Kajima seafood restaurant 海鮮丼かじま
What? Kajima, a seafood restaurant run by the owners of a popular bento shop and a seafood products factory in Oarai (all named Kajima かじま).
Where? Isohama-cho 8253-24 ,Oarai-machi, Higashiibaraki District, Ibaraki Prefecture, 311-1301/茨城県東茨城郡大洗町磯浜町8253−24/
Be careful not to confuse the restaurant and the bento shop (自然食品店)! The bento shop is right next to the Kajima factory, and the Oarai City Hall; the restaurant is close to the fishing port of Oarai~
Open: 10:30 am - 5 pm
Closed on Wednesdays
About One of the most popular seafood shops in Oarai, specialising in crab dishes and products. The restaurant is part of the local Kajima corporation, which includes a seafood product factory and a bento/souzai (side dish) shop.
The restaurant is particularly famous for its 'kani kurokke かにコロッケ', croquettes made from crab meat (photo below). Other famous dishes include the 'nama-shirasu-don' (raw whitebait rice bowl 生しらす丼), 'ikura-don' (salted salmon roe rice bowl いくら丼), 'kaisen-don' (seafood rice bowl 海鮮丼; photo below), 'maguro-don' (tune rice bowl 鮪丼), 'aji-furai' (fried horse mackerel) and seasonal 'ankou' (angler fish) dishes.
They use fresh local products and the day's catch as ingredients, so some of their dishes are only available during certain seasons (ex. shirasu tempura, which can only be batter-fried if very fresh). Kajima also proudly serves sake from the local Tsuki no I brewery.
Left: Kaisen-don (seafood rice bowl 海鮮丼)
Founded about 80 years ago, the Kajima factory has always specialised in crab-based and seafood products. The company experienced a lot of hardships after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, but managed to survive thanks to the help and support from the local community. Wishing to do something in return, Kajima decided to start serving food that most people would consider luxurious at very affordable prices - for instance, crab meat is usually eaten by the Japanese at rare occasions, such as the New Year's period. By serving "extravagant" food at a reasonable cost the Kajima restaurant managed to make a name for itself, even surrounded by the tough Oarai competition.
Kajima vows to provide customers with best service, so they happily take any suggestions from their guests; what is more, the shop's menu is quite accessible to non-Japanese speakers, as it is full of informative photographs. Kajima seafood restaurant is extremely popular during lunch time, with customers queuing at the door, so make sure to get there early, or once the lunch rush is over!
Above: The shop's speciality, crab croquette.
Below: The sharp-looking interior of the shop, and a sneak peek of their menu.
