Naniwa-Taro

Omfg the takoyaki is amazing! Crispy outside soft on the inside. I will def come back to try their other menu items!

I have eaten lots of takoyaki in Japan and Naniwa Taro’s takoyaki is the best takoyaki I’ve had in Toronto! I come here at least once a week to eat it. I love the green onion takoyaki. I also like the chicken katsu, croquettes and hot pot udon. My fiancé loves the pork teriyaki and chicken steak. I find the prices at Naniwa Taro are cheaper than other restaurants in the area. Two people can easily dine here for less than $ 30.
A variety of drinks are available, including pop, iced tea and small juice boxes. There is also a machine that you can use to pour yourself cold or hot water (for free).
The restaurant is run by a Japanese couple. Since there are only two of them, it may take a long time to get your order, especially at busy times. The food is definitely worth the wait though! Good food takes time to make!
The restaurant is quite small, with a counter that seats four people and two tables which seat two people each, which makes it more suitable for solo diners or small groups (2 – 3 people) rather than large groups. This is why I notice a lot of people ordering take-​out.
Overall, Naniwa Taro is a great place to eat authentic Japanese food like takoyaki and okonomiyaki!
NOTE: Naniwa Taro will have multiple closures during June and July (for food festivals), so check the schedules I posted.

This place is amazing of you want really good, home-​made Japanese food. I’ve tried Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki in different places before and they’ve always seemed like cheap knock-​offs of the real thing — bland on flavor and looks. I loved the Takoyaki here — it looks, smells and tastes amazing. The place is tiny, seats 10 people max (with no elbow room whatsoever) so I always do takeout. If you know what you want and hate waiting, call ahead to order. The food is always made fresh so it takes a while before it’s ready. I found the price a tad expensive (only 6 Takoyaki for $ 5.48 and omurice for $ 7.98) but the quality makes it so worth it. All in all, not a place I would go to get food when I’m really hungry, but perfect for satisfying that craving for real Japanese flavors!

The place is small, mainly do takeout and deliveries. Not sure what happened but when we went in, we waited about 10 minutes before someone showed up at the cash register to take our order. Afterwards, she said «it will take 20 minutes» So we walked around the plaza and came back 20 minutes later… at that point, no one was at the store front. I could see 2 people in the back working, or cooking I guess. We ended up having to wait 35 minutes before we got our food.
All we ordered was an order of Okanomiyaki (Squid) and Chicken Okayodon. 2 things! They werent even that busy, there were maybe 2 other orders (1 before me and 1 after me). No idea why they took so long. I thought this place was supposed to be a carry and go (takeout). Who would really wait 35 min for take out? WIth that time, I can probably finish eating at a dine-​in restaurant and be on my way home!
In terms of the food, it was your average japanese dishes, nothing extraordinary. The Okonokiyaki was tougher than I thought, I imagined it to be much softer… but it was a little burnt and dry, which made it more work to chew. It was saltier than expected as well.
The Okanodon was alright, but it’s your typical egg + onions + chicken on rice, japanese style. Again, nothing special. Not sure why it’s truly authentic japanese food???
Next time, if there is a next time, I will try the Takoyaki as it seems like that what they’re famous for. One positive thing though, is their prices. For both dishes, it came up to $ 16.35 which is not bad for 2 people nowadays in Yonge/​Finch area.

3.5 really close to a 4!
The wait took forever but the food was good. We ordered
C1 — Okonomiyaki (half) + Takoyaki (4pcs) — This was awesome and must try.
K7 — Chicken Katsu Curry — Sauce was amazing
B5 — Sobameshi — It was a rice/​noodle combo. It was bland and a bit dry. Skip
B8 — BBQ Beef Rice — Not a beef person but liked the flavours
Next time I’m getting noodles or a curry dish. But I would likely call first to order then pick up. We went in and waited likely 45 + mins… Love the prices here as it’s super cheap and portions were generous.
The restaurant fits only 8 people. I would definitely recommend take-​out.

