章魚燒 Takoyaki @ 築地銀だこ Gindako in Tops Market at Esplanade Mall, Bangkok Thailand

14.02.2020 Snacks
@ 築地銀だこ Gindako in Tops Market at Esplanade Mall (Exit 3 B19 Thai Cultural Centre MRT Station), Bangkok Thailand (click here to Google Map)
Lower ground in Tops Market, 81 Ratchadaphisek Rd, Din Daeng, Bangkok 10400
GPS Location: 13°45'57.9"N 100°34'11.2"E
章魚燒 Takoyaki 130Bht (6pcs) 👍👍😋 6.5/10  
Total bill: rm$17.25
Budget: MYR$15 - rm$20+
Payment method: Cash
Cuisine: Japanese Takoyaki
Highlights: many indoor air-conditioning seating
Public Transport: BL19 Thailand Cultural Center MRP Station
Thoughts: The Esplanade is a mall at the Thailand Cultural Center station of the MRT subway line, via Exit 4 and walking distance of 5 minutes or less. The Esplanade Mall and The Street Ratchada Mall are in close proximity, perhaps just like any other Mall offering shopping and food. 
At the basement of this colorful mall, its the "Tops Market" where surprisingly its almost all Japanese eateries. With a limited restaurant of Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese as well. The Gindako Takoyaki for 6pcs is notably quite expensive at rm$17+, taste good with one piece of squid per ball. 
Maybe I should visit the night market "Talad nad Lotfai Latchada" also known is Train Night Market Ratchada which is in this same area, another night! It is said to be one of the largest night market in Bangkok.
Takoyaki today: 6.5 / 10 👍👍😋
Service: 6.5 / 10
Price: 4 / 10 🙄🙄
Value for Money: 5 / 10 😐😋
Ambiance: 6.5 / 10 👍👍
Telephone: +66 02 660 9141
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GindacoTH
Operating hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm

章魚燒 Takoyaki 130Bht (6pcs)

The Menu

@ 築地銀だこ Gindako in Tops Market at Esplanade Mall (Exit 3 B19 Thai Cultural Centre MRT Station), Bangkok Thailand

Japanese restaurants mostly (in Tops Market) in The Esplanade Mall

The Esplanade Mall, Bangkok

@ Gindako in Esplanade Mall (Exit 3 B19 Thai Cultural Centre MRT Station), Bangkok Thailand

 

章鱼烧 Original Takoyaki (6pc) @ 築地銀 Gindaco at 福将坊 Food Junction KL Avenue K Jalan Ampang

11.10.2017 Snack
@ 築地銀 Gindaco at 福将坊 Food Junction KL Avenue K Jalan Ampang (click to Google Map)
Level 2, Avenue K, 156, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur City Center, Kuala Lumpur 50450
章鱼烧 Original Takoyaki (6pc) $12.90 👍😋
Highlights: Pork free, Paid parking
Thoughts: Dec 12, 2016 is the last time I had Original Takoyaki but at Gindaco Pavilion. There is now a Gindaco at Avenue K. It is also offering $1 per ball on Thursdays (12am - 4pm) min of 8 balls. I have noticed the tool for the Takoyaki production is now semi automated where pouring in the batter is manual but rotating it now is by the machine; you can see there is a higher consistency in the shape of each takoyaki ball compared to manual rotating the balls. 
The turnaround time for each batch is 8 minutes! Somehow, those made fully by hand (including rotating them) at Pavilion are better cooked in the inside. Both the Gindaco locations offer the same prices for 6 pcs. 
Gindaco at Avenue K is located at the Food Junction food court. 福将坊 Food Junction is a network of food courts managed by Food Junction Holdings in Singapore. Food Junction has food court operations at 4 locations in Malaysia: IOI mall, Avenue K, Mid Valley City Mall, and Quill City Mall. 
Review: 6 / 10 👍😋
Opening Hours: 10:00pm - 10:00pm

