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Enjoy seafood-filled Echizen Kitamae Cuisine at a seaside auberge.
In Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, a gourmet town that won the Gastronomy City Award 2025, this specialty crab restaurant serves Mikuni Port Echizen crab cuisine. This seaside auberge expresses the Sea of Japan and the lifestyle of the port town through food. Accommodations are limited to one group per day for a fully private stay, and lunch and dinner at the restaurant are also available for day visitors. Outside crab season, it serves "Echizen Kitamae Cuisine," a modern continuation of the food culture brought by Kitamaebune trade. The restaurant also participates in a project certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, offering dishes that reflect the area's history and seasonal local ingredients.
For lunch, there is a wide selection of seafood rice bowls and set meals made generously with local seafood such as branded Fukui Salmon, sweet shrimp from Mikuni Port, and Echizen red sea bream. The lineup also includes specialties rooted in everyday port-town life, such as soba topped with broth and kneaded with natural wakame seaweed.
In the evening, a wide variety of à la carte dishes is available, and in winter, Mikuni Port Echizen crab dishes also appear. You can enjoy the king of winter delicacies through full-course set meals, crab rice bowls, and crab miso shabu-shabu. There is also a rich drink menu, including casual drinks-and-bites courses and sake tasting comparisons.
A full-course set meal that lets you fully savor Mikuni Port Echizen crab
A set featuring the signature Kitamae Kaisen Rice Bowl and wakame soba
The interior has a calm Japanese-modern atmosphere (20 table seats total)
There are also 12 counter seats
“Kiwami” features five different crab dishes, including grilled crab shell with crab miso and crab miso rice bowls.
“Kani-Gomori” is a luxurious dish topped generously with premium ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.
Q
Do you have vegetarian menu options?
No, we do not.
Q
Is takeout available?
Yes, but please consult with us in advance.
Q
Is free Wi-Fi available in the restaurant?
Yes, it is.
Q
Is there a smoking area?
The entire facility is non-smoking.
Q
Are there any sightseeing spots nearby?
Yes. Nearby attractions include Tojinbo (one of Japan's three great scenic wonders), Oshima (registered as a Japan Heritage site), Takidanji Temple (home to a National Treasure), Mikuni Shrine (with Important Cultural Properties), Mikuni Port Breakwater (an Important Cultural Property), and Mikuni Sunset Beach (selected as one of Japan's 100 best sunset spots).
Q
Can I use the restaurant just for dining without staying overnight?
Yes. Dining only is also available. Please feel free to contact us.
Q
How many guests can the restaurant accommodate?
There are 32 seats in total (20 table seats and 12 counter seats).
Q
Do I need to make a reservation for the restaurant in advance?
We would appreciate it if you could make a reservation in advance, as it helps us serve your meal more smoothly. However, we also accept walk-in guests.
Q
Is it okay to bring small children?
Yes, absolutely. We also have children's chairs available.
Q
Where can I book an overnight stay?
Please contact us through the official website.
Some reviews are AI-translated.
Quiet, understated, and upscale, with a hidden-away feel. The seafood freshness speaks for itself, and the Echizen crab is seriously delicious. The dishes are refined, and it’s the kind of place where you take your time and really enjoy the meal. Perfect when you want a great dining experience without being disturbed.
It’s tucked away and quiet, with a really comfortable atmosphere. The moment you walk in, it feels like you’re being welcomed into a private little hideaway. The seafood is super fresh, and the Echizen crab is incredibly sweet. It feels light and easy to eat, almost like you’re tasting the sea itself. The cooking isn’t flashy—it just brings out the natural flavors of the ingredients.
Prices are on the higher side.
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