Naruto Taiyaki Honpo — Local services in Kyoto

My first real taiyaki experience. The closest thing to taiyaki I had before was Binggrae's bungeo samanko, the fish-shaped wafer filled with red bean paste and vanilla ice cream that I get to enjoy when I scored particularly well at an exam during middle school years.

I visited the stall on a weekday after dinner and there was a few people queue. Just long enough for me to prepare my coins (they only accept cash) and make up my mind (I decided to only get one, so I must pick the right flavor) by observing what other people order. I considered between red bean for an authentic experience, green tea because we're in Kyoto, or sweet potato for novelty. However, I got swayed by popular request for premium custard taiyaki like a teenager caving to peer pressure.

My order was directly transported from the fire, to a paper bag, then to my hands within seconds. To match their agility, I immediately consumed the taiyaki on the storefront. I had to eat mindfully, alternating between blows and bites so I wouldn't burn my tongue. The crust was crispy and they don't skimp on the custard cream. The custard was simple, sweet and comforting. The kind that was often underappreciated but could never go wrong, just like vanilla ice cream. I bought taiyaki and got a free-trial of time machine to...

Came here because we like taiyaki but also because it’s one of the only dessert spots that open late. Thankfully it’s open late because it was one of the best taiyaki I’ve ever had. We ordered a red bean and a sweet potato taiyaki. I don’t really like red bean but the red bean was smooth and not too sweet. The sweet potato was actually sweeter but it had such a natural sweet potato flavor to it that it was irresistible. I’ve never seen or had a sweet potato taiyaki and now I’ll continue to look for it all over Japan. The fish outside itself was thin and crispy but held the sweet potato and red bean very well. There were no air gaps between the filling and the outside wrapping so every bite had some filling. Also, the best part of this dessert is that they serve you piping hot and fresh taiyaki. They make it as they go so you always get...

During my visit on a Sunday lunchtime, I was pleasantly surprised to find no queue at the shop. I decided to try the red bean flavor of taiyaki. The first thing that struck me was the thin and crispy outer crust, which added a delightful texture to each bite. The shop was incredibly generous with the filling, providing a satisfying amount of flavorful red bean paste. Overall, I found the taiyaki to be a decent treat that left me content with its taste...