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
High pricing
Some reviewers felt the prices were excessive, including one delivery order where the quality did not justify spending more than 300 AED.
Service gaps
One visit involved an empty venue, no terrace service because of staffing, and staff downstairs appearing unoccupied.
Drink hazard
A reviewer reported finding hard clear plastic pieces in a drink and felt the manager's response took too long.
Uneven dishes
One reviewer found the food mediocre overall, while another said the egg-and-chicken fried rice was somewhat dry.
Delivery value
A delivery review criticised small portions, oily tuna steak and heavily sauced tuna tacos as poor value.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
130AED
4 courses
“130AED for 4 courses”Google review · March 2024
105 AED
Tuna steak
“Tuna steak for 105 AED is oily/fat”Google review · December 2023
80 AED
Tuna tacos
“Tuna tacos for 80 AED are small and bad quality (definitely not premium - full of sauces, e”Google review · December 2023
110 AED
Miso soup
“Miso soup with 1-2 small pieces of crab - totally not worth 110 AED”Google review · December 2023
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Virgin Izakaya DXB is a modern izakaya-style Japanese restaurant on Bluewaters Island, with sushi, sashimi, robata-style dishes, cocktails and a waterfront setting. It works especially well for a scenic dinner, a celebration or a lively evening with music. The terrace is the main draw: reviews mention views across JBR, Dubai Marina and the sea, with the drone show adding a memorable backdrop.
The menu has plenty to share. Duck salad and popcorn shrimp are standout recommendations, while salmon handrolls, wagyu beef skewers, udon and milk cake also appear in enthusiastic reviews. The four-course lunch was reported at 130 AED, with generous portions and highlights including tom yum soup, shrimp popcorn and octopus roti.
A Saturday brunch with unlimited starters and drinks was also praised, though terms should be checked before visiting. Service is often described as attentive, friendly and helpful, and one anniversary visit included a thoughtful table move and cake surprise. Still, experiences are not completely consistent.
A reviewer reported poor terrace service during a quiet visit, while another found hard plastic pieces in a drink and felt the response was delayed. Prices can also feel high, especially when ordering dishes that do not land well. Ask for the terrace, and consider lunch if value matters.