CLAY

For a celebration, date night, or polished group dinner in Dubai, CLAY is best understood as a Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei restaurant with sushi, omakase and grill. The basics are direct: Head Chef Jolbi leads the kitchen, the listed spend is about $75 per person, the dress code is business casual.

The restaurant works well when the table wants range rather than a single narrow format. Its menu identity covers sushi, omakase, ceviche, tiraditos and Nikkei grill dishes, so it can suit diners who want raw preparations as well as those who prefer cooked dishes. With service hours from midday into late evening on most days, it can be considered for daytime or evening plans, depending on the booking.

Nikkei works here because the format gives groups options

The menu’s advantage is range. Nikkei can be tricky for mixed tables because the style often has both Japanese and Peruvian reference points; here, the structure gives a group multiple routes. Sushi and nigiri cover the Japanese side, ceviche and tiraditos bring the Peruvian side, Nikkei grill dishes help anyone who does not want a raw-fish-heavy meal. That makes it easier for a host to plan a birthday, client dinner, or double date without forcing everyone into the same narrow format.

For diners who want the most food-focused version of the booking, the omakase side of the restaurant is the natural place to look. For groups that want flexibility, ordering around sushi, ceviche, tiraditos and grill dishes is the safer move. The signature dishes include Clay Maki, Mixed Nigiri, Hotate New Style Nigiri, Ceviche, Tiraditos and Nikkei Grill dishes, giving the table recognisable anchors without reducing the meal to a standard sushi order.

Head Chef Jolbi gives the restaurant a clear leadership point, the Japanese-Peruvian framing keeps the menu from reading as generic fusion. The restaurant is also a Gault & Millau UAE Selected Restaurant for 2026, which supports its place as a recognised Dubai dining option without needing to overstate the case.

Book it for a polished Nikkei meal

CLAY is a polished Dubai booking rather than a bare-bones sushi stop. The dress code is business casual, which is a useful signal for how to plan the visit: dressed enough for a smart meal, not so formal that the booking needs to feel corporate.

The strongest value comes from using the breadth of the menu. At about $75 per person, the restaurant makes more sense when the table orders across sushi, omakase, ceviche, tiraditos and grill rather than treating it as a quick roll-and-go meal. If the goal is a full Nikkei meal in Dubai, CLAY is a more confident fit.

Opening hours also make it flexible. CLAY is listed for Sunday to Thursday from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM, Friday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM, Saturday from 1:00 PM to 1:00 AM. For the latest timing, diners should still confirm directly before booking, especially for late-night plans.

Where to place it in a wider Dubai dining plan

Place CLAY in a Dubai itinerary when the group wants Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cooking at a premium but not ultra-rarefied price point. It is strongest for diners who want sushi, omakase and grill in one restaurant, for hosts who need a menu with enough variety to satisfy different appetites.