Restaurant
Okonomiyaki Mizuno
A Dotonbori okonomiyaki restaurant founded in 1945 and known for yamaimo-yaki, a savoury pancake made with mountain yam instead of flour.
Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka Sennichimae Honten
A popular Sennichimae takoyaki shop whose octopus balls are crisp outside and soft inside, served with its special sauce or kettle-cooked salt.
At a glance
- Type
- Takoyaki
- Area
- Sennichimae (Chuo-ku), Osaka, Japan
- Price
- $ · Budget
Good to know
- Self-service eat-in space
- Open every day
- Cash only
Why we recommend it
No food is more closely linked with Osaka than takoyaki, the ball-shaped snacks of batter cooked around a piece of octopus in a dimpled iron griddle, and Wanaka's Sennichimae main shop is one of the city's best-known places to try them. It stands in Namba, near Kuromon Ichiba Market and the Sennichimae Doguyasuji kitchenware arcade, and queues are common even on weekdays.
The takoyaki here are made with a batter that uses dashi and finely milled flour, cooked so that the outside turns crisp while the inside stays soft and almost molten. The best-seller is finished with Wanaka's special sauce, and those who want to taste the batter and octopus more clearly can choose the shop's kettle-cooked salt instead. Be careful with the first bite: freshly cooked takoyaki are extremely hot inside.
There is a self-service eat-in space, so you do not have to eat standing in the street, and the shop is open every day. Credit cards are not accepted, so have cash ready. The shop opens in the morning, at 10:30 on weekdays according to its listing, so an early visit is the easiest way to avoid the peak. Takoyaki come in portions of several balls, so one order shared between two is plenty if you plan to keep grazing elsewhere, and the eat-in area is a better place to eat them than the street, since the sauce drips and the centres stay hot for several minutes.
This is a budget stop rather than a full meal, ideal for a snack while exploring Minami, for children, and for anyone who wants to compare takoyaki styles across the city. Many visitors make a point of trying several shops; Wanaka's crisp shell and choice of sauce or salt make it a good benchmark. If you are vegetarian, note that the batter contains dashi, which is usually made with fish.
The shop is in the Sennichimae area of Namba, a short walk from Namba and Nipponbashi stations. From here it is easy to continue to Kuromon Ichiba Market for more grazing, to browse for knives and kitchenware along Sennichimae Doguyasuji, or to head north to the lights of Dotonbori.
Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka Sennichimae Honten FAQs
What is takoyaki?
Balls of batter cooked around pieces of octopus on a special griddle, a classic Osaka snack.
What makes Wanaka's takoyaki different?
A dashi batter made with fine flour that gives a crisp outside and soft centre, with a choice of special sauce or kettle-cooked salt.
Is there somewhere to sit?
Yes, there is a self-service eat-in space.
Is it open every day?
Yes.
Can I pay by card?
No, credit cards are not accepted.
Is there usually a queue?
Often, even on weekdays, so an earlier visit helps.
Is it suitable for vegetarians?
Not strictly, as the batter contains dashi and the filling is octopus.
What is nearby?
Kuromon Ichiba Market and the Sennichimae Doguyasuji kitchenware arcade.