Top 3 delicious “Takoyaki” that I risked my life to find [Osaka , Japan]
I recently went on a business trip to Osaka to attend a research conference.
After the two-day conference successfully finished, I went around to find delicious takoyaki (octopus dumplings) on the third day.
After I visited 10 takoyaki shops, I totally ruined myself by eating. (Laugh)
Today, I’m going to introduce you three delicious takoyaki shops that I risked my life to find!
No.3 Takoyaki Douraku Wanaka(たこ焼道楽 わなか)
Its landmark is on the second story building with many red lanterns.
About 20 seats are available back on the first floor and another 60 table-seats on the second floor, you can eat takoyaki there.
Takoyaki(たこ焼き) that goes well with fruity sauce
450 yen for 8 pieces/ 600 yen for 12 pieces / 700 yen for 15 pieces
When it comes to crispy and creamy takoyaki, many people think of Wanaka.
Unique sweet sauce and spicy thick sauce are popular at Wanaka.
Soy sauce with a pleasant aroma and Okinawa salt that was cooked in a pot for four days are also favored by customers.
The secret of Wanaka’s popularity is that the more you get takoyaki, the cheaper the price per takoyaki becomes.
Ooiri(おおいり) is recommended for the first-time customer.
4 sets of two different-flavored takoyaki 500 yen
Ooiri is recommended for the first-time customer at Wakana.
That is a reasonable-priced set that you can enjoy two pieces of each different flavored takoyaki, including mayonnaise, soy sauce and bonito-flavor, salt and leek, and seasonal flavor only for the limited time.
You can add your favorite one if you want to eat more.
Restaurant information
Name: Takoyaki Douraku Wanaka
Access: A four-minute walk from Nankai Nanba Station
Address: 11-19 Sennitimae, Nanba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Tel: +81-6-6631-0127
Opening hours: 10:00-23:00 on Mondays to Fridays, and 8:30-23:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays
*No smoking at the shop.
No. 2 Naniwaya(浪花屋)
Its distinctive feature is authentic Japanese-style exterior covered by wooden vertical lattices with a counter for take-out.
About 5 seats are available at the shop so that you can eat takoyaki there too.
Naniwaya’s standard soy sauce flavored takoyaki(しょうゆ味)
250 yen for 8 pieces / 350 yen for 12 pieces
Takoyaki made with soy sauce based batter with dashi broth & plenty of eggs are delicious so that it is very popular among customers.
This is a secret famous takoyaki shop located in a residential area, not in bustling areas such as Umeda and Dotonbori.
Mayonnaise-flavored(マヨネーズ味) takoyaki with sweet vinegar marinated ginger
450 yen for 16 pieces / 550 yen for 20 pieces
Mayonnaise-flavored one is the best recommended takoyaki of the store manager.
You can eat soy sauce flavored one with dashi broth takoyaki just topped with mayonnaise without adding any sauce.
The shop manager said that only adding mayonnaise with sour and gentle flavors can make takoyaki delicious.
It goest perfectly well with sweet, sour ginger!
This is the most popular item at the shop.
Restaurant information
Name: Naniwaya(浪花屋)
Access: One-minute walk from Nagai Subway Station
Address: 4-6-8 Nagaihigashi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Tel: +81-6-6608-3282
Opening hours: 10:00-19:30
Closed days: Wednesdays and Thursdays
*No smoking at the shop.
No. 1 Yamachan Honten(やまちゃん 本店)
Glorious No 1 is Yamachan Main Shop at Abeno!
The shop is situated in a stall-like one story building.
Takoyaki offers only for take-out. Its landmark is a yellow tent.
Takoyaki(たこ焼き) that you can enjoy by selecting different flavored combinations.
Set for walking around 330 yen for 6 pieces / You can order 8 or more for take-out from 440 yen
The texture of yamachan’s takoyaki is crispy outside and creamy inside. That is popular among customers.
You can enjoy not only takoyaki without adding anything (Best(ベスト))
because its batter already has a flavor, but also different-flavored takoyaki, including sauce sprinkling aonori seaweed on top (Regular(レギュラー)),
and sauce with mayonnaise (Young(ヤング)).
Its nearby second shop has many unique takoyaki!
Squid Tempra& Leek Mayonnaise(イカ天ねぎマヨ) 760 yen for 8 pieces
Apart from the main shop that you can order takoyaki only for take-out, you can eat takoyaki at the second shop.
Customers says they become addicted to the flavor of small squid tempura and plenty of leek, so that they like it very much.
You can eat its original menu items including grilled squid and Tonpei-yaki (flat-shaped pork crepe) and yakisoba (fried noodles with sauce).
Restaurant information
Name: Yamachan Honten(やまちゃん 本店)
Access: One-minute walk from Kintatsu Abenobashi Station
Address: 1-2-34 Abenosuji, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Tel: +81-6-6622-5307
Opening hours: 11:00-23:00 on Mondays to Saturdays & 11:00-22:30 on Sundays and public holidays
Closed days: the third Thursday of each month
*Take out only at the main shop. Smoking area and non-smoking area is separated.