A higher level of "takoyaki" depends on the compatibility with the cook and the timing of eating. I have always recognized that the taste is different when made by someone other than the usual person. So, I had a habit of only buying it from that old man. The takoyaki shop in Uzumasa, Tatsumi-no-Tsuji, Sanjo Street in front of the welfare association, and the stall in front of Jusco. And one more thing. I believe it's a challenge against burns. Strengthen the skin inside your mouth to avoid burns. The hotter it is, the tastier it is. Blowing on it may make it safer to eat, but at the same time, it becomes less tasty. However, if you want to challenge yourself to the point where you can't taste anything, you have to blow on it. The worst thing is to leave it and eat it after it cools down. If it's that level of "takoyaki," it's okay. But as I mentioned at the beginning, it's not good for a higher level of "takoyaki." I just wanted to write that. I have written various reviews many times, but during the corona pandemic, I refrained from drinking alcohol for about a year and a half to two years. I gradually started drinking again, but it took me a while to come here. I visited for the first time in a long time. I heard from local information that they have a good cook now. It's different from the cook at the opening, but it's the current cook after another cook in between. If it's served, I'll eat it right away. I savor it in the back of my throat. I enjoy the scent that comes out of my nose like blood. I think it's delicious after completely leaving my mouth. That's the delicious "takoyaki." While it's still in my mouth, it's seaweed, bonito flakes, sauce, mayonnaise, and the taste of seasoning. When I touch the real thing after a long time, I become talkative. Thank you for the meal. <Photo posted section> Visited with two people on a weekday night. Two drinks each, 10 takoyaki, pork okonomiyaki, squid butter, octopus skewers. Total including tax: 5,020 yen according to the receipt. (Written by: Kyonatsu Shuusora, 2022.10.3) (51 reviews/3.43)

The takoyaki in Osaka had a nostalgic taste. There were various types of takoyaki and akashiyaki available, and they were delicious. I want to visit again because it's close by. The prices are reasonable, and they also offer takeout, which is convenient.

I felt like eating takoyaki, so I went to Hachihachi-san after a long time. I had dashi-wari (sake mixed with dashi) and salted takoyaki. The takoyaki was fluffy and delicious. Even just with salt, it was tasty. The teppan was hot during the hot season. I will visit again in winter. Thank you for the meal.

Real octopus balls. It's hard to find hot and fresh takoyaki in the Kanto region, but you can eat it here! Sitting at the counter, the staff cooks it right in front of you. You can't see the takoyaki being cooked, but the height is just right. My idea of takoyaki is Gindaco, so I rarely have the chance to eat anything else. When I ate it in Osaka, it was really delicious! They also have ramune as a drink option, which is another charm. It made me feel nostalgic! There are many variations of takoyaki, and it goes well with alcohol! It was so delicious that I want to go eat takoyaki again.

I suddenly felt like eating takoyaki, so I searched in Ikebukuro and found a good shop. The shop is a little walk from the station. There are various types of takoyaki, all of them look delicious and I can't decide! But cheese and mentaiko definitely go well with it, right? The alcohol is also delicious, and most importantly, it goes well with takoyaki! I am very satisfied with both the takoyaki and the alcohol. If I feel like eating takoyaki again, I will come back here!

A small izakaya located near the west exit of Ikebukuro Station. You can see it right away on the left side of the C3 exit. There is a counter for about 6 people, and one semi-private room that can accommodate 4 people. I went on a weekend night. It was full from around 6 o'clock, and they were receiving so many calls asking if it was okay to come now that it wouldn't be available until after 8 o'clock. I overheard the conversation between the staff and customers, so I recommend making a reservation through Tabelog. If you make a reservation by 5 p.m. on the day, I think it's okay for a counter seat for 2 people. The counter seats and the aisle are very narrow. It's honestly tough for people with a large build. The owner really wants you to try the takoyaki and akashiyaki! My friend and I enjoyed some appetizers, pork hirayaki, akashiyaki, and takoyaki, and we had a good time without spending more than 3000 yen per person, so I think it's relatively reasonable. The akashiyaki and takoyaki were delicious and gooey ❤️

On weekends, they are open for lunch so I visited on a Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, I still have work to do so I can't drink alcohol. I ordered the lunch special which was a set of Akashiyaki and takoyaki. The presentation of the takoyaki was beautiful. It was very delicious. The inside was soft and creamy, while the outside was not too crispy or too soft, just the right amount of firmness. The sauce had a hint of curry flavor in the background, but I couldn't confirm if it was true. Overall, everything came together nicely and tasted delicious. The Akashiyaki broth was also good, but I preferred eating it as it is. The pickled ginger had a gentle flavor. Eating the Akashiyaki and pickled ginger together without dipping in the broth was also delicious. The restaurant seems to promote Akashiyaki, but personally, I prefer the takoyaki. I also ordered the half portion of beef tendon yakisoba. The amount of ingredients in the yakisoba was generous, with lots of cabbage and other vegetables. However, the vegetables tasted fresh and the cooking was skillful, so it was enjoyable to eat. I could still taste the curry in the background. Next time, I want to try different flavors of takoyaki while enjoying a beer.

