11 restaurants opening in Dubai in January, from Frou Frou to Folly 2.0

Dubai's restaurant scene is starting off strong this year with about a dozen new openings this month. It's a good mix of home-grown and international concepts, including the return of Dubai favourite, Folly, and one of India's oldest restaurants, Aminia, which comes all the way from Kolkata. Cuisine-wise, Asian flavours continue to dominate, by way of Japanese and Korean venues, but more adventurous taste profiles are represented too, from Russian to Andalusian. Here are 11 of the latest restaurants to sample. Concept: Russian and Mediterranean Located along the Marina Walk promenade, District 8 offers three distinct experiences in one place. On the ground floor is Blume, which serves Mediterranean classics with a hint of Asian flavours. Dishes here include a standout Asian chicken salad , Philadelphia maki, Armenian ponchik and a range of main courses that feature chicken, lobster, beef, sea bass and more. On the first level is Rodina, a Russian fine dining restaurant that channels Moscow elegance in its interior and offers dishes such as Russian-style carpaccio with salmon, cod and dill cream; Moscow pelmeni with truffle; beef tongue with mashed potatoes; Kiev cutlet; and matryoshka or chocolate-coated vanilla mousse stuffed with Mandarin jam and juniper berry ice cream. The top level is Luxuria, a karaoke lounge that comes alive at night. Open daily, 7am-3pm; Dubai Marina; 04 495 6888 Cuisine: Korean Sunset Hospitality Group, which is behind SushiSamba , Goldfish and other popular Dubai restaurants, is opening Hanu this month at St Regis Gardens , Palm Jumeirah. The interiors are done up with sleek dark wood, intricate patterns and antique Korean furniture. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Dishes include Korean beef tartare, crispy bulgogi and oversized kimbap rolls. The kitchen is helmed by chef Kyung Soo Moon, who has worked at Attiko and Sachi. Opens January; 6pm onwards; St Regis Gardens, Palm Jumeirah Cuisine: Japanese Set within Vida Creek Harbour Hotel, the restaurant serves traditional Japanese cuisine courtesy of chef Howard Ko. Guests can look forward to a selection of sushi and kushiyaki creations, a range of flavourful ramen and dishes such as Wagyu tenderloin and shoyu ribs. Choose indoor seating where hand-painted cherry blossoms add cheery flair, or opt for the serene outdoor space with views of Dubai Creek. Opens January; noon onwards; Dubai Creek Harbour Cuisine: Japanese After the success of its flagship handroll bar at Alserkal Avenue , the restaurant is opening a second outlet at The Square by Nas in Meydan. This outpost features a 23-seat counter, which is part of the venue's immersive appeal as chefs prepare handrolls and nigiri on the spot. If the original location is anything go by, guests can expect favourites such as spicy tuna handroll and A5 Wagyu nigiri. Other dishes include unomono (pickled cucumber salad) and hijiki (seaweed salad), plus crudo dishes such as maguro (bluefin tuna sashimi served with pickled cucumber and ponzu) and hotate (scallops with orange). Opens January; Nad Al Sheba; @kokoro.dxb on Instagram Cuisine: Eastern European Following from the launch of its first branch in Dubai Marina, the restaurant operated by Russia's Vasilchuki group has opened its second location in the Greens. While majorly inspired by its origins, the dining spot also incorporates Asian and Middle Eastern flavours in its menu. Dishes include salmon tataki, home-made borsch with Borodinsky bread and beef ribs and baked duck breast. Daily, 9am-1am; Onyx Tower 2, The Greens; 052 684 3748 Cuisine: Spanish Andalusian allure is what this new restaurant on Bluewaters Island promises. This is palpable in the decor, with its warm terracotta tones and intricate wooden carvings across indoor and outdoor dining spaces. On the menu are a confluence of Spanish and Arabic influences, with dishes such as tuna tartare with Arabic spices, lamb shoulder with saffron and ajillo mixed mushrooms. Daily, noon-midnight; Bluewaters Island; 052 566 9199 Cuisine: French The Parisian import, located at The Lana Promenade , offers luxurious ingredients such as foie gras and black caviar. There's a seafood display too, as well as a range of artisanal cheeses. Dishes include beef carpaccio with truffle mayonnaise, salad Nicoise, beef entrecote and whole red mullet with beurre blanc. Daily, noon-1am; Marasi Drive, Business Bay; 04 834 8397 Cuisine: Asian Originally from Qatar, XFire specialises in stir-fried noodles. What started as a food truck near a football stadium in Qatar has now become a full-blown restaurant that makes everything from scratch, even its noodle boxes. Diners can choose from a variety including udon, egg, soba and ramen noodles – and pair them with their choice of protein and a range of sauces, from spicy peanut and yellow curry to sweet chilli. Daily, noon-midnight; Umm Suqeim 2; 058 271 2005 Cuisine: Indian The original location of the restaurant in Kolkata has been running since the 1920s, serving authentic Mughlai cuisine. It is now being run by the third and fourth generations of the founding family. The restaurant is known for its selection of biryanis and kebabs, with signature dishes such juicy mutton pasanda, mutton barbecue chops and chicken chaap. Daily, 11am-11.30pm; Al Karama; 058 129 5150 Cuisine: European The home-grown restaurant, founded by chef Nick Alvis, shut down its Souk Madinat location last year. It's due to reopen at the Address Montgomerie Hotel in Emirates Hills this month. The exact menu has not been revealed, but if the previous location is anything to go by, modern European cuisine will be the highlight. Diners can expect ingredients such as veal cheek, duck liver and quail. Opens January; Emirates Hills; 04 363 1248 Cuisine: International A new villa-set restaurant is opening along the lively Al Wasl street, offering an extensive menu that includes Mediterranean-inspired dishes, home-made pastries and expertly crafted coffee. There are live cooking stations too. The restaurant is already behind some of the popular dishes available at Global Village , including the Risotto kiosk that offers on-the-spot pasta dishes. Open January; Al Wasl

11 restaurants opening in Dubai in January, from Frou Frou to Folly 2.0

India’s Aminia and Qatar’s XFire have come to the emirate too