Top 5 Takoyaki Pans to buy online in 2025 | Guide + Reviews

Takoyaki is one of the most iconic Japanese traditional snacks.
An authentic Japanese street food experience.

Do you know where the name comes from?
TAKO + YAKI

Tako is the Japanese word for octopus.
Yaki derives from the verb “yaku“(焼く) .
Yaku means “to fry / to grill”.
Indeed, one of the main cooking methods in Japanese culinary world.

Takoyaki is prepared with wheat flour based batter, molded in ball shape.
The traditional version has an heart of diced octopus, plus green onions, tempura scraps (Tenkasu) and pickled ginger (Beni Shoga).
It’s then enriched with a tasty touch of takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, seaweed powder and bonito flakes.

Extremely popular snack in Japan, it can be easily spotted in numerous street shops.

However the most fun moment to eat it is surely during summer festivals (matsuri 祭), when cooked on big takoyaki gas powered grills.

If you enjoy Takoyaki, we suggest visiting Osaka, the first place where Takoyaki became popular around 1935.

In Japan, it’s very common and really fun to have random “Takopa” (as Japanese people uses to call Takoyaki Party)!

No worries: making these ball-shaped dumplings with your friends and family is fun and easy!

A Japanese takoyaki pan (たこ焼き器 ) is usually made out of cast iron with the notorious half-spherical shape molds.

Choosing the right machine it’s crucial to give your own Japanese octopus balls a perfect shape and the unique crunchy-creamy texture.

Big commercial gas-fueled cookers are often used at Japanese festivals or by street vendors.

For home use, you can find electric takoyaki cookers, stovetop pans or little gas-fueled takoyaki grills.

FEATURES:

PROS:

• It’s very smooth and easy to use. Usually with every pan the batter sticks at the beginning but the use of the aluminum alloy (with the upper surface-non stick Coated) makes it successful and durable.
• The 8 mm lip on the surface helps prevent batter spills.
  It has embedded cutting lines so it’s easy to find under batter and nicely divide all the balls.
• Can be washed in the dishwasher.
• If you have this particular gas stove model from the same brand, this takoyaki pan will sit on rack nicely and firmly secured with all 4 corners!
  Check the gas stove here.

CONS:

• This takoyaki pan needs an external burner to go.

INFO:

Health and Home – Electric Takoyaki Maker Multifunction

FEATURES:

PROS:

• Great way to make lots of takoyaki at once.
  You can make up to 24 takoyaki at a time. That’s great when you are making yakoyaki for a “takopa” party or Japanese street food dinner.
• The takoyaki cooking plate is removable for easy cleaning.
• Works well, after all. Nice, for the price.

CONS:

• No temp control.
• Heating might be uneven.
  Some holes may be colder than others. Usually the outer 4 cups do not heat as efficiently as the others. No big deal, just let them cook longer before rotating. On the other side, sometimes the temperature could go too high after a while. Make sure you turn off the power if the takoyaki pan is getting too hot. Just remember to turn it back on when the temperature drops down.
• Slower then a gas-powered one, if you are cooking for multiple people or you need them out at once just be aware of this.

INFO:

FEATURES:

PROS:

• It’s lightweight compact and super easy to use.
• It cooks the takoyaki just nicely!
• It’s not hard to clean, due to its non-stick coating.

CONS:

• The mold cannot be taken off.
• No Temp control.
• Some holes may be hotter than others.

INFO:

FEATURES:

PROS:

• Portability and Power.
• High heating performances.
• Quicker than electric takoyaki machine
• High quality results.

CONS:

• Since it uses gas, is better to have always with you at least an extra emergency gas can.

INFO:

FEATURES:

PROS:

• 7 different temperature heating levels.
• It can reach an high performant temperature.
• It’s fun and freaking awesome.
• The shape resulted is pretty good.
• Not so difficult to clean.
• Made in Japan

CONS:

• Sometimes it’s not able to completely turn some balls.
• It work quite nicely, but you have to do a little bit of “babysitting”
• A bit higher price, but super fun!

INFO:

Try with Japanese style instruments!

Are you an aspiring master in takoyaki making?
Would you like to include them in your business?
Do you wanna be the next takoyaki sensei in your city festival?

Check this professional takoyaki entry level pro grills:

 BIG size   |   PRO size