Taka’s Japanese Street

I’m so thrilled to be writing an updated review for his new location on Zeedijk and also to give him an extra star. Last time, I ate my Japanese pancake standing outside in the cold but now you can sit at a table indoors!
Taka is now on the 2^nd floor inside the Toko Dun Yong. There is seating for ~15 people; separate tables by the windows and also a large table by the rice cookers.
The quality of his food is still very good, and Taka is famous for his okonomiyaki which he should be because it is really tasty.
His ramen is also surprisingly delicious! I didn’t have very high expectations when I ordered it because I’ve eaten A LOT of ramen as a poor young adult living in NY during the height of the ramen fad. Taka’s ramen is very good and holds its ground against the other ramen tents in Amsterdam. The ramen is a classic tonkotsu (pork bone broth), the broth is rich in flavor though with less «creaminess» probably to suit the Western crowd. The noodles were also very tasty, perfectly al dente when served and stayed that way. The char siu (pork) was also a good balance of fat and lean; a lot of Japanese places especially in Dusseldorf tend to use leaner pork which I find makes it less flavorful.
Overall, everything Taka makes is delicious and now that he is in the Centrum I can visit more often and enjoy his cooking safe from the Dutch rain and wind!

Taka had a dream: he wanted to have his own okonomiyaki shop. Packed with a mission he left Tokyo and landed in a less busy and more relaxed city. He opened a stall at ‘our’ Waterloopplein and gained fame as the ‘friendly Japanese pancake guy’. Some weeks ago Taka moved to a new location: the second floor of department store Toko Dun Yong. A great place — that view! — for a great guy serving excellent food. Not the usual sushi and sashimi stuff, but Japanese dumplings, ramen and, of course, his glorious okonomiyaki. This savoury pancake is filled with noodles and vegetables and topped with ginger, mayonnaise, a Worcester-​style sauce and — in my case — shrimps. Japanese comfort food at his best! Watching Taka making this pancake, is like watching Rembrandt painting The Night Watch. The way Taka chops the ingredients, the way he checks the colour of the pancake, the way he arranges everything on a plate. Taka creates with the greatest care and tons of love. It’s as if he forgets the world around him. This cook is a master in mindfulness too.

What can you say about this guy other than he is a class act– totally awesome.
Great food with a fun charm. He is making some fun flavors which I can hardly believe fit in his shack.
I got the udon as a quick fix for my hunger– but wish I had more time to check out other things on offer. As mentioned, the prices are very nice, as is his attitude as he serves them.
We got in to a fun conversation about life, and I had to cut things short. But I will definitely be back, with friends and time.
Check him out.

UPDATE 07Jan2016: Taka has moved to an indoor location, Toko Dun Yong on Zeedijk (Chinatown).
Follow AJ’s instructions and you’ll find Taka on the outer left side of the market, otherwise you’ll end up walking through the entire place confused (like I did)…
Taka’s okonomiyaki is really really delicious and super cheap for the price! I have been to the other place AJ mentioned and he is right… they are often closed, haha. There are also a lot of differences between the two and it depends on what kind of food experience you are looking for.
Food: ⁴⁄₅
Both places have excellent okonomiyaki and Taka makes a style of okonomiyaki that has noodles in it. Due to space constraints, there aren’t as many toppings but it is a great size for lunch or quick bite.
Atmosphere: ³⁄₅
The stand is great on a warm sunny day since it is outdoors. However, I was here in March and it was really cold. There was limited seating so it was a struggle to eat while my hands were freezing.
Service: ⁵⁄₅
Taka is so friendly, he tried hard to chat with us while he was cooking. His mom was helping him with supplies and she was absolutely adorable!
Value: ⁵⁄₅
An okonomiyaki is € 6 and it was a good size for lunch.

Delicious! We tried the Okonomiyaki and it was simply delish… all the flavors just meld into one harmonious pancake creation. As others have mentioned, Taka was so welcoming and he seriously has made Japanese street food into an art form. Taka’s booth is covered, so you can plan on coming here even if it’s raining. The price is also a great value for such a delicious pancake that has been made with so much care. We just wish Taka was open for dinner!

