I sometimes go to Shinjuku Gyoen area to enjoy some takoyaki and drinks easily. It's a quick and easy option, not too crowded, and you can see from outside how busy it is. I tried something I had never ordered before. - Dancing Seto Inland Sea Shrimp with Bingo Sauce (¥528) - 4 pieces - The Bingo sauce is as described, on the sweet side. If you like sweet flavors, it might be good for you.

On the first Monday of June in 2023, just after 1:30 PM, I arrived at a restaurant for a late lunch. It was my first time visiting this place as the conditions finally aligned for me to get a table. There were three male customers already seated and a group of three Chinese tourists arrived after me. I had been curious about the menu for a while, and this time I finally got to order what I had my eye on - the pork bowl with an additional option of pork cutlet for an extra 100 yen. I placed my order for the "Gindako" set verbally. The pork bowl with the added pork cutlet option cost 700 yen, and there was also a "mixed" option available for an additional 80 yen which included fried chicken. The food arrived in about 10 minutes, and the staff brought it to my table instead of it being self-service. I noticed the tourists were enjoying some takoyaki and it seemed like they were having a good time. The main dish, the takoyaki, was served quickly and it was nice and hot. It came with a miso soup that had two pieces of seaweed in it. I wished the soup bowl was a bit bigger, but the hot serving was appreciated. The default pork bowl came with 8 slices of pork belly for 600 yen, while the "large" option had 12 slices for 700 yen. I was surprised that the pork slices were thicker than I expected, more like a typical pork bowl rather than thinly sliced ginger pork. The additional 100 yen pork cutlet was made from pork loin and it was thick and crispy, freshly fried and delicious. The oil was clean and the taste was great. The curry with cutlet is also fantastic. The portion of rice was generous, and I decided not to add the fried chicken this time, which turned out to be a good choice. The sweet and savory sauce with a hint of ginger was tasty. As I reached the halfway point of the meal, I started to get a bit bored of the flavors, but the crunchy pickles and colorful bell peppers saved the day. Towards the end, when I started to feel full, I wished for more of the flavorful miso soup. I finished the meal feeling satisfied and already thinking about my next visit - should I try the curry or come back for a drink in the evening? I will definitely be back.

Located on a bustling street in the Imperial Palace area, Gin Dako Highball is a great spot to visit around 7pm on a Friday. Despite the lively atmosphere, we were able to get a table without waiting. The takoyaki here is consistently delicious and served piping hot, making it a perfect accompaniment to drinks. The menu also offers classic snacks like cucumbers and green peppers. As a takoyaki specialty shop, they also have a wide variety of octopus dishes. I tried the Red Tea Highball for the first time and loved the unsweetened taste of the tea. Overall, the prices are reasonable and you can choose between 4, 6, or 8 pieces of takoyaki for a fun and enjoyable meal.

Since the cherry blossoms have bloomed, I took a walk with my wife in Shinjuku Gyoen. My wife, who prefers food over flowers, said she wanted to eat takoyaki, so I searched for a nearby takoyaki place. Today, the closest one open is this famous shop. It's been a while since we last visited. The shop has about 10 seats, and there were already 2 groups seated when we arrived. Soon after we sat down, more customers started coming in, and the shop became almost full. We quickly ordered the standard takoyaki and one with green onions before the kitchen got too busy. The takoyaki here is unique, with a crispy outside and a chewy inside, giving a true "Gindaco" experience. The green onion topping was interesting, especially when dipped in the broth and grated radish.

I'm glad that you can order from four options. I preferred the mentaiko cheese over the basic one, as it had a stronger salty taste that I liked. The basic one was too sweet for my liking. The takoyaki was crispy and delicious, making Gindaco the go-to for takoyaki. The yakitori was all sweet and salty, with a very rich flavor that went well with sake.

The restaurant seems to be struggling with their lunch menu, despite the fact that they have many customers due to their low prices. The takoyaki, which is the specialty, is cooked by foreign staff and sometimes comes out unevenly cooked. It's best to observe before ordering. However, last night there were many customers and the takoyaki came out fresh and delicious.

Met up for drinks at Gin Dako while waiting at Shinjuku Gyoen. The other person was running a bit late, so I decided to pass the time by finding a place to relax. I ordered four pieces of takoyaki and a highball. The takoyaki was delicious, with a crispy exterior and a gooey interior that paired well with the highball. During happy hour, the highball was only around 200 yen, so I ended up ordering another one. I also added an order of plain takoyaki without sauce. The takoyaki here tends to get a bit heavy as time passes, so it's better to have just the right amount. Happy hour deals are really worth it here. It might be worth a try every now and then.

