Following the launch of two new locations in the UAE, the handroll bar will open an international outpost come 2026.
In a move that comes as absolutely no surprise, Kokoro is growing. Quirky and fast-casual, the country’s first handroll bar is expanding its footprint with two new locations. In Dubai, a new outpost will debut at Dubai Mall in Q4 of 2025, followed by the Japanese eatery’s first foray into Abu Dhabi. A branch will launch in an undisclosed location on Saadiyat Island in March 2026.
Since opening its doors in March 2024, Kokoro has quickly become one of Dubai’s most talked-about dining experiences. With branches in Alserkal Avenue and Nad Al Sheba, it has served over 200,000 guests and rolled out almost a million handrolls to date in whimsical settings adorned with more novelty rubber ducks than you can count.
Owned and operated by Tamer El Khayat and Faisal Yabroudi, Kokoro has redefined the dining format with its counter-seating concept, made-to-order hand rolls, and a menu rooted in Japanese precision and contemporary flavours. The decision to expand into Dubai Mall and Abu Dhabi wasn’t just strategic — it was a response to the community. “We’ve always built Kokoro with our guests at the centre,” says El Khayat. “We have visitors asking almost daily when Kokoro is coming to their side of the town, these new locations are our way of saying, we hear you.”
At Dubai Mall, Kokoro will sit in the newly minted The District, an area that champions the country’s biggest homegrown brands. Like the upcoming outpost in Abu Dhabi, this location is currently under development. Further down, international expansion is also on the cards. Both locations are currently under development. Come 2026, international expansion is also on the cards, with more details expected in the coming months. Watch this space.
Discover: Kokoro Hand Roll Bar. Multiple branches across Dubai. @kokoro.dxb
