Takoyaki Yama-chan

We were in the line for about 10 minutes and wait for our orders for 45 minutes but totally worth it. They freshly made order to order (that is why it took so long) and we ate them right away when they are still hot. The textures outside were crispy and inside was soft and hot. We ordered original takoyaki and the cream cheese. The takoyaki sauce and squid were perfectly seasoned. I want to go back and try different creative Japanese fillings they got.

It's inside the Japanese market hall. Turn Right at the entrance to the market. It's a Japanese street food corner shop with variety of Takoyaki pieces. Delicious and fresh. Octopus one is delicious. It's just very hot at the beginning, watch out!

The batter appeared overly watery during cooking, which explained the issues with the final product. The takoyaki had several problems: the octopus pieces were tiny, the dough resulted in the wrong texture, the spring onions were cut into thick chunks instead of being finely sliced, and several pieces were partially burnt. On top of that, there was no proper takoyaki sauce — it felt like it was forgotten. The long line and wait make no sense for this quality. So, summary: ‘Waste of money’

The takoyaki was amazing. They had so much flavor! Truly one of the best takoyaki I’ve had. A few complaints: the batter wasn’t crispy. They were soft like they had been sitting out for a little, and the consistency wasn’t there. It might have been because I went in the morning when they weren’t busy, but I can definitely see these being the best when they come out fresh!

The star rating on this is due to the actual lack of octopus (tako) in the Takoyaki, nothing else. We came during the Cherry Blossom Festival (4/20/25). The line was ridiculously long but I really wanted some takoyaki and needed that fix. I also understand takoyaki is not a quick process and they were making everything to order on the spot. I did end up waiting 40 minutes and they had a specific amount you needed to purchase due to the festival. 8 piece only. I got the traditional though some of the other festival mixes did look good. Once I got the Takoyaki I was eager to sit down and eat. It was hot, and the batter is what I expected. What I did not expect was the tiniest piece of octopus. I thought maybe it was a fluke and the next one would have a bigger piece but each ball was the same small mini piece or tako. I'm not sure if this was due to the festival or if this is standard practice but I would not come here again to have Takoyaki. The wait did not live up to the tiny 🐙 and I am unfortunately not exaggerating.

I was impressed by the portion size for the price! It was really filling with all of the toppings as well, which I was happy about but also disappointed because I wanted to try more food while I was in Japantown :P

Regular takoyaki were really good, I haven’t tried many of them in my life but these were certainly the best. The pricing model there is weird - if you order a large set of a single variety it costs you less than if you want to mix and match - not sure why they want to make money on nothing but it’s their business model of course. I can still recommend this place for takoyaki

Really, really freshly made and topped with loads of bonito flakes. Let it cool for a bit because eating it immediately is a hashrafahshrasfhasa experience (you'll be breathing through your mouth for at least two minutes trying to cool the first one you eat). The takoyaki is sizeable and fairly priced in my opinion. I forgot what specific flavor I got from the box of 2, one was garlicly the other one that I liked had the bonito flakes + jp mayo on it. No tables, just whatever bench seating immediately outside the stands exist. It's connected to the Mochi donut stand, I even think they share the same kitchen area.

I have been here a few times and the lines aren't as long anymore. My go to is the 6 pc regular Takoyaki with extra of the sauces. They have a lot of varieties (with green onions/kimchi/cheese/garlic sauce) and add ons. They also have a combo option so you can choose two different types to try. They make it fresh every time so expect the inside of the Takoyaki to be like lava! Best to let it cool a little before either. This is the closest experience you will get next to Japan for Takoyaki.

I still remember my first time in Hawaii, when I had the most delicious takoyaki of my life. It was made fresh right in front of me -- nothing like the frozen versions you get at some restaurants. So when I spotted the same little vendor in San Francisco, I was ecstatic. I was so excited to try it again, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I think I'll have to make this a must-stop every time I'm in Japan Town. The takoyaki came out piping hot -- the kind where you're eating it while blowing out air just to cool it down -- and completely worth it.

I've been here a few times and I absolutely love this place. I don't order takoyaki anywhere else now, they just do it so well. You might have to wait in line but they are quite fast. Definitely expect to wait in line if there's some event happening in Jtown. My favourite is the regular takoyaki, and I add green onions for an extra $1. They are GENEROUS with the green onions. 90% of the times I've been, the takoyaki is served fresh with the outside still crispy and the inside like lava. I would wait for it to cool down before eating, but sometimes I just need to enjoy the outside shell while it's still crispy. Each takoyaki is pretty big, and 6pc is a decent amount already. They are also generous with the octopus inside.

