Celebrating in Osaka? An Anniversary or Birthday Dinner at Our 6-Seat Seafood Counter
Hi! I'm the owner of Kaiebi (貝と海老そして蟹 / Shellfish, Shrimp & Crab), a 6-seat seafood counter in Shinsaibashi, Osaka. 🦞
Today, October 23, is my wife Mizuki's birthday 🎂 — so our restaurant is closed all day today, and we'll be back to normal from Saturday, October 24.
Birthdays have been on my mind, so let me write about something many of our guests from abroad do: celebrating a special day while traveling in Osaka. An anniversary, a honeymoon, a birthday, a "we finally made it to Japan!" dinner... 😊
If you're planning one, here's what a celebration dinner at our small counter looks like, and a few tips to make the planning easy.
🥂 Why a small counter works well for a celebration
Osaka is famous for its lively, noisy food streets — and that's half the fun! But on *your* special night, you might want something a little calmer.
Our place is tiny on purpose:
- Six counter seats only. A small, calm space where you can actually hear each other talk.
- Run by a husband-and-wife team. I cook, Mizuki takes care of the drinks, and we look after our guests together.
- Completely smoke-free since August 1, 2026, so the only thing you'll smell is seafood, herbs and wine.
- English menu available. My English isn't perfect, but we'll do our best to make you feel welcome.
It's the kind of place where the person cooking your dinner can say "congratulations!" to you directly. I think that's a nice way to celebrate. 😊
🦞 The dish people choose for milestones: live lobster
Our signature is live lobster from Canada, steamed with white wine and herbs in a Staub cast-iron pot.
Here's how it goes:
1. First, we show you the lobster while it's still alive and moving. (Yes, it's a little dramatic! 😂)
2. Then I steam it inside the Staub pot.
3. When it's ready, I bring the whole pot to you and lift the lid — and you get the steam and the aroma right in front of you.
It comes with three sides: melted French fermented butter, our homemade lemon salt (domestic lemon peel and Sicilian sea salt), and a homemade pink tartar sauce with *shibazuke* pickles. My recommended order: first a bite as it is, then with lemon salt, and finally with the butter or tartar.
One lobster is perfect to share between two people. If you both love seafood, one each is great too!
This dish is often chosen for birthdays, wedding anniversaries and 60th birthdays — the milestones of life. It actually started from a lobster I ate in Venice on a training trip during my apprentice years. That memory is still the reason I cook it today.
🍷 A toast for two
Every celebration needs a toast!
- We have about 30 wines, all available by the glass, with a special focus on Japanese wine. We also have wine from my hometown, Shiojiri in Nagano.
- ARAGOSTA, a crisp white from Sardinia with a lobster on the label, has been our "house bottle" since we opened. It's dry, fruity and a little citrusy — and it goes beautifully with shellfish and crustaceans.
- Champagne: we also have Palmer & Co Champagne. Please ask us about it when you're there.
- Prefer something else? We have beer, lemon sour, highballs, Japanese sake, shochu and soft drinks too.
With the lobster, I recommend white wine. 🥂
🗓 Planning tips for a celebration on your trip
1. Book ahead. With only six seats, a reservation is the surest way to get your table — especially on weekends and holidays. Here's how to book a table without speaking Japanese.
2. Tell us it's a special day. When you book, add a short note like *"It's our anniversary"* or *"It's my partner's birthday."* We'd love to know!
3. Ask before bringing anything. If you're thinking of a surprise, or of bringing something in (like a cake), please ask us before your visit. We're a very small restaurant, so there are things we can and can't do — and we'll tell you honestly.
4. Tell us about allergies in advance. If possible, we'll use a substitute ingredient, but some dishes can't be changed because of how they're prepared. As a shellfish, shrimp and crab restaurant, many of our dishes use these ingredients.
5. Want the whole place to yourselves? We have two options:
- Daytime (12:00–17:00): one party per day, reservation only. I run the restaurant alone during the day, so we accept only course reservations or à la carte reservations that include live lobster. Please book at least 3 days ahead.
- Private booking: from 4 people, up to 8 seats. Budget and day of the week are discussed case by case — please contact us.
A daytime celebration can be lovely if your evening is already full of plans — or if you just want a slow, quiet afternoon together.
🌙 After dinner
We're about five minutes on foot from Shinsaibashi Station and from the Namba stations, so after your dinner you can stroll back through the lights of Shinsaibashi and Namba. If you're wondering how to fit us into a busy evening, I wrote about having a quiet dinner after Dotonbori.
And if you'd like to surprise your partner with a little Japanese at the table, here's a little Japanese seafood cheat sheet. Saying *"oishii!"* (delicious!) always makes my day. 😂
Good to know before you visit
- Evening hours: 17:00–25:00 (until 1:00 a.m.), last entry 22:30.
- Daytime: 12:00–17:00, one party per day, reservation only (book at least 3 days ahead).
- Holidays: irregular. Closed all day today, October 23 (Fri), 2026 — Mizuki's birthday! We're open again from Saturday, October 24.
- Booking: on the day, you can book online until 19:00; after that, please call 06-6213-3881 (from outside Japan: +81 6 6213 3881). If we don't pick up right away, we may be busy cooking — please try again a little later.
FAQ
Q. Can we celebrate an anniversary or birthday at your restaurant?
Of course! Please let us know when you book. If you're planning a surprise or want to bring something in, please ask us before your visit.
Q. Is it OK to come as a couple?
Yes. Our counter has six seats, and our live lobster is perfect for sharing between two.
Q. Can we book the whole restaurant?
Private bookings are possible from 4 people, for up to 8. Budget and day are discussed case by case. There's also a daytime slot (12:00–17:00) for one party per day, by reservation only.
Q. Do you have an English menu?
Yes, we do.
Q. How far ahead should we book?
For the daytime slot, at least 3 days ahead. For dinner, the earlier the better — we have only six seats.
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Our philosophy: "Through dining out, make life richer."
Some of the best memories of a trip are made around a table. If you're celebrating something in Osaka, we'd be honored to be part of that day. 🦞🥂
Thank you for reading to the end!
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Kaiebi (貝と海老そして蟹) — Shellfish, Shrimp & Crab
📍 2-7-11 Shinsaibashi-suji, Chuo-ku, Osaka (Nippo Royal Building 1F)
🗺 Google Maps
📞 06-6213-3881
🕐 12:00–17:00 (daytime, one reservation-only party per day) / 17:00–25:00 (last entry 22:30)
📅 Irregular holidays
💺 Counter seating for 6 (up to 8 for private bookings)