This place is awesome. Taka’s stand is located at the outer left side of the market when approaching the market from the main street and square.
Where else can you get okonomiyaki in Amsterdam?! Well, supposedly one other place but that one is ALWAYS closed! Seriously! I’ve been trying to go there for half a year and every time the owners are in Germany for no particular reason.
So this is the only reliable place to get okonomiyaki! He’s almost always at the market between 12 and 3 PM and if you’re not sure, just call or text him since his cell phone number is listen on his Unilocal page.
The okonomiyaki is not fancy, by any means. There is no seafood (yet), there are a couple of options: with bacon or vegetarian. I recently decided to not eat pork anymore since it’s insanely unhealthy so I opted for the vegetarian one. It’s simple, very simple, but absolutely delicious! For only € 5 you get an okonomiyaki and for € 6 you get a larger one. That’s definitely worth it! Taka also has some chicken dumplings for € 2.50 if he hasn’t run out of them.
The okonomiyaki consists of several layers. It has a fried egg, udon noodles, cabbage etc. Most layers are fried teppan yaki style and stacked on top of each other. You get your delicious okonomiyaki topped with syrup and mayo and seasoning. Don’t get me wrong though, this is absolutely a savory «pancake».
If you like Japanese food, okonomiyaki, just pancakes, or just food… Go to Taka’s and you won’t be disappointed!
Highly recommended!
*** UPDATE:
I’m giving Taka’s stand an extra and final star and here’s why:
He’s a great fellow! Very accommodating and kind. His skills are excellent and meticulous. Moreover, The menu is dynamic! Every week he has something new and seasonal he tries out with his customers and he mentions it before hand on his facebook page! Don’t worry though, the okonomiyaki will always be on the menu!
He also mentions there if he’s not gonna be working due to the weather or whatnot so go ahead and follow him

This is one of Amsterdam’s tasty little secret. This modest food stand in Waterlooplein has one of the best meals in Amsterdam. Taka, who also happens to be a super nice guy, makes the most amazing Japanese pancakes. I’ve never had anything like it. Layers upon layers of tasty ingredients make up the most delicious and filling noodle lunch. It’s only € 5 for his pancake. Also the dumplings are delicious too for € 2.50. You will not get a better deal in this city. Just try it.

«Okonomazing.»
If you can’t quite yet afford to go to Japan but still want to TASTE it while in Amsterdam. The humble Taka’s Okonomiyaki served with a smile is your answer. It’s not «just lunch». It’s an experience. It starts from the moment you witness the batter touching the grill.

I’m giving this a top rating because it has everything I’d wish for from a place of its kind. There are not many places, if any, that can give you a delicious and nutritious meal for 5 €. The setting is completely unpretentious. It’s a white tent on the market with 2 tables and some garden chairs. It does its job. I have nothing to complain about, it’s clearly all about the food. As far as I can tell (and I do attend, observe and taste quite a lot) the food is prepared with great care and skill. I’ve been here three times now and I’ve observed Taka-​san going through a prefected and identical routine every time he makes a dish. He has what the Japanese would call good ‘kata’, meaning his movements and work have a harmonious and good rhythm. The result is a pancake with all kinds of flavors and textures in good balance. The crust is crispy, the noodles have the perfect elasticity, the leeks and the bacon make it fully savory and the pickled ginger freshens the dish up (the same way gremolata lifts up a risotto and saves it from becoming to heavy). One (the small one for 5 €) is enough to get me full. That’s important to me. I hate leaving a lunch place or any establishment for that matter and still feel hungry. You won’t get that feeling here. You’ll be full and content. He’s serious about his food and he will deliver. So if you wish to be served great food by a positive, courteous young man — this is a place I can warmly recommend.

«Mine, all mine…»
Rain or no rain. Dragged my mom here today after she’d just completed a grueling 10 hour flight. Schijt, cause I was determined to snatch this first to review.
Japanese…Street food… trust me… this is a good 1 to have!
Now, I don’t claim to know what okonomiyaki is suppose to taste like, but but I know liked it. Mom was was a fan as well.
I’m guessing Taka-​san is from the Osaka-​region. He makes the Kansai-​type pancake with udon noodles, called modan-​yaki. This version didn’t have the dancing bonito flakes on top :(but the weird omelette-​ish concoction of egg-​y yam-​y batter topped with cabbage, cheese?, pork belly?, Worcestershire-​inspired sauce? and hints of ginger lingering through? was satisfying nonetheless. Strangely, somehow the combo worked.
I have to say I’m not a big eater, but I think a small 1 will keep normal eaters karate chopping through their day for at least a good few hours and will set you back € 5. If you want to catch flies with chopsticks, you get the option to upscale to a large pancake for only € 1 extra. From small straight to large, where’d the medium go? It’s like the metamorphosis I went through last winter when I managed gained 12kg in a bare 2 months.
Advise, get yourself a frappé late take-​away at the Greek 2 stands next door, while you’re pancake is being constructed. Then sit your ass down on 1 of the 4 plastic white patio chairs and and attack.
When pancake is presented in front of your nose remember to breathe in through nose, then shove pancake in mouth. Don’t forget to breathe, very important.
Listen to sensei.
Hai! Banzai!
p. s. Taka-​san told me plans are to set up shop in the recently opened shopping mall De Hallen when winter is coming, so keep an eye out for that…