Costco J-Basket Takoyaki

Takoyaki is a lightly fried Japanese street food shaped like a ball. The word “Takoyaki” translates to “grilled octopus.” In Japanese, “tako” means “octopus,” and “yaki” means “baked” or “grilled.” It is typically made with wheat flour and filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura, pickled ginger, and green onion. It is usually prepared in a special molded pan. Once cooked, it is garnished with Takoyaki sauce, Kewpie mayo, and dried bonito flakes. I found these Costco J-Basket Takoyaki for $15.89 before tax. Each bag comes with 40 pieces of Takoyaki balls.

Who makes Takoyaki Handmade Japanese Street Food?

J-Basket is an Asian food brand under JFC International, created in 2016. It primarily focuses on Japanese cuisine. J-Basket’s goal is to offer a variety of Asian foods for customers to explore while simplifying their home cooking experience.

Costco J-Basket Takoyaki Rating

The Costco J-Basket Takoyaki found at Costco is a great product. The taste and consistency of the Takoyaki balls are close to restaurant quality about 80-90% of the way there.

A few cons: I wish there were a bit more octopus, and some traditional fillings, like pickled ginger, were missing inside the balls. Additionally, the package did not include the garnishes that truly make Takoyaki iconic. However, for a frozen food product, this is amazing for the convenience factor alone. If I were served this at a restaurant, I most likely wouldn’t bat an eye.

The takoyaki balls are light and fluffy, and as soon as you bite into them, you’ll notice the tasty pieces of octopus. If you want restaurant-quality Takoyaki in the comfort of your home, I recommend this product. My favorite method of cooking them is in the air fryer. Just make sure to get Takoyaki sauce, Kewpie mayo, and bonito flakes for the full experience.