Reif Othman is a Dubai-based chef and restaurateur from Singapore whose clever twists on Japanese cuisine have garnered him many accolades, including the Chefs’ Choice Award in the inaugural MENA 50 Best Restaurants 2022 line-up, and he is the only chef to make the Arabian Business Top 100 Power List 2023.
In August 2019, he opened his first home-grown restaurant, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki, in Jumeirah’s Dar Wasl mall, offering unconventional Japanese food. A licensed (with alcohol) outpost of REIF Japanese Kushiyaki followed at Time Out Market Dubai in Souk Al Bahar in April 2021 and another branch in Dar Wasl Mall in September 2021 to accommodate increased demand in the neighbourhood. His latest openings (opened summer 2023) at Dubai Hills Business Park include a licensed REIF Japanese Kushiyaki, Hoe Lee Kow, which is a brand new concept for Reif, unconventional Korean, and also TERO, The Experience by Reif Othman, which offers a unique private dining concept.
Reif is one of the few chefs-cum-restaurateurs in the UAE whose business is entirely self-funded. His 15-year service and dedication to the country’s F&B industry with his unconventional approach has raised the profile of this cuisine category here. His acute business understanding, thanks to his early experience as a stockbroker and seasoned restaurateur expertise, allows him to lead commercial operations and front-of-house.
Reif embraces Japanese sensibilities in his cooking, with a nod to Italian and French cuisine fundamentals. His cooking is renowned for quality, flavour, consistency, creativity, and wit, with new dishes as regular features. He’s always the first to introduce a new dish sparking a country-wide trend – whether it’s the ‘toilet roll’ yuzu and lemon cake that went viral over the pandemic, his Instagram-famous Wagyu sando, or his kushi skewers.
The first franchised REIF Japanese Kushiyaki restaurant in the world opened in December 2021 in Cairo at the 5A by The Waterway complex, with franchised partner and renowned Egyptian F&B operator Baky Hospitality, seating 140 diners in a licensed space.
Reif also launched a new unconventional streetwear store in 2021 – Soleside by Reif in Al Wasl Vita Mall – a reflection of his clothing passion that includes sneakers, streetwear, and Bearbrik toy collectables.
He also takes on consultant chef ventures and pop-up collaborations in the UAE and internationally.
Reif’s passion for food began at a young age in Singapore, helping his mother in her Asian cafeteria and studying at Shatec Culinary School. In 2007, he joined the One Rochester Group in Singapore as group executive chef for some of the city’s top restaurants and hotels before relocating to Dubai to work at Burj Al Arab.
In 2009, Reif was recruited as executive chef for the Zuma Dubai team, moving up the ladder to regional executive chef for Zuma in the Middle East and Turkey.
In 2015, he opened a locally developed restaurant concept in Dubai with R.A.W. Galadari Holdings & Absolute F&B Facilities Management as chief culinary officer – Play Restaurant & Lounge, followed by a chef’s table concept, The Experience by Reif Othman – both in the H Hotel.
In 2018, he took on a one-year contract as executive chef and business partner for SumosanTwiga, looking after the Dubai, Monaco, and London kitchens.
Reif is married with two children and believes life is too short for ugly clothes. Just look at his trainers, and you will see why.