TAIYAKI TOMOE-AN

Walk By and Get Hooked By the Sweet Smell
[updated January 2024]

“Taiyaki” is a fish-shaped pancake filled with “anko” bean jam. The “tai” (sea bream) shape is because it is believed to be a fish that brings good luck, due to the Japanese word “medetai”.
Tomoe-an opened in Asagaya’s Pearl Center Shopping Street in November 2014 and quickly become so popular that lines began forming constantly. Unlike most other taiyaki shops, here they cook them one by one to make sure each one has a thin and crispy fragrant coating.
Every year starting after Golden Week in May, they serve kakigori shaved ice as well. Besides fruit shaved ice, there are many kinds such as Azuki bean with “anko” bean jam from taiyaki and homemade condensed milk.
The 10th of every month is “Tomoe-An Day”, so they offer a discount such as taiyaki for 100 yen or all shaved ice becomes half price. New items have also been added, such as “Asagaya Condensed Milk Cake”.

Taiyaki (250 yen) is filled with lightly sweetened bean jam in a pancake-like thin skin– but Tomoe-an’s taiyaki is extra crispy! “Shiratama Taiyaki” (400 yen) includes sticky mochi rice cake inside the taiyaki.
In summer, shaved ice “Raw Watermelon” (700 yen) is topped with crispy watermelon, and “Ginger” with mild ginger syrup, and many other flavors are also available.
If you walk by while Pearl Center shopping, the sights and smells are sure to pull you in!

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Translation: Enju
Photography: TFF staff