Tried this new Japanese street food today in Japan Mall, SF. Very fun delicious experience ! Caution : They're fresh off the grill so they are very hot. Don't put entire takoyaki in mouth unless temp goes down. These crispy balls consist of some batter , octopus , seasoning and bonito flakes - it it shaved dry fish flakes, they smell very fishy but taste like nothing. So if you have problem with fishy smell you can skip it. Octopus was good , it was not chewy. We tried spring onion mayo takoyaki and kimchi takoyaki. I like both flavours, kimchi is obviously more flavourful. Good staff and they made dishes pretty quickly. Overall a must try !!! Yummy

Stopped by here finally after passing by every many time I've been to Japantown. There's line is always long, but it moves quickly. It's also entertaining to watch them make the takoyaki in front of the glass window. They're so popular that they're constantly making more. There's not really any seating nearby the stand, so we took it outside to eat. We got 5 pieces of their Regular Takoyaki, and it was perfect for a quick bite to share. They're so hot and fresh (be careful!), and the sauces are delicious as well! Definitely want to come back and try their other toppings.

Flavor was bomb. They weren't cooked all the way through though AND we asked no bonito flakes.

Got the regular (swapped mayo with spicy mayo) and garlic soy takoyaki combo and I'm impressed. Crispy, fluffy, and chewy flavor bombs. I'm especially blown away by that garlic soy (it had bits of crunchy garlic in the sauce and it shook me to my core) Wait times vary but service was easy and staff were very helpful!

This place is always solid and consistent with their takoyaki. Been visiting inconsistently throughout the last year- always decent! Service is fast and friendly. They have good options and different amounts you can get. Definitely grab and go unless you can find some type of seating indoor. The mall can get really hot and stuffy as theres no air circulation and water fountains inside so beware :) I usually grab and go across the street to sit outside if it's nice.

We were in Japantown for the Cherry Blossom Festival and wanted some takoyaki. Not sure if this was b/c there weren't any takoyaki vendors at the festival, but there was a limit of 8 balls/person on the Saturday of weekend #1 (4/12/2025). Regular Takoyaki (8 pcs): $11.00 +Fresh, hot, and crispy on the outside with lots of bonito flakes on top. +Each piece was filled w/a big piece of octopus. -The balls were bigger than I remember, but they were mushier (and I thought the ones last time were already pretty mushy). Side notes: 1.) It's a grab and go spot, but there are tables around the mall. 2.) Limited parking in the Japan Center Garage or on the street. *Verdict: Even though the wait was longer than usual d/t the Cherry Blossom Festival, it didn't take long to receive my food. Not the best takoyaki, but they have a variety of sizes and toppings for different appetites and palates.

Great takoyaki for a first timer - I found the octopus a bit chewy (you can tell it's from frozen and it's only one small piece per ball) and the balls were a bit underdone. The garlic sauce however was incredible, best topping if you aren't going the original route!

I think this place has the best takoyaki i've ever had!!! my boyfriend and I came to visit the inside of the japantown mall and this place was in the heart. the flakes on top were so good and the eel sauce on the hot takoyaki was soooo delicious and soft in the center. would def come again just for this place!

Rec the garlic shoyu if you want to truly appreciate the batter of the takoyaki. I gotta admit ,stuffing the rest of the garlic into the rest of the takoyaki was def a smart yet fatass move. Enjoyed every moment of those last view bites

Great takoyaki place in the Japantown center! It's the perfect place for a snack or a light meal. Takoyaki is a Japanese street food, it's kind of like a fritter with octopus bits in it and different toppings. They have a few different toppings - the regular, negi mayo, kimchi, and garlic butter & shoyu. You can see them make the takoyaki fresh in the window which is cool. I like that they have different amounts you can order and that there's a combo option to try different flavors. I've tried all of their flavors and they're all good but for me, nothing beats the classic takoyaki with the bonito flakes and takoyaki sauce!

Only the takoyaki in this photo is from this restaurant. Sometimes, I want something, hot, salty, umami, and savoury. Takoyaki fits the bill. And this is a good place to get takoyaki. There's always a long line, so it isn't the easiest grab and go, but it serves what is a fantastic representation of takoyaki as a street food. It doesn't try to be fancy, it doesn't try to do anything unique, it just gives you some solid takoyaki.

Cute little takoyaki spot in Japantown. Place was clean and service is fast. This is a great place to stop by for a snack while checking out all of what there is to offer. Trust me this place does not disappoint. These reasonably priced takoyaki balls are delicious! They come out piping hot and fresh. Be careful not to burn your mouth. There is a deal where you can pick any two flavor 5 pieces each order for about $14. Definitely go for that if you can't decide which one to get. My family and I got the original and the cheese. Would definitely recommend. This is always a pit stop whenever I visit Japantown.

