Jun’s restaurant has finally opened its doors, bringing Dubai foodies a new Asian modern dining experience. Jun’s, the brainchild of award-winning chef Kelvin Cheung, is offering a modern restaurant concept that captures a blend of nostalgic flavors of North American and Asian cuisines.

Rooted in Cheung’s Chinese heritage, North American upbringing, and French training coupled with ingredients from local farms, Jun’s restaurant promises to take you on an immersive culinary journey through the chef’s Chinese upbringing and life across the world from North America to India.

The inspiration behind Jun’s restaurant

According to Cheung, the inspiration behind Jun’s was to create an elevated yet approachable dining experience; a place where people can come together and celebrate the everyday joys. “I am excited to welcome diners to Jun’s Dubai and walk them through not only a journey of flavors but also the journey of my culinary experiments.”

Jun’s menu

The masterfully crafted menu features a selection of North American-inspired Asian dishes interpreted in a progressive, modern format, with each dish incorporating a personal story into the recipe – simple in presentation yet massive in flavor.

The Charred Rainbow Heirloom Carrots with Smoked Labneh, Candied Nuts, and Soy Honey Butter is a tribute to Cheung’s mother’s love for bagels topped with cream cheese and smoked salmon, which inspired the chef to recreate that flavor profile in a vegetarian form, served with house-baked sourdough bread.

Another highlight dish from Jun’s restaurant, the Salmon Tartar with Gluten-Free Nori Cracker, Charred Avocado, and Agua de Chili pays homage to the man who kept Cheung nourished back when he worked as a line cook in Chicago, where he finished work in the early hours of the morning. During this time, Cheung frequented one of the only food trucks that were still open, run by a little old man who served fresh fish from the local market, seasoned with a spicy, freshly made Agua de Chili.

YOU’LL LOVE: Bastion Brasserie: Haute Cuisine at its Best

The Baked Alaska from Jun’s dinner menu was inspired by Cheung’s time working as a Sous Chef at one of Toronto’s busiest Italian restaurants, where the most popular dessert was a pineapple upside-down cake, which Cheung would always help prepare alongside the pastry chef. Filled with surprise, Jun’s version of the dessert is gluten-free with smoked green chili-infused pineapple marmalade, soya sauce brown butter ice cream, and burnt meringue.

Other highlight menu items include Sechuan Lamb; Gluten-Free Tempura Za’atar Chaat; Hokkaido Scallop and Corn; Wagyu Striploin Beer Tartar; Mapo Tofu Lasagna; Macanese Lobster; Boba Crème Brulee’ Matcha Sponge with Pistachio Mousse and more. Jun’s also offers an extensive selection of gluten-free, vegan, and pescetarian options, catering to everyone.

Jun’s interior aesthetics

With floor-to-ceiling windows, Jun’s boasts sweeping views of the Burj Khalifa. No attention to detail has been spared in the aesthetics of the venue, which features a wall of timber, a marble bar top, natural white bricks, and stunning jade accents throughout in a nod to Cheung’s Chinese heritage. A series of beautiful three-dimensional ceiling installations made of unique mesh material is a serious eye-catcher.