I came to Osaka because I heard they have takoyaki with tempura scraps in it and I absolutely had to try it. When I tasted it, it was crispy and delicious. I recommend trying it with the sauce. The takoyaki with green onions on top, eaten with broth, was also amazing. There are many recommendations here, haha.

My personal favorite takoyaki is Juuhachi-ban. Whenever I come to Osaka, I make sure to eat it. No matter how many times I eat it, I never get tired of the crispy texture of the tenkasu. I also love the fact that they serve it with salt. While Kogaryu and Gindaco have branches in Nagoya, I really hope Juuhachi-ban will open a branch there too because I love it so much.

On the first floor of HEP in Osaka Umeda, there is a takoyaki tree where you can enjoy various kinds of takoyaki. You can eat in or take out, so you can try a little bit of takoyaki from different shops. The menu includes sauce, sauce mayo, salt, grated radish, ponzu, and tempura broth. Prices range from 540 yen for 6 pieces to 1340 yen for 16 pieces. I ordered the classic sauce mayo takoyaki. The unique thing about the sauce mayo takoyaki is that it has a lot of tempura crumbs, giving it a crispy texture along with the soft texture of the takoyaki. It seems like it would go well with salt or tempura broth as well. Overall, the simple menu structure and clear pricing are great, and I look forward to trying a different flavor next time.

Towards the end of the Golden Week holiday, I visited this place during my travels. This area is known for its famous takoyaki shops, which was a delight for a tourist like me. As for the takoyaki from Juuhachiban, the difference lies in the tempura batter topping. It was very refreshing and had a taste that was more familiar to people from the Kanto region. My friend ordered the takoyaki with tempura broth and it became their favorite among all the takoyaki we tried. Visiting this place is definitely worth it. I'll be sure to come back when I visit Osaka again!

The third stop on the Osaka takoyaki crawl is Juuhachiban near Umeda Station! They also have Koga-style takoyaki. The outside is crispy with bits of tempura batter, while the inside is soft and creamy. While regular takoyaki is good, their tempura takoyaki is also excellent! The shop is small, so you may end up eating outside, but it's a great option for a snack on your way home.

Head to Takoyaki Park next to Navi O in Umeda. I ordered the Half & Half (6 pieces) for 540 yen (with a free drink using Cine Tok). I paid with PayPay and chose sauce mayo and salt. You can choose between 6, 8, or 10 pieces. You can eat at the dedicated seats in the back, on the terrace outside, or in the central seating area. They brought the takoyaki to me while I was waiting in the back. The outer layer was crispy with a hint of salt, which was delicious! Of course, the sauce mayo was also consistently tasty. Salt, mayo, salt, mayo... maybe I should have gotten 8 pieces instead (^-^) Wednesdays have cheap movies, and with Cine Tok, it's even more affordable. If you're interested in the restaurant, please save it from this post (^-^)

I visited a takoyaki restaurant in Osaka after using the Seishun 18 ticket for a day trip. The restaurant is located on the outdoor space on the first floor of HEP Navio, just southeast of Umeda Station. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quite stylish. I ordered takoyaki with salt, sauce mayo, and half & half. The takoyaki had a crispy surface with plenty of tempura crumbs and a creamy filling. Changing the seasoning made each takoyaki taste completely different, and they were all delicious, providing a double enjoyment. I recommend this place when you want to eat takoyaki around Umeda Station.

OSAKA Takoyaki Market HEP Navio store opened on November 1st, so I decided to go for a second round! If you choose to dine in, you can eat in a separate space at the back of the store, not in the shared space with the other two stores. I tried the highly recommended "Half & Half (sauce mayonnaise and tempura broth) 6 pieces"! It arrived 6-7 minutes after ordering. The takoyaki, made by blending dashi and milk into the batter, sprinkling octopus, pickled ginger, and small shrimp, and topping it with plenty of tempura crumbs, had a crispy texture that was just perfect. The sauce mayonnaise had a addictive crispy texture and the large octopus inside was fresh and chewy, creating a wonderful harmony of textures! Delicious! The tempura broth had chopped seaweed on top. I soaked it well in the broth with green onions and grated radish. It matched perfectly with the takoyaki. It had a fragrant aroma but was refreshing and delicious. It was a bit lukewarm, which was a bit disappointing. I would love to try it hot and fresh next time!

When it comes to takoyaki, of course the sauce flavor is a classic choice, but the Half & Half option allows you to enjoy two different flavors. You can choose between salt, dashi, ponzu with grated radish, sauce & mayo, and pick two when purchasing your food ticket. So, the internal struggle begins... Can't skip the sauce, want mayo, but there's already dashi in it... In the end, I decided on sauce & mayo and salt. The takoyaki itself cost 540 yen, and I added a cola for 100 yen to prevent mouth burns. I love the old-fashioned boat-shaped plate. It just makes the takoyaki taste even better. The toothpicks are about twice as long as usual, which makes them easy to eat. Short ones tend to get sauce on your fingertips. Takoyaki at Juuhachiban HEP Navio store.

Small, cheap, delicious, and perfect for when you're feeling a bit hungry!

I went to the OSAKA Takoyaki Market in Umeda and tried some takoyaki from a few different shops. One of them was topped with grated daikon and ponzu sauce. I love ponzu sauce, so I wanted to try one with it. It was delicious as usual.

Located within the OSAKA Takoyaki Market, just a 2-3 minute walk from Hankyu Umeda Station, this takoyaki shop is known for its delicious takoyaki. I used to frequent their Nishinakajima main store when I lived nearby. This time, I bought their takoyaki with sauce and mayonnaise. The takoyaki here is filled with plenty of tempura scraps, giving it a crispy exterior and a soft, gooey interior. However, since I ate it at home this time, it had cooled down and lost some of its deliciousness. I recommend eating it at the shop's dining area for the best experience.