‘Dinosaur Tartare’ and Holograms: Dubai’s AI Chef Sparks Awe — and Debate

Woohoo, a new Dubai restaurant, markets itself as guided by chef Aiman, an AI trained on thousands of recipes and culinary research. The venue pairs AI-driven concepts — including a DNA-mapped "dinosaur tartare" served on a pulsating plate — with holograms and theatrical presentation, while human chefs execute and sometimes override the AI’s suggestions. The concept has divided chefs and diners: some praise its creativity, while others say AI cannot supply the "nafas" or soul essential to true cooking.

11:56 AM, 11/30/2025Technology

‘Dinosaur Tartare’ and Holograms: Dubai’s AI Chef Sparks Awe — and Debate

Woohoo, a new restaurant in Dubai, is marketing itself as home to the world’s "first AI chef": an algorithmic system called chef Aiman that its founders say was trained on thousands of recipes and decades of culinary research, including molecular gastronomy techniques. The venue blends theatrical presentation with experimental dishes, holograms and a large cylindrical computer billed as the digital mainframe behind its lights and smoke effects.

According to the restaurant, chef Aiman can propose optimised menus and help balance flavours, but the physical work of cooking and serving remains in human hands. Turkish co-founder Ahmet Oytun Cakir says the system is intended to augment creativity in the kitchen and could evolve significantly over time.

Most dishes on Woohoo’s menu are international fusion plates, but one creation has generated particular attention: a so-called "dinosaur tartare," an attempt to imagine the flavour profile of extinct reptiles. The team declined to publish the exact recipe, saying it was developed using DNA-mapping techniques, and the dish is presented on a pulsating plate meant to evoke breathing. Priced at roughly €50 (about $58), customers describe the taste as a combination of raw-meat textures and novel seasoning.

"It was a total surprise. It was so delicious,"

said diner Efe Urgunlu.

Chef Serhat Karanfil runs the kitchen and handles final plating. He acknowledges he doesn’t always agree with Aiman’s suggestions: if a dish is too spicy or otherwise unbalanced, he adjusts and consults the AI to reach the desired result. "If I taste it, for example, and it is too spicy, I talk to chef Aiman again. After we discuss, we find the right balance," he explains.

Not everyone in Dubai’s culinary scene embraces the idea of an AI chef. Michelin-starred chef Mohamad Orfali argues that true cooking requires "nafas" — an Arabic term for soul or breath — and that artificial intelligence lacks feelings, memories and the intangible personal touch that transforms food.

"There is no such thing as an AI chef,"

Orfali said, adding that in his own kitchen he limits AI to administrative tasks such as scheduling and research. "We use it as a kitchen assistant, but ultimately, it won't cook."

The Woohoo concept has resonated with diners drawn to Dubai’s reputation for extravagant, tech-forward experiences — the city even has a government minister for artificial intelligence — and the restaurant has created a social media buzz. An Instagram account for chef Aiman posts videos featuring an AI avatar sharing tips and recipes, further blurring lines between novelty and practical culinary innovation.

Whether chef Aiman will become a transformative force in gastronomy or remain a high-tech gimmick remains to be seen. For now, Woohoo offers a provocation: a taste of what happens when digital design meets human hands and theatrical flair.