Are you a crispy taiyaki person or a soft, white mochi person?
The taiyaki from "Taiyaki Honpo" boasts its fluffy taiyaki, which resembles a yellow waffle.
The batter, made with plenty of eggs, is filled with a variety of sweet fillings.
Let's head out to explore the Bikan Historical Area with a "Kurashiki taiyaki" that you can't eat anywhere else.
A shop run by a former baker
The owner of Taiyaki Honpo, Michiyuki Ono, welcomed us with a smile.
After retiring from a major bread manufacturer, he started Taiyaki Honpo 12 years ago. He is now 77 years old (as of March 2019).
He started the shop because "my body was getting stiff." Most of his customers are locals.
During the "taiyaki boom" around 2009, there were eight taiyaki shops, but now only Taiyaki Honpo remains.
There is a space to rest inside the shop, but most customers take out their orders.
Inside the shop, there is a painting titled "Fly! Taiyaki-kun" by a local artist, Tsuyoshi Wakabayashi.
There is also a photo of "Hawaii," a place filled with memories from his time as a baker.
As a supervising craftsman, he traveled there 18 times, with the longest stay being an incredible 400 days!
While looking at the photos, he shared various stories with us.
Seasonal limited taiyaki with mochi filling and four types of taiyaki
Taiyaki Honpo offers the following four types of taiyaki (as of March 2019).
| Product Name | Price (including tax) |
|---|---|
| Mochi-filled taiyaki | 110 yen |
| Cream taiyaki | 110 yen |
| Apple taiyaki | 130 yen |
| Seasonal limited sakura an taiyaki | 130 yen |
The best seller is the mochi-filled taiyaki for 110 yen (including tax).
This taiyaki, known as a specialty of Kurashiki, contains sweet red bean paste and gyuhi (sweet rice cake).
In March and April, the seasonal limited "Sakura An" is 130 yen (tax included). The seasonal offerings are as follows.
| Season (Month) | Product Name |
|---|---|
| March-April | Sakura An (with cherry leaves) |
| May-June | Green Tea An (sencha) |
| July-August | Amatsu An |
| September-October-November | Kuri An (with sweet chestnuts) |
| December-January-February | Sweet Potato An |
It seems like there is something to enjoy each season. I hear there is also shaved ice in the summer.
Craftsmanship You Want to Watch Forever! The Freshly Baked Sweet Aroma
I got to see the making of taiyaki. Just looking at the teppan makes me excited!
The temperature is measured precisely. The suitable temperature for taiyaki is said to be 130°C.
Quickly and accurately. In no time, a row of batter and filling was completed.
With gentle hands, the gyuhi (sweet rice cake) is placed in.
The batter rises plumply. What a nice aroma!
The batter is filled with plenty of eggs, sugar syrup, condensed milk, and honey, so it spreads a sweet aroma like that of pancakes being cooked.
The batter is poured into one side of the mold...
Flipped over, the taiyaki is complete! This color looks so delicious!
"Because it's so yellow, people ask if there's food coloring in it," says Ono.
This yellow comes from the plenty of eggs used. I've never seen such a beautiful taiyaki!
Fluffy and Gentle, the Waffle Dough Taiyaki is Delicious!
A cute palm-sized taiyaki, let's dig in!
First up is the "Mochi-filled Taiyaki" for 110 yen (tax included).
Can you see the mochi inside stretching? This mochi has a deliciously gooey texture!
It pairs perfectly with the sweet red bean paste specially made for taiyaki.
Next is the classic "Cream Taiyaki" for 110 yen (tax included).
The cream is generously filled and uses custard cream typically found in Western pastries like cream puffs.
The nostalgic flavor of eggs and the refined sweetness of the cream make it so easy to eat!
This one is a unique "Apple Apple" for 130 yen (tax included). The filling consists of finely chopped stewed apples and custard cream.
The stewed apples are sourced from the manufacturer and then adjusted for flavor at the shop.
With the aroma of cinnamon and the crunchy texture of the apples, it's like an apple pie in taiyaki form.
Finally, we have the seasonal "Sakura An" for 130 yen (tax included). The pink bean paste looks beautiful!
It has a wonderful fragrance reminiscent of sakura mochi, and the saltiness of the leaves is outstanding.
And all the taiyaki have a fluffy, soft texture that is irresistible.
Before starting the shop, Mr. Ono traveled around the country tasting taiyaki.
"Freshly baked is delicious, but when it cools down, it becomes tough," he says.
Considering that there are many elderly people near the shop, he thought of creating a taiyaki with a waffle-like texture that remains delicious even when cooled.
While the taiyaki is delicious even when cooled, you can also enjoy it freshly baked.
Just warm the taiyaki in the microwave for 30 seconds, then toast it for 2 minutes. That's all.
For frozen taiyaki, just warm it in the microwave for 1 minute! It lasts for a month in the freezer.
There are even regular customers who send it via delivery services to their grandchildren living far away.
Kurashiki's taiyaki is a gentle waffle-like taiyaki
In fact, the author was a fan of crispy taiyaki until visiting the shop.
I was convinced that "taiyaki should be eaten hot!"
The taiyaki from Taiyaki Honpo had a soft, nostalgic aroma, and its gentle flavor calmed my stomach.
I was amazed to find that the taiyaki is delicious even when cold!
The fluffy taiyaki contained Mr. Ono's solid skills as a baker, his experience, and his kindness towards customers.
And I have completely become a "fluffy waffle taiyaki fan!"
I look forward to enjoying seasonal fillings and plan to visit again.
The shop owner Mr. Ono and his wife have wonderful smiles. I hope they continue to deliver delicious taiyaki for many years to come.
Taiyaki Honpo Data
| Name | Taiyaki Honpo |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-22-25 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-1721 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Regular Holiday | Sunday |
| Payment Methods |
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| Reservation Availability | Yes |
| Seating | 2 sofa seats |