My takoyaki-loving friend found this shop for us, and we were able to walk in at just the right time. The standard takoyaki had a crispy exterior and a gooey interior, very delicious. They put a lot of effort into the batter, blending various ingredients to make it. The batter is really tasty. You can easily eat it even without sauce (although be careful, it's very hot!). I also enjoyed a ginger ale in a cute Adelia Retro glass. When I looked up, I noticed the cute retro lights. I didn't take a photo, but I also got the deluxe yakisoba to go. When you get it to go, the crispy outside of the takoyaki fades a bit, but it becomes easier to eat when it cools down, and it's still very tasty. The yakisoba had tempura crumbs, green onions, and a sunny-side-up egg on top, and it was really delicious! I definitely want to visit again. Thank you for the meal!

Tuesday ☁ 16:00 No waiting Akashiyaki Half & Half 980 yen Salt (4 pieces) 480 yen Mentaiko Mayo (4 pieces) 480 yen Standard (4 pieces) 380 yen Oolong tea 380 yen They seem to be particular about the dough, and the takoyaki has a rich flavor. I tried a few, and the ones with salt or light flavors seem to be good. Beer or highball for a refreshing taste, or on the other hand, the Akashiyaki is just right and you can eat it easily. If you eat it as a single item, this might be more to your liking. Takeout or a light drink seemed like a good way to use it. The seats are narrow counter seats like a ramen shop, so it's best for 2 or 3 people if you go.

During a business trip, I happened to come across this shop while walking near the hotel. Inside, there was a long counter seat where you could choose from a variety of sauces and toppings for takoyaki, and even select the number of pieces. I started with the standard 6 pieces topped with seaweed, sauce, and mayonnaise. The large takoyaki had a creamy center and the slightly tangy sauce was delicious! I also ordered squid legs, yakisoba, and Akashiyaki. The squid legs had a unique texture that was neither raw nor overly cooked. The tableware and glasses were cute, the food and service were excellent, and the atmosphere was great! Although everything was delicious, as a big fan of takoyaki, I ended up ordering more. I can't wait to try the squid yakisoba next time!

I was invited to go to a takoyaki and beer place in Ikebukuro. I haven't been to the area near Rikkyo where the restaurant is located much. The small shop has a long and narrow layout, with the main seating at the counter. There seem to be more solo customers. I ordered the Akashiyaki set because I wanted to try both takoyaki and Akashiyaki. The set came with 8 pieces of Akashiyaki and 5 pieces of takoyaki. You can choose the sauce for the takoyaki. I wish there was a smaller set available, as the portion seemed a bit large for me. The appetizers were a bit on the heavier side. The takoyaki had a thin, crispy outer layer that was soft inside. I don't know the name of the part around the takoyaki. When you break it, it's like a soft, gooey texture. It reminded me of poking a water drop-shaped sweet with a toothpick. I usually don't like when takoyaki is too gooey, but this one was light and had a nice texture. It paired well with the slightly sweet sauce and nori topping. The Akashiyaki came first with a dish of mitsuba, green onions, and pickled ginger. The fluffy Akashiyaki was comforting, and the broth was delicious. I always thought I had to go to Kukuru in Tokyo to have good Akashiyaki, so I was happy to find it here. The restaurant is not very spacious, so it might be difficult to have a leisurely drink and snack, but the delicious takoyaki and Akashiyaki, along with the hardworking staff, made my stomach and heart happy. I later found out that this shop is affiliated with Yama-chan from Osaka, which I also like, so I'm glad that my taste is consistent.

I will go again. I have a reservation at 19:00, so I checked the time. I will leave as soon as I finish eating! The solo dining time is 30 minutes. Drink, get sunburned, eat. This time, I also ordered the Young B with Osaka soy sauce and mayo. I was happy when ordering. Instead of beer, I tried a honey lemon sour. I drank it all at once. Thank you, what a fulfilling experience. Thank you for the meal.

