While walking through the Seibu Department Store basement in Ikebukuro, I noticed a taiyaki stand. I peeked into the line forming and saw that it had mochi inside. I had to buy one! Even though it had mochi inside, the price was the same as the others. It felt like a good deal. Since it was freshly baked, it was hot and chewy, and delicious. The dough also had a nice matcha flavor.

When walking towards the separate building with a bookstore at Seibu Ikebukuro, you will find it at the far end of the main building. The dough is thick, so I thought it would be fluffy, but it turned out to be chewy and delicious! I chose the sakura bean paste, but this year, there were no whole sakura leaves as mentioned in past reviews... I wouldn't mind paying more for the clemence with sakura leaves like in the past reviews...

I often pass by this shop, so I often stop by to buy taiyaki. There is usually a line for it. After trying all the flavors, I think the cream cheese one is the most delicious. If you take it home, it's good to warm it up in the oven for a crispy texture.

I bought taiyaki at Seibu Ikebukuro Misaki. It had Hokkaido red bean paste, custard cream, and red bean cream cheese from head to tail. The red bean paste had a perfect level of elegant sweetness, wrapped tightly in a gentle-flavored dough. It was delicious.

I wanted to eat takoyaki, so I came to Ikebukuro and searched for a nearby place to visit. I knew the shop but always thought it was a taiyaki shop, and when I actually went, they only made taiyaki and there was no smell of sauce. I ordered with some doubt, but it came out. The takoyaki wasn't as big as shown in the sample at the shop, but it was quite large. The sauce and mayonnaise were served separately, but the seaweed was sprinkled on top. I wonder if they would take it off if I asked? The taiyaki had a soft and slightly thick dough. It was chewy and had a good balance with the red bean paste.

Taiyaki & Takoyaki shop located in the depachika of Seibu Ikebukuro. Bought 2 taiyaki for takeout to share with a friend. Chose recommended flavors: custard & cheese, and matcha cream. The skin was dense and chewy, similar to a fluffy waffle. Both creams were packed full, making it quite heavy. Matcha cream was sweeter than expected. The cream cheese had a slight saltiness, but the combination with custard was a bit off. Overall, it was sweet and heavy, so it may appeal to those who like chewy treats and very sweet flavors. Personally, it felt a bit too heavy and sweet, prefer crispy taiyaki skins.

Seibu Ikebukuro B1. A popular shop located at the end of the passage leading to Sanseido and Muji. There is always a considerable number of people lining up. Sometimes, when I can't resist the craving, I often stop by. I always order the same Matcha Azuki Shiratama for 180 yen. The skin is matcha flavored, with shiratama balls inside the sweet red bean paste. The matcha flavor and the sweetness of the red bean paste are just right, and the shiratama balls add a nice volume to the taste. I'm going to eat there again.

Connected directly from the east exit of Ikebukuro Station. Located on the basement 1st floor of the Seibu Ikebukuro Honten Food Hall. Takeout only. There are nearby seating areas available. This time, I purchased the "Red Bean & Cream Cheese" flavor (183 yen). This is my first taiyaki of the year. The red bean and cream cheese flavor here is delicious. The rich taste and acidity of the cream cheese complement the sweetness of the red bean perfectly. The skin is thick and fluffy, but I felt that there was not enough filling. Personally, I prefer a thinner, crispier texture. It was a shame that it was already cold despite being freshly made. It seems like the taiyaki season is coming to an end. Hopefully, it will get warmer soon.

★Arrived around 1:30 pm on a weekend afternoon★There were more than 5 people waiting in line, but since most people bought their items and left right away, I was able to purchase within five minutes★I tried the matcha and red bean taiyaki★The taiyaki had a cute appearance with its matcha color, and I could slightly smell the matcha as well★The red bean filling was delicious, and the texture of the taiyaki was just right★Moreover, this taiyaki does not contain any dairy products, which is great for people with dairy allergies★The service was average★The cost was reasonable, around 200 yen for one taiyaki★The counter where the products were displayed looked clean and tidy★Although wheat and eggs are used, dairy products are not used, making it safe for those with dairy allergies★I enjoyed the taiyaki and the fact that it was safe for my allergies, so I would consider going back if I'm in the area again★Overall, I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars★★★★

Located in the Ikebukuro Seibu B1 annex, this taiyaki and takoyaki shop is perfect for a quick snack after work. I stopped by around 5:30 PM and tried the Custard Cream Cheese taiyaki (199 yen). The chewy dough paired perfectly with the generous amount of cream cheese and the subtly sweet red bean paste. The creamy texture of the cheese was delightful. I usually prefer thinner taiyaki shells, but this thicker version was a nice change. Overall, a delicious treat worth trying!

Visited in May 2021. There can be a long line depending on the timing, but luckily there was no wait when I went. I purchased their taiyaki, which has a thick and chewy skin reminiscent of the ones I had as a child. The difference is that the red bean paste inside is packed full and you can really taste the azuki beans.

After my lesson, I always pass by this shop with a long line, and it caught my attention. Today, I bought one of each of the 5 varieties of taiyaki and some takoyaki. The texture was not crispy, but rather chewy. I might like the red bean paste and cream cheese flavors. I enjoyed all of them.

It's been a while since I've had Aji Saki (*´-`). I bought two Hokkaido Daigakuimo, one with custard & cream cheese, one with matcha and white bean paste, and the limited edition walnut chocolate flavor. They were all delicious. It felt like a taste of home. I had eaten taiyaki in Azabu-Juban a week ago, so eating Aji Saki made me feel calm. I bought five of them and finished them all quickly. I can go buy more anytime, but I think I only eat them about once a year, so they tasted even better this time!!! Thank you for the meal.

