Kogaryu Takoyaki

Kogaryu is a classic stop for takoyaki in the Dotonbori area, and it lived up to the hype during the tasting. The balls had that perfect gooey center with a sweet-spicy sauce that really carried the flavor. I’m still on the fence about octopus in general, but the seasoning and the texture made the whole thing surprisingly enjoyable. If you’re even mildly into seafood — or just curious — this is a great place to give takoyaki an honest try.

This is a rather unique takoyaki place with many flavors to choose from. They're made fresh and hot right in front of the shop and served immediately. You need to choose your timing carefully, as there can be quite a long queue. The food is delicious, but the atmosphere is a bit quirky, with a designated smoking area which isn't ideal for eating takoyaki while inhaling cigarette smoke. It's a neighborhood popular with hip-hop youth, so the music might be a bit loud, but that shouldn't be a problem. Just finish your takoyaki and leave.

Very good price for what you get. A ten piece order was ¥600 and good enough size to share. I wish it were a little crispier on the outside, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

Got the Green onion with Takoyaki sauce after seeing it mentioned on TabiEats video. Was absolutely fantastic! Loaded up with onions and sauce. Would recommend using the 5 spice seasoning they give you as well. Located right in the heart of America town next to the iconic park so people watching while eating was great. Highly recommend

Located in the heart of American Village, Kogaryu Takoyaki is a must-try spot. Arrived just after they opened at 10:30am and joined the queue. It wasn’t too long at first, but it quickly grew! Tried the Green Onion with Takoyaki Sauce (10 pieces for ¥700). The exterior was crispy, while the inside was soft and gooey. The generous amount of fresh green onions added a refreshing contrast to the rich sauce. Service was efficient and fast, making it a great grab-and-go option. Many people stood across at Triangle Park to eat. They also provide a bin for takeaway boxes and chopsticks, which is convenient.

Still warm and delicious even after we got back to hotel ~15 mins later.

Very Tasty, but a very small piece of octopus. It’s extremely HOT so be careful When eating! It’s a local Osaka specialty and something. The locals are very proud of as they say it saved Osaka after World War II. It melts in your mouth and I must try while in Osaka

"When life gives you Tayoyaki balls... you go to the edge of the Orient in search for the best..." - Eric-san I've been to Japan three times in this lifetime, but never to Osaka, so when my Japan bestie invited me to join her on a Kansai-chihō tour I jumped at the chance. We already spent quality time in Kyōtō, therefore we already knew each other's eating habits, but Osaka street food scene is next level! First stop? Osaka たこ焼き Tayoyaki! J-bestie met me at the train station and after dropping off my bags she literally dragged me lol straight to Amerikamura in the hippest part of town. Neon lights, edgy street fashion, a scene from Bladerunner... ah & off we go to Kougaryu in the heart of it all. Hey I dig it! To her surprise there was no line, but being on a Monday mid-day was probably it. No complaints, as she tells me to grab a communal area to sit and just wait. Okay Sensei lol! Within minutes she returns with piping hot Tayoyaki to eat! It's not only hot, but at Kougaryu they only use Sashimi grade Tako! The dashi stock contains kelp, even the mayonnaise is made in-house, and has a less tangy flavor than commercial counterparts - all the better to complement the house-made brown sauce. This is Michelin starred! Oh my! Our first bites were met with "mmmmm" "mmm" "mmmmmmm". It was that delicious! Get this... I am not the biggest fan of Tako having had a bad experience in my past, but this experience just blew me out of the pacific! 'Twas that amazing! In the end, a stop in Osaka must include Tayoyaki! Kougaryu is humble in appearance, but oh my! The best are made right here! No arguments from visitors, be it foreign Gaijin or natives, all agree Tayoyaki or bust! Kougaryu was a nice surprise for me and a hello to the dynamic city of 愛Osaka! Arigatō Seiko-san...

At one point prior to 2018, Kogaryu was recommended in the Michelin Guide for their takoyaki (savory pancake balls filled with octopus and topped with a sweet, savory sauce). They have an option for takoyaki topped with green onions and citrus ponzu, which makes their offering somewhat unique. I think that Kogaryu, which is located by Triangle Square in Amerikamura, Osaka, is A-OK and a good place to have Takoyaki; however, I can't say that it's better than other options. If you are in Osaka, definitely consider having Takoyaki and, if you are in the area, definitely come by. They gave us our order about 15 seconds after we paid for it. While convenient, I typically like my takoyaki a little crispier on the outside and made to order.

