Ainuland pays homage to the cuisine of far northern Japan, the land of the Ainu people, centered in the city of Hokkaido. Though the menu's culinary influences are wide-ranging, the fresh ingredients, minimal preparation, unobtrusive service and sleek presentation are distinctly Japanese.

                               
We began our meal with an assortment of sushi (RMB 100/6 pieces) accompanied by a light, neat sake (curiously absent from the drinks list but available on request). The assortment was attractively and ably prepared, though some pieces used a too liberal amount of wasabi. The delicate and delicious teppanyaki-style Wagyu beef (RMB 250) displayed more obvious Continental tendencies, piling tender morsels of beef under an imposing pyramid of fried potato lace. Ainuland also offers kaiseke tasting menus and a lunch set for RMB 60, an affordable way to sample some tasteful and tasty Japanese fusion.

Food: 4/ Service: 3/ Atmosphere: 3/Cost for two (excluding drinks): RMB 410

Ainuland
Daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm. All cards.
Address:1/F, 698 Yongjia Lu, near Hengshan Lu
Tel; 021-6467 7157