Takoyaki Wanaka Dotonbori is one of those spots people always mention when talking about the best takoyaki in Osaka, Japan. Osaka is packed with great takoyaki shops, and while I loved the places I tried on my last trip, this time I wanted to try somewhere new in Dotonbori.
Osaka has no shortage of famous takoyaki spots,
and the places I visited on my last trip were great too,
but this time I decided to try a new takoyaki shop!
From my last trip to Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan
check out my review of other great takoyaki spots too.
The place I’m introducing today is
Takoyaki Wanaka Dotonbori.
I’m guessing Takoyaki Wanaka is a chain,
because there are a few branches around this area.
We went to the location right on Dotonbori’s main food street,
which is probably the most convenient one for most travelers.
This is what the sign looks like!
Takoyaki Wanaka Dotonbori Review: Line, Location, and Hours
Honestly, I didn’t even plan this stop in advance.
I just saw a long line and figured it had to be good,
so I got in line too. Later I checked and saw it had a 4.2-star rating.
The line looked long, but it moved fast,
and I think I ordered in about 5 minutes.
Business hours start at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday,
and on weekends they open at 10:30 a.m. and stay open until 9 p.m.
There’s actually a pretty spacious area inside if you want to eat there,
and there’s also a second floor. I heard the restroom is upstairs too.
You can check the menu here.
They also have a few variations like takosen and takopon,
but we went with the very last option: the classic takoyaki.
The price was 650 yen for 8 pieces, which felt pretty average.
Around this part of Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan,
takoyaki usually runs in the 500-yen range for cheaper spots and around 700 yen at pricier ones.
While waiting for our order,
I watched them cook the takoyaki.
It’s weirdly fun watching their super-fast hand movements.
They cook several pans at once, so the food comes out quickly.
Once they’re done, they separate them right away
into dine-in and takeout containers.
They definitely would’ve been even better eaten right away,
but we had already eaten a bunch of other things earlier—
yakiniku, sushi, and more—so we got them to go.
As you move along the line,
you can also order drinks, and this is where you pay.
If you’re eating upstairs, they said there’s water on the second floor,
so you don’t have to buy a drink if you don’t want one.
Takoyaki Wanaka Dotonbori Review: Sauce, Toppings, and Taste
At the end, they ask what sauce and toppings you want.
I went with the original sauce, and for toppings
I added everything: mayonnaise, parsley, and katsuobushi
(bonito flakes).
One of the sauce options had a little recommendation mark next to the salt flavor,
so I was curious about it, but I didn’t feel like taking a risk that day.
If you’ve tried the salt-flavored takoyaki here, is it good?
If you want shichimi,
you can grab it yourself at the counter.
Ta-da—once we got back to the hotel,
I left the box sitting there for a bit and tried it after I had a little more room.
The box is pretty big.
But when I opened it, I thought, wait—
why are there only 7 pieces instead of 8?!
For a second I thought I got ripped off…
But while eating, I realized two pieces were stuck tightly together,
so it only looked like there were fewer.
I mean, of course they wouldn’t do that, right?
I ate them after they had cooled down a bit, so I’m sure they would’ve been even better piping hot,
but they were still soft, moist, and delicious—exactly the kind of takoyaki you want in Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan.
Honestly, it doesn’t have to be this exact shop either.
In my experience, if you’re in Osaka and pick any takoyaki place with a Google rating over 4.0,
there’s a pretty good chance it’ll be delicious.