3Fils Abu Dhabi: A Cult UAE Favourite Grows Up at Al Bateen Marina

The sequel that did not copy the original

When 3Fils opened in Dubai in late 2016, its appeal came from an unusual combination: serious Japanese-influenced cooking delivered without the stiffness often attached to serious restaurants. Abu Dhabi, opened in July 2025, scales that idea up rather than turning it into a polished clone. The Al Bateen Marina address stretches across three floors, with close to 200 seats and views across the harbour, yet the house rules remain disarmingly simple: come as you are, walk in, and do not worry about reservations.

Jun Kamiyama and an ingredient-first kitchen

Head chef Jun Kamiyama brings more than two decades of experience shaped in Tokyo, Bordeaux and Paris, combining Japanese precision with French technique and a wider international perspective. That background matters because 3Fils is not really a sushi restaurant, nor is it conventional fine dining. The menu moves between sashimi, grilled seafood, wagyu, sandos and playful comfort dishes, with key ingredients flown from Japan twice a week.

The Abu Dhabi kitchen has its own reasons to visit. MENA’s 50 Best highlights the grilled black-lime baby chicken with ponzu butter and sudachi, alongside a chocolate-heavy dessert called Take Me to the Moon. Familiar 3Fils signatures also travel well: wagyu sando, otoro nigiri, Gyu Grab and the much-discussed karak ice cream.

Recognition arrived quickly

The capital edition has barely had time to settle in, yet it entered MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 at No.42 and was awarded a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand in the 2026 Abu Dhabi guide. MICHELIN specifically praised the contemporary Japanese cooking, including chargrilled baby chicken, prawns and sashimi, and the relaxed open-kitchen energy.

That combination explains the attraction. This is ambitious food, but the restaurant works hard not to make ambition feel ceremonial.

Practical details

Address: Editions, Marsa Al Bateen Marina, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +971 56 591 1772
Hours: Daily, 12:00–00:00
General enquiries: info@3fils.com
Reservations: Walk-ins only
Recognition: MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2026; MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 No.42