I still think that Osaka has cheap and delicious takoyaki! Today's second takoyaki was from Takoten below Tsutenkaku. The shop is right under Tsutenkaku. Both locals and tourists visit, and the veteran owner and his wife (?) are skillfully making takoyaki in front of the takoyaki grill. I bought a plate of 8 large takoyaki for ¥600 and takosen for ¥300 with my friend. It's quite enjoyable to explore this kind of B-class gourmet on a trip. Even with the same takoyaki, each shop has a different taste. The takoyaki here is crispy on the outside, and the inside is soft and fluffy. It's served on a plastic tray with wooden chopsticks, not forks. Probably because it's difficult to eat the soft inside with a fork. It's topped with mayonnaise and seaweed, but there's no bonito flakes. I chose 8 pieces for ¥600 thinking it's a better deal than 6 pieces for ¥500, but they were not tightly packed, and the soft texture made me finish them all in no time. I heard it's popular in Osaka, so I'm glad I was able to try it.

There are countless delicious takoyaki restaurants in Osaka, but Takoyaki Cali Fuwa is a classic choice! Plus, it's located right under Tsutenkaku Tower, so the view is great too~ (*´︶`*)ﾉ My friends from outside the prefecture were also very satisfied! I'm so glad I found this restaurant! Thank you for the wonderful meal!❣️

The long-awaited takoyaki senbei was delicious, but the shrimp senbei got soggy from the heat of the takoyaki, making it difficult to eat.

The takoyaki was very soft and gooey.

Cheap and affordable!

On the third day of our couple trip, we had lunch. On this day, we visited USJ, Tsutenkaku, and then headed to our accommodation in Kobe. My husband, who is not a fan of theme parks, reluctantly agreed to visit USJ. We arrived right when the park opened, but it was already quite crowded. We decided to just enjoy the atmosphere and weren't planning on waiting in long lines for rides. However, we couldn't resist the 10-minute wait for the Jaws ride, which turned out to be more exciting than we expected with splashing water and fiery effects. We then headed to the popular Harry Potter area. The longest wait was for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, which was a 90-minute wait... but my husband insisted on riding it. We sat in a row of four with 3D glasses on. The ride was unexpectedly intense, and my husband's reactions next to me were so funny that I couldn't focus on the attraction. I wondered if the elderly people in line were okay with it. We had to visit Tsutenkaku, so we left USJ after lunch. We went up Tsutenkaku, rubbed the feet of the Billiken statue, and bought some local snacks at the underground souvenir shop. Right outside, we found a takoyaki shop and bought two boxes of large takoyaki with six pieces each. I thought the takoyaki at the local shopping center was good enough, but these were on a whole other level. They were piping hot, perfectly cooked, with a gooey center and a rich dashi flavor. My husband loved them even more than I did, and he kept telling our friends how delicious the takoyaki in Osaka was even after we returned home.

This takoyaki shop is located at the base of one of Osaka's landmarks, Tsutenkaku. They also sell Tsutenkaku souvenirs. When it comes to takoyaki, there are various types like fluffy, crispy, and creamy, and this shop's takoyaki falls into the creamy category. The inside is creamy and hot, while the outside is crispy, creating a delicious contrast in texture. The flavors are also well-balanced and tasty. Personally, I would rank this takoyaki among the top three creamy takoyaki I've ever had. Locals can include this in their Osaka guide, while tourists can add it to their Osaka sightseeing itinerary. Highly recommended.

Near Tsutenkaku, there is a regular takoyaki shop. I tried Osaka-style takoyaki and it was delicious! I couldn't really tell the difference from Kanto-style takoyaki, maybe it's the dashi? No, it's the slightly spicy and sweet aroma of the sauce that is irresistible. Being in Osaka, I was worried there might not be any octopus inside (laughs), but it was all there. Am I the only one who gets a little excited about that? The takoyaki was plump and delicious, with no special variations. There are only two options priced at 400 or 500 yen, making it easy to order with confidence.

This is actually the fourth stop. In order to write a review for the second installment of the New World Tour, I must have some sake. (I made a strange rule, didn't I?) So, the third stop, "Bizen-ya," was really good, but I focused on the food without having any sake, so I plan to revisit and write a review later. This place is a traditional standing sushi bar in Osaka: they serve a plate with 3 pieces (you can also sit at the counter). Sushi toppings range from 200 yen to an average of 350 yen (more expensive toppings come in 2 pieces per plate), with the highest quality uni or otoro priced at only 500 yen. (I recommend the medium fatty tuna for 400 yen with 3 pieces maybe?) My friend's desired genres for the New World food tour were ① kushikatsu ② doteyaki ③ horumon ④ cheap sushi ⑤ takoyaki, and since we skipped ③, the only one left is takoyaki! Speaking of takoyaki, the "New World Kankan" we visited last week was by far the best, but they are closed on Mondays. (Many shops in the New World area are closed on Mondays.) So, on a weekday with fewer people and tourists around, the idea of "that" was decided before meeting my friend at Shin-Imamiya Station. I arrived 30 minutes early and immediately went to the nearby "Ashikaga Saketen Taishiten" to buy "Kamoizuru Honjozo Junsen" (Kamoizuru Sake Brewery / Hiroshima Prefecture) for 200 yen and "Ippongi Honjozo Junsen Karakuchi" (Ippongi Kubo Honten / Fukui Prefecture) from a vending machine that seemed like it was stuck in someone's home for less than the regular price of 220 yen. "That" refers to "drinking a cup under the Tsutenkaku Tower in broad daylight, with takoyaki as a side dish." This was my unfulfilled ambition from the previous visit to "New World Kankan." So, I purchased takoyaki (300 yen for 6 pieces). First, let's taste the takoyaki. The sauce is a commercially available sweet and rich sauce, right? The inside is a bit gooey, but unfortunately, the outside is not crispy enough. This, this is unacceptable for Osaka-style takoyaki. Well, it's okay. The main sake will be "Ippongi Honjozo Junsen Karakuchi"! This is good. Sake goes well with takoyaki! (I think white wine would also work well!) The slight sweetness of the egg, combined with the Japanese-style broth, pairs nicely with this sake. If only the outside texture was crispy!! You might have heard the chorus of "Close Your Eyes" in the head of this drinking cat! ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Sakeloved forever~ Close your eyes, I'll stir you up, that's all I need, even if an old friend leaves me behind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