1.
taiyaki, fish-shaped cake
A Japanese street food made from batter cooked in a fish-shaped (specifically sea bream) mold, typically filled with sweet red bean paste. Other common fillings include custard, chocolate, and cheese.
鯛焼きを一つください。
One taiyaki, please.
焼きたての鯛焼きは外がパリッとしていた。
The freshly baked taiyaki had a crispy outside.
あの店の鯛焼きは餡子がしっぽまでぎっしり入っている。
The taiyaki at that shop is packed with red bean paste all the way to the tail.
KANJI: 鯛 means sea bream, 焼き means grilled/baked. The name comes from the fish shape of the mold.
CULTURAL NOTES: A popular street food and festival snack. The classic filling is 餡子 (sweet red bean paste), but modern variations include custard cream, chocolate, cheese, and savory fillings. There is a long-running debate about whether to eat from the head or the tail first.