Osaka, Nishishinsaibashi, Amemura. March 2024. B-kyu gurume takoyaki. Good takoyaki is about attention to details in cooking and presenting topping that work. These guys, at Kougaryu, have it down pat. If you're in Amemura you will certainly come across Sankaku Koen. It is really an urban concrete triangle rather than a park with much greenery. It serves as a meeting point for young Osakans who hang out, display art or themselves, and generally leave behind a mess of trash from Kogaryu or a nearby combini. Kogaryu will be the takoyaki stand with a regular fast moving line. It never gets crazy crowded like Dotonbori's takoyaki places. Their takoyaki is as good or better than anywhere in Dotonbori. It is very much a matter of personal preference - b-kyu gurume in Osaka is never high brow or high cost. Everything is a 10 piece set. You choose the topping. The sauce and mayonnaise is popular but I think the black pepper and mayonnaise with a lemon on the side is the best. Like any good Osaka takoyaki the delectable balls of goodness will be molten hot and creamy inside while looking like a deflating ball. The texture and flavor remain consistent even as the takoyaki cool. Best for a late night snack after drinking around Amemura. But still a worthwhile destination any time they're open.

"When life gives you Tayoyaki balls... you go to the edge of the Orient in search for the best..." - Eric-san I've been to Japan three times in this lifetime, but never to Osaka, so when my Japan bestie invited me to join her on a Kansai-chihō tour I jumped at the chance. We already spent quality time in Kyōtō, therefore we already knew each other's eating habits, but Osaka street food scene is next level! First stop? Osaka たこ焼き Tayoyaki! J-bestie met me at the train station and after dropping off my bags she literally dragged me lol straight to Amerikamura in the hippest part of town. Neon lights, edgy street fashion, a scene from Bladerunner... ah & off we go to Kougaryu in the heart of it all. Hey I dig it! To her surprise there was no line, but being on a Monday mid-day was probably it. No complaints, as she tells me to grab a communal area to sit and just wait. Okay Sensei lol! Within minutes she returns with piping hot Tayoyaki to eat! It's not only hot, but at Kougaryu they only use Sashimi grade Tako! The dashi stock contains kelp, even the mayonnaise is made in-house, and has a less tangy flavor than commercial counterparts - all the better to complement the house-made brown sauce. This is Michelin starred! Oh my! Our first bites were met with "mmmmm" "mmm" "mmmmmmm". It was that delicious! Get this... I am not the biggest fan of Tako having had a bad experience in my past, but this experience just blew me out of the pacific! 'Twas that amazing! In the end, a stop in Osaka must include Tayoyaki! Kougaryu is humble in appearance, but oh my! The best are made right here! No arguments from visitors, be it foreign Gaijin or natives, all agree Tayoyaki or bust! Kougaryu was a nice surprise for me and a hello to the dynamic city of 愛Osaka! Arigatō Seiko-san...

Good place for a quick snack. Takoyaki is nice and hot, creamy inside. 10 to an order for a great price. Lots of stands like this in the area, but this one is tasty.

1st time trying shrimp cracker and tako yaki combination, takoyaki has the right flavor and right portion (4 pieces). After eating this we can still try many other goodies in the neighborhood.

Takoyaki and plum wine were divine. Easy outdoor seating, wonderful location. とても美味しかったです, ありがとうございました。

There are so many Takoyaki joint in Osaka. My goal is always try a new one whenever I am in town. Usually the longest line means the best but it usually does not apply for Dotonbori as the one of the busiest touristy area, people just line up to whatever. 甲賀流 at America Mura has no lines 11:30 am on a weekday. So we decided to give it a try. Freshly made to order with minimum wait. Deliciously good as a snack. There are seating upstairs or on a nice day at the Triangle Park across the street.

