つけ麺帝王
"Kaniya @ Tako Jizo (Kishiwada)" December 2010 Holiday Visit at 18:00. Belated Happy New Year! ※ This is the first review of 2011, but it's not a review of the "tsukemen" (dipping noodles), and I apologize for that. My partner really wanted to have a hearty crab meal, so I searched online and found this place. (While there are great crab restaurants in Osaka, I wanted to try something different, so I chose a different place. I had never been to Tako Jizo Station before.) Given the season, we made a reservation in advance. There were no people waiting in line, and there were already 12 customers inside. The seating was about 50% full. They didn't seem to have any specific waiting area. When we entered the restaurant, there was a live crab tank right in front of us, with a remarkable number and size of king crabs. It felt like we were in an aquarium. Some crabs were even trying to escape from the tank (laughs). Since I had already checked the menu on their website, I ordered drinks and the "Live King Crab Full Course" for two people (charcoal-grilled, sashimi, crab hot pot, crab vinegar, and porridge). 【1. Crab Vinegar】... Crab simmered in water with cucumbers. The firm texture comes through, and it's just the right amount for an appetizer. A great start! 【2. Grilled Crab】... A large rectangular shichirin (charcoal brazier) was brought to our table. You could tell they managed the charcoal temperature just right. When you grill the crab, the flesh shrinks and it feels like it's still alive. I love this way of eating because it concentrates the flavor and sweetness. 【3. Crab Sashimi】... The sashimi had decorative cuts like flower petals. Dip it in soy sauce, and you can taste the sweetness immediately. You could also have enjoyed it by boiling it briefly or having it shabu-shabu style, but we decided to enjoy it in big, Gargantuan bites. The flesh came off easily, and it was a delightful experience. 【4. Crab Hot Pot】... There were about 5 slices of king crab per person. Chinese cabbage, tofu (2 pieces), maroni (chestnuts), shiitake mushrooms, white onions, and carrots were all beautifully arranged in crab shapes. They served it with a homemade ponzu sauce with a strong citrus flavor. While waiting for the hot pot to boil, we ordered "lotus root tempura" as a side dish, and it turned out to be a great accent within the course. We also ordered "crab miso," which was rich and gently flavored. You can also dip it in the provided cucumber. 【5. Crab Porridge】... Finally, the last course. They served pickles, raw egg, thinly sliced seaweed, and washed rice for making the porridge. The emperor's way is to keep some crab meat aside for the porridge. You get to enjoy crab until the very end (laughs). After finishing two bowls of porridge per person, the course ended. Hmm, I felt like I really indulged in crab (well, of course, I did (laughs)). Although they provided crab forks, most of the meat was so big and fresh that we didn't need to pick at it much; we could just eat it. There was no typical silence during the crab feast this time (laughs). It took less than 45 minutes to walk from "Namba" to the restaurant, so it felt surprisingly close. Both my partner and I ordered the full course this time, but you can change the course for each person, which is quite rare (one person has the full course, and the other has the grilled and sashimi course, for example). It's a once-a-year gratitude feast for my partner. It's a suitable place for an occasional indulgence. ☆ 4.0 (I had the full course with live king crab for the first time. I'm not sure about the market price, but I haven't found any other restaurants in Osaka that offer live king crab to this extent, so I'm giving it this rating.) When we left, the restaurant was packed with people of all ages. Reservations are essential during the holidays in the winter. Open year-round from November 1st to the end of February."