THE BRIEF
During my stay at the Palm Jumeirah Resort in Dubai, I was invited to have dinner at Smoki Moto which is located in the hotel. Smoki Moto is Dubai’s first fully licensed Korean steakhouse. I had not been in a Korean restaurant for a long time, so I looked forward to sampling their cuisine.
Chef Wilson Shim
Born and raised in South Korea, Chef Wilson brings 22 years of vibrant culinary experience from prestigious venues like W Hotel Seoul and Shanghai Renaissance. Now at Smoki Moto Dubai, he passionately blends traditional Korean techniques with modern flair, focusing on healthy, colourful dishes.
As you proceed into the restaurant, you notice how it’s divided into stations starting with a butcher shop, a Korean pancake station, the main grilling tables, and a large lounge with numerous seating areas. Some eight chefs are working in plain sight preparing your beef.
After wandering around the seating areas I chose a table indoors. Be warned that smoking is allowed on the outdoor seating area which overlooks the hotel pool area and the sea.
The menus and a glass of wine were brought out in short order, and I began to peruse extensive info on the many dishes available.
After inquiring about house favourites from the staff and the chef, I decided to start with the Avocado Tofu Salad. It’s a delicious dish with just the right amount of spice.
Next up was the Seafood Mandu. It’s a nice dish of seafood dumplings with noodles and bean sprouts. It had just a hint of Jalapenos.
The restaurant is really all about the beef and for this night I chose the Black Angus Galbi short ribs. This is marinated beef done in the Korean style (thinly sliced beef left overnight in a sweet/spicy marinade).
The dish comes served on a grill with lettuce for wrapping the steak and Kimichi and fresh veggies on the side.
For the finish, I ordered the Mango Bingsu. It’s kind of like a sorbet that’s offered for dessert.
THE DEBRIEF
To dine out means you should be expecting an experience and the Smoki Moto does not disappoint. If you are looking for Korean food and excellent ambiance, this restaurant is for you. My only negative comment would be about the smoking on the outdoor section which I am not a fan of in any restaurant.
