Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2012

Recently-opened in Higashi-Azabu, Wakanui (B1F, 2-23-14 Higashi-Azabu, Minato-ku; www.wakanui.jp) specializes in all things from the Land of the Long White Cloud, including beef, lamb, salmon and wine. Carnivores sick of the thinly sliced meat in this country should get in for the infamous one-kilogram Ocean Beef bone-in ribeye (¥8,800; pictured)—for sharing, obviously. But there are many other succulent options on the menu, such as the hot-smoked New Zealand king salmon (¥1,600), whose delicate softness literally melts in the mouth. Truly Kiwi, too, is the dessert assortment of homemade hokey pokey ice cream (¥650) and pavlova (¥750), which makes a nice ending along with a steaming cup of Mojo coffee (¥700).