Naruto Taiyaki Honpo Hiroshima Hondori Store

A fish