I was talking with a colleague from Kobe about Akashiyaki and Takoyaki! I used to think that I could only eat Akashiyaki when I went to Kansai, but I found a place in Ikebukuro called Hachiha where they serve it. They also have various other menu items besides Akashiyaki. I wanted to try Takoyaki as well. I've grown up eating Gindaco Takoyaki, so people from Kansai might say it's not the traditional way, but Gindaco is a specific brand, so forgive me. Hachiha is actually a branch of a famous store in Osaka called Young. I've been recommended this place by a friend from Osaka 20 years ago. The Akashiyaki was fluffy and delicious. The broth was amazing. It was a great way to end the work day. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

This day, we had a day drinking session in Ikebukuro. The organizer chose a bar where you can eat Akashiyaki. It's about a 3-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station. As we walked past the vacant Marui site, we turned at the Ikebukuro Nimata Police Box onto Rikkyo Street where the designated restaurant was located. Hachi Hachi Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Branch, a restaurant that specializes in Tennoji Takoyaki and Akashiyaki with its main store in Otsuka. I was looking forward to trying the Akashiyaki. Cheers with a draft beer! The mugs here are small. Even though the price has gone up, 620 yen for this size is a bit high. - Octopus Skewers x2 Delicious! The large pieces of Akashi octopus with a chewy texture are great. - HYT Thinly sliced with mayonnaise on the side. - Lunch Set Takoyaki (5 pieces) and Akashiyaki (8 pieces) set. When calculated individually, it's around 1330 yen, so the discount rate for the set is high and pleasing. Let's order 2 sets. - Takoyaki Freshly baked and hot, I took a bite of the large Takoyaki... Delicious! The soft inside is melty, and the fruity sauce pairs well. The large octopus inside is a nice touch. The seaweed and mayonnaise do a great job, and it goes well with Hoppy. - Akashiyaki Akashiyaki, a rare find in Tokyo. It's my third time eating Akashiyaki in my long life. While Takoyaki uses flour, Akashiyaki's batter is mainly egg. Locally, it's called "Tamagoyaki." Despite being cooked in a round shape, it becomes oval due to its softness. I dipped it in broth and took a bite... Delicious! The fluffy texture and gentle Japanese broth go well together. The large octopus inside is a nice touch. The green onions and pickled ginger are doing a great job. - Negiyaki Negiyaki with plenty of beef tendon in it. The balance of chewy beef tendon and crispy green onions on a Korean pancake-like batter is good. The taste of the broth soy sauce is good. - Oden Assortment A selection of 4 types of oden that you can choose yourself. It's delicious with a gentle Japanese broth. When I added an egg (individually), it cost 240 yen. Quite expensive compared to convenience store oden... Maybe it's due to the bird flu? It's been a while since I enjoyed drinking with Takoyaki as a snack. Oden also warms the heart and body. However, the prices are generally high, so my wallet felt a bit empty. Perhaps enjoying the set is the right way to go here.

A shop that puts a lot of effort into unique Akashiyaki. The recommended Akashiyaki is fluffy and very delicious. I also ordered negiyaki as an addition, and it was also delicious. It's a good shop to have a light drink with, as eating only flour-based dishes can get boring. I sometimes feel like eating Akashiyaki, so I think I will come back again.

Sometimes you just crave some takoyaki. But in Tokyo, aside from Gindaco, there aren't many other places that come to mind. While walking in Ikebukuro, I saw the sign for "Hachi Hachi," a specialty takoyaki shop. It was bustling, so I decided to give it a try. They had a variety of takoyaki with different sauce options. Today, I ordered a few different kinds. Here's what I had: - Homemade Yuzu Pon Takoyaki (4 pieces) ¥480 - Homemade Mentaiko Takoyaki (6 pieces) ¥660 - Takoyaki (6 pieces) ¥540 - Negi-yaki ¥980 The takoyaki arrived in about 10 minutes, piping hot. They were well-seasoned with a crispy exterior and a juicy inside. Each one was quite large and filling. I personally preferred the ones with toppings over regular takoyaki. If you're looking for a quick meal or a snack to go with drinks, this place is worth a visit. If you're craving takoyaki, definitely check it out.

I decided to have some flour-based dishes for a change and went to a takoyaki shop. Started with a refreshing honey lemon sour, followed by takoyaki with kimchi. Even though I had kimchi for breakfast, it was unrelated. Then I tried takoyaki with salt, feeling it was too hot to eat whole so I carefully ate it in halves. Next was squid yakisoba. It may look plain, but the squid was deliciously chewy. Lastly, I had the standard takoyaki with too much sauce and mayonnaise, even for someone who likes strong flavors like myself.

Takoyaki 10 pieces with standard seasoning (with seaweed and mayonnaise) costs 860 yen including tax. They accept PASMO and PayPay. I had to wait about 15 minutes because a customer paid before me. The size is slightly smaller than Gindako, but this is the normal size in Kansai. The inside is fluffy and hot, and you can't eat it in one bite. The back seats are not very spacious, but there are seats for 4 people available for reservation.

