{{Short description|Japanese fish-shaped cake}} {{distinguish|Teriyaki|Takoyaki}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox food | name = {{Transliteration|ja|Taiyaki}} | image = Taiyaki 003.jpg | image_size = 300px | image_alt = Two fish-shaped, somewhat flat pastries called taiyaki | caption = Two {{transliteration|ja|taiyaki}} | alternate_name = | country = {{JPN}} | region = Honshu | creator = | course = Snack | served = | main_ingredient = Batter, sweetened adzuki beans | variations = | calories = | cookbook = Taiyaki | commons = Taiyaki | other = }}
{{nihongo3|{{lit|baked sea bream}}|鯛焼き|'''Taiyaki'''}} is a Japanese fish-shaped cake, commonly sold as street food. It imitates the shape of {{nihongo3|red sea bream|鯛|tai}}, which it is named after.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wagashi.uk/f/fish-shaped-sweet-street-food-taiyaki-1 |title=Fish-shaped sweet street food |last=Harrison |first=Thom |date=19 April 2023 |website=Wagashi UK |access-date=25 April 2023 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425173641/https://wagashi.uk/f/fish-shaped-sweet-street-food-taiyaki-1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The most common filling is anko. Some shops even sell {{transliteration|ja|taiyaki}} with {{transliteration|ja|okonomiyaki}}, gyoza filling, or a sausage inside. Smaller, differently shaped versions called {{nihongo3|{{lit|baked goldfish}}|金魚焼き|'''kingyoyaki'''}} are also available and often sold in bags of five, ten, or more.
{{transliteration|ja|Taiyaki}} is similar to {{transliteration|ja|imagawayaki}}, which is a thick round cake, also filled with sweet adzuki bean paste or custard.
==Ingredients== [[File:Taiyaki baking by ope in Tokyo.jpg|thumb|left|{{transliteration|ja|Taiyaki}} being made on a griddle with fish-shaped molds]] {{transliteration|ja|Taiyaki}} is made using regular pancake or waffle batter. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown.
==History== thumb|Storefront of {{nihongo||浪花家総本店|Naniwaya Sōhonten}}, where {{transliteration|ja|taiyaki}} was invented {{transliteration|ja|Taiyaki}} was first sold in Japan in 1909. It is essentially a reshaped form of {{transliteration|ja|imagawayaki}}, an already popular snack made by wrapping bean paste in flour skin.
Seijirō Kobe, founder of the store {{nihongo||浪花家総本店|Naniwaya Sōhonten}},<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-19 |title=浪花家総本店 {{!}} 麻布十番商店街 |url=https://www.azabujuban.or.jp/shop/shop_category/eat/219/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=麻布十番商店街 {{!}} 麻布十番商店街は東京都港区の商店街です。8月には麻布十番納涼祭りが開催されます。 |language=ja}}</ref> was having trouble selling his {{transliteration|ja|imagawayaki}}, so he decided to bake the cakes into fish shapes resembling {{transliteration|ja|tai}}, or red sea bream. {{transliteration|ja|Tai}} is considered a symbol of luck and fortune in Japan and was an expensive fish only affordable by the higher classes or on special occasions. Masamori Kobe, the fourth owner of the store, stated that Seijirō wanted to give ordinary people a taste of the expensive fish at low prices.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Taiyaki no gyotaku : Zetsumetsu sunzen tennenmono taiyaki 37shu |date=2002 |publisher=JTB |others=Yasuhiko Miyajima, 康彦 宮嶋 |isbn=4-533-04029-2 |location=Tōkyō |oclc=676279355}}</ref>
Since its creation, {{transliteration|ja|taiyaki}} has evolved into many variations, with different ingredients being used for filling and batter, as well as variations in shapes and sizes.
{{transliteration|ja|Taiyaki}} was introduced to Korea during the Japanese colonial period, where it is known as {{transliteration|ko|bungeo-ppang}}.
During the postwar period, {{transliteration|ja|taiyaki}} spread to other Asian countries, as well as the rest of the world. {{clear}}
== Gallery == <gallery widths="150px" heights="150px" mode="packed"> File:Taiyaki being made in chiba 2014 12 17.webm|{{transliteration|ja|Taiyaki}} being made, 2014 File:Taiyaki - cut section.jpg|Cut {{transliteration|ja|taiyaki}}, showing the azuki bean filling File:3hiki sot.jpg|{{transliteration|ja|Taiyaki}} with sweet potato filling File:Square taiyaki in Ueno 2015.jpg|Square {{transliteration|ja|taiyaki}} with uncut edges, sold in Ueno File:Small taiyaki by yomi955.jpg|Mini {{transliteration|ja|taiyaki}} File:Tobu train taiyaki.jpg|Train-shaped {{transliteration|ja|taiyaki}}, sold outside Narimasu Station File:Ice Cream Taiyaki.jpg|{{transliteration|ja|Taiyaki}} filled with matcha ice cream </gallery>
==See also== {{Portal|Japan|Food}} *{{transliteration|ko|Bungeo-ppang}}, a similar Korean snack *{{transliteration|ja|"Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun"}}, a song about taiyaki *{{transliteration|ja|Wagashi}}, Japanese confectionery
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Japanese food and drink}}
Category:Wagashi Category:Japanese cakes