HANU, a stylish new restaurant in Dubai, is shaking up the city’s dining scene with its modern take on Korean cuisine in Dubai. With stunning interiors, premium ingredients, and bold flavours, HANU offers a unique experience for food lovers looking to explore the next chapter of Korean dining.
Opened recently in the heart of Dubai, HANU blends traditional Korean flavours with contemporary presentation, offering an elevated experience that feels both familiar and new. If you’re used to traditional Korean BBQ joints, this is a very different world — one that leans toward fine dining without losing the soul of Korean food.
A Stylish New Space That Feels Warm Yet Upscale
The first thing that catches your eye at HANU is the design. Located in The Link at One&Only One Za’abeel, the restaurant is sleek and elegant, with warm wood tones, minimalist lighting, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The interiors feel inspired by high-end Seoul restaurants — a nod to HANU’s goal of bringing authentic Korean cuisine in Dubai to a more polished level.
The seating is a mix of large tables for groups and more intimate spots for couples or solo diners. It’s comfortable, welcoming, and chic without being cold or pretentious. Whether you’re out for a special date night or catching up with friends, the vibe hits just the right note.
Menu Highlights: Traditional Dishes, Reimagined
HANU’s menu is a celebration of classic Korean dishes — but each one comes with a twist. Instead of the DIY BBQ experience many associate with Korean dining, HANU’s chefs cook and serve each dish to perfection.
This means you can sit back and enjoy while everything from galbi (short ribs) to bulgogi (marinated beef) is presented in a way that feels refined but still packed with flavour.
One standout is the HANU Premium Bulgogi. It’s thinly sliced beef marinated in a rich, slightly sweet soy-based sauce, grilled and served with pickled vegetables and a soft egg yolk. The beef is melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the seasoning is both bold and balanced.
Another must-try is the Jeju Samgyeopsal, a premium pork belly sourced from Jeju Island in South Korea. Grilled to perfection and served with dipping sauces, it’s rich and satisfying without feeling heavy.
Quality of Ingredients Sets HANU Apart
One of the biggest differentiators at HANU is the quality of ingredients. The restaurant uses Hanwoo beef, a prized Korean native cattle breed known for its tenderness and marbling. This is not an everyday ingredient — even in Korea, Hanwoo is expensive and reserved for special occasions.
In Dubai, HANU is one of the very few places where you can try Hanwoo beef, making it a unique selling point. The menu also features seafood flown in directly from Korea and fresh seasonal produce.
This commitment to quality extends to the side dishes and condiments too. The kimchi is made in-house, fermented perfectly, and served in small portions that complement the mains without overpowering them. Even the dipping sauces — from sesame oil to soybean paste — are carefully balanced and deeply flavourful.
Drinks and Desserts to Complete the Experience
The drinks menu is well-curated, with Korean soju, makgeolli (a traditional rice wine), and a variety of cocktails inspired by East Asian flavours. If you’re unsure, the staff is more than happy to suggest pairings to go with your meal.
For dessert, don’t skip the black sesame panna cotta. It’s creamy, nutty, and just the right amount of sweet. Another favourite is the yuzu cheesecake, which offers a light and citrusy end to a rich, flavour-packed meal.
Pricing: Premium But Justified
HANU is definitely not cheap — and it’s not trying to be. A full meal with drinks can easily cost AED 500 or more per person. But for what you get — rare ingredients, flawless preparation, and top-tier service — the price feels fair.
It’s a great choice for special occasions, date nights, or simply when you want to treat yourself to something more refined than your typical dinner out.
Service That Matches the Menu
The service at HANU is attentive without being overwhelming. Staff are knowledgeable about every dish and happy to walk you through the menu if you’re new to Korean food. The chefs even make occasional appearances at your table to describe certain dishes, giving the whole experience a personal, thoughtful touch.
This level of hospitality is rare and makes HANU stand out even more in Dubai’s competitive dining landscape.
A Modern Tribute to Korean Food Culture
HANU is more than just another restaurant serving Korean cuisine in Dubai. It’s a reinterpretation — a thoughtful, stylish tribute to Korean traditions, elevated through presentation and ingredient quality.
Instead of mimicking Korean BBQ chains or sticking strictly to old-school methods, HANU has found a way to honour the soul of the cuisine while making it feel new and relevant to Dubai’s high-end dining scene.
Is It Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. If you’re a fan of Korean food, or simply someone who loves discovering bold new flavours in beautiful spaces, HANU is worth your time and money. It brings something rare to Dubai — a restaurant that doesn’t just serve good food but tells a story with every dish.
It’s not everyday dining, but it doesn’t have to be. HANU is here for the moments you want to remember.
Final Thoughts: HANU Sets a New Benchmark
As Korean cuisine continues to grow in popularity around the world, HANU sets a new benchmark for what’s possible in Dubai. By combining top-quality ingredients, elevated presentation, and heartfelt service, it delivers an experience that’s memorable from start to finish.
In a city full of great dining options, HANU proves that there’s still room to surprise and delight. It’s not just a meal — it’s a journey through the past, present, and future of Korean food.
Read More: Escape and Indulge at Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri Abu Dhabi this Summer
