【Osaka Takoyaki】 Dotonbori, Namba, comparing tastes of Takoyaki tasting tour.

Speaking of Osaka, Takoyaki is always the top topic. There are many Takoyaki stands wall-to-wall in Dotonbori and Namba area. You will see Takoyaki stands at every step.

Even though there are so many Takoyaki stands;every stands have their own tastes,ingredients and cooking temperatures.

This time, I will ask Food lover”Dagotan” to join me for Takoyaki tasting and eating tour.

There are also Dangotan`s video of 「Osaka Dotonbori, Namba Takoyaki tour」, so please don’t miss it.

I will show you map of Dotonbori first

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We decided to meet up at Tsutaya in Dotonbori Ebisubashi and from where we will start this Takoyaki tour.
I introduce Takoyaki stands in the order I visited .Total 8 different Takoyaki stands in Dotonbori area. Please click the map, and you will see some yellow circles on the map. which is the place we had Takoyaki.

Takoyaki Jyuhachiban in Dotonbori

This place always ranks top in various series and competitions. I had 「Half&Half (salt&sauce)」 menu which is the shop`s recommendation.

Takoyaki with Salt!? You probably can’t quite imagine the taste but please try and you will find that they are very compatible and delicious.

price

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They are crispy and very delicious with a lot of Tenkasu (bits of tempura batter that have fallen into hot oil and been deep- fried.)Also they are mostly plain type and light texture so it’s easy to eat.

Odoridako in Dotonbori

In this takoyaki, the whole small octopus is inside. Legs of octopus will come outside and it causes air comes  inside and make them shrink if they are cooked in advance, so they were cooked after I ordered.

You might doubt if it is possible to give a twirl with a pick to make grilled ball shape, but yes, it is possible. When they are cooked in the each hole, it seems like the octopus is dancing. That is why they were called Odoridako which means dancing octopus in Japanese.

When Odoridako is completely cooked, it looks very adorable because of all the legs are coming out of the grilled ball, which reminds of me a cute flower.

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 The small octopus tasted amazing and dough and dashi soup worked very well！

Creole in Dotonbori

Takoyaki shop Creole stands out on the street because both shop and its signboard are large. It has a few branches in different places besides this one in Dotonbori. Staff who are working here have a sense of humor and it feels like I came here to watch comic dialog and Shinkigeki ( New Comedy.)

There are abundant kinds in Creative Takoyaki menu. I tried「a soft-boiled egg and plenty of green onion」550 JPY

Price

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Thick and creamy half-boiled egg surprisingly goes with Takoyaki!

The Head house Otako Dotonbori

Otako was established in 1947 (Showa 47). The shop always has lines from old days.

They only use sauce for takoyaki. It is comparably small sized and very easy to eat.

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It is delicious as old-fashioned taste of Takoyaki.

Dotonbori Takohachi the head office

Takoyaki in Takohachi shop is comparably bigger sized. It is crispy outside and very soft inside. Dashi soup is also in the dough and it tastes very good.

You can eat-in here too. They have second and third floor, and has other food menus besides Takoyaki.

Sauce only is used and bigger sized Takoyaki.

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Crispy and springy texture and very delicious with ginger inside.

Achichi the main office Dotonbori

Takoyaki stands Achichi is located across the Dotonbori River. You will see the stands on the way going down stairs of the bridge. They  use raw octopus to make takoyaki here so it has chewy texture. There is a space to eat under the stands.

There are different kinds of flavors. This time, I tried 「Ponzu」flavor As you see in the picture, it is very crispy.

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Octopus has a strong presence for this Takoyaki Octopus is really amazing here and they come with ginger,which is great.

Kukuru in Soemoncho

Takoyaki stands Kukuru is very famous and it has many branches in many different places in Japan.

Kukuru in in Soemoncho is located along the Dotonbori River, and you can enjoy the river view while eating delicious Takoyaki here.

The sauce used here is a bit sweet and it is easy to eat.

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Very creamy and thick inside and it is exciting to eat with the river view.Great view!

Dotonbori Akaoni

This Takoyaki shop was posted in Michelin Guide in 2016 and 2017 two consecutive years. Akaoni in front of the shop is the sign.

「ganen」is shop`s recommended menu. Simple looks.

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Raw Octopus is great, and the broth octopus from the Takoyaki is amazing!

From the next page, it will be Namba area Takoyaki tour!

Map of Namba Area

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Next, I went pass from Dotonbori through Sennichi shopping street and got to 「Namba Grand Kaketsu」direction. There are 5 shops near Namba area. Please click the map. I went to Takoyaki shops where I have already circled with my yellow pen.

Hachimaruhachi

It has been told that this Takoyaki shop is the second most delicious place in Osaka.

Why the second?Probably, there is the place where I will introduce later called 「The most delicious Mr.Takoyaki in Osaka」… I am just saying randomly of my own thoughts.

Takoyaki covered with salt. It is topped with flour made from shrimp.

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Crispy outside and soft inside and taste very good.

Takoyakiza

Takoyakiza is located right across the Namba Grand Kaketsu. It has 100 seats including second and third floor.

Takoyaki here was made with special fish broth,dashi. This is 「Garlic Soy sauce taste」you cannot find this special taste at any other places.

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Takoyaki is made from moisten dough and the raw octopus is delicious too!

Takoyaki Douraku Wanaka Sennichimae main office

It is located right next to the Namba grand Kaketsu. There are always lines in front of this shop. They have other branches in Osaka, Kyoto, Kyushu.

They have eating space in the second floor. Including free water is very helpful.

This Takoyaki is salt flavor and topped with green onions,which is quite filling.

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Takoyaki is crispy outside and creamy inside which is very delicious with milky texture!

Kougaryu in Namba grand Kaketsu

(Closed in August 2017)

This shop is the first place which started putting netlike mayonnaise on top of Takoyaki.

The main shop is in Americanmura. This shop is in the first floor in the building”Nanba Grand Kagetu”. So pleasa feel free to come visit.

If you order 6 pieces at once, you will get 120 JPY discount. Sauce and mayonnaise tastes so good. 280JPY!The price is very reasonable!

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Sauce here is a bit sweet and it is comparably small sized, easy to eat. It is absolutely recommended to those who like soft type of Takoyaki.

Takoyakikun The most delicious Takoyaki place in Osaka

7 pieces of Takoyaki are 280JPY. This place is the cheapest place that I have visited so far.

Comparably small sized takoyaki with lots of tenkasu is very crispy. You can choose the toppings among sauce, dried bonito and Aonori.

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You can eat them like snacks because they are light. The young male staff working here has a great sense of humor.

Dotonbori. Namba Takoyaki tour video

At the last, this is a video that shows Dangotan eating Takoyaki. If you see him eating at 13 different takoyaki places, you will definitely want to eat takoyaki too!

Conclusion

There are so many takoyaki places near Dotonbori and Namba area. This time I visited 13 different takoyaki shops and compared the tastes.

You might think「every Takoyaki tastes the same to me」but it is not. Each shop has a totally different taste.

Everyone has their own favorite takoyaki  taste, for example, crispy outside of grilled ball or soft one. Please try Takoyaki at many different places as many as you can and find your own taste!