A short walk from our hotel in Yamagata brought us to Takosuke Highball Sakaba, a lively establishment known for its takoyaki and a memorable jingle (“tako tako ta-ko-su-ke” on repeat every other line).
While not looking to dine in or enjoy alcohol, we decided to order takoyaki to go. During the 15-minute wait at their peak dinner time, the jingle firmly imprinted itself in our minds.
Mayo Tako (6 pieces, ¥600)
The freshly made takoyaki was not as intensely hot as the ones in Ōsaka, which often threaten to scald the roof of one’s mouth. Nevertheless, the flavour and texture were satisfying. Each piece contained a generously sized octopus chunk, complemented by finely chopped benishōga and spring onion. The takoyaki had the characteristic gooey softness of Ōsaka-style, coated in a sweet, thick Worcestershire-like sauce, with additional umami from the bonito flakes and creaminess from the mayonnaise. However, the absence of aonori, which typically enhances the seafood flavour, was noticeable.
Overall, these takoyaki satisfied our craving for this trip, even without visiting Ōsaka.
Takosuke Highball Sakaba is located at Taiho Building 1F, 1-5-17 Kasumicho, Yamagata 990-0039, Japan.