If you're visiting Osaka, you absolutely can't miss out on takoyaki!
Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and that irresistible aroma of savory sauce... it's the soul food of Osaka that needs no introduction. But once you start walking around the city, you’ll see takoyaki shops everywhere.
You might find yourself wondering, "Where can I really get the best one?" or "What kind of takoyaki do locals eat?"
To answer those questions, the FUN! JAPAN editors hit up some of the most popular spots in the Dotonbori and Namba areas and tried them out for ourselves! We’re bringing you a full report on the true taste of Osaka that you won’t get from a touristy chain shop.
*Information in this article is current as of April 2025.
*By purchasing or reserving products introduced in this article, a portion of the sales may be returned to FUN! JAPAN.
Local Specialty "Takoyaki" – What Flavors Are Out There?
First, let's go over the common flavors of takoyaki.
Sauce
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce, a staple in Japanese cuisine, is also one of the standard takoyaki flavors in Osaka.
But don’t imagine dipping your takoyaki into the same dark soy sauce used for sashimi. In this case, the flavor is built into the batter using a dashi soy sauce, giving it a rich taste that’s delicious even without extra toppings. That said, adding mayonnaise takes it to the next level.
Soy sauce-based takoyaki is not only common in Osaka but also the norm in Nagoya. Interestingly, Nagoya-style takoyaki tends to be a bit smaller than usual, served without sauce in a simple grilled form, and often includes cabbage.
Salt
Salt-flavored takoyaki is basically the bare-bones version, served grilled with just a light sprinkle of salt.
The best part of takoyaki is the contrast of textures: crispy on the outside, and soft, fragrant batter on the inside. Salt lets you enjoy that simple, delicious balance without distraction. It's a great choice if you plan on tasting your way through multiple shops.
Ponzu
Ponzu is a type of Japanese seasoning made from citrus juice and vinegar.
When used on takoyaki, it’s often served with a generous heap of chopped green onions or topped with grated daikon radish and ponzu (known as "oroshi ponzu"). It’s a lighter, more refreshing option compared to sauce-based takoyaki.
Dashi
This style involves dipping plain grilled takoyaki into a broth made from kombu (kelp) and other ingredients like bonito flakes, mackerel flakes, or dried sardines.
It’s a simple way to enjoy the full umami of both the takoyaki and the dashi. Since dashi is a distinctive element of Kansai food culture, pairing it with takoyaki lets you experience a unique taste that’s truly Kansai-style.
Akashi yaki
Another must-try takoyaki variation in the Kansai region is "Akashiyaki," which originated in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture. These fluffy dumplings, filled with chewy octopus, are traditionally eaten by dipping them in a light dashi broth. In Akashi, they’re commonly known as "tamago-yaki" (egg dumplings).
The difference between "takoyaki" and "akashiyaki" isn’t just the sauce versus dashi—it also comes down to the ingredients. Akashiyaki uses eggs and jin-ko (wheat starch with the gluten removed), creating a soft and bouncy texture. Akashi City is also known as a gourmet destination in the Seto Inland Sea area, famous for seafood like "Akashi sea bream" and "Akashi octopus," so you can enjoy exceptionally fresh and high-quality octopus here.
*Jin-ko is a type of starch made by removing gluten from wheat flour. It’s known for retaining a soft texture even when cooked.
Is Akashiyaki the origin of takoyaki? Also check out our recommended shops in Sannomiya and Shin-Kobe [includes taste test report] 👉 Read the related article
8 Recommended Takoyaki Shops in Osaka’s Dotonbori and Namba Area
Here are some of the most loved takoyaki shops in the Dotonbori and Namba area, even among locals. Each place offers its own unique flavor and appearance! We, the editors at FUN! JAPAN, personally visited and tasted takoyaki at all of these spots to give you our honest impressions.
