Ian West, 4-Front’s group general manager introduces the company’s latest concept, Mr Miyagi’s Asian Street Food and Bar, which has just opened on Level 9 of Media One Hotel, Dubai.
Please describe the concept of the venue in your words?
Hailing from the streets of Asia, fictional sensei, Mr Miyagi, heads up an outlet like no other, bringing trinkets from his travels across Japan, China, Thailand and Vietnam that litter the walls and floor of this kitsch and eclectic new outlet. His iconic movie rival, Cobra Kai, is the aptly-named adjacent bar, brimming with unique drinks mixes, thematic hops, beer pong and live cabaret. The chimu – meaning ‘team’ in Japanese – is headed up by an experienced sensei master who leads his ninjas (waiters) in delivering a flamboyant and exciting programme of food, beverage and entertainment.
What are the signature items on the menu?
What’s so great about this menu is that it draws inspiration from the Far East and Southeast Asia. Expect to enjoy traditional recipes of Japanese sushi, Vietnamese pho, Chinese dim sum, Thai curries and Filipino adobo that transport you right into the kitchens of old-school Asia.
What is interesting about the beverage offer?
We wanted to continue the street theme so hops are served up in cans, a cocktail list of strong and punchy serves was specially created in collaboration with the MMI bar academy and Barcardi and sharing cocktails come in bright buckets from our pop-up bars. Expect to be drinking from recycled soup tins, coconuts and plastic bags.
Who designed the interiors and how do they reflect the concept?
Everything in the outlet was handpicked and the majority of the antiques were sourced from street markets in Thailand and China. My favourite pieces are the neon signs we had specially created, the kaleidoscope tuk-tuk and our life-sized blossom tree, a feature piece that fills the lounge area of Cobra Kai. Don’t be surprised to find larger-than-life bronze statues among funky neon’s, Chinese lanterns and multi-coloured wooden dining areas.
How will the venue compete in Dubai?
Mr Miyagi’s caters to a mid-end casual market with a focus on authentic street food and unique beverage offers typical of Asia’s party places, in a setting that provides the antithesis to the stereotypically glamorous and minimalistic high-end Dubai venues.
