Takoharu. A takoyaki shop located in Imazato. I wanted some takoyaki for a late night snack, but most places close around 11 pm. Among them, it's important to support the shops that stay open late. The takoyaki here is crispy on the outside and generously filled with large pieces of octopus. It used to be called Takotora. Takoyaki (8 pieces) 600 yen.

Located along Imazato-suji, "R01.10" is a place that is gaining popularity recently. While it may not be as bustling as Midosuji, it could rival Yotsubashi-suji. They advertise themselves as a takoyaki specialty shop, but they also offer delicious oden and even abalone. The atmosphere of the restaurant makes you feel like you're back home, and it's very calming. You can casually eat and drink here. It made me feel refreshed and ready to take on tomorrow.

On my way to a certain place in Ikuno Ward, I saw a sign for Takokura, a famous takoyaki shop from Kyoto, so I hesitated for a moment but decided to go in. I used to live in Kyoto for a long time, so I was familiar with Takokura. I have been to the Takokura store in Koya several times in the past. I have also been taken to Takuan's Okazaki store by acquaintances. Inside the restaurant, there were some Hanshin Tigers goods on display. I ordered oolong tea and takoyaki. There were counter seats and two tables in the tatami room. I saw a group of old-fashioned ladies having a girls' night out at the counter. They were speaking in Japanese, but there was also someone with a Korean accent. There are many Korean residents in this area, and there are also many Korean restaurants. The takoyaki here was different from the Takokura I remembered from Kyoto, but it was still delicious. It had large pieces of octopus inside. The surface was a bit crispy, and it seemed like two half-moon shaped pieces were put together to form a ball. They not only poured sauce over it but also spread sauce on the plate. They asked if I wanted mayonnaise, which was thoughtful. The takochinmi was also delicious. It was a hit! It had finely shredded cabbage, wavy sliced octopus, green onions, and a sweet and spicy sauce based on gochujang. It was quite tasty! There was a popular menu sticker on the menu strip on the counter, with a photo next to it. There were also Korean menu items like chijimi and Korean-style soup. They also had Japanese dishes like oden and sashimi octopus. When I checked on Tabelog later, I found out that it's actually called Taketsuru. I don't know the reason for the name change, but they have a variety of delicious menu items tailored to the local area. If I weren't on my bike, I would have liked to have a drink there (laughs). There was a late-night news program on the LCD TV. The owner and the lady boss were working hard. Thank you for the meal.

I have been a regular at this restaurant for over 20 years, ever since a friend from work introduced me to the delicious octopus balls here. I used to come here with my wife after we got married, and even brought our young son and daughter along in the car. In recent years, I haven't been able to visit as often due to selling my car and other reasons, but I decided to stop by alone after a long time. It took me about 8 minutes to walk from Imazato Station to this nostalgic place. Lucky for me, there was a table for four available, so I sat down and ordered a plate of 8 octopus balls for 500 yen and a cold draft beer for 500 yen. The beer was deliciously cold! And then came the main dish, the octopus balls. As soon as I took a bite, I could taste the crispy outer layer and the juicy inside, with the chewy octopus bringing back memories of the past. I overheard a conversation between other customers mentioning that despite the rising cost of octopus, the restaurant has managed to keep the prices the same. It may seem a bit pricey, but considering the size of the octopus balls, it's actually quite reasonable. Finally, when I spoke to the owner, he greeted me with the same warm smile as before and even remembered my face. It was a lovely moment that made me very happy.

During work, I stopped by a takoyaki shop on the way. After a heated phone negotiation with a client that left me a bit drained, I turned around and there was a takoyaki shop. It seemed like a sign to eat some takoyaki. They were selling 9 pieces for 500 yen, with plenty of mayo and green onion sauce. I love high-calorie food! The skin was soft and the inside was gooey. The octopus here was quite big and lovely. In the Kanto region, I wonder if the outside is crispy and the inside is gooey? That sounds delicious too. The takoyaki here was really tasty. Thank you for the meal!

This time, I visited Takatsuru in Imazato. The sign also reads Takatora, so it's a bit confusing. Even though I've passed by this place over 2000 times before, I had no idea it existed (laughs). However, thanks to the review by the reviewer Ribot, who usually criticizes takoyaki shops but gave high praise to Takatsuru, I decided to finally visit. On my way back home, I bought three types of takoyaki. The interior of the shop is like a gathering place for middle-aged men who love alcohol (laughs). Takeout is also available, and the price is a flat rate of 500 yen for nine takoyaki. An additional 20 yen is required for the container for the soup takoyaki. But I hesitated for a moment when I saw that nine takoyaki cost 500 yen (^_^;). Are we entering an era where each takoyaki costs over 50 yen... But if it's delicious, that's a different story, so this time I ordered Negimayo takoyaki, Ponzu takoyaki, and soup takoyaki (^_^)/ They also have octopus sashimi and other items, so the quality of the octopus must be quite high. It took some time to cook, so I parked my car in front of the shop and waited inside the car. About 15 minutes later, the takoyaki was ready. A lady (I assume she was the wife) brought it to me! After arriving home, I opened the takoyaki. Wow, the appearance is just like regular takoyaki (laughs). Let's start with the soup... The ginger and light Japanese-style broth, with a crispy exterior and a creamy texture inside, is delicious (^^♪ And with this price, the octopus is quite large. Even after cooking, it still has a firm texture, which is delicious! The Ponzu is also light and perfectly complements the large pieces of octopus! Delicious! And the Negimayo has the reliable taste of the classic combination. The junky feel, the savory aroma of the sauce, and most importantly, the deliciousness of the octopus really stand out. Delicious! The takoyaki here is delicious! But it's a bit pricey. I don't eat takoyaki often these days, but the prices are similar everywhere. If it was 12 pieces for 500 yen, it would have gotten a rating of 3.5 stars or higher. Since it's nearby, I'll come by occasionally to buy some. Thank you for the meal. m(__)m

