How Kokoro Became A UAE Food Icon In Just Nine Months

Known for its premium Japanese handrolls, an unwavering commitment to quality, and an undeniable cool factor, Kokoro – which launched in Dubai in 2024 – has quickly become a household name in the UAE’s ever-evolving dining scene.

Indeed, in a span of just nine months, Kokoro was able to achieve what many in the F&B industry can only dream of – it got to serve over 100,000 customers, with its fanbase known to have collectively waited over 900 hours to get a seat at its 20-seat counter.

Inc. Arabia asked Kokoro owner-operators Tamer El Khayat and Faisal Yabroudi to share their tips for other F&B entrepreneurs seeking to replicate their success. Here’s how they replied:

Love What You Do

“This goes without saying, but building a business is a lot of work and requires you to sacrifice a lot of your energy, attention, and time. At some points, it may even take over your life. If you don’t love what you do, you will begin to feel trapped by your business, and not only will you not be able to grow, you may even start to resent the time you spend at work.”

Be Confident About Your Product Or Your Service

“This doesn’t come immediately. It requires self-awareness and the willingness to admit that sometimes, the first iteration of your product may not always be the best. It’s the dedication to your customer that will allow you to build the best fit for your target audience.”

Success Is Not Without Struggles

“Success does not come easy, and it definitely does not come overnight. What you don’t see behind every success are years of hard work and many failures. It’s learning from these failures and applying these learnings to future endeavors that will bring about success.” 

Pictured on image are Kokoro's owner-operators Tamer El Khayat and Faisal Yabroudi. Image courtesy Kokoro.

This article first appeared in the January/February issue of Inc. Arabia magazine. To read the full issue online, click here.