Taiyaki is a fish-shaped pancake stuffed with anko.

In Japanese, ‘tai’ represents a sea bream. A sea bream is an auspicious symbol for Japanese because its name includes a part of the word ‘medetai’, which means happiness or goodness.
Taiyaki was originally made as an auspicious sweet, and has long been loved by Japanese people even now.
In recent years, taiyaki is booming and the number of taiyaki shops are increasing in Japan.

Hiragi’s taiyaki has a crispy dough, especially right after baking it. Smoking hot taiyaki is so delicious!

Photos below:The taiyaki shop Hiragi, taken from the outside.

Shop location:
Ebisu Urban House 1F
1-4-1, Ebisu,
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0013

Shop’s website:
Taiyaki Hiragi’s homepage (Japanese)
Taiyaki Hiragi’s homepage (English translated by Google)

Torindo’s taiyaki has a soft dough because it is baked using baking powder or baking soda, just like a western pancake. Compared with an ordinal taiyaki, it is smallish.

A beautiful picture drawn on the cover. The letters are written as ‘kotaiyaki’, meaning ’small taiyaki’.

Shop location:
1-5-7, Ueno Sakuragi,
Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0002
(Other chain stores)

Shop’s website:
Torindo’s homepage (Japanese)
Torindo’s homepage (English translated by Google)

Wakaba’s taiyaki has a crispy dough.
You can have taiyaki with a cup of green tea(free!) inside the shop.

Shop location:
1-10, Wakaba,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0011

Shop’s website:
Wakaba’s homepage (Japanese)