WaiTako

Salt is a good place to start when choosing a flavour for your takoyaki. At WaiTako, you can pick from 6 options: salt, house sauce, ponzu, mentaiko mayonnaise, extra-hot sauce or sweet sauce. Some visitors have praised the contrast between the light exterior and soft, molten centre, as well as how the salt brings out the flavour of the dashi. It’s a good choice if you’d like something different from the familiar sauce-topped version. You can also vary the flavour with sweet sauce or mentaiko mayonnaise, or add Kujo spring onion (90 yen) or melting cheese (160 yen). Classic takoyaki costs 480 yen.

Another option is dashi takoyaki, served in portions of 6 or 10. Dip the takoyaki in either hot or cold dashi. Some diners have enjoyed adding pickled ginger or spring onion to the broth, making this a different way to eat takoyaki from the sauce-topped style. If you’re visiting with others, it could be fun to compare different flavours and broth temperatures.

The drinks menu includes beer, highballs, lemon sours and Otoko Ume sours, making takoyaki an easy accompaniment to a drink. For a non-alcoholic option, there’s old-fashioned ramune soda. You can eat in or order takeaway, whether you’re after a quick taste or something to enjoy later.