Get Set For A Cool Korean Brunch at NURI Grill & Bar

Looking for a cool Korean brunch in Yas Bay? One with excellent food, creative cocktails and a great vibe? See why this is a brunch that we struggled to leave - and maybe even ended up staying at an hour or two extra! 

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Vibes

The space is generous, the high ceilings and industrial-chic interiors straddling the bridge between cool and comfortable perfectly. A long bar runs along one side, and high windows look out upon tables and a lush garden - perfect for the cooler months. The resident DJ had the tunes on point from the moment we arrived - the music was vibey without being overwhelming and we found ourselves bopping in our seats throughout - a spikey remix of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know even inspired our first karaoke choice - but more on that later!

Food 

Prepare yourself: the food keeps coming - and between chatting, working our way through the drinks selection and eating, three hours flew by. Sharing starters land in two batches, so pace yourself. Beef tataki is pretty as a picture, fresh and light, while the bulgogi kimchi tacos had a delicious crunch, the kimchi and lemon cream complimenting the beef perfectly. 

We jumped on the skewers of spicy chicken, sweet soy beef and king oyster mushroom served atop a mini grill, and deep-fried dumplings of both beef and kimchi were perfectly crispy and demolished accordingly. A sushi platter makes for something of a palate cleanser - there’s a mix of maki, nigiri and gimbab to go round.

Take a moment mid-course to enjoy the space: the DJ and general hustle and bustle of the restaurant makes for a great atmosphere, and there is a wash of natural light from the sky-high windows that we crave in the hotter months, when outside’s out of reach. Dive into the second round with a crispy kimchi pancake, seafood pancake and excellent Japchae spring rolls. The grilled cheese corn is a buttery delight, with a pop of flavour from cheese and shichimi powders.

Our hero this round? An essential at any self-respecting Korean brunch: Korean fried chicken. Yangnyeom and ganjang chicken - deep-fried crispy chicken glazed in sticky sweet and spicy sauces - was gobbled up at the speed of light, and washed down with the perfectly-timed arrival of a cold pint of Stella.

Waistbands feeling a bit tight already, the arrival of the mains rallied the troops: grilled lobster, glazed with lemon butter and garlic, and bassak bulgogi. The thin sliced beef bulgogi is marinated with Korean BBQ sauce, and served atop a grill - the steam rising and eliciting a last growl from our stuffed bellies. Plans have already been made to return to sample the other mains on the brunch menu - galbijjim (braised short rib) and the roasted spicy black cod.

Self-confessed sweet tooths, dessert needs to score well for brunch to be a winner for us, and NURI’s dessert platter is the perfect yin to the savoury courses’ . Homemade yuza cheesecake was deliciously soft, and perfect with the abundance of fresh tropical fruit, while the mochi ice cream bites make for a cute touch - and some of the better mochi we’ve had. If you can manage it, enjoy coffee and traditional Korean honey tea to finish - or kick on with last drinks, as there’s a plentiful selection! 

Drinks 

Possibly my favourite mocktail in Abu Dhabi, Acacia is a dreamy concoction with a whipped foam on top; combining pineapple juice, lemon and fresh basil, I’d return for this drink alone! The selection is great for both house and premium packages though - house has a nice selection of Australian, Chilean and New Zealand wines, classic cocktails, spirits and 3 flavours each of rice wine and Chamisul Soju. 

Fans of Moët & Chandon will be glad to see their Imperial Brut on the premium menu, along with top shelf Korean spirits - Hwayo 25, Hwayo 41, bek se ju, Myungjak Bokbunja & Korean ginseng liquor - and NURI’s premium Soju cocktails. Sarang-hae (love you) - with flavours of cranberry, vanilla rhubarb and fresh lime - lands on the table with a rose-shaped ice cube, another classy touch for a brunch of this calibre.

Keep The Party Going

There’s no need to leave NURI for post-brunch kick ons: we couldn’t pass up the chance for some proper Korean-style karaoke in one of Nuri’s private rooms. Armed with a songlist packed with hits, we passed a boisterous hour (and a few more drinks) singing our hearts out and jamming. You can book a karaoke room for AED100 per hour, every day from 12PM until late - and we can’t wait for a return visit on our next night out in Yas Bay.

A final feather in NURI’s cap? The staff - friendly, attentive, on-point for any help you need with the menu and speedy with drinks, they really do this Saturday brunch justice. Praise for NURI is well-deserved: for a fun and fresh brunch, you can’t go wrong here - and we’d wager you can’t go hungry or thirsty even if you tried! 

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Timing: Saturday | 12.30-3.30PM

Price: AED299 soft package | AED449 house package | AED 599 Champagne package

AED100 per hour karaoke room hire | daily 12PM - 12AM | Friday & Saturday until 2AM

Booking: 054 211 5151