If you want to eat takoyaki in the Minami area (Namba), this is the place! 9 Recommended Takoyaki Restaurants

The Minami area (Namba/Shinsaibashi) is becoming more and more vibrant as the Expo approaches. When it comes to sightseeing and shopping, there are many things that tourists are looking for, but if you come to Osaka, why not try Osaka’s specialty, “Takoyaki”? It’s portable, piping hot, and steamy. Takoyaki can be enjoyed in both winter and summer.

The Minami area, which is said to be the largest downtown area in the world and is part of the “food town” of Osaka,
is crowded with people from morning until night, and it is also packed with many takoyaki shops.

This time we will introduce 9 recommended takoyaki restaurants in the Minami area.CLOSE

About takoyaki

Osakans have been eating a lot of takoyaki since they were children, and it is said that every household has at least one takoyaki maker.Here we will introduce some basic information about takoyaki.

Takoyaki is a
dish made by adding chopped octopus, pickled ginger, and dried flakes to melted flour and grilling it in a round, hollowed iron pot. The diameter is about 3 to 5 cm, and in recent years the number of stores selling large takoyaki called “jumbo takoyaki” has increased.

History of Takoyaki
Takoyaki is said to be a derivative of “Choboyaki,” which was a popular snack among children and served at candy shops and festival stalls from the late Meiji period to the Taisho period.
The standard ingredients include konnyaku, dried shrimp, and pickled radish, and the seasoning is said to be by adding soy sauce to the dough and baking it into circles.

Takoyaki, which originated at Aizuya in Nishinari Ward, Osaka, has become an Osaka specialty.

Akashi and the Seto Inland Sea are famous areas for catching a lot of octopus, so why did takoyaki become a specialty of Osaka? To understand this, it may be helpful to know the roots.

Takoyaki is a local dish that was invented in 1935 by Tomekichi Endo, the founder of Aizuya in Nishinari Ward, Osaka Prefecture. At the time of the company’s founding, “Takoyaki” had soy sauce-flavored dough and was not meant to be eaten with sauce.

Osaka people’s ideas and “dashi culture” such as udon noodles became the origin of Osaka’s takoyaki, and combined with the bustle of the Minami area, more and more takoyaki shops may have opened.

To find your favorite takoyaki, we recommend visiting 3 to 4 stores.

Find your favorite takoyaki

So which takoyaki restaurant is the best?
This may be the most important thing to consider when visiting Osaka as a tourist.

However, it is very difficult to simply judge what is delicious about Takoyaki.
This is because, just like with okonomiyaki, every restaurant is unique in terms of the flavor of the soup stock, the size of the octopus, and the toppings on the takoyaki, making it difficult to compare them using the same metrics.

Introducing 9 recommended takoyaki restaurants in the Minami area (Namba)

The Minami area is the area with the most takoyaki restaurants in Osaka, the food-obsessed city. Many foreign travelers line up at takoyaki shops along the Dotonbori River every day.

We will introduce 9 recommended takoyaki restaurants in the Minami area (Namba/Shinsaibashi) where you can enjoy eating around several restaurants as they are all close to each other. 1. Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka Sennichimae Main Branch

The first place I recommend is this shop. This is Wanaka-san.
The fluffy, sweet, and thick dough is my personal favorite. How about the downtown area “Sennichimae Main Store”, which is close to Osaka’s famous laughter hall “Namba Grand Kagetsu”?
It’s open from 10am during morning hours (9am on Saturdays and Sundays), so you can eat delicious Wanaka Takoyaki whenever you want. How about Wanaka’s takoyaki for breakfast as a base for sightseeing? Takosen sandwiched between takoyaki and “takosenbei” is also recommended for eating while walking!

• Store name: Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka Sennichimae main store
  Phone number: 06-6631-0127
  Business hours: Weekdays 10:00-23:30 Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 9:00-23:30
  Address: 11-19 Namba Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka

2. Dotonbori Honke Otako

The restaurant with the longest lines in the Minami area is Otako.
Otako-san’s takoyaki was founded as a food stall in ancient times, along with the popularity of takoyaki. The large signboard catches your eye, and you can enjoy traditional fatty takoyaki and large octopus takoyaki.
Osaka-style “takoyaki” Personally, this is the best takoyaki that will make you feel like you’ve actually come to Osaka.

• Store name: Honke Otako Dotonbori main store
  Phone number: 06-6211-5223
  Business hours: 10:00-23:00
  Address: 1-4-16 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka

3. Takoyaki Kappo Takomasa Dotonbori Main Branch

The next restaurant I would like to introduce is Takoyaki Kappo Takomasa.
Takoyaki can be topped with sauce or dried bonito flakes, but Takomasa’s takoyaki is an Akashiyaki-style takoyaki that is topped with “dashi”.
Akashiyaki is famous when it comes to takoyaki with dashi soup, but you can also eat it here in the Minami area of ​​Osaka. Not only does it taste great as takoyaki, but the taste of the soup stock is also exquisite!
Please remember Takomasa’s Takoyaki as one restaurant to compare!

