Navelumi

Taiyaki

Taiyaki (たい焼き) is a fish-shaped cake made by pouring batter into a sea-bream-shaped iron mould and filling it, most classically with sweet red bean paste (anko). Custard, chocolate and savory fillings such as ham and cheese are common too.

Places
3
Popular in
Tokyo
Served in
Bakery cafe

History

Taiyaki is shaped like a sea bream (tai), a fish associated with celebration in Japan, and has long been a familiar street snack across the country.

Why people love it

Fresh from the mould, taiyaki has crisp edges and a soft middle around a warm filling; some shops take pride in filling it right to the tail. It is easy to eat on the go and is often reasonably priced.

How people enjoy it

Taiyaki is best eaten hot, right after it is made, and is especially popular in the colder months. Some shops sell out of popular fillings later in the day.

Places to visit

Find places serving taiyaki →

Related topics

Frequently asked questions

Is there fish in it?
Traditional sweet taiyaki usually contains no fish; check the filling and ingredients.
What are tennen and yōshoku taiyaki?
Fans call taiyaki baked one at a time in individual iron moulds tennen (wild), and those baked many at once on a large plate yōshoku (farmed).
Head or tail first?
There is no rule; it is a popular small debate in Japan.
What is croissant taiyaki?
Taiyaki made with croissant dough, which bakes up flaky and crisp. It became popular in recent years.