The first round of all-you-can-eat snow crabs at the Kanimatsuri restaurant in Tokyo. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
Festival season may be ending, but Kanimatsuri restaurant keeps the party going with all-you-can-eat crab in Tokyo’s vibrant Tsukiji Outer Market.
There are fans of crabs, and then there are fans of crabs. My partner falls into the latter category. A romantic stroll on the beach usually ends with him chasing crabs along rocky outcrops, holding them up triumphantly for the family once he’s caught them.
When I heard of an all-you-can-eat crab restaurant in Tokyo, I knew we had to visit.
Making a reservation online was easy with Google Translate. The restaurant is only a four-minute walk from Tsukiji Station and right above a Lawson.
Red and white lanterns mark the entrance stairs to the left of the convenience store. Festive lanterns strung across the interior of the restaurant and its bright fishing flags give the space an Instagram-friendly look.
A poster inside the Kanimatsuri restaurant in Tokyo displays various crab species. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
Once seated, a worker arrived to explain the rules. She gave us the choice of either an hour of all-you-can-eat snow crab for 6,000 yen — about $42 — or an upgraded deal featuring Hokkaido crab for 15,000 yen per hour. We went for the more economical snow crab.
A waitress arrived with our first platter, which included two whole crabs, plus extra crab legs. Then she demonstrated with pliers how to extract meat from each part of the crab, cracking the leg segments above each joint and deftly exposing an entire portion.
After showing us how to open the crab legs, she set a crab-shaped timer at the table and left us to it. With her helpful instruction, we were able to make the most of our meal within the time limit.
The snow crab was better than I expected, though I suspect even if it was poorly cooked, it would still be pretty good. The meat was sweet and juicy, and we made good use of the complimentary sauces. My favorite was the classic garlic butter dipping sauce, but there was also regular butter, Cajun sauce and sweet vinegar.
We used a QR code to order more crab, and the orders arrived quickly at the table.
Skip the miso soup and rice; there isn’t anything unique about them and the crab is filling. The menu also contains a la carte items such as a single order of crab and sashimi if you’d rather not attempt the all-you-can-eat deals.
Either way, with so many options and such a fun atmosphere, you can be certain that no one will leave crabby.
Kanimatsuri restaurant in Tokyo is decorated with red and white lanterns, giving the space a festive feel. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
Kanimatsuri crab restaurant
Location: 2F, 4-8-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Prices: All-you-can-eat snow crab for one hour is 6,000 yen. The next-level course, which includes Sandai crab, is 15,000 yen.
Dress: Casual
Directions: A four-minute walk from Tsukiji Station.
Information: An online reservation is recommended at hotpepper.jp/strJ003410694
