Taiyaki

is a Japanese fish-shaped cake, commonly sold as street food. It imitates the shape of , which it is named after. The most common filling is anko. Some shops even sell with , gyoza filling, or a sausage inside. Smaller, differently shaped versions called are also available and often sold in bags of five, ten, or more.

is similar to , which is a thick round cake, also filled with sweet adzuki bean paste or custard.

Ingredients

File:Taiyaki baking by ope in Tokyo.jpg

being made on a griddle with fish-shaped molds

is made using regular pancake or waffle batter. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown.

History

File:Naniwaya Sohonten1.JPG

Storefront of , where was invented

was first sold in Japan in 1909. It is essentially a reshaped form of , an already popular snack made by wrapping bean paste in flour skin.

Seijirō Kobe, founder of the store , was having trouble selling his , so he decided to bake the cakes into fish shapes resembling , or red sea bream. is considered a symbol of luck and fortune in Japan and was an expensive fish only affordable by the higher classes or on special occasions. Masamori Kobe, the fourth owner of the store, stated that Seijirō wanted to give ordinary people a taste of the expensive fish at low prices.

Since its creation, has evolved into many variations, with different ingredients being used for filling and batter, as well as variations in shapes and sizes.

was introduced to Korea during the Japanese colonial period, where it is known as .

During the postwar period, spread to other Asian countries, as well as the rest of the world.

Gallery

• Script error: No such module "lang". being made, 2014
  being made, 2014
• Cut Script error: No such module "lang"., showing the azuki bean filling
  Cut , showing the azuki bean filling
• Script error: No such module "lang". with sweet potato filling
  with sweet potato filling
• Square Script error: No such module "lang". with uncut edges, sold in Ueno
  Square with uncut edges, sold in Ueno
• Mini Script error: No such module "lang".
  Mini
• Train-shaped Script error: No such module "lang"., sold outside Narimasu Station
  Train-shaped , sold outside Narimasu Station
• Script error: No such module "lang". filled with matcha ice cream
  filled with matcha ice cream

See also

• , a similar Korean snack
• , a song about taiyaki
• , Japanese confectionery