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From Tokyo to Manila: The Famous Gindaco Takoyaki Is Finally in Pasay
The franchise has over 500 branches worldwide—and now they're here!
by Bea Faicol
Published on Jul 24, 2025
(SPOT.ph) With Japanese franchises opening in the Philippines one after the other, the FOMO or itch to go back to Japan gets more manageable. There are Japanese retail brands that are slowly filling up our wardrobes and cupboards, but that doesn't nearly compare to the quantity of Japanese dining establishments invading the dining scene. Missing Japan's sushi, ramen, tempura, teppanyaki, burger, desserts, coffee, or matcha? You have options—plural. No need to book a flight, unless a surprise seat sale suddenly shatters your financial defenses.
And now, your takoyaki cravings? Also handled. Gindaco, Japan's famous takoyaki shop, has finally opened its first branch in the Philippines.
Japan's Gindaco opens first branch in the Philippines
Your algorithm on TikTok might be showing you other spots, but if you look closely enough on your next trip to Japan, you'll notice Gindaco stores everywhere. It is one of the most famous takoyaki shops in Japan, with over 500 stores worldwide—the majority are in Japan, of course, while the rest are in countries like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and, now, the Philippines.
Gindaco's specialty is cooking "crispy outside, creamy inside" takoyaki. The secret to their perfect textures is in their technique and cookware, and the SM Mall of Asia branch is all about consistency, as they flew in the takoyaki plates, handcrafted by artisans from Nambu, from Japan to the Philippines.
Gindaco's core menu includes the Original Takoyaki (P199/4 pieces, P299/6 pieces, P399/8 pieces), which is stuffed with tempura bits, bite-sized octopus chunks, green onion, pickled ginger, seaweed flakes, and the (dancing) bonito flakes; and the Teritama Takoyaki (P249/4 pieces, P349/6 pieces, P449/8 pieces), which has a drizzle of teriyaki sauce and topping of tamago salad.
And if you've ever dreamed of hybrid takoyaki-mozzarella balls, you're in luck as they also have cheesier options on the menu. There's the Mentai Cheese Takoyaki (P319/4 pieces, P469/6 pieces, P539/8 pieces) that's with cod roe, Japanese mayonnaise, soy sauce, mozzarella cheese, dried parsley, and parmesan cheese sprinkles; and the the premium Triple Cheese Takoyaki (P329/4 pieces, P479/6 pieces, P549/8 pieces) which reveals a stretchy melted cheesy inside, made of mozzarella, red cheddar, and parmesan cheeses.
Whatever set of balls you go for at Gindaco, just a warning: let it cool down before biting... unless you’re a masochist and want your tongue to experience the seventh circle of hell. In that case, go off.
Gindaco is at L/2 South Entertainment Hall, SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City. For more information, check out Gindaco Philippines' Instagram page.
Bea Faicol runs on questionable amounts of coffee.
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