Honke Ootako Dotonbori Honten 本家大たこ 道頓堀本店

Being back at Dotonbori, we wanted to see some more of the sights and hopefully do some shopping.  Yet, in reality, I just wanted to eat more food!  That brought me to one of the oldest Takoyaki shops in Honke Ootako.  Sure, they aren't the newest or sexiest of places at this very moment, but there usually isn't a lineup.  Yes, it is probably true that some of the other spots make a better Takoyaki, but I wanted to pay homage to one of the classics.

When we arrived, there was indeed no lineup and since it was pretty darn hot outside, it was a welcomed sight.  Of course I got some freshly made Takoyaki to go along with a cold Asahi.  Compared to the ones I've had in the past, these were filled with much more octopus.  They were light and fluffy with just the right amount of tangy and sweet sauce on the outside.  Having not tried the others in the area, I didn't have a lot to compare, but will do so when I'm in Osaka next.

 

We also got the one other thing on the menu which was the Okonomiyaki.  Yes, that is another item that Osaka is known for where they combine all of the ingredients, including the cabbage, into the mix.  This version turned out to be quite good with a certain airiness while still maintaining substance.  To go with the fluffiness, there was the crunch of the cabbage.  On top we found the sweet and tangy sauce as well as kewpie mayo and a boatload of bonito flakes.

 

While you already got the description of the Okonomiyaki already, I included this video of its preparation.  As you can see, everything is mixed into the batter, which is consistent with the Osaka version of the dish.  They make it to order, so everything is fresh and served hot.  We thought that both the Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki were quite good and despite place not being busy nor the newest and greatest, I think it is worth a visit while in Dontonbori. 

The Good:

- Usually no lineup

- Solid Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki IMO

- It has a seating area

The Bad:

- Possibly better elsewhere?

Tenku Bakudanyaki

*Food cart is closed*

What's so special about a fried salty ball? Well, maybe Chef from South Park could give you a couple of reasons. Aside from that, we finally have a place in the GVRD where you can get some really good balls. Tenku Bakudanyaki to be exact. What? If you've ever had Takoyaki, you'll know what I'm talking about. Eat, Snap, Repeat and Ho Yummy have already posted some reviews on this place. Okay, where is this place? Um... It's a trailer in the middle of desolate parking lot on the corner of Elmbridge and Gilbert in Richmond. You heard right. This is a really odd setup in a really odd place. Didn't Chef sell his salty balls out of a concession stand at a festival? Well, think of Tenku as a stand all by it's lonesome.

Today, after Dim Sum at Shiang Garden, we headed over to that very parking lot in search of some tasty balls. So we pulled up and I decided to switch spots to park a little closer to the trailer. I stepped out of the car and began snapping some photos and low-and-behold, Ben (Chowtimes) pops out of his car eating a bakudanyaki! However, he had his on a plate. I never knew they served it on a plate, because they usually come in a "Chinese-type" takeout container. Well, Ben is a very smart man. He said that all the pictures he's seen were of the bakudanyaki in the box and no one could really see anything. So he brought his own plate! Genius!

So what exactly are these balls that are attracting so much attention? Essentially, they are a combination of cabbage, shrimp, octopus, squid, sausage, quail egg and mochi (rice cake) rolled up into a ball. The ball is then pan-grilled (a bit healthier than frying) and topped with a variety of toppings a la Japadog. If you've ever had takoyaki at a Japanese restaurant, the bakudanyaki are very similar, except 5 times bigger. It's not enough for a meal; but it does make a pretty good snack. Being that there is mochi in it, it's a bit difficult to eat with a chopstick, so prepare for some messy balls. Viv and I shared a Chili Mayo and it does have a bit of spice. The bakudanyaki itself was packed with all the aforementioned ingredients and everything was fresh. It's certainly something a bit different and enjoyable to eat. Each bakudanyaki costs $5.00 including tax. To me, that is a fair price for what you are getting. I think if they had a stand at the PNE (much like Chef at the festival), there would be a lot of people enjoying these salty balls.

The Good:
- It's certainly unique in the GVRD
- It tastes pretty good
- Has the "odd food, odd location" appeal

The Bad:
- Weird location, not close for a lot of people

Tenku Bakudanyaki
7100 Elmbridge Way
Richmond, B.C.
bakudanyaki.com

Business Hours:
11:30am - 9:30pm (7 days a week)