Gindaco Takoyaki (ION Orchard)

Ever since ION Orchard was open, there has always been a perpetual long queue at Gindaco Takoyaki. I have always wonder what the fuss was about as there are many other Takoyaki stalls in the heartland malls.

Gindaco Takoyaki from Japan was brought in by ION Food Concept (Basement 4). It has over 300 stalls in Japan and specialises in dishing out Takoyaki and Macha drinks.

Recently, on a weekday afternoon, I noticed that there was only 6 people in the line. What a short queue and it would be the best time to try this out.

Menu

Set Menu

Batter being added to the iron grill

Ingredients being added in

Flip them over (so that the other side will be cooked) and kneed into spherical shapes

After the outer crust has turned golden brown in colour, they are taken out and ready to be served.

Gindaco Original Sauce $3.60 (4pieces)

Ordered 4 pieces of Gindaco Original Sauce Takoyaki. Topped with konomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise and shaved dried bonito. Each pieced was cooked till it was golden brown. Expected it to be very crispy similar to Japan Boat Takoyaki. However, when I ate it, I was disappointed as it was not crispy. Thought that this was just an average takoyaki. Moreover, each piece of Takoyaki cost $0.90 yet I felt that Japan Boat’s one was better in terms of taste, texture and even value for money ($0.80 per piece).

One reason for the queue maybe its ideal location. I certainty will not bother to queue for this if the queue gets too long as there is nothing special about this stall.

Gindaco Takoyaki (ION Orchard)
2 Orchard Turn
#B4-64/65 ION Orchard
Tel: 6509 9038
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 10pm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gindaco-Singapore/131654843529152

Other Branches:
Gindaco Takoyaki (Raffles City)
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-54 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel:6509 9038
Opening Hours: Daily 10.30am – 9.30pm

Gindaco Takoyaki (Bedok Point)
799 New Upper Changi Road
#03-37 Bedok Point Mall
Tel: 6241 4081
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 10pm

 

Japan Boat Takoyaki (Iluma)

What do you do when you are waiting for your KOI bubble tea at iluma? Well pop ‘next door’ order takoyaki!

Japan Boat Takoyaki has over 60 years of history in Osaka, Japan. Over the years, they have expanded to China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada and even United States of America.

Japan Boat Takoyaki

Look at the crowd

Look at the crowd! Several people had the same idea, they ordered their KOI and then came over to order takoyaki.

Opening promotion

There was an opening promotion, 1 box for $1.60. Sounds like a real bargain considering original price is $2.40. By now, I think the promotion should have ended.

They sell only 2 versions, spicy or non-spicy. We decided to order 1box of non-spicy version to try. I was surprised to find out that there were 20 queue numbers in front of us! While waiting, you can entertain your self watching the  cooks at work.

Look at the picture above, same style. Left hand behind, right hand in front, heads titled down concentrating. Looks professional and disciplined. But I must say, I was shocked to see the amount of oil they use to fill the pans.

After a long long wait of close to 35minutes (longer than KOI), we got our food. Can see that a lot of people were quite irritated by the long wait.

Kudos for the cool and unique design, now I know why its called Japan Boat Takoyaki.

1 box of non-spicy Takoyaki $1.60

The outer layer of the takoyaki is very crispy while the inside is soft, filled with octopus and I have no idea what. I have never eaten any takoyaki that is this crispy. With the shaved dried bonito and their special soy sauce, it was quite delicious.

Japan Boat Takoyaki
201 Victoria Street
#01-26 Iluma
Tel: 98291148
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am – 11.15pm
Website: http://www.japanboat.com.sg/en/