Honest Ranking of Famous Dotonbori Takoyaki Shops
Here is my honest review and ranking of all the famous Dotonbori Takoyaki shops I got to try! It’s my first time in Osaka with Dom and my mom. When you’re in Osaka, you have to try the iconic takoyaki, or octopus balls. Even though they’re so common in Osaka, each shop has their own unique twist. We got to try as many takoyaki shops as we could, and here’s my honest ranking of the ones we found!
Exploring Must Try Osaka Street Food At Dotonbori
I’m back in Japan! We came to Osaka with an empty stomach and a very long food list. This is our first time in one of Japan’s most iconic food cities. For the next five days, we’re eating everything from the best takoyaki to desserts that are way too pretty to eat. There’s nowhere more famous for Osaka’s street food than Dotonbori, the entertainment district. It’s packed with bars, arcades, and most importantly, some of the best takoyaki stalls you can find. This trip, we’re determined to try as many as we can!
What is Takoyaki?
If you’ve never had takoyaki before, it’s one of Osaka’s most famous street foods. These little round balls of savory batter, filled with octopus, green onion, tempura bits, and pickled ginger. They’re cooked fresh in front of you in these special round molds shaped into perfect spheres. The outside gets golden and slightly crispy, while the inside stays super soft, creamy, and gooey. Finished off with takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, bonito flakes, and seaweed powder, it becomes a perfect snack for any time of the day.
My Dotonbori Takoyaki Ranking
Of all the food on my bucket list this trip, one of my biggest goals was to try as many iconic takoyaki spots in Dotonbori as possible. Each spot has their own unique approach to this classic snack. So, here’s my honest review on the four spots I got to try on this trip!
#4 Takoyaki Museum
At fourth place in our rankings is Takoyaki Dotonbori Kukuru Konamon Museum 道頓堀コナモンミュージアム店. This was our first ever takoyaki spot in Osaka, and it was a great place to start our rankings. This location is not just a takoyaki stand, but also a mini food museum where you can learn more about Osaka’s food culture and try your hand at making takoyaki. You won’t miss it, because there’s a GIANT octopus outside.
Their menu includes the classic takoyaki, traditional akashiyaki (an eggier version), as well as several creative flavors like cheese and mentaiko mayo. A large plate comes with 10 takoyaki at 1080 yen ($6.82 USD), generously sprinkled with shaved bonito flakes. It also comes with a little dish of sauce for dipping. It was hot, saucy and savory. The inside of the takoyaki is soft and very creamy on the inside, with humongous chunks of octopus inside. The center is super gooey and soft, but be careful! It can be super hot inside.
For the first takoyaki we had in Osaka, it was really yummy! This shop is ranked number 4 for us at a solid 7/10. There’s a lot of places to sit, and a lot to explore in the different floors above. If you want to experience making your own takoyaki, or simply enjoy the classics, this is the place!
#3 Extra Crispy Takoyaki Batter
Our next spot is Takoyaki Juhachiban Dotonbori たこ焼十八番, another spot you won’t miss thanks to the giant takoyaki on the sign outside. This is actually right across from our first location. Just like the other spot, you can see the staff making the takoyaki one order after another right in front of you. They have a simple menu with a few different options,
This spot does a few different things with their batter. First, they make their base batter out of dashi and milk. So, the inside of each takoyaki is extra soft, and almost creamy. They also put in a TON of tempura bits, giving the outside an amazingly crispy texture. Lastly, they add sakura shrimp inside for extra umami flavors. We got a two flavor set (820 yen, $5.18 USD): half with sauce and mayo, and half with just salt and seaweed. I like the ones with sauce better, but both were pretty yummy and slightly crunchy.
It was really fun to compare both spots right after another, because the textures were actually so different. We definitely enjoyed the flavor and textures at this place better than the first one, so it gets a 9/10. It’s cash only, and you order at the vending machine. Then, give the staff the ticket and let them know if you’d like to eat now, or take it to go. There’s no place to sit at this shop, but plenty of space to stand around and enjoy your snacks.
#2 Creative Loaded Takoyaki
Our third place is actually our fourth spot, Creo-Ru Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki Dotonbori くれおーる 道頓堀店. They offer a range of Osaka treats like okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and more. But, they’re most famous for their loaded takoyaki, piled super high with different toppings from grated radish to shisho. Their green onion and poached egg version (1030 yen, $6.50 USD) is definitely their most well known option, so we had to try.
We literally watched them make our full order completely from scratch, so it took around 15 to 20 minutes of waiting time. But it looks and tastes absolutely delicious. The takoyaki is completely hidden under a bed of green onions, drizzled with a generous amount of mayo, and topped with that runny egg. It’s actually really refreshing with the green onions on top! Because they use a crispier batter, the sauciness on top doesn’t make it as soggy over time, It’s super delicious!
Funny enough, this location actually had the lowest Google review out of all the takoyaki spots we tried. Personally, I definitely fell in love with this place and it’s a solid 9/10. I thought it would be really gimmicky, but the batter is delicious. I actually highly recommend it. So, here’s a reminder that sometimes ratings don’t tell the full story, and you just got to trust your gut. You can either buy to-go from the takeout counter outside, or enjoy indoor dining for a more relaxed experience!
#1 Best And Most Affordable Takoyaki
We finally found our favorite takoyaki at Takoyaki Wanaka Dotonbori, loved by locals and tourists alike. They’re known for their consistent quality, and have featured multiple times over the years in the Michelin Guides. The menu includes flavors like ponzu, mentaiko mayo, and a version sandwiched between crackers. At 700 yen an order of 8 classic takoyaki, I believe this was one of the more affordable places out of every spot we tried.
Their classic flavor is topped with mayo, sauce, seaweed powder, and shaved bonito flakes. The batter is firmer and sweeter compared to the more delicate, soft batter from other stores we’ve been to. So, the takoyaki actually holds its shape when picked up. It is a really good balance, not too much batter. The octopus is really really good, the softest we’ve had so far. Outside was crispy, the inside was super soft and creamy, and it just hit the spot. Don’t eat it all in one bite, because you’ll definitely burn your tongue!
I’d definitely recommend coming earlier in the day. Maybe it’s because we came earlier in the day when they’re cooking with a freshly cleaned grill, but Dom and I both felt like everything tasted a lot fresher at this time. Also, it gets quite packed during nighttime. There’s an indoor seating area, so you won’t have to stand outside to enjoy your treats. But, their outdoor line moves very fast as well!
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