Speaking of the must-eat street food in Kichijōji in Tokyo‘s city center’s outskirts, the taiyaki has to be one of them. The fish-shape pastry is one of the top street foods in Japan and a must-eat when you explore the beautiful country! While taiyaki can be found across the country, some are just ordinary. So here are the best taiyaki makers for you to try out when you visit Kichijōji!
Table of Contents
About Taiyaki
Compared to other Japanese sweet snacks, taiyaki’s history is short. It only started appearing on the street in 1909.
Sea bream, or Tai (鯛) in Japanese, was so expensive that the commoners couldn’t afford it. Therefore, a sea bream-shaped pastry was made for the less wealthy so that it would feel like they were eating something luxurious.
Amane (有職たい菓子本舗 天音)
The first taiyaki maker that we want to introduce is Amane. Located in Harmonica Yokochō, Amane is one of the reasons that people visit the small alley during the day. Obviously, we didn’t feature the pastry maker due to its location. Amane’s taiyaki is popular because it is still tasty when cold!
For more information, refer to our Amane article!
Kuriko-an (くりこ庵 吉祥寺店)
Yokohama’s KURIKO-an (くりこ庵) also has a store in Kichijōji. It is the taiyaki maker for those who prefer thicker and chewy batter, as well as seasonal and unique flavors. As the egg portion in the batter is twice the amount of the usual recipe, Kuriko-an’s taiyaki has a fluffy skin. While the freshly made taiyaki is the best, it is another shop to source taiyaki if you want to save it for later.
Moreover, because Kuriko-an is open until 9 pm, it is a great place for late-night snacks!
The taiyaki cake filled with red bean paste or custard tastes amazing. Surprisingly, it isn’t too sweet that you will need a cup of tea after a couple of bites. If you like chestnuts, you will love their Kurikoan (くりこあん) flavor as the red bean paste is mixed with diced chestnuts!
Besides the sweet flavors, savory flavors are also available. The Camembert Cheese Cream (カマンベールチーズクリーム) taiyaki, for example, is a good choice for vegetarians who consume eggs.
From time to time, Kuriko-an also has themed taiyaki. So if you visit Kuriko-an during the limited edition season, your taiyaki might be a Magicarp (Pokémon) or other interesting shapes!
Kuriko-an’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Kuriko-an Kichijoji shop is open from 10 am to 9 pm.
- The taiyaki maker is just a 2-minute walk from Kichijoji Station’s north exit.
Taiyaki no Yoshikawa (鯛焼きのよしかわ)
The last taiyaki maker we recommend is Taiyaki no Yoshikawa. Although it is just a street stall in a timber shop’s parking lot, the taiyaki made there is so phenomenal that some locals even call it ‘fanciful taiyaki’ (Mamoroshi no Taiyaki, 幻のたい焼き). And the great news is that it is egg and dairy-free!
Taiyaki no Yoshikawa uses the traditional method called Itchōyaki (一丁焼き) to make the pastry. The taiyakis there are made individually. The batter is applied to the mold twice. After a rough shape is completed, a thin layer of skin wraps the filling, with another layer of batter being pulled into the mold. The resulting cake thus has a crispy thin outer layer and a chewy interior!
The red bean paste inside the taiyaki isn’t over-kneaded that the bean’s texture remains. But at the same time, the paste is creamy. Reducing the sugar, Taiyaki no Yoshikawa’s pastry is loved by many. If you like the bean paste, you can also purchase it from Mr. Yoshikawa!
Tips:
☛ It is best to reserve your taiyaki as it takes time to make the pastry.
☛ You can choose to add the mochi rice cake to your order!
Taiyaki no Yoshikawa’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Taiyaki no Yoshikawa is open from 11:30 am to 7 pm from Friday to Wednesday.
- On Saturdays, the stall is in the car park of Katsumata Timber (勝又木材) in Kichijōji.
- Katsumata Timber is a 7-minute walk from Kichijoji Station.
- On other days, it is in front of the Dydo Drinco Ice Arena (ダイドードリンコアイスアリーナ) in Higashifushimi (東伏見).
- Dydo Dorinco Ice Arena is at Seibu’s Higashifushimi Station’s south exit.
- Check Mr. Yoshikawa’s Twitter or call him at 090-8560-5049 to confirm if he is selling on the day you plan to visit.
Discover the Attractions in Kichijōji
Kichijōji isn’t just about the taiyaki makers that we have introduced above. The neighborhood that was rated “The Most Desirable Area to Live” in is great for almost everything. It is also where the famous Ghibli Museum is located!
So, for more ideas of what to do in the area, refer to our Kichijōji article!