Ikebukuro Seibu's basement floor. In a corner towards the back where there always seems to be a line. I've eaten there a few times but haven't reviewed it. The Seibu Lions keep losing to Softbank. It's boring, so let's buy something to lift our spirits. The beautiful tail fin seems to be hoping for a comeback in the second half. The taste was good, maybe because of the mood. It was just delicious. Thank you for the meal.

While walking through the Depachika in Ikebukuro, I came across a female staff member earnestly making taiyaki, so I couldn't resist buying a custard cream one for 173 yen. Unfortunately, the cream was not very sweet and lacked richness in flavor. I couldn't finish it and ended up leaving the tail part uneaten. I'm sorry. Please forgive me for recognizing that effort and taste are separate things.

You should definitely try the "Margherita taiyaki"! As a food reviewer on Tabelog... (laughs) It is a taiyaki shop in the basement of Seibu Department Store in Ikebukuro. They also sell takoyaki, and it seems to be quite popular with many repeat customers. Many people seem to casually decide to buy it as if it were a given. I myself have a memory of sharing a regular red bean and custard taiyaki many years ago, but I didn't feel particularly impressed. As I passed by the shop, the "Margherita taiyaki" suddenly caught my eye. I was drawn to it as a novelty and ended up joining the line, but when it was my turn, I suddenly felt hesitant and settled for something more ordinary... I tried the "Red Bean & Cream Cheese Taiyaki" (194 yen) - as shown in the photo. As the name suggests, it is a red bean and cream cheese taiyaki, but I didn't really feel the cheese, and it was more like a red bean whipped cream in my opinion. I felt a surprisingly strong saltiness, so I think it must have been the cheese after all. The skin was lightly baked and soft, so it didn't make a strong impression. It's probably good as a dessert, but personally, I expect a taiyaki to have a crispy exterior due to the baking. It was delicious, but I found 194 yen to be a bit expensive. Thank you for the meal. When it comes to taiyaki in Ikebukuro, the long-established shop "Fukuyoshi" in the east exit is the top choice. Originally a ramen shop, but it seems to have become a taiyaki-focused shop to compete with the famous miso ramen shop "Hasegawa" nearby... The taiyaki from that shop, even now, may seem like a taiyaki that is simply overcooked and at risk of being overshadowed by various other taiyaki, but it has a nice crispy aroma from start to finish. The popular Azabu-Juban shop "Naniwaya" also has a strong crispy aroma in its taiyaki, which is somewhat similar. Unfortunately, there are no longer any shops in the west exit that have been selling taiyaki for a long time, but the large taiyaki from "Gozakou" is popular. Recently, "Naruto Taiyaki Honpo" has also opened. I wrote this and that, but in the end, I'm just a person who was drawn in by the words "Margherita taiyaki" alone. (laughs) (By Kyonatsu Shuusora, July 17, 2019) (85 reviews, 3.38)

When I exited the underground ticket gate at Ikebukuro Station on the Seibu Line and tried to head to Junkudo passing through the department store, I noticed a nice smell and saw a space where people were lining up. It was a shop called "Ajisaki" selling taiyaki and takoyaki. I thought about getting takoyaki as a substitute for lunch, but most people were buying taiyaki. The long line made taiyaki seem more appealing than takoyaki. The sweet aroma wafting in the air seemed to come from the taiyaki, and if you're eating on the go, taiyaki is more convenient. The crispy texture was satisfying, and the thickness of the dough was unexpectedly fluffy and chewy. The red bean paste was also well-balanced and didn't overpower the taste of the dough. It was delicious.

I looked at the food log and saw good reviews, so I decided to try it out. However, the conclusion is that it is probably one of the worst taiyaki I have ever had. The main issue is that it lacks filling for its size. The volume, including the skin, may be there, but not many people expect volume from the skin. Additionally, the skin itself doesn't taste good. Furthermore, the price is on the higher side at 180 yen per piece excluding tax. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. Perhaps it varies by day, but I'm not sure about that.

I heard that there is a delicious taiyaki shop in the Seibu underground in Ikebukuro, so I went to check it out! However, it was a bit hard to find in the underground area (^^;; It was located at the end of the food market underground. I purchased a red bean paste & cream cheese taiyaki for 194 yen (including tax). When I went, they didn't have any matcha flavor, but they had red bean paste, custard, and margherita flavors. I asked for a hot one to eat right away, and enjoyed it on a bench in front of the shop! The thick dough was filled with plenty of red bean paste and cream cheese. I usually prefer thin-skinned taiyaki, but I really like the delicious thick dough (≧▽≦) The taiyaki from Ajisaki had a delicious fluffy dough. However, there was a lot of cream cheese, so the red bean paste got a bit overshadowed (^^;; I personally wish there was a higher ratio of red bean paste. Although they weren't available this time, I would like to try the matcha white bean paste. It was delicious, so I have decided to visit again!

Wow. I'm completely addicted to the taste of these taiyaki. For some reason, I just love the nostalgic taste of the skin. This time, I got four taiyaki with red bean paste and one with matcha and white bean paste. I can eat a lot of them without feeling sick. The red bean paste from Aji Saki is seriously delicious and refreshing! One thing I thought about this time is that I wish they would put the white bean paste in the middle of the taiyaki. When it's at the head or tail end, it feels like there's not enough filling, and it's not as satisfying. Please consider improving this!!! By the way, this time they actually said "Thank you for always coming!" to me for the first time. They remembered me after just three visits. Haha.