One of the things I’ve learned over the years is the fact that one can find the best treats in the most unlikely places.
Case in point: would you believe that there’s actually a little hole-in-the-wall shop along Muntinlupa’s National Road that sells authentic fish-shaped Japanese griddle cakes? It may seem like a really far-fetched notion, but it’s true!
These are taiyaki, so named because the griddles these are cooked in are made in the form of the sea bream (Nihongo: tai), a fish that is considered a symbol of good fortune in Japan. As a result, these adorable cakes are served at weddings or at the birth of a family’s first child.
Many urban Filipinos are aware of another kind of Japanese cake, the imagawayaki, which is cooked in round, smooth-surfaced griddles and normally comes stuffed with either red bean paste or chunky peanut butter. The cooking technique for taiyaki is similar: batter is poured into the molds, fillings are added when the batter is half-set, then the molds are clapped together to form individual stuffed cakes.
However, it should be noted that the taiyaki has a lighter batter than its stodgier counterpart. This gives it a crisper exterior and a tender, almost meltingly delicate interior. Plus, while imagawayaki seems to be stuffed with everything from red bean paste to Cheddar cheese, the only proper fillings for taiyaki at the little shop in Muntinlupa seem to be red bean or custard.
The red bean filling used at the shop is a bit grainier than the stuff used by most imagawayaki vendors, but it is certainly moreish as it isn’t very sweet and has a rather pleasant smoky-earthy edge that goes well with the delicate crust.
But it’s the custard filling that really puts a smile on my face every time I head over to the shop. If you’ve had the cream puffs at Beard Papa, the creamy custard is similar to the filling that they use. It’s silky, creamy, and laced with vanilla, possibly a hint of cinnamon. Yes, it’s that good.
The little taiyaki shop is just a block or so away from the church of Our Lady of the Abandoned and is close to the intersection leading to Susana Heights. If you get there early enough, the kindly Japanese ojisan (uncle) running the shop will be greasing up the griddles for a fresh batch. It takes fifteen minutes for him to cook the cakes, and they are certainly worth the wait. You can get one for P 8.00 only; a half-dozen for P 45.00. (They knock fifty centavos off the unit price if you buy in bulk.) It’s a small price to pay for a little bit of Japan.
Wow how cool! I wish we had a stand like this. They’re so cute! 🙂
what time does it open and closes?
hi! i saw your post when i was searching “where can i buy taiyaki in the philippines?” LOL.
anyway, i just want to ask if the place is still open. you posted this one last year pa kasi, so im thinking – but hopefully not – the place has closed down or transferred somewhere else.
… and also if you have the exact address of the place, please? i know my way around alabang but the other places in muntinlupa is still unfamiliar territory to me. 😀
thanks!
… and last question! if you don’t mind. what’s the route of the jeepney/bus that i should ride if im coming from metropolis alabang? 😀 i forgot to ask. thanks.
the place is still open. i just bought some this afternoon. 🙂 it’s already 9php each but still worth it! i think you can ride buses going to susana heights. from susana heights, you just have to cross the street and walk going to the taiyaki stall. you have to be keen though because you won’t notice it right away. 😉 goodluck!
Does the bread taste like pancake?
yes i know this in Muntinlupa! Because I’m a Muntinlupa resident. And I frequently buy this delicious taiyaki for family merienda!
it’s now 2013, is that place still open? I’m not familiar with Muntinlupa area either
Yes, it’s still open.
it’s 2014 is it still open now?
Yes, it still is.
It’s 2015, is it still open?
Yes, it is. But it usually closes up early, so you’d do well to grab your taiyaki fix before six PM. And I recommend the custard ones.
I’m not familiar in that area, is it near fig tree?
Thanks(^-^)
Yes, quite close. Across the street from it and before the short bridge leading to the Susana Heights entrance.
What’s the name of the store? And is chocolate and Cream Cheese available?
It doesn’t really have a name; just a sign with “taiyaki” written in Japanese out in front. Current flavours are vanilla custard and red bean.
Does Anyone Know the exact address Im not really near at Muntilupa but Im planning to go that far just to get taiyaka ( Yah .. Its sound stupid ) … Plsss … Guys if anyone read this I wish you could help me tnx ….
It’s along the National Road from Alabang. You’ll be going past both the Muntinlupa City Hall & the church of Our Lady of the Abandoned. It’s BEFORE the entrance road to Susana Heights.