This is a restaurant that is like a pub version of Takoyaki. Takoyaki is usually expensive and not something you can easily buy, so it's nice to be able to eat it without too much resistance as a pub menu. I visited for lunch. I was torn between the pork bowl and the sauce cutlet bowl, but I ordered the regular sauce cutlet bowl (550 yen). After about 10 minutes, I was informed that my order was ready. While waiting, I thought about ordering some takoyaki, but 4 pieces seemed a bit too much. It would be nice if you could order just 2 pieces. The sauce cutlet bowl came with the bowl and miso soup, that's it! It had pickled radish on top of the bowl and no side dish. It felt more like a beef bowl shop than a set meal shop. I was surprised by the thick cutlet with a lot of oil! Wait, I've never had a fry like this before. It's not that the oil hasn't been drained, it feels like it's been soaked in oil. The texture is crispy and a bit chewy, more like deep-fried bread. Is it marinated in a very rich sauce? The rice was also shiny with oil all the way to the bottom, almost dripping with oil. It tasted delicious and didn't give me heartburn, but the calories are terrifying. With something this rich, I really wanted a lot of vegetables, but there were zero vegetable side dishes! The pickled radish was a welcome palate cleanser. The miso soup had just a little bit of seaweed. The cutlet itself was thick and tender, a good quality pork cutlet, but after eating, I felt like chugging down some cold black oolong tea. By the way, I was disappointed that the water didn't have ice in it and got warm, but when I drank ice-cold barley tea after the meal, I got a stomach ache. I see now that not having ice in the water was a consideration.

I had lunch at Gindako in Shinjuku Gyoen. I had always overlooked this place, but the incredibly cost-effective menu caught my attention. The pork bowl for 580 yen and curry for 350 yen were surprisingly cheap, and you can even get extra rice for free. The menu also offers options like curry with pork cutlet for 500 yen, rice set for 350 yen, and additional sauce cutlet for 100 yen each. I decided to go with the pork bowl for 580 yen (8 slices of pork belly). The meat was slightly thicker and tender, similar to the pork barbecue set you might find at Matsuya. The rich sweet and savory sauce was similar to barbecue sauce, making it very appetizing. The miso soup was flavorful with plenty of seaweed and white miso. The bowl also came with 3 pieces of pickled radish and 1 shishito pepper. The price of 580 yen is unbelievably low, to the point where it makes you worry about the sustainability of the business. The company is originally from Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, but has now moved to Atarashii Tomicho. Despite being known for takoyaki, I had no idea they were offering such affordable prices for other dishes. If I were a student, I would definitely come here three times a week. Thank you for the meal.

The restaurant named Gin Dako calls itself a highball bar, but their lunch menu is quite substantial. In my hometown, there are only regular takoyaki shops, so it was rare for me to visit a place like this. I ordered curry and takoyaki for lunch, and the portions were generous, leaving me very satisfied and full.

[Monthly Revisit] This time, I visited during lunchtime and ordered the "Pork Cutlet Bowl @ 590 yen" with extra rice as a service from a foreign waiter. I waited at a cheaply made table and chair for a short while before my meal arrived. The bowl came topped with a raw egg and shredded seaweed. It also came with miso soup and pre-made bright yellow pickles. A little bit of onion added a vegetable touch to the dish. I lifted the bowl with one hand and enjoyed the meal heartily. The cutlet was likely pre-made at this price, but it was acceptable given the cost performance. The extra rice definitely made me feel full. [Overview] This takoyaki chain restaurant is located on a corner in the Shinjuku 1-chome area, between Shinjuku Street and Yasukuni Street. They offer lunch menus during the day and a happy hour in the evening. It's a place where you can enjoy not only takoyaki but also other dishes.

【Returning after 5 months】I visited during lunchtime again and ordered the "Pork Bowl Regular Size @580 yen" with a free extra serving of rice from the foreign staff member. I sat at a simple table and chair, and my meal arrived shortly after. It was a mountain of brown, just as described. The menu said it came with 8 slices of pork, and the portion was indeed impressive. The sight of the glistening oil added to the appeal. Pickled radish was crucial for balancing out the richness. I enjoyed it by wrapping each piece of pork with rice. The flavor was intense. When my miso soup ran out, I asked for a refill of water. Despite that, the rich taste and satisfying portion made it a hearty meal that I really liked... (laughs)【Overview】Located on a corner in the Shinjuku 1-chome area, between Shinjuku Street and Yasukuni Street, this chain restaurant specializes in takoyaki. They offer lunch menus during the day and happy hour deals in the evening. It's a place where you can enjoy more than just takoyaki.