This little shop looked so captivating. You can watch them freshly make the takoyaki balls through the window! I had to give it a try! I got the 5pc regular takoyaki! They looked and tasted delicious! It is probably one of the best takoyakis I'd ever had! 10/10 recommend!

Long ques but flavor was good. Service was excellent. You can watch them make the takoyakis from the window. Price was pretty great as well $8 for 5 pieces. My only gripe was that the batter was a little undercooked this time compared to my other experiences there. Still a stop for me every time I'm shopping though . PS get the habanero sauce

We got here right when it opened so the experience may be different as the takoyaki we received was fresh off the grill :p We got the original takoyaki with the (free) habanero mayo substitute. The takoyaki was amazingly crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside. Most takoyaki ive eaten... i dont really enjoy as the octopus is too chewy but here it had a nice bounce but it wasnt chewy!! The habanero mayo really elevated the experience and made it sooooo yummy. Definitely very spicy though!! The workers was really nice and took the time to give us recommendations! Food came out quick too. There are several seating options around the indoor mall. Could get busy but we went early in the morning so the ambiance was pretty chill.

Really great spot to grab a quick and inexpensive snack in Japantown! I got the regular 5 piece takoyaki option and it was the perfect amount of food to share with my husband in between meals. It was really tasty! Nice crispy breading and the portion was bigger than I expected. I only wish they gave a little bit more octopus pieces but overall still very good. We waited approximately 5-10 minutes for our the food to be ready. You can go across the restaurant bridge to grab some boba at YiFang and sit at tables over there to enjoy your food.

Very delicious, affordable, and fast service!! This location is inside the mall and everything was cleaned and organized. The staff were friendly and gave our order fast and fresh. The takoyaki was the best we had, so much flavor and gave us a good amount of bonito flakes

I appreciate having takoyaki yamachan nearby so that I wouldn't miss eating takoyaki from Japan. Have not found anything comparable in NorCal and so happy I live nearby it. I'm not a fan of anything crazy so the traditional is what I enjoy the most. Linea do get long and the wait time, but if you show up closer to 11, it's not bad at all.

Located in Japantown mall. We always try to pick up some takoyaki when shopping. The food is nice and hot so be careful if you're really hungry.

The star rating on this is due to the actual lack of octopus (tako) in the Takoyaki, nothing else. We came during the Cherry Blossom Festival (4/20/25). The line was ridiculously long but I really wanted some takoyaki and needed that fix. I also understand takoyaki is not a quick process and they were making everything to order on the spot. I did end up waiting 40 minutes and they had a specific amount you needed to purchase due to the festival. 8 piece only. I got the traditional though some of the other festival mixes did look good. Once I got the Takoyaki I was eager to sit down and eat. It was hot, and the batter is what I expected. What I did not expect was the tiniest piece of octopus. I thought maybe it was a fluke and the next one would have a bigger piece but each ball was the same small mini piece of tako (octopus). I'm not sure if this was due to the festival or if this is standard practice but I would not come here again to have Takoyaki. The wait did not live up to the tiny piece of tako and I am unfortunately not exaggerating.

Every time I go to the city I ALWAYS stop by, honestly the best spot for takoyaki, ive tried a lot at different places around the bay but nothing beats here. The original and the negi-mayo are mandatory. It's always hot and fresh so I burn my mouth every time cause I'm so impatient to eat. The flavors are on point they never miss, and I love the amount of green onion they put on the negi-mayo takoyaki. The staff is kind and quick and you get a nice view of the cooks preparing the food. Highly recommend

This is the only Takoyaki place I know of in the Bay Area that makes them fresh. It is located inside the Japan Town shopping mall. Service is always fast and it's cool that you can watch them make the Takoyaki as you order. It always comes out delicious and I feel like you get a good amount of the sauce and toppings. My only complaint is the they are not always consistent with the texture, but it honestly has not affected the taste. Just as FYI, this is a togo type of establishment and you'll have to find a bench or somewhere else to sit to eat.

If you're craving a snack inside Japantown, Takoyaki Yamachan is really good. It's located in the western part of the mall. There's one in San Jose also at Mitsuwa and just like both locations, it's shared with Mochill Mochi Donuts. The takoyaki is made fresh right in front of you and it's fun watching it being made. It's a simple snack and really good. It's crispy on the outside with a soft interior with that great squid taste. There are two separate lines, one for the mochi donuts and one for the takoyaki so make sure you're in the right line LOL. If you want an authentic Japanese snack, this is definitely one of the best inside Japantown San Francisco. But if you live in the South Bay like I do, it's nice to know that there is one also at Mitsuwa right off Saratoga avenue.

