IMAGINE being able to get to Japan without even getting on a plane or securing a travel visa. This is almost exactly how dining at Osaka Takoyaki would feel like.
Osaka Takoyaki is a Japanese restaurant that has just recently opened in SM Lanang Premier. With its opening November of last year, they promise to bring the Japanese experience to Dabawenyos as it is the first branch in Davao City and the second in Mindanao next to Cagayan de Oro City.
The Japanese experience they offer to their customers is quite unique compared to other Japanese restaurants. With the owner Hiroaki Hamada coming from Osaka, his restaurant also offers the experience of tourists who had been to Osaka.
Their food is not the general and mainstream Japanese food often offered in a number of Japanese restaurants in the country. According to their marketing officer-in-charge Justin Lebron, their food offering are very specific to that of the culture and specialty in Osaka prefecture.
With their name Osaka Takoyaki, Lebron said their restaurant took time to come up with one of the best Takoyaki in the country. He said what’s so special about their takoyaki is the real octopus meat cooked inside the takoyaki balls. From the Japanese word “tako” which means octopus and “yaki” meaning grill, Lebron said their takoyaki really lives up to its name and the people’s expectations.
At present, they have Ankake Tokayaki, Takoyaki Original, Cheese Takoyaki, and Soup Takoyaki. Aside from that, they also offer authentic Takoyaki Burger only from Osaka. They have Takosen and Takosen Egg. They have developing more types of takoyaki to offer to their customers in the future.
“Filipinos are really fond of Japanese food especially takoyaki. Some even order these and eat with rice. Here in Osaka Takoyaki, we just want to make sure that we bring back to the customers the value of money that they spend through good food and service. We’re bringing them a little bit of what we have in Osaka,” said Lebron.
Not only are the takoyakis their best-sellers. The restaurant’s curry also bring in hype to the Dabawenyos. They come in five flavors – all priced at only P290 each serving. They have the scrambled egg curry, pork tonkatsu curry, seafood and pork curry, chicken mayonnaise, and the bacon tomato cheese curry.
For those who are looking for a good sip out of a hot bowl of ramen, Osaka Takoyaki’s special ramen selections may be the perfect choice. They have Tonkutsu Ramen, Spicy Ramen Plate, Spicy Tonkotsu Special, Shoyu Tonkotsu, and Ankake Shoyu Tonkotsu.
Osaka Takoyaki has a wide array of Osaka food choices. Their ramen, curry, yakisoba, okonomiyaki, rice meals, and udon noodles are just some of the sample choices that may be tried out when craving for Japanese food.
Aside from their specific food offerings from Osaka, what sets them apart from other Japanese restaurants is the fact that most of their ingredients are sourced directly from Japan which gives the customers the taste of authentic Japanese food – not only with the way it was prepared but down to the very raw materials.
With the Dabawenyos innate love for a variety of food choices including Japanese food, there are never too many Japanese restaurants. Dabawenyos will never get tired of checking out new food finds in the city. The next time you find yourself craving for Japanese food, check out Osaka Takoyaki at SM Lanang Premier Fountain Court.