【Monthly Revisit】This time, I visited during lunchtime and ordered the "Meat and Vegetable Stir-Fry Set @580 yen" with a free extra serving of rice from a foreign waiter. I waited at a cheaply made table and chair for one person. Before long, my dish arrived sizzling on a hot plate. It consisted of pork, cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts, with a presentation that was more about quantity than taste. It was a dish that focused on filling you up for a reasonable price in Shinjuku. Looking around, it seemed like there were quite a few people who appreciated this kind of value.【Overview】Located on a corner in the Shinjuku 1-chome area, between Shinjuku Street and Yasukuni Street, this chain takoyaki restaurant offers lunch menus during the day and happy hour deals in the evening. It's a place where you can enjoy more than just takoyaki.

Tsukiji Gindako Highball Sakaba Shinjuku Gyoen-ten I love the takoyaki at Gindako, but it feels like it's been over 5 years since I last had it. The standard 8-piece takoyaki is priced at 580 yen. As someone who usually tries to keep their lunch budget within one coin, this seems a bit expensive to me. Plus, even if I eat all 8 pieces, I don't think I'll feel full. So, I've been holding off on visiting. However, there is a Gindako branch near my workplace that offers a limited lunch menu, which caught my interest. One day, I had some free time before a meeting at work, so I decided to finally visit the Shinjuku Gyoen branch around 12:40 pm. Surprisingly, the restaurant was quite empty, which was unexpected. It seems like the people around here may not be as price-conscious as I am. I checked out the menu, and they had a special Shinjuku Gyoen branch-exclusive menu item – the Gindako set meal (500 yen), which includes 4 takoyaki and rice. I was intrigued by the idea of having takoyaki as a main dish. This time, I decided to order the curry cutlet (450 yen). I was pleased to find out that they offer free extra rice. The curry was a typical Japanese curry with a modest amount of ingredients. It was a simple, homey curry. The cutlet seemed to have been pre-fried to speed up the serving process, but it was still delicious. The fact that they can offer a tasty curry cutlet for less than one coin is impressive. The pork bowl and the sauce cutlet bowl also looked appetizing, so I'll definitely try them next time if I can visit again.

Tsukiji Gindako Highball Sakaba Shinjuku Gyoenmae Store "I want to eat takoyaki!!" When I searched for the Gindako in Shinjuku, I found out that there were no chairs... So, I hurriedly went to the Gindako near Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station. It's a 4-5 minute walk from the station. Upon entering the store, there were only table seats available. I looked at the menu and placed my order (later realizing that there was a menu board on the wall as well). Here are the items I ordered: - Seasonal limited edition Torotama Mentaiko: A special Japanese-style soy sauce base with grated Japanese yam "tororo" and crispy "Kujo green onions" on top, topped with a "tamago salad" that features a chunky texture prepared fresh in the store every day. It is finished with a generous amount of "special mentaiko sauce" made with luxurious Hakata mentaiko. - Seasonal limited edition Lemon Ponzu: Squeeze a whole lemon with skin into the "special lemon ponzu" and "grated daikon radish" dipping sauce, then squeeze "cut lemon" on top. It was refreshing and the lemon and green onions paired well. - Negi-dako: Takoyaki with crispy green onions and bonito flakes tossed in a special grated daikon radish tempura dipping sauce, a refreshing Japanese-style takoyaki. This was my favorite of the four I ordered. - Cheese Mentaiko: Topped with a special mentaiko mayonnaise made with Hakata mentaiko and two types of cheese (Parmesan & Mozzarella). It had a rich flavor and was the most popular among the ones I ordered. - Butadon (Pork Bowl) Regular: 8 slices of pork for ¥580. Thick pork belly slices with a sweet and savory sauce. The shishito peppers added a nice touch and the rice went well with it. With pickled radish included, this would be perfect for a working lunch at ¥580. The service was also quick, with the food served in about 3 minutes. The staff were friendly too. Thank you for the meal! Address: 1-29-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-5925-8180 Baby strollers allowed, wheelchair access needs confirmation (there was a step at the entrance, but you can order takeout from outside)

【2 years and 3 months since my last visit】This time, I decided to try their lunch menu for the first time. The half-open interior has tables and chairs spaced out, giving off a cheap vibe. I was surprised by how reasonably priced the lunch menu was, with the added bonus of free extra rice. I couldn't help but wonder if they were actually making a profit. I decided to order their most popular dish, the "Katsu Curry Don for 450 yen." The staff, mostly foreigners, were busy running around the place. When my order arrived, I was surprised to see that it even came with miso soup. The size of the katsu was standard, not mini. The taste was decent, nothing too special, but considering the price, it was more than satisfactory. I'm not sure why a takoyaki specialty shop would go all out for lunch like this, but it seems to attract hungry customers in the 1-chome area. 【Overview】Located on a corner in the Shinjuku 1-chome area, sandwiched between Shinjuku Street and Yasukuni Street, this chain takoyaki shop offers a lunch menu during the day and a happy hour in the evening. It's not just about takoyaki; it's a fun place to enjoy a meal.

