When people ask me what my favourite Japanese food is, taiyaki is my stock answer and has been for as long as I remember.
It’s a fish-shaped pancake that has filling inside (typically red bean, as you might guess) and there’re lots of taiyaki shops all over Japan! Back in Singapore there were only ever a handful, so maybe that’s why I put them on such a high pedestal haha.
But they’re really that delicious
They’re crispy outside and soft inside and the best ones are stuffed with filling from head to tail and served hot off the grill. I feel like I’ve been eating a lot of taiyaki since I came to Japan. Also because there’re so many different kinds!
Like the croissant taiyaki, which is a bit of a recent trend. Kind of like the Japanese version of the cronut. It’s still soft but has a flaky texture outside, and decked out with sugar crystals. Basically it’s a fancy version of the old school taiyaki.
Which is nice too
Taiyaki is fun because even they mostly taste the same and all look like fish, every shop can still make it a little differently.
Some of them just give it to you in a whole chunk like this without shaving off the batter around it. I guess you get more out of that way, plus the plain pancake part alone already tastes good
Also somehow I get a lot of satisfaction from biting off everything to get to the fish.
It’s not all just golden brown taiyaki, sometimes there’re white ones too
They have a different, more chewy texture, so you can eat them chilled like a dessert. It’s kind of like mochi in the shape of a fish this time. I’ve seen pink strawberry ones somewhere around too!
It’s best when the taiyaki is freshly made and steaming warm, but sometimes convenience stores have them too if you need a quick fix
But I’d still recommend the hot ones from a taiyaki shop so go treat yourself.
Hoshino Coffee’s desserts are the stuff of legends. They have pancakes, souffles, soft serve ice cream, and everything else little children (and I) dream of.
(I might’ve said this at least once before but anyway it’s important)
These were a treat I received! I rarely get such a wonderful chance to try macarons
I feel twice as cultured just nibbling away at them. Usually I like taking bigger bites, but macarons are always so small they disappear in the span of two seconds all too easily.
When I went to the airport to study with some friends I discovered a new store that sold them. There used to be one near my house but it disappeared one day…so I’m glad I found a new place, even if it’s an hour’s train ride away from my home.
Matcha taiyaki with red bean inside—why is it so perfect?! Recently I’ve been having a bit of a matcha craze, and when that combines with taiyaki I simply swoon. And eat.
Small and tasty lunch, yum.
Maybe I’m only used to eating small sandwiches. But it was nice anyway!
Slice of Apple Cake 