I had a craving for takoyaki and heard great things about this place. Came on a weekend and waited for about 15 mins to order and another 15 mins for my order. I got the 5-ball regular takoyaki and it was just what I needed. The dish was so saucy but there unfortunately wasn't a lot of octopus, which I was disappointed in. I'm giving this three stars due to the wait and not enough octopus.

I get the original takoyaki six peice and its really filling. I feel like the price could be cheaper but not a bad place to eat. There isn't any seating and the service is fast which you can just watch them cook. It's in the middle of the mall.

The food was delicious and it came out much faster than I thought! We came on a Saturday and it only took about 10 mins to get our order! The service was also great- they were super nice and efficient. However, my own complaint is that there lacked a place to sit because there were so many people in japan town on a saturday night!

Really hits the spot when you're craving JUST takoyaki! I split their regular takoyaki with my brother, and we DEVOURED that plate like nobody's business. Granted, we did also burn our mouths since we were so ravenous. Just shows that the takoyaki are indeed freshly made! On busy days, orders can take a bit longer to come out, but I think it's worth the wait (15-20 min) if you're really craving good takoyaki. And at least if you're waiting, you get to see the cute little octopi decorating the storefront!

I'm amazed that such a popular and notable store hires people with below adequate customer service skills. When first placing my order I saw a sign by the register that states you can request freshly made takoyaki upon order with a wait time of 10-15mins. I asked for this but got rejected by the cashier saying they are ALL fresh. Then all of a sudden this guy (in the pic) came from the grill and asked me "do you know the difference between our takoyaki" I said "no what's the difference" then he gives me a weird ass stare then ignores my question and proceeds to pack burnt looking pieces. As I was getting my order dude asked me if I wanted drinks or a bag and I said no as to end the interaction faster but then I quickly realized that I did need a bag and corrected myself and guys this dude gave me a death stare as if I killed his dog! He acted as if I needed that free bag like bro chill just charge me again. If pressing a button to get a bag is so hard maybe dude needs a different job. 0 stars

After a disappointing dinner at one of the restaurants in Japan town I needed to find something to feed my stomach with something tastier.My friend and I saw this place lined up with bumch of people, we did coke back after the line died down a little I decided to order 2 5 piece takoyaki sets I thought doing 2 sets of 8 would be too much, which I am glad I made that decision. This place only does one thing and one thing only takoyaki with the option to do four different toppings. I love it when restaurants keep their menus simple. It shows their confidence in their ability to make that one thing good. The takoyaki was solid, I got the regular and the cheesy one. I do really like how much Bonito flakes they put on their the combination with the kewpie mayo and their sauce was on point. I was able to get some fresh ones, took about 10 minutes to get hut worth it. Just a warning they are extremely jot, so be patient let it cool down and then enjoy!

Was impressed with this takoyaki! They make it fresh to order and we had to wait maybe 10 minutes for a new batch. The texture is done right - a bit gooey on the inside but crispy on the outside, just like how I've had it in Japan. The sauce is delicious with it. A great snack in Japantown! You can sit on the benches around to enjoy.

Fresh made to order! They were hot and delicious. I felt like I visited a kiosk in Japan!

Good Takoyaki! [Japantown, San Francisco CA] I've never had a takoyaki before and looks like this was a good place to start so I decided to be adventurous and treat myself to some balls LoL! There is always a long queue every time I pass by their kiosk but this time it went pretty quickly. While in line we were able to watch them prepare the takoyaki on a clear window... they are cooked in a cast iron griddle to hold its signature shape (round balls). They come in different flavors, I chose the Garlic Shoyu Butter Takoyaki in which daughter and I shared (5-pcs to see if I like it first). Turns out these savory Japanese street food weren't too bad. The takoyaki is made up of four main parts: the lightly crispy shell, the doughy inside, a small piece of octopus tucked inside and, lastly, some sort of topping (they are basically balls of wheat flour-based batter). The kiosk is attached to Mochill Mochidonuts and is located in the West Mall of Japan Center in San Francisco. I was really impressed with what we tried. I've experienced frogs legs, bison, buffalo and alligator meats before but my first time for an octopus. Review #3379