A super famous Osaka takoyaki shop. Chicago has deep dish pizza. Sapporo has miso ramen. Osaka has takoyaki. I grew up eating takoyaki, but have to admid that I'm not too knowledgeable about the best takoyaki shops in the town. For me, takoyaki was always something I enjoyed at home. In fact, I still believe that the most delicious takoyaki is found at home. However, most tourists don't know how to make them. It's not just the Gaijin tourists; many Japanese tourist that are visiting Osaka also doesn't know how to cook tasty Takoyaki. As for takeout, this is a solid option. The shop has been around for 40 years and it's now one of the most famous takoyaki shop. Do expect to wait in a line. The lady won't take your order until it's your turn, so don't bother her. WHAT TO ORDER: First time? Just order the basic 350 Yen Sauce & Mayo topping. If you like green onions, go for the 450 Yen option, but don't kiss anyone afterwards. They also have Tako-Sen, which is two pieces of takoyaki sandwiched by rice crackers, but this is more "teenage" fad thing. Younger generation like the 150 Yen price tag. The most delicious? I cannot say. It's definitely one of the better ones, but I haven't studied the takeout shops enough to make that judgement call. Now, this place is filled with tourists and everyone in the world knows about this place. You won't get any street creds for knowing Kougaryu. WHERE TO EAT? Many people eat it at Triangle Park just across the street and that's what we did. Note that the shop does have seating space on the second floor, I find eating outdoors to be much more refreshing. COST: 10 pieces for 350 Yen.

Ah, Yelp really brings me to all the good foods! Don't you hate going to touristy places like Dotonbori and waiting in those long queues for food that is less than amazing? Well, Yelp helps with that. I found Kougaryu Honten with the help of Yelp and it's near Dotonbori without the huge crowd of tourists creating long queues. Instead, you have a bunch of Japanese locals who line up for this delicious takoyaki! There are admittedly other takoyaki stands nearby in the same area. Hell, there's one next door, but Kougaryu Honten has great takoyaki at a really cheap price. They give you 10 takoyaki for 400 yen (it went up since the pictures were posted, but not by much). The basic was 400 yen anyway. The takoyaki came out really fast and rather than look for seating on the second floor, I opted to sit across the street at the park where others were dining outside. It's really refreshing to eat hot takoyaki in the cool winter weather. Man, this takoyaki was freaking delicious. It was perfectly seasoned without being too mushy and the octopus was perfection. I could keep eating it forever. If you're in the area, don't pay the inflated prices at Dotonbori and wait in ridiculously long lines only to drop your takoyaki when someone runs into you. Come here! It's amazing and you won't regret it!

Not a big restaurant. Not fancy. No seats. No waiters. Delicious takoyaki? Yes. The best in Osaka! Therefor also the best in Japan, and the world. In the small "park" in the middle of America-mura (america village) close to Shinsaibashi you will find the place to be when it comes to takoyaki.

Yelpers who are saying there are not seating to this food stall are incorrect. There is seating, but admittedly hard to find for foreigners as the signs are in Japan. Go into the little elevator next to the stall and you can enjoy your takoyaki upstairs in a small space, but seated space nonetheless. Great takoyaki. Great flavor, good balance of texture, a decent amount of octopus. Not sure what more there is to say, except go and try it. Loved the takoyaki with black peppers, it was surprisingly spicy and made me sneeze. Definitely recommended.

Now this is real takoyaki. The stuff I've had at ramen shops in California have all been frozen, mass-produced fakery. I finally had the opportunity to experience the texture of real, hand-made takoyaki. It's totally different. More fluffly; less bready. The only drawback was that it was loaded with MSG. Like super-umami flavoring. Too much for my liking. I needed to keep gulping down water. I'm thinking it was the sauce on top. Still, though, better than Crapoyaki they serve in the US. On a plus side, the area around the takoyakiry is really fun and lively. Just walk around and have a good time!

Octopus balls! Delicious, soft, hot, sweet and savory. So good! They have an upstairs where ppl can sit and eat.

Yeah, this is real Takoyaki. You can take them out or bring them to 2F of the shop. People in Osaka (like me) loves Takoyaki and they have their own best recipe... this is the reason why I cannot give 5 stars to Takoyaki shop. ホンマにうまいよー．

The best takiyaki I have ever had! It's definitely worth trying. Nothing is had in the USA or china is close to this!