Takoyaki Tanota (たこ焼き　たのた) - Costa Mesa, CA [Eating]

Posted by Chubbypanda at 11/08/2010 11:23:00 PM

(Pictures for this review taken with my Motorola Droid.)

With his shaggy hair tucked into a black baseball cap, he looks like a worn out roadie as he hunches over the sizzling hot griddle. A skilled flick of an oil-soaked cloth cleans each indentation, brushing a glistening layer over the ebony surface. Then, a thin, creamy batter is ladled on in a explosion of savory steam, filling the trays to the brim.



Large chunks of tender, stewed octopus are added next, unerringly dropped into the starch-shrouded wells and blanketed in a fragrant rain of thinly sliced green onions, fried tempura crisps, and pickled ginger. He waits patiently as the mixture thickens and puffs... then bursts back into motion, hands a blur as he criss-crosses the tray with a pointed metal skewer, neatly dividing each mound into squares.



A few deft twists, and each pallid serving is magically transformed into a golden orb of goodness. Another short wait as the takoyaki set up before they're nonchalantly flipped from the griddle into waiting boxes to cool.

Streams of Japanese mayonnaise and tart sauce, a dusting of seaweed powder, more sliced green onions, and the cooking is finally over. But not, alas, the waiting.



Inside each glorious sphere is a molten tide of mouth-searing custard waiting to gush forth in a tongue-blistering torrent. It's a test of wills. How long can one resist the maddening aromas? How long before the urge to satisfy lust overwhelms caution and rational thought? Unfortunately for me, it's never long enough...




Takoyaki Tanota - Ow! Mmmm...


Bill:

4 pieces - 3.00
6 pieces - 4.00
8 pieces - 5.00

Flavor: A
Ambience: A
Service: A
ROI: A

Overall: A


Takoyaki Tanota
(In front of Marukai most weekends)
2975 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Takoyaki Tanota website

Their event schedule can be found here.

They also have a food truck that cruises Los Angeles. Follow them on Twitter!

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15 comments:

  1. Dennis K. said... 11/09/2010 08:33:00 PM

    I worked at a takoyaki stall as a teen one summer. This was before the whole mayo phenomenon on everything! ;) Interesting tidbit, I read that recent takoyaki casts are teflon coated so they use wooden chopsticks instead of iron picks. I'm hungry.  

  2. Jessie said... 11/09/2010 09:07:00 PM

    Looks awesome!  

  3. Diamond Dog said... 11/10/2010 03:30:00 PM

    I am so glad you are going to start blogging again. This is a great, unique find!

    I am very stingy when it comes to bookmarking websites. I just bookmarked yours. What a honor :)  

  4. foodhoe said... 11/11/2010 08:03:00 AM

    Yowza, that looks good! I got an ebelskiver pan which can double for takoyaki and kanom krok, but haven't tried making the savories yet. An inspiring post, another worthy use for my bottle of kewpie mayo.  

  5. KirkK said... 11/12/2010 08:07:00 AM

    Hey CP - Man that's some great photos from a Droid! Makes me quite hungry.  

  6. Bill said... 11/15/2010 05:16:00 AM

    No freaking way!!! I missing out, dang it.  

  7. Kelly von Hemert said... 11/16/2010 09:17:00 AM

    "Large chunks of tender, stewed octopus are added next, unerringly dropped into the starch-shrouded wells and blanketed into a fragrant rain of thinly sliced green onions, fried tempura crisps and pickled ginger' -Wow, Panda: you really are back. Look out Jonathan Gold!
    Octo-licious!  

  8. Liz said... 11/19/2010 01:26:00 PM

    Ooo.. I frequent this area quite often on free weekends. Will have to give it a run.  

  9. Griffin said... 12/01/2010 06:28:00 PM

    These look good CP. Ima have to go get some of these soon....  

  10. Tessa said... 1/10/2011 04:46:00 AM

    Wow you're amazing! I'm a new follower now :)

    Maybe you can follow me back too?
    xoxo
    Beau-licious.com  

  11. Kelly von Hemert said... 2/07/2011 09:55:00 PM

    CP: time to ring in the new year with a new post! Give us more! GG  

  12. taste tester said... 4/25/2011 10:17:00 PM

    I love takoyaki and now I have an unbearable craving for them thanks to your post. Drool!

    By the way, I know your friend Jim Brenner for law school. I saw him at a function recently and he asked if I knew a Chubby Panda food blogger. Small world!  

  13. Rotisserie Chicken said... 5/04/2011 11:18:00 PM

    Delicious looking! Thanks for share.  

  14. Chubbypanda said... 5/06/2011 07:28:00 PM

    @taste tester

    Seriously? Small world! =) He's mentioned from time to time on this blog as Semajim. Really really good friend of mine from high school.  

  15. Yahooeny said... 9/03/2011 01:38:00 PM

    OH MI GOD DUDE. I'VE BEEN THERE. EVERYONE SHOULD GO TO THIS STAND IT'S SO AWESOME. And I totally know that "I-really-should-wait-or-else-I'll-burn-my-tongue-but-oh-my-god-I-want-it-now" feeling.  

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