We came here for dinner on a Friday. There’s not much room for seating but they do have takeout as well. There’s also a bit of a wait for food, so it might be best to order and roam around for a bit. If you can’t eat pork, please indicate beforehand as the default for C1 is pork.
HOWEVER, we did enjoy the food. We ordered C1 which was the takoyaki and okonomiyaki combo. The takoyaki was some of the best that I’ve ever had. It tasted like there actually was octopus and the batter wasn’t heavy like you see at other places. The takoyaki was very soft and tender when you bit into it. We also ordered the green onion takoyaki on the side. I liked the takoyaki that came with C1, over the green onion version.
The pork okonomiyaki was better than the shrimp version. This was done pretty well as well and is definitely best eaten fresh. It was tender and flavourful.
Overall, I would considering returning if I ever craved takoyaki.

Ordered takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
Both were good. The orders did take longer than I expected considering I was the only customer during the quiet weekday afternoon, but I don’t mind. It does taste like the lady took the time to put something nice together.
Only peeve was I meant to try the ‘pancake’ made from noodles. I’ve only had ‘okonomiyaki’ a few times and they were always made with noodle, so I didn’t know that apparently the real noodle version is called ‘Hiroshimayaki’. That was what I had in mind of ordering, but instead got mixed up and got the batter version/​okonomiyaki instead. Just a heads-​up.
Probably wouldn’t consider sitting in though, because although the place wasn’t busy while I was there, it already felt stuffy, greasy and hot from the kitchen. I recommend getting the orders to go.
Otherwise, good find.

Best takoyaki around! The various Japanese staples are also very authentic: okonomiyaki, Beef Udon, Katsudon, Oyakodon all very delicious!
They make everything to order and definitely worth the wait. Eat everything and do not take out because the food quality will definitely decrease!
Prices are very reasonable and I definitely visit every time I am in the area!

This is the place to get fresh takoyaki, okonomyaki and Japanese curry in North York!
That said, you’ll need to have the patience to wait over 20 minutes for your food. The long wait time is a real bummer, but you can call ahead for pick up.
When I picked up my order and got home, the takoyaki was unfortunately soggy already so I may need to eat it right at the store next time.
Service is friendly and everything is decently priced. It’s a small store right by VIPS Sushi, don’t miss it!

We had take out here for a few times. Loved their Okonomiyaki and their Takoyaki. Last night, we actually sat down and eat in. They don’t have much space for dine in. Just a bar and 2 tables. We ordered a Sukiyaki, a Hiroshimayaki and a combo 1, which is ½ Okonomiyaki + ½ Takoyaki.
The sukiyaki is served in a personal pot and comes with rice. It was very very delicious. Their sauce is so tasty it reminded me of the one I had in Japan. For the price, you won’t expect the beef to be very high grade, but it’s actually not bad. And the portion was quite generous too. The Hiroshimayaki was nicely done. The portion is big, the taste is good. Again, don’t think it’s fair to compare it with the real thing in Hiroshima. However, this is as close as you can get here in Toronto. Will try other stuff on their menu next time.
Service here is very friendly, typical Japanese. However, you may have a long wait for the food, both for take out and dine in. They’re always busy.

Stumbled upon this hidden gem in North York. This a small mom and pop shop owned by a cute Japanese couple, and the food is cheap and delicious.
I’ve had the yakisoba with chicken, the sukiyaki, the hiroshimayaki (which is an okononiyaki with soba noodles), and the gyudon. All were fantastic, especially the hiroshimayaki. I will most likely get the okononiyaki and takoyaki combo the next time I go there.
The food is great, the soy sauce they use is imported from Japan because the grocery stores here don’t carry it, and the prices are super reasonable.
Since it is a small whole in the wall place, the service can be quite slow since it’s just the two of them running the place. I have no idea how they do delivery, but delivery is an option. Most people do pickup since seating is super limited.
Overall, absolutely love this place and can’t wait to eat there again! My goal is to try everything on the menu :)