I wanted to eat something before heading home in Ikebukuro, so I decided to stop by a restaurant. I was in the mood for something with flour, so when I peered in and was invited in, I couldn't resist. The interior of the restaurant is mostly counter seating, with some tables in the back. It's a small place, but it adds to the charm. There were a lot of young people, and it seemed like the takoyaki was meant to be enjoyed with drinks. However, I decided to enjoy it sober! I started with a platter of three appetizers - takowasa, edamame, and cucumber pickles. The takowasa was really spicy with a strong wasabi flavor! The cucumber pickles were also on the spicy side. Clearly, they were meant to be paired with alcohol. Next, I ordered the standard four pieces of takoyaki with normal sauce and mayo. When they arrived, they were piping hot. The first bite burned my mouth a little, but after blowing on it, I could taste the delicious creamy filling. They really do pay attention to the soup. Since I could eat a little more, I also ordered their homemade salt with four flavors - plum, sansho pepper, lemon, and seaweed. The takoyaki, displayed like jewels, were simply seasoned with the flavored salts. Let me tell you, they were delicious. The takoyaki was tasty even when eaten with salt, and the subtle flavors kept it interesting. The pickled ginger was a nice touch, adding to the overall satisfaction. This place really has some unique takoyaki that makes you want to try more. I would definitely go back if I have the chance.

I visited the same store because I wanted to eat fluffy takoyaki, not crispy takoyaki. The interior of the store is small, with a counter, standing tables, and one table for 4 people. I sat at the counter and ordered a "draft beer (580 yen)" first, and then ordered the following takoyaki. [Takoyaki 10 pieces (880 yen)] I asked for Young B's homemade soy sauce and mayo. Let's eat it right away, wow, delicious. I like takoyaki that is a little crispy but soft and juicy inside, rather than the crispy type from a certain chain, and the dashi (broth) here is delicious. The moist dashi inside is tasty. This is delicious. The octopus is also quite big, and the combination of homemade soy sauce and mayo is perfect. [Takoyaki 6 pieces (540 yen)] Taste-wise, pretending to be the best! This is slightly salted because it is grilled plain. Since there is no sauce, you can directly feel the taste of the takoyaki itself. But it's delicious because the dashi is tasty. It's refreshing, so it's not heavy. [Akashiyaki half & half (980 yen)] Half & half means plain and with green onions. Dip it in the broth and eat it. The broth is just normal bonito broth, and you eat the fluffy Akashiyaki dipped in it. Compared to takoyaki, it's less impactful, but it's still very delicious Akashiyaki. [Squid yaki (640 yen)] When you think of Osaka, you think of squid yaki, right? So, I ordered it. It's a bit different from the casual squid yaki you can eat in Osaka. It feels more like a high-end squid yaki, with the squid not pressed and in its original shape, but it's just delicious. We also had a Hoppie set (520 yen) and 4 medium (300 yen) drinks as a snack. The atmosphere in the store is casual and welcoming for solo diners, and many solo diners were enjoying a drink and takoyaki. The takoyaki here is very delicious because of the flavorful dashi, so I definitely want to come back again. Next time, I want to make a reservation for the pair set, which is a great deal available only from Monday to Thursday, and revisit.

On a holiday in Ikebukuro, I finished my errands just before 3 PM. I had missed lunch and was wondering what to do. I remembered a restaurant I had visited over a year ago, and when I checked, I found out that they were open all day. Lucky for me, the usually crowded restaurant was empty when I arrived, so I immediately went in and sat at the end of the counter. Even though it had been over a year, I still remembered that the draft beer here was ice-cold. I ordered the following: - Draft beer (3 glasses) - Assorted appetizers (3 items) - Takoyaki (8 pieces) - Grilled squid The assorted appetizers were nothing special - cucumber, kimchi, and umesuika. The umesuika was not good, with a crunchy texture that was hard to chew and a lingering fishy smell. It's better to stick to more unique appetizers at a place like this. This is a takoyaki shop after all. The grilled squid was made with a dough seasoned with magic salt and grilled with squid inside, coated with okonomiyaki sauce. The dough had a rich flavor, and it went well with the beer. Now, back to the takoyaki. I ordered the most basic takoyaki, but it looked completely different from what I had a year ago. I checked my review from a year ago, and indeed, it looked different. I tried one, and it was grilled differently too - crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, just like the familiar takoyaki I always have. I vividly remember the takoyaki I had a year ago, as it was surprisingly creamy both outside and inside. When I tried it, I couldn't even pick it up with chopsticks because it was so creamy. The owner asked if I didn't like that kind of takoyaki and offered to grill it more on the outside. I replied that I actually enjoyed it and had another plate. I wanted to try that type of takoyaki again, but this one was delicious in its own way, so it was fine. I think the owner this time was different from the one before. If there were no other customers, I could have confirmed the differences from a year ago, but since it was delicious, it didn't matter. They are open all day on weekends and holidays. It's great to have takoyaki as a snack around 3 PM while enjoying a drink. I'll definitely go back again!