Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2010

One dining trend that’s causing a buzz among expats is the rise of Middle Eastern and Arabian cuisine. Granted, the food often comes in the form of shawarma on a paper plate or kebabs from a street-corner yatai, but hey, it’s a start.

A more dedicated take on Egyptian fare can be found at the new branch of Nakameguro institution Nefertiti, which sits in an enviable spot on Roppongi Dori. With foreign staff and a menu full of local dishes, this is about as authentic as you’ll find in Tokyo. As the restaurant’s PR crows, “From the moment you step inside, you will feel like you have left the country and landed in Egypt.”

Well, not quite. Though the curtained booths and elaborate water pipes give the place a Cairo-tastic feel, our seats by the street-front window were drafty and cold. And if the 45-minute wait we had to endure between the appetizers and entrees are standard for Egypt, we won’t be booking a flight to Alexandria anytime soon.

But the food is undeniably scrumptious, the flavors rare for Tokyo. Nefertiti’s hummus (¥720) and falafel (¥720) are both superior examples of their kind. The shish kebab plate (¥1,800) offers up some of the tenderest lamb we’ve enjoyed in Japan. Lunch is even better—a half-dozen options on offer for ¥1,000, including generous plates of beef or lamb shawarma. And, as we were happy to discover, service at lunch is prompt and solicitous.

Nefertiti is sure to be embraced by foreigners and, judging by recent visits, it’s becoming a hotspot for locals as well. Who knows? With the way things are going, there may come a time when you meet a Japanese person and won’t have to explain what baba-ganoush is. Imagine that.