Tokushi

About Tokushi

Tokushi is one of the best-known Japanese restaurants in Medina, on King Abdullah Branch Road, and a top-rated Japanese choice in the city on Tripadvisor. It is built around live teppanyaki tables, where a chef cooks meat, seafood and vegetables on the iron plate in front of guests, alongside a full sushi and sashimi list. Like all dining in the city, the restaurant is alcohol-free, and it is open daily from early afternoon until late.

For a different special-occasion table in the city, compare the grills at The Steak House. For the category, see our Japanese guide and sushi guide.

The Kitchen

The kitchen runs two halves. At the teppanyaki tables a chef grills meat, seafood and vegetables to order, the live cooking doubling as the entertainment, while the sushi counter turns out nigiri, sashimi, temaki and maki. Diners single out the dragon roll, the California roll and the spicy uramaki among the rolls, with sashimi and tempura for the table and Japanese ice cream to finish; there are also cooked plates such as chicken yakitori and gyoza. Prices sit in the mid-range for the city, with most diners spending roughly 120 to 200 riyals a head depending on whether they choose teppanyaki or the sushi list. It is a reliable, crowd-pleasing menu rather than a hushed omakase.

The Room

The room is set up for a sociable meal, with a warm welcome, an elegant dining space and the teppanyaki tables giving the evening a sense of theatre as the chef works. Service is attentive and the mood is relaxed and family-friendly, suiting groups and celebrations as much as a quiet dinner. As with everywhere in Medina, no alcohol is served. The restaurant is on King Abdullah Branch Road, with both dine-in and takeaway, and stays open late, which makes it a useful option after evening prayers. Booking ahead is wise for a teppanyaki table at busy times.