• Store name: Takoyaki Kappo Takomasa Dotonbori main store
  Phone number: 06-6211-5223
  Business hours: 11:00-19:30 (closes at 20:00), Fridays and Saturdays until 20:30 (closes at 21:00)
  Address: 1-4-15 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka

4. Dotonbori Kukuru Main Store

Next, how about the Dotonbori Kukuru Main Branch, a takoyaki restaurant located near Ebisu Bridge, the busiest bridge in Osaka? The takoyaki here is so big that it’s almost sticking out of the takoyaki! It’s guaranteed to surprise you. The fresh and fresh fabric is also original! This is a restaurant where you can enjoy comparing your tastes with other takoyaki restaurants!

• Store name: Takoya Dotonbori Kukuru Dotonbori main store
  Telephone number: 06-6212-7381
  Business hours: 11:00-21:00
  Address: 1-10-5, Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Shiraa Building, 1st floor

5. Aizuya Namba branch

Aizuya is the birthplace of takoyaki. The main store is located in Nishinari Ward. You can also enjoy Aizuya’s takoyaki in Namba in the Minami area. The location is the underground mall in the Namba Station concourse. It’s a little confusing, but we recommend enjoying the gourmet food in the underground shopping mall when sightseeing. Regardless of the weather, there are many restaurants in close proximity to each other.

• Store name: Aizuya Nanba store
  Phone number: 06-6649-7708
  Business hours: 10:00-22:00
  Address: Nannan Town, underground shopping mall B1F, 5-4-1 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka

6. Creor Dotonbori store

How about some takoyaki at the takoyaki restaurant “Creor”, which is perfect for eating while enjoying sightseeing along the Dotonbori River? If you’re tired from eating around, you can take a rest at the eat-in restaurant on the 2nd floor.
You can enjoy a unique “gourmet takoyaki” with plenty of green onions, mayonnaise, and even an egg on top.

• Store name: Authentic Osaka Takoyaki Creor Dotonbori main store
  Phone number: 06-6212-9195
  Business hours: 11:00-23:00
  Address: Creor 1F, Dotonbori 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka

7. Takoyaki Juhachiban Dotonbori branch

The Dotonbori area is a densely populated area of ​​takoyaki. How about trying some of these takoyaki while walking? Takoyaki Juhachiban’s takoyaki comes with tempura batter, which is used for tempura. Takoyaki with tenkasu (tempura crumbs) that is crispy yet flavorful is popular. Look forward to eating around and comparing the flavors.

• Store name: Takoyaki Juhachiban Dotonbori store
  Phone number: 6-6211-3118
  Business hours: 11:00-21:00
  Address: Nakaza Kuidaore Building 1F, 1-7-21 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka

7. Takoyaki Juhachiban Dotonbori branch

The Dotonbori area is a densely populated area of ​​takoyaki. How about trying some of these takoyaki while walking? Takoyaki Juhachiban’s takoyaki comes with tempura batter, which is used for tempura. Takoyaki with tenkasu (tempura crumbs) that is crispy yet flavorful is popular. Look forward to eating around and comparing the flavors.

• Store name: Takoyaki Juhachiban Dotonbori store
  Phone number: 6-6211-3118
  Business hours: 11:00-21:00
  Address: Nakaza Kuidaore Building 1F, 1-7-21 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka

8. Original Miho

“Amiho” is a takoyaki restaurant located in Shinsaibashi’s “America Village” that is open until morning.
You can enjoy the fluffy, piping hot takoyaki grilled right in front of you, served with soup stock.
The dough is fluffy, and by eating it stall-style, you can truly enjoy Osaka’s local gourmet “takoyaki.”

• Store name: Ganso Miho
  Phone number: 06-6213-8806
  Business hours: 18:00-2:00
  Address: 2-8-33 Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka

9. Osaka Americamura Kogaryu Main Branch

Osaka America Village Kogaryu Main Branch is a shop that always has a line in front of America Village’s landmark, Sankaku Park. This restaurant was even featured in the Michelin Guide.
Even though there is a long line, you can always enjoy freshly baked Hokkuhoku Takoyaki. The dough is also very juicy. Plenty of appetizing sauce and green onions. This is a restaurant where you can enjoy Osaka’s takoyaki, where you can sit and eat slowly in Sankaku Park.

• Store name: Kokaryu Americamura main store
  Phone number: 06-6211-0519
  Business hours: 10:30-20:30 (10:30-21:30 on Saturdays and Sundays)
  Address: 2-chome Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 18-4

Summary Find your favorite takoyaki restaurant

We introduced takoyaki restaurants in the Minami area, focusing on popular ones and places with good locations.
We recommend walking through the unique streets of the Dotonbori area, Namba area, and Amerikamura area, and enjoying eating at 3 to 4 takoyaki restaurants! If you’re tired, you can enjoy eating on a bench or eating in while looking out at the park and the Dotonbori River. Please enjoy Takoyaki gourmet food while sightseeing in Osaka.