The taiyaki specialty restaurant will open in December 2023 with a kitchen truck parked in front of a house in a residential area. Utilizing his experience as a pastry chef, he offers the classic "crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside" dough with homemade custard and red bean paste, as well as innovative limited edition flavors that change monthly. It is popular with a wide range of people, from neighborhood children who come to visit it as if it were a candy store, to fans from outside Kyoto.
It is run by owner Yusuke Fujii (43 years old) and pastry chef Miho Fujii (50 years old). Until around 2020, the company had been selling confectionery from a Western confectionery workshop in Ueno, Kyotanba-cho, Kyoto Prefecture, to roadside stations, but the business had been suspended due to child-rearing reasons.
Miho Fujii chose taiyaki, which has long been a favorite of hers, because she wanted to reopen the restaurant in a way that would make the most of the technology and allow people to come and eat at a casual price.
The dough is made with allergies in mind, and does not use milk or eggs, and is characterized by its elasticity, which doesn't get dry even when it gets cold. In addition to red bean paste and curry, the main selling points are homemade custard. ''The viscosity is high so that it doesn't loosen even when baked.We also add a Western-style flavor with vanilla beans,'' he said.
We also come up with special menus every month; in February, we added bitter chocolate and custard to dough made black with cocoa powder, and in March, we had red bean paste and cream cheese. Aiming to create a ''taste you've never tasted before,'' she shares her wisdom with the help of her fourth-grade elementary school son.
The surrounding area is a residential area that has been developed in recent years, and many people are raising children. Because they are so cheap, starting at 200 yen each, many children come to fill their stomachs with coins in their hands. Many people come from outside Sonobe due to the stylish limited menu and the novelty of the specialty store. Compared to her wholesale days, Miho Fujii says, ''I'm happy to hear what my customers have to say,'' which is rewarding.
They are also starting to open stores in Sonobe Town's shopping district and Miyama Town. Yusuke Fujii said, ''I want people to enjoy delicious food at a cheap price that is closely tied to the local community.''
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Tommy Taiyaki 2, Naibayashi-cho, Sonobe-cho, Nantan-shi, Kyoto. As a general rule, 3pm to 6pm on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (until sold out). For detailed business days and inquiries, please visit Instagram.