Kukuru
Kukuru is a takoyaki specialty shop with over 30 years of history, with its flagship store located in Dotonbori. Their takoyaki features a super soft and gooey batter that nearly falls apart when picked up with chopsticks, with large pieces of octopus inside. A signature flourish is the final touch of white wine poured over the takoyaki at the end.
You can dine inside, but there are also tents and terrace seats along the canal, so you can enjoy your takoyaki while soaking up the lively Dotonbori atmosphere.
At the Dotonbori Main Store, you can also enjoy gourmet octopus dishes like octopus shabu-shabu and kamameshi (a traditional rice dish). Kukuru has locations all over Japan, each offering unique, limited-edition takoyaki, making it accessible even outside Osaka.
Takoya Dotonbori Kukuru Soemoncho Store
"Takoyaki" M (8 pcs) ¥980, XL (12 pcs) ¥1,480
- Address: Pige Blanc Soemoncho Bldg B1F, 7-18 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture *Kukuru has three stores in Dotonbori. The Soemoncho store is located near Tazaemon Bridge, across the canal from the Dotonbori Shopping Street. The main store and Konamon Museum are located one block inside the shopping street from the canal.
- Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00, Sat/Sun/Holidays 10:00–21:00 (Last order 20:30)
- Closed: Open daily
- Eat-in: Available
https://tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270202/27094907/
Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka
"Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka" used to be a sushi and dagashi (Japanese old-school candy) shop, but when the owner started making takoyaki as a side business, it quickly became a hit. Nowadays, it has branches all across Osaka.
The smooth batter is made with finely milled flour and is well-seasoned with dashi and salt. It's cooked quickly on a high-conductivity copper griddle, resulting in a crispy outside and gooey inside.
To enjoy the full flavor, we recommend trying the "Kamadaki Shio" (salt boiled in an iron pot) version. But if you can’t choose just one, go for the "Oiri" set, which lets you sample several flavors. The takoyaki here is not greasy at all, so it’s easy to eat a whole portion without feeling heavy.
Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka Dotonbori Branch
"Oiri" (8 pcs) ¥750, "Takoyaki" (8 pcs) ¥650
- Address: 1-6-7 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture *Located along the Dotonbori shopping street, right across from the Nakaza Kuidaore Building. There's also a Namba Branch and Sennichimae Main Branch nearby.
- Hours: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Closed: Tuesdays
- Eat-in: Available
Honke Ootako
"Honke Ootako Dotonbori Main Store" opened in 1972 (Showa 47) and is said to be the oldest takoyaki shop in Dotonbori. True to its name, it uses fresh, tender, and chunky pieces of octopus, and each takoyaki ball is quite large.
The batter, flavored with a secret dashi and light soy sauce, is topped with a generous helping of slightly tangy sauce. The big pieces of octopus give each bite a satisfying texture.
There’s a spacious eat-in area, and you can also order alcohol, yakisoba, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu. It’s open late, so it’s a great place to relax in the evening.
Honke Ootako Dotonbori Main Store
"Takoyaki" (6 pcs) ¥600, (10 pcs) ¥1,000
- Address: 1-4-16 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture *Located along the Dotonbori shopping street, right near the Tazaemon Bridge.
- Hours: 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM (Closes when sold out)
- Closed: None
- Eat-in: Available
https://tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270202/27001483/
Acchichi Honpo (R)
"Acchichi Honpo" is famous for its fluffy takoyaki and affordable prices. The octopus is delivered fresh every morning from the local market and is so fresh that it's good enough to eat as sashimi—firm and springy in texture! Instead of using copper, they stick to traditional iron plates, and it takes true craftsmanship to grill the batter to the thinnest possible skin.
The manager’s top recommendation is the "Soy Sauce & Mayo" flavor, which is especially delicious when topped with lots of the free green onions. The soft, gently flavored batter and creamy mayo are a perfect match, and the spicy pickled ginger on the side adds a bold accent.
Of course, they also offer the classic sauce flavor. Their original in-house sauce has a taste that remains delicious even after it cools.