Literally the best takoyaki I've ever had. Perfectly cooked little dough balls absolutely packed with toppings. Let me start from the inside out: - The octopus tastes fresh, or at least pretty close to it. It wasn't chewy or tough at all! - The balls are cooked to perfection on-site almost to order and have a nice doneness on the outside, and are absolutely BURNING hot! - I've never considered cheese on takoyaki. Omg. I'll never go back. Next time I have to try the kimchi takoyaki!! - Spicy mayo is a must. You need the little kick. - The bonito flakes healed my SOUL. They were packed on top and added a perfect umami taste to balance the sweetness of the eel sauce and enhance the flavor of the balls. My boyfriend has only had takoyaki he's liked from one place, and even then he gets sick of them after eating a couple. When we split this, he went back to get his own small order of garlic takoyaki! This was unheard of for him lol. We both loved it! Service was fast and cashier was polite :) Ambiance was... the mall, so good luck with seating lol.

Me and my boyfriend came here while visiting SF and were in Japantown. We saw the reviews and we just had to try. Safe to say that it definitely lives up to the hype! It came out piping hot and then habanero spicy mayo was an amazing cold contrast. The takoyaki balls were decently sized, super saucy, and plenty of bonito flakes. We got the regular but we do want to try the butter one. It is located in the Japanese mall. We opted for street parking but there is parking within the mall.

The takoyaki here is AMAZING! It is so fresh and has great flavor. I tried the original with green onions and bonito flakes on top. It was sooo delicious and definitely worth the wait!

Food is decent but the takoyaki was okay. The takoyaki was too airy and the skin was kind of rubbery. If you had a takoyaki craving it would probably satisfy it. Overall decent spot!

I believed I was suffering from heat exhaustion unfortunately, and Takoyaki Yamachan did not provide me with free water upon request.

I think this is the only place in the city that only has takoyaki on the menu. And they do a great job dishing them out. I'm pretty basic, so my go to is the regular. But it's a classic! The sauce has a good balance of savory to sweetness. And the dough is a bit crispy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside. Plus the octopus adds to the chewiness. I've also had the ponzu one. It's loaded with the ponzu mayo, bonito flakes, and green onions. I scraped off some because it's a bit too much for me, but it was still very flavorful. I really like the acidity of the ponzu with the takoyaki. I think if they went lighter with the mayo, it wouldn't feel so heavy. There are other options on the menu plus combos. The lines get very long, especially on the weekends, but it does move fast. The employees are fast and efficient. And friendly. My only issue is that there isn't much seating inside and it can get very noisy. If you plan on eating here, just know you'll probably have to take it outside.

I love takoyaki and this is my first time trying out Yamachan. The takoyaki here are kinda on the bigger side and it comes with 8. I got the regular takoyaki and it was yummy! I'm only giving it 4 stars as the takoyaki wasn't crispy. Though it was kinda soggy, I still enjoyed it. Next time I want to try the negi mayo one. The food also came out fast and it was cool to watch them make the food.

I do love a good Takoyaki. If you are in the area, check them out. Is it worth seeking.... Meh. I do enjoy the flavor and the amount you get for the price. However, I like them a bit crispier and these were almost soggy. Also not a fan of the habanero mayo. The spiciness was on point .... However paired with the Takoyaki was not a good match

The main reason why this place is getting 5 stars is because their habanero mayo is AMAZING!!! I am not a huge fan of takoyaki because I find it heavy/ greasy... there's a Korean word that perfectly describes it... neukgi... However, their habanero mayo sauce cuts thru the grease... Yes the sauce is spicy... If you love spicy you will love it. We got their cheese takyoyaki + habanero mayo and LOVED IT! I will definitely be back if in SF again.

Small stall in Japantown selling takoyaki. The different flavors intrigued me, so I ordered one to try. Five pieces came in a takeout container. Wait took a little bit, but the takoyaki were so yummy.

Delicious Takoyaki. Beautifully decorated, which reminded me of Osaka. Service is fast and friendly.

This played is hyped on social media, long line to get food, long wait to pick up order. The takoyaki was drowned in mayo making it super rich. A lot of the takoyaki seemed extremely mushy, some of them were undercooked.

Have came here several times and we always get their combo menu where you can choose a flavor plus the original one. This time we got the garlic butter shoyu, honestly we both weren't a huge fan of it. Didn't like how sweet it was. We'll stick with the original next time haha but still super good and love the concept!

A classic spot in the Japan center malls. It's quite a small stand so sometimes it takes a while for the line to move. With that said, the workers are extremely friendly and I always have a good chat with them! They make everything fresh and you get to see them do it, so that's pretty cool! There's a variety of different flavors, all of which are pretty yummy, though I will note that they do go pretty heavy on the sauce, and that sometimes drowns out the taste of the actual takoyaki. Give it a try!