Takoyaki Juhachiban Dotonbori — Restaurant in Osaka

I hear that this is a popular place for Takoyaki. They are located in a pretty busy area, so they are hard to miss. You should expect a long line, but the service is quick. I went before new year, so the line was really long, but I was surprised at how fast I was able to order takoyaki. You order through a machine, so it makes it easy and convenient. You put your money in, choose the takoyaki that you want, and then the machine will give you change and the ticket of your order which you will give to someone so that they can take care of your food. You can eat it right away or order it as take out to eat later. I got the green onion, sauce and mayo takoyaki and it was delicious. I can tell the outside of the takoyaki is different from other takoyaki I tried. The texture is different, but it shows you the different types of making it. Personally, I prefer other takoyaki with the solid texture, but I'm glad I tried this one. I recommend trying this place if you really like takoyaki and you want to explore the different shops...

Loved our visit to Takoyaki Juhachiban in Dotonbori. If you’re in Osaka, this place is a must. Easy to find thanks to the giant takoyaki sculpture above the shop. The queue looked long, but it moved quickly, and you get to watch the chefs in action while you wait. We enjoyed watching them flip the batter into golden, crispy balls using just chopsticks.

The takoyaki here is some of the best. Cooked fresh and loaded with takoyaki sauce, creamy mayo, aonori seaweed, and katsuobushi flakes. Ours also had a generous handful of spring onions on top. One tip though, they’re served boiling hot. I ate one too quickly and regretted it immediately. Give them a few minutes to cool down first!

There’s a proper eating area right beside the stall, since eating while walking isn’t recommended in Japan. Once they cooled a bit, the flavour really came through. Salty, chewy, smoky and addictive. We went back two more times during our trip.

Definitely one of the highlights of our Osaka trip.

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June 2025

Tried one of the famous takoyaki stalls right in the heart of Dotonbori, Osaka — a hotspot crowded with tourists and neon lights. As expected, the line was long, mostly due to the prime location rather than the food itself.

The takoyaki looked great on the outside, but taste-wise, it was underwhelming. The flavor was a bit bland, lacking the usual punch you’d expect from Osaka’s street food pride. The texture was soft and bits of octopus quite generous.

Pricing is standard for the area, which is to say not cheap, but not outrageous either. You're mostly paying for the experience of eating in a famous spot rather than for standout flavor.

Overall, a classic tourist experience but nothing special in terms of taste. Worth trying once for the atmosphere — but if you’re after truly delicious takoyaki, it’s better to explore beyond the main...