You can dine inside, but there are also a few outdoor seats in front of the shop where you can enjoy your meal while watching the canal.
Acchichi Honpo Dotonbori Branch
"Takoyaki" (8 pcs) ¥800
- Address: 7-19 Soemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture *Located along the Dotonbori canal, right at the foot of Tazaemon Bridge.
- Hours: Sun–Thu 10:00 AM – 2:00 AM, Fri 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM, Sat & nights before holidays 9:00 AM – 3:00 AM
- Closed: None
- Eat-in: Available
https://www.acchichi.net/70331/
https://tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270202/27051667/
Takoyaki Juuhachiban
There's always a queue at "Takoyaki Juuhachiban", and for good reason. The batter is fluffy and creamy thanks to a blend of dashi and milk, and the takoyaki are packed with octopus, pickled ginger, and tiny shrimp, topped off with lots of crunchy tenkasu (bits of fried batter). The real show starts when the skilled takoyaki masters start flipping the balls at lightning speed!
What makes their takoyaki really stand out is the texture—fluffy inside, with a crispy crunch from the tenkasu that’s still visible when served.
While the classic sauce flavor is the most popular, the FUN! JAPAN editor recommends trying the "Salt" version. The slightly sweet pancake-like batter pairs amazingly with salt and seaweed, making it an addictively delicious combo.
You can also try half-and-half options or a set of three flavors: sauce, sauce with mayo, and salt.
There's a small eat-in space out front, but it's usually crowded—most people eat while standing nearby or use the shared benches in the shopping arcade.
Takoyaki Juuhachiban SONS-DOHTONBORI
"Takoyaki" 8 pcs ¥770, 10 pcs ¥960
- Address: 1-8-26 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture *Located along Dotonbori Shopping Street
- Hours: 11:00–22:00
- Closed: None
- Eat-in: Available
Odoridako
With its eye-catching appearance, "Odoridako" has gone viral on social media in recent years—and the long lines prove it.
Each ball contains a whole baby octopus, letting you fully enjoy its chewy texture and rich flavor. While the standard flavor is sauce, the batter is packed with dashi flavor, so the soy sauce and rock salt versions are also worth a try. You can even get half-and-half to sample both. Each takoyaki is pretty big, so they’re sold starting from a 4-piece set, which is great for takoyaki hopping.
There’s no eat-in space, so you'll either be standing or using one of the benches along the shopping street.
Odoridako Dotonbori
"Odoridako Takoyaki" 4 pcs ¥600, 6 pcs ¥800, 8 pcs ¥1,200
- Address: 1-7-24 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture *Located along Dotonbori Shopping Street
- Hours: 11:00–21:00
- Regular holidays: Irregular
- Eat-in: Not available
https://tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270202/27092198/
Dotonbori Akaoni
Although it's located a bit away from the main Dotonbori shopping street and canal, the large red demon statue out front makes "Dotonbori Akaoni" easy to spot.
Instead of pre-boiled octopus, they use raw octopus in their takoyaki. You can choose from the classic sweet or spicy sauce, soy sauce, and rock salt, but there are also more creative options like "Chapuchapu" (served in a natural dashi broth), ponzu with green onions, and cheese.
We tried the "Chapuchapu" this time. After trying so many takoyaki, the light dashi broth felt soothing and was the perfect way to wrap up our takoyaki tour.
This place was listed in the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand section for three years in a row from 2016 to 2018, so the taste is officially certified!
Dotonbori Akaoni
"Chapuchapu" 6 pcs ¥680, "Takoyaki" 8 pcs ¥720, 12 pcs ¥1,080
Address: 1-2-3 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture *Just outside the MinamiOS Plaza exit of Namba Walk
- Hours: 12:00–21:00
- Closed: Irregular
- Eat-in: Available
https://www.doutonbori-akaoni.com/
Takohachi
If you're in Osaka, trying takosen is a must! Takosen is a fun street snack made by folding a giant prawn cracker in half to sandwich a takoyaki ball inside. It's often topped with sauce, mayonnaise, aonori (seaweed flakes), katsuobushi (bonito flakes), and crunchy bits of tempura batter (tenkasu).
