I wanted to try Kanizo, because a friend always said to me, that its crab is the best deal.Finding the right entrance in Umeda took a bit of walking around. Finally I managed to enter.
Trying King Crab at Kanizo in Umeda
At Kanizo they offer different crab meals, including King Crab and Snow Crab. It is one of those crab-only restaurants, because a lot of people come here for full meal course with crab made using a few methods. I chose one from the King Crab Feast sets (EXPENSIVE!!!), but I considered that good for trying here.
First came the KING crab legs that were thick and full of flesh inside (It was salted actually). You could right away see, that the meat was juicy. They served them with scissors for cracking, and really pulling the meat from those big legs was almost half of the fun.
In Japanese crab restaurants they usually bring the crab in steps, so during the meal you get it boiled, grilled and as sashimi, and Kanizo follows that same way.
Then came sashimi with slices of fish and squid, mixed in some sour sauce. The squid was soft, the fish fresh, but the sauce was a bit too sour for me and somehow covered everything. At least the cherry tomatoes and onions added a bit of crunch.
Two scallops came right after that, probably fresh and you can grill it. They were soft and had that sweet sea taste that's normal for a good scallop. No big servings, but the taste was there.
Then clams with fresh meat. They were good, but really nothing special, something simple without many spices.
Corn with a bit of butter, that melted on top, followed by spicy cucumber pickles with red chili flakes. The cucumbers gave a good kick, and I often returned to them between the big crab meals. The corn was only corn, and with cheese, yeah.
Also the fried chicken, that I did not expect in a crab restaurant. They were crunchy outside, but juicy inside. Not bad, but I came here because of the crab, so I didn't order too much.
Here was the best part for me. Crab legs grilled over an open flame at the table itself. I held them with chopsticks over the flame and watched them cook; the smell was smoky and sweet at the same time.
Grilled crab has that little burnt taste at the edges, not exist when boiled, and I think that was my favorite way to eat it. The meat became slightly harder due to the heat, but inside stayed juicy.
Edamame is essential in any Japanese restaurant. Great snack between all that crab.
Next, a grilled fish with radish on the side. The fish had a nice burn on the skin, and the daikon was soft and mild. I was already very full at that moment, so I ate it slowly.
Overall, I would say it was a nice experience if you would like to try eating King Crab in Japan. The price in this restaurant is not cheap, if you are looking for cheaper alternatives, try their snow crab instead of king crab. Or you could just visit the Kuromon market in the morning and get the crab leg at a much cheaper price.
Choices are there, you decide!