The reviewer tried a new takoyaki place that was a bit far from the subway stations but convenient for their home. The shop had a simple setup and the staff kindly handed them a sports newspaper. They ordered takoyaki only, which was a bit pricey at 500 yen for 9 pieces. The takoyaki was quickly made with generous toppings like sauce, bonito flakes, and seaweed. The reviewer enjoyed the flavorful dough and tasty octopus. They compared it to other famous takoyaki places and felt this one didn't lose out. The owners, a couple, were friendly, and their daughter also helped out, giving a family-run vibe. The reviewer felt it would be a shame to leave without trying other items on the menu, as it seemed like a cozy place to hang out if they lived nearby. They wished the price was a bit lower for better value but overall enjoyed their experience.

This restaurant used to be a branch of a very famous shop in Kyoto, but it changed its name to Takatsuru and started anew as an independent establishment. The exterior still displays the old branch name, making it a bit confusing, but the official name is Takatsuru. It is located a short walk south from Imazato Station along Imazato Street. While the restaurant does not have its own parking lot, there are plenty of coin parking lots nearby, so coming by car shouldn't be a problem. The restaurant has been famous for a long time, with many autographs and photos of celebrities displayed inside. I even once encountered a very famous voice actor here. While dining inside, you may also have a chance to meet someone famous. Now, onto the food - the takoyaki (9 pieces for 500 yen) is made with plenty of tempura scraps, giving it a crispy surface that is irresistible to those who love a slightly burnt texture. In addition, the octopus inside is quite large, and the combination of the octopus and the crispy surface is simply delicious. In addition to takoyaki, this restaurant also offers dishes like "tako sashimi" where you can taste raw octopus, and "tako chinmi" with Korean-style sauce on octopus, both of which are extremely tasty. If you love octopus, be sure to give them a try.

I visited Takatsuru-san's place after a long time. Even though it was supposed to start at 5:00, I arrived 15 minutes early. Despite that, they kindly let me in. The takoyaki here has the perfect balance of tempura crumbs and is really delicious. The way they line up the takoyaki on a plate with sauce spread on it creates a unique flavor. Yes, it must be the case. I love the round and crispy takoyaki here. Also, I had the takochinmi for the first time in a while. It's still delicious... The cabbage is generously spread out with octopus lined up on top, and a spicy miso-like sauce is poured over it. The sauce and octopus intertwine perfectly and it's delicious, even though it's spicy. The takoyaki is delicious, the man cooking them is kind, and the regular customers talk to you and include you in their group. It's a good place. I will go again. Thank you for the meal.

I have been going to this takoyaki place for over 10 years. At first, I brought it home to eat with my mother without thinking much. When we ate it together, it was different from any takoyaki I had before. I was sure I could eat it inside, so next time I tried eating it inside. Of course, the takoyaki itself is delicious, but the "tako chinmi" is something else. The unique sweet and savory sauce and the crunchy cabbage are irresistible. They sprinkle habanero on top. Whenever my wife comes back from Tokyo, we always go there. The octopus used in this "tako chinmi" is sashimi grade (the same as the filling in the takoyaki) and it's delicious, but the sauce and cabbage are what make it stand out. They shred only the top half of the cabbage to make it. Once, I ate up all the cabbage and the lady cut more for me, and the owner asked me if I didn't want the octopus in my takoyaki. I heard that they also sell frozen takoyaki for hotel late-night snacks. The takoyaki is really delicious, so please refrain from ordering just the cabbage.

I used to go to this place frequently at night, which opened about ten years ago. The owner, who resembled actor Nobuto Okamoto, had a real masculine vibe and ran the shop with his wife. While I was away cheating on this place with other restaurants, they ended up becoming independent and changing their shop name! The standout feature of their takoyaki is the large, tender octopus pieces, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, topped with a generous amount of tempura scraps and sweet sauce that enhances the deliciousness of the takoyaki. In addition to the takoyaki, they also offer unique octopus delicacies like octopus sashimi and a Korean-style sweet and spicy octopus salad. It seems like locals also come here to drink at night, as I often saw people enjoying drinks inside the shop. As of now, this takoyaki ranks second among all the takoyaki I have ever eaten!

I stopped by here on my way back from Acchichi Honpo. I ordered the Ponzu Takoyaki here too, and it was delicious!! I also ordered the dashi because it was unusual to have it. Both were delicious.