What makes takosen such a fun one-handed treat is the contrast in textures: the crispiness of the prawn cracker, the crunch of the tenkasu, and the gooey softness of the takoyaki.
However, it can be tricky to find since not many places sell it. When our editor was holding one, they were even asked by a passerby, “Where did you get that?”
You can pick one up at Tako-Hachi, located just across from “Honke Ootako,” near the Tazaemonbashi Bridge.
Dotonbori Takohachi Sohonten
"Takosen" ¥400
Address: 1-5-10 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture *Located along Dotonbori Shotengai, right by Tazaemonbashi Bridge
- Business hours: 10:00–21:00
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Eat-in: Available
https://tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270202/27076174/
3 Takoyaki-Themed Parks in Osaka
Aside from individual shops, there are also takoyaki theme parks in Osaka that are absolutely worth a visit. Here are three spots where you can dive deep into Osaka’s takoyaki culture.
OSAKA Takoyaki Market
This place features five legendary takoyaki brands from Osaka: Aizuya from Tamade, Kukuru from Dotonbori, Kogaryu from Amerikamura, Juuhachiban from Nishinakajima-Minamigata, and Yamachan from Abeno. You can sample and compare all five flavors in one spot!
The massive eat-in space offers about 100 seats in a food-court style setup, making it super convenient for trying out different shops.
OSAKA Takoyaki Market
Address: 1F, HEP Five, 5-15 Kakuda-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
- Business hours: 11:00–22:00
- Closed: None (follows HEP Five's schedule)
- Admission: Free
- Eat-in: Available
Dotonbori Kukuru Konamon Museum
Just look for the giant octopus sign on Dotonbori Shotengai! At this museum, you can immerse yourself in Osaka’s vibrant konamon (flour-based food) culture and history. Highlights include hands-on workshops where you can learn how to make takoyaki from skilled chefs, create fake food models of takoyaki, and even visit the Expo Café in the basement, styled after the 1970 Osaka Expo era.
Dotonbori Kukuru Konamon Museum
- Business hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00 / Sat, Sun & holidays 10:00–21:00 (Last order 20:30)
- Closed: None
- Admission: Free
- Eat-in: Available
https://dotonbori-kukuru.com/dotonbori-konamon-museum/
Reserve a workshop via Jalan👉Click here
TAKOPA
This takoyaki theme park gathers six of the most popular takoyaki shops in one place: Juuhachiban, Kogaryu from Amerikamura, Yamachan from Abeno, Tamaya, Aizuya from Tamade, and Kukuru from Dotonbori. Each shop has its own seating, but there’s also a shared area for sampling different shops, making it perfect for takoyaki hopping.
It’s located inside Universal CityWalk, so it’s a great spot to visit before or after going to Universal Studios Japan.
TAKOPA
Address: 4F, Universal CityWalk Osaka, 6-2-61 Shimaya, Konohana-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
- Business hours: 11:00–23:00
- Closed: None
- Admission: Free
- Eat-in: Available
https://ucw.jp/restaurant/takopa/
Book Now! Fun Takoyaki Experiences in Osaka
Why not make your Osaka trip extra memorable with a takoyaki-tasting adventure?
Here are some hands-on takoyaki experiences around Dotonbori and beyond:
Book a 50-minute “Takoyaki Cruise Dotonbori” on kkday👉Click here
Join a “Takoyaki Fake Food Making Workshop” on kkday👉Click here
Enjoy a private “Kuromon Market Tour & Takoyaki Making Class” on klook👉Click here
🐙【byFood】Takoyaki Making Experience in Tennoji, Osaka Indulge in one of Osaka’s most famous comfort foods: takoyaki, or octopus balls. A defining street food from the region, it’s imparateive to try at least once when visiting!
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