I visited Tsukiji Gindaco at AEON Kitami store for the first time! It's a food court and quite crowded on a Saturday. I bought some takeout from Gindaco - sauce yakisoba for 540 yen. It took about 15 minutes, but it was worth the wait. The yakisoba was a bit short in size, maybe it got cut while cooking. The taste was okay, a bit sweet for my liking. I ended up eating half of it the next morning and now I want to try it at a different store for comparison. Thank you Tsukiji Gindaco for the meal!

First of all, when I opened the lid, there was hardly any bonito flakes to be found. Upon closer inspection, there was a faint sprinkling of bonito flakes (powder). I thought they had forgotten to put them on. The takoyaki itself was also lacking, with some pieces seeming to have no filling at all. This is terrible. Who would want to pay over 600 yen for something like this? Even after eating 8 pieces, I didn't feel full at all and ended up having to eat lunch elsewhere.

I used it in March. It's been a while, but it's delicious. The sauce and mayonnaise go well with the takoyaki, which is crispy on the outside. Some people like takoyaki that melts on the outside, but I also like this crispy takoyaki. This shop does not accept credit cards due to tenancy agreements, but you can use nanaco iD or Quick Pay, so those with credit cards that support these services are lucky.

◆October 2016◆ I was drawn in by the sign advertising the super spicy habanero pepper octopus balls. It said, "The spiciest in Gindaco's history!" So, I decided to give it a try. The octopus balls were topped with a tomato sauce containing habanero peppers. I tried a few on the spot, and they weren't as spicy as advertised, but I really liked the taste. Delicious. ◆December 2014◆ I felt nostalgic and stopped by Gindaco while running errands at the mall. Gindaco is a chain of octopus ball stands mainly found in large shopping centers like Aeon, so I probably don't need to explain much about it. It seems they have expanded not only in Japan but also overseas. Their octopus balls are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They are delicious even with just seaweed and bonito flakes, without any sauce. This time, I bought a pack of 6 for a snack with my evening drink. It had been about 10 years since I last had them, but they were still delicious.

Takoyaki~! I sometimes crave it, you know~! So, here is "Tsukiji Gindako Kitami Store". The Gindako in Kitami is on the first floor of Aeon. It's in a corner of the food court where there are places like McDonald's and KFC. Next to it is Baskin-Robbins. Went shopping with my wife at Aeon after a long time. For some reason, the whole food court today is filled with the delicious smell of takoyaki. We couldn't resist the tempting smell and I suggested to my wife, "Should we get Gindako?" We decided to buy just one. "Negi Mayo Takoyaki" for ¥650. Comes with 8 pieces. It's labeled as a limited time offer, but I remember having it before. Ate the hot takoyaki in the car. Topped with green onions, mayonnaise, and fried egg. The outside is crispy and the inside is creamy~! It's delicious as always~! I remember back when they first opened, there was a huge response and there were lines every day. Now, it's not like that at all. During weekdays, they cook after you order so there's a wait, but you get it hot. On weekends, there are still lines.

◆March 18, 2012◆ "Tsukiji Gindako" is a chain store operated by Hotland Co., Ltd. The name is derived from the meaning of "the vitality of the fish market" and "using fresh ingredients", with "Tsukiji" representing this concept and "Gindako" symbolizing the dream of opening a store in Ginza. It has experienced explosive growth, with requests for openings from shopping centers and supermarkets, becoming a famous takoyaki shop. The main menu items are "takoyaki", "negidako", "teritama mayonnaise", and "cheese mentaiko". Currently, the limited-time menu "Harudako" is also available. The takoyaki is crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, and delicious. The stamp card follows a step-up system with red, silver, and gold levels, with no expiration date. Aim for gold!

I really love it, but I've been refraining from snacks, and I don't want to end up like the middle-aged man in Hakodate who avoids eating snacks and doesn't gain weight. Hakodate's youthful appearance? I feel like I've heard of it before - is it salty? Even though I've been holding back on eating, I had some extra time in Kitami, so I decided to stop by the Aeon mall. It's been a while since I've had Gindako, so I'll just get a single serving. I overate and drank too much the day before yesterday, so I skipped breakfast and lunch yesterday and today. If I eat here, it won't do me any good, so I'll take it home and have it with beer. It's in the food court, right? I don't like food courts, so I never come, but it used to be in a different place before, right? There are a few people waiting. You can order without waiting in line. "It will be about 10 minutes, is that okay?" Sure, I'll wait. It's a "550 yen takoyaki." "Please hold onto your ticket." I got number 4. I like number 4. When my first child was born, I applied for a new Hokkaido government housing. It was a lottery, but I chose number 4. Of course, no one else wanted that number, so there was no competition, and I won without a lottery. No matter what my wife says, I don't care. My daughter takes after me and got married on an inauspicious day. She didn't have to be so much like me, but it's okay. It's really empty, but they made me wait for 10 minutes. Did they feel like they had to make me wait after saying "It will be about 10 minutes?" I didn't need to worry about it. Anyway, the food court in the evening with a man in a suit. Is he pretending to go to work without telling his family that he got fired? Is this from watching too much TV? (Sweat) I came home and reheated it in the oven. It's not as delicious as when it's freshly baked, but Gindako is still tasty. Maybe it's not as good because it's not freshly made, but it didn't have that soupy feeling inside. I had 5, my wife had 3... I used to buy it many times. But I've stopped recently. Partly because I don't want to gain weight, but also because of the attitude of the staff... I love the taste. Crispy on the outside, juicy and hot on the inside! However, it varies greatly depending on the person making it. They've been doing it for quite a while, and I think most of them are part-timers, so there's a high turnover. So every time I go, the finished product is different, especially recently, so I stopped. I still want to eat it though... Please stop chatting loudly while making it.

Location & Parking: The location is in the underground food court of Kitami Post Mall. The parking lot is spacious at Post Mall, so no need to worry. However, it can get very crowded on weekends and holidays, so be cautious of accidents. Atmosphere: Aside from Gin Daiko, there are also McDonald's and KFC, creating a food court-like setting where you can eat in or take out. However, the food court can get noisy as it becomes a gathering place for mothers with children. Cleanliness: The kitchen is relatively clean, but the food court can be messy due to the presence of children. It can get loud, making it unappealing to eat there. Service: As it is a chain store, the service follows a standard manual. There may be a wait if a certain item is not available. Order & Purchased Items: Ordered takoyaki with mentaiko sauce. Taste & Portion: The takoyaki toppings are unique, with options like mentaiko sauce or green onion. However, the takoyaki itself is overcooked, resulting in a crispy exterior and hollow interior. The texture is lacking the desired softness. The pieces of octopus inside are relatively large. Overall: Focusing more on toppings than the quality of the takoyaki itself, this place offers a standard chain store experience with a common theme across both stores.