Anyone who has eaten at Ebi-​Ten in Vancouver should come check out this nook.
I finally decided to get some take-​out from this place. It’s almost a hidden spot if you walk pass Byng Avenue.
Like all the other reviewers were saying, the place really is small and it’s better to get take-​out than eating in unless you do prefer your meal as soon as it’s brought to you. This is the most «mom and pop» looking Japanese eatery and I can’t think of any other place in Toronto that has this sort of setting. And also this seems to be the first place in Toronto I’ve come across that features mostly «Yoshoku» meals on its menu. Go and check it out and you’ll get what I mean.
I got the Okonomiyaki with Takoyaki combo and a Curry Omurice and this is probably the first Japanese place in all of Toronto that I’ve had an Omurice from.
I had both of them for dinner and they were comfort food level tasty, even though the Okonomiyaki tasted the best out of the three things. My stomach was filled up and happy. The flavor might have tasted better if I had eaten them right there and then, which I’ll have to do one of these days.
I would still recommend this to people who are craving for Japanese food that is slightly more homely looking when compared to the Izakayas and the Sushi places in the city.

A little gem in North York for takoyaki and okonomiyaki-​lovers! Like me! It’s tucked away on a side street off Yonge. The place is really small with two small tables and four «bar» seats. Seats max. 10 ppl. It’s a really cozy mom & pop place.
I loooooove the piping hot takoyaki everytime. It’s executed perfectly with all the fixings and a big piece of octopus. I’ve tried the okonomiyaki and some of the variations. They tend to be a little carby but who doesn’t love carbs once in a while. I have yet to figure them all out. The yaki udon is great too. I can’t wait to try to tonkatsu and curry they look good too.
This place is a bit food court-​esque. They give you styrofoam cups to get your own water. I wish they offered some tea. You use disposable cutlery. Seats aren’t the most comfortable. Also food takes a while cause there’s only two ppl working there. But these are only minor points to be able to taste the best and most affordable takoyakis!

The takoyaki was fantastic. Soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. This isn’t the frozen takoyaki you get served in many other Japanese restaurants in the city, but is made fresh just like in Japan. However, that does mean it takes some time before you can get your order so call ahead!
Next time, I want to try the gyudon. Actually, I want to try the entire menu. The entire menu is reasonably priced and all items are listed in Japanese and English.

While I can’t claim to be an Okonomiyaki connoisseur I do have some limited (albeit authentic) experience with this stuff. I had the pleasure of feasting on this dish daily in Osaka (birthplace of this dish or so they say). I must admit I was no huge fan of it when I first tried it and even now I don’t fancy it either but it has grown on me a bit. Even the infamous Mizuno that stands tall up on Mt. Rushmore of Okonomiyakis did little sway my taste buds.
Now with that in mind I was pleasantly surprised by Naniwa-​Taro; this stuff is good. The batter is light, thin and airy with almost a «rice paper» kind of affect –the way it melts in your mouth. Noodles are soft and slightly chewy with just a right amount of texture. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly sauced with gentle waves of flavours caressing your taste buds. The balance of the flavours are incredible which absolutely defines what Japanese cuisine should be. Delicately made with utmost care, this is no Mizuno however it’s not trailing too far behind.
The same can be said of the tacoyaki. Delicate with a creamy smooth center (a la Lindt) with hints of octopus, seaweed and wasabi all wrapped in a thin, caramelized dough with a slight crisp.
The reason I am taking away 1 star is for the mediocre udon soup and omelette rice. I would suggest you skip these.