On this day, the intended shop was closed due to a state of emergency declaration! Oh no! Evacuated to the direction of Shinjuku Gyoen. It's past 6 PM. If I don't hurry, it will be 7 PM soon. So, I decided to retreat to a nearby Gindaco. Having a light drink at Gindaco. There are two groups of customers already. The customers are enjoying takoyaki and drinks. It seems that there are no customers who only eat takoyaki at night. The staff members seem to be from Southeast Asia, speaking broken Japanese. The menu includes takoyaki, appetizers, teppanyaki, and fried foods. - Happy Hour until 7 PM, Premium Malt @450 ⇒ @269 (excluding tax), Kakuhai Highball @380 ⇒ @186! The alcoholic beverages are from Suntory. So, I ordered: Kakuhai Highball @186, Takoyaki 4 pieces @310, Sauce Yakisoba @580. The takoyaki can be served with either mustard mayo or regular mayo. The Kakuhai Highball was served quickly. It had a lot of ice and a light whiskey taste. Then, the Sauce Yakisoba arrived first. It contained pork, cabbage, bean sprouts, and pickled ginger. The noodles were thick with a square cross-section. However, the sauce did not stick well to the noodles. There was leftover sauce liquid on the plate and cabbage. The yakisoba had a sweet finish. Finally, the takoyaki arrived. It was served in a boat-shaped paper plate with the Tsukiji Gindaco logo. Although it didn't have seaweed flakes, it had bonito flakes on top. The takoyaki had a crispy exterior and a gooey interior, providing a satisfying texture. Takoyaki is always delicious. It might be better to just have takoyaki. The appetizers were mostly in the 300-400 yen range, so not very cheap. I had two Kakuhai Highballs during Happy Hour, along with takoyaki and yakisoba, totaling around 1600 yen (including tax). Wait, why was the first Kakuhai Highball priced at 380 yen (excluding tax)? Was it a mistake in input? So, if it's not Happy Hour until 7 PM, it's not a good deal.

About a 10-minute walk from the 2nd exit of Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station, there is a well-known Gindaco Highball Izakaya. I recommend the octopus balls with grated radish and ponzu sauce. The octopus balls were delicious, and they paired well with alcohol. Eating takoyaki with drinks is the best!

During lunchtime, I was alone and wandering around aimlessly when I came across a sign for the lunch menu at "Tsukiji Gindako Highball Sakaba." I noticed that they had my favorite dish, "pork bowl," on the menu, so I decided to go in without checking the prices. When I looked at the menu, I was surprised. The prices were quite cheap compared to other lunch menus in the area. The price range was mostly in the 600 yen range. The "pork bowl" in regular size (8 slices of pork belly) was 580 yen, and the large size (12 slices of pork belly) was 680 yen. I ordered the large size. Just like pork bowls at other places, the pork belly marinated in sweet and savory sauce went well with the rice. The pork wasn't particularly tender or delicious, but considering the price, I think the cost performance is very high. The downside is that it's a casual pub, so all the seats are open and there are only round stools. Also, smoking is allowed in all seats, and the smell of the place might stick to your clothes. I would recommend it for times when you want to have a cheap meal alone.

When passing by during the twilight hours, the restaurant had quite flashy decorations with electric lights, making a strong presence. It was also Happy Hour, so I decided to have a Premium Malt at the special price of 290 yen. Inside, the Asian staff guided me to a free seating area with only table seats available. I chose an empty table and was left alone. Looking around, about 80% of the customers were smoking, but thankfully there were some young children present which reduced the smoking rate. Finally, a staff member arrived and I ordered the Premium Malt and 2 octopus balls for 100 yen. The octopus balls took a long time to arrive, probably because they were squeezed in between other orders. When they finally arrived, they were piping hot and delicious, providing a satisfying experience of the heat from freshly cooked food. Tired of waiting and surrounded by smoke, I left without staying too long. Overall, it was a reasonably priced Happy Hour experience.