蝦マヨ Ebi Mayo @ Gindaco KL Pavilion

22.08.2017 Dinner
@ Gindaco KL Pavilion Elite (click to Google Map)
Lot 1.13.01(A) Level 1, Pavilion, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
蝦マヨ Ebi Mayo $13.90 
Review: 6 / 10 👍😋
Highlights: Paid Parking ($3/hour), Pork free
Thoughts: This is my 5th visit to Gindaco in KL Pavilion Elite.
Feb 02.2017 Yakisoba+Egg toping (5/5)
Jan 11.2017 Negidako Tokoyaki (4/5) (green/white onions, seaweed)
Dec.14.2016 Teritama Takoyaki (3/5) (egg mayo)
Dec.12.2016 Takoyaki (5/5) (standard)
I have tried 3 of the Takoyaki variants at Gindaco, I still like the standard one. Finishing class today at 5:30pm and was very hungry since without lunch today. I wondered around Pavilion for something to eat, and stumbled on Gindaco offering a new variant ie: the Ebi Mayo. This variant is just prawn cubes combine with mayonnaise as a topping; verdict, I still like the standard version with just the Bonito Flakes and the Takoyaki sauce on it.
On the menu of Gindaco here, there are now 5 variants of Takoyaki (the 5th is now the Ebi Mayo) and the last variant I have not tried is the "Cheese Mentaiko". Standard offering is 6 pieces of Takoyaki per servings. Gindaco also offers Yakisoba (with or without egg which I tried it earlier this year around CNY). In addition, I also realized there is new menu choice on Bento with rice; it is Takoyaki w/rice, vege and something else which could be interesting! 
Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm

ねぎだこ Negidako Takoyaki @ Gindaco KL Pavilion Elite

12.01.2017 Snack
@ Gindaco KL Pavilion Elite (click to Google Map)
KL Pavilion Elite
ねぎだこ Negidako Takoyaki $12.90 (6pcs)
Thoughts: At Gindaco, I have tried the Original Takoyaki which I think is the preferred one. The Teritama Takoyaki with egg and japanese mayonese wasn't my cup of tea. This one, the 3rd Takoyaki variant called Negidako Takoyaki comes with sprinkled green onions, white onions, seaweed, bonito flakes and a sauce to dip. 
All 4 variants of Takoyaki are made the same way, just the toppings and sauce are different. The Negidako comes with tempura dipping sauce, I think the way to eat this thing is to make some opening of the Takoyaki ball and submerge the whole ball into the sauce to let the sauce go inside of the ball, the sauce thins out the hot takoyaki. I did wish it comes with more green onions, I think it does go well with the takoyaki.
Rating: 4 / 5

鯛焼き Azuki Red Bean Tayaki & たこ焼きTeritama Takoyaki @ Gindaco & Croissant Taiyaki KL Pavilion Elite

14.12.2016 Snack
@ Gindaco & Croissant Taiyaki KL Pavilion Elite (click to Google Map)KL Pavilion Elite
Azuki Red Bean Tayaki 鯛焼き $7.50 
Teritama Takoyaki(x6) たこ焼き $13.90  
Review: At lunch walking past Pavilion to Lot 10, saw the Mascots of Gindaco and Croissant Taiyaki parading the mall. Last week, I tried the Takoyaki (nice), today was the official opening of the two Japanese street food eateries at KL Pavilion Elite. So, before heading home in the evening, I went to try the Azuki Red Bean, which is a street food in Japanese called Taiyaki 鯛焼き. 
I was actually quite confused about the two names of Gindaco & Croissant Taiyaki, both are prominent Stall names (I think) of which I am not sure but in KL, maybe its two different operators or just one. But in Japan, Gindaco is a type of food stall chain all over Japan and its famous for its Takoyaki (octopus balls) as well as the traditional Taiyaki (fish shaped desert with different fillings). I guess it could be the same here. Maybe Croissant Taiyaki is owned by Gindaco which sells multiple branded street foods. 
The Taiyaki 鯛焼きbeing a traditional fish shaped cake, is believed to have originated in Tokyo in Meiji era, and now can be found all over Japan, especially at food courts of supermarkets and Japanese festivals. I have tried this street food many times in Japan. I chose the Azuki Red Bean Taiyaki, but there are also other fillings like custard, vanilla ice cream, chocolate, macha, and cheese fillings. However Azuki Red Bean is the traditional version. 
Buy why Croissant Taiyaki (Croissant + Taiyaki) ? Maybe its a fusion type compared to Japanese Taikyaki or maybe name made to appeal to west with the French word Croissant. But I personally find it the same after tasting the version in Japan and at Pavilion Elite, or maybe I forgot how it tasted like in Japan (20++ years ago).
I also tried the Teritama Takoyaki which is not the flagship Takoyaki by Gindaco. Anyway, it is just the same Takoyaki but topped with Egg+Mayonnaise; next time, I shall stick to the traditional Takoyaki, LOL ! 
Rating: 3 / 5