Don’t underestimate this small establishment! Seats get filled quickly and there was a continuous flow of people coming in. Impressive. Although it was a bit cramped dining here, the food made up for it. We ordered the Takoyaki, Pork Katsu Curry, and Pouched Eggs Yakisoba.
I enjoyed the Takoyaki very much. A light crunch on the outside with a hot and soft filling of pieces of octopus on the inside. (And please… don’t stuff the whole Takoyaki in your mouth because you’ll be in for a burning experience!) A lot of Takoyaki that I’ve tried in the past were mainly comprised of batter however, this one here is the real deal. Definitely a nice treat or appetizer to start with. The Pork Katsu Curry was my favourite of the night. I don’t know what they did with the chicken but it was very tender and filled with flavour. The curry was very aromatic, not too salty or creamy it was of a good consistency. Quite a large portion I must say, for a good price too! Lastly, the Pouched Eggs Yakisoba was a ‘nay’ for me. Very bland and nothing out of the ordinary. Tasted like something you can replicate at home. We tried to revive it with some hot sauce and it did some justice… overall, the yakisoba was OK.
It takes some time for them to make the food so, remember to submit your order a head of time otherwise, you’ll be sitting there salivating from the aroma! Also, if you want to dine there, remember to call in and make reservations!
Will stop by again to try their other items.

I was a huge fan of their old location (although it was quite far away for me) and I’m a big fan of this new location. It’s small, and there aren’t many seats, but they have bar seating, and that’s kinda cute. It’s winter, and when the door opens, the restaurant gets cold, but they have a heater going, and it’s sooo warm.
The menu has a lot of okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) variations, and curry rice sets, udon dishes, takoyaki (they’re known for this).
Had:
Hiroshimayaki — Almost like okonomiyaki, but with yakisoba noodles at the bottom. In other words, we had crispy yakisoba noodles tossed in okonomi sauce (I think) topped with a layer of sprouts and cabbage, which was then topped with a thin layer of batter, and blanketed by okonomi sauce, kewpie mayo (the Japanese mayo. Mmmm so good), and a sprinkling of seaweed powder (I must learn what the term for this is), shreds of pickled ginger (more red than pink) and bonito flakes. They’re quite generous with the bonito. Somewhere in there, there were pieces of squid. This is super savory and there’s a bunch of textures and stuff. I prefer this to the oko

Came here for lunch. Despite its tiny size, was a steady flow of people coming into this place. I ordered the sukiyaki (Japanese casserole with beef, tofu, and cabbage) and takoyaki (octopus balls).
Pros: takes credit card, relatively cheap
Cons: tiny store with only seating for 6, long waiting time (approx 20−30mins), and no washrooms
There is paid parking by the street or its a quick 5 min walk south from Finch station. They have delivery for orders over $ 20.

3.5−4 star rating. This feels like going to a Japanese person’s home and they’re making you a homemade meal.
I’ve been dying to try this place out for months, wanting to sit in and dine. But every time I look inside, the tables are taken. But to be fair, this is more of a takeout place. And there are two small tables inside. Anyways, came here for a late lunch today and luckily it was empty. I ordered their katsu curry and takes about 20 mins or so to make it. The curry itself was filling, it had potatoes, carrot and little beef cubes. The rice wasn’t sticky but felt like it just got cooked. The katsu was very crispy!
Overall, great place and I will definitely come back again.

Not sure why there are such good reviews but last night I checked this place out with a friend and we were both thoroughly disappointed.
As other people have mentioned it’s a small place more for takeout. There’s two tables and individual seating (4 seats) by the cashier. You get a foam cup for water after ordering your meal (if you’re dining in).
I ordered C4 which is the Meat Udon Soup with onigiri (8.48 $) and my friend ordered the same but without the onigiri (6.98 $). It took 30 minutes for the Udon to be ready and another 5 – 10 minutes after that for the onigiri.
I admit the food is fresh but nothing special about it. Looks like something I could make at home for a fraction of the price and time. The broth was simple not overly salty and a typical taste. The onigiri was bland and lacked flavour. It tasted like white rice but shaped in a triangle. There was minimal seasoning but meh it isn’t worth getting.
I don’t think I will be back. It’s disappointing for having such an extensive menu if you’re unable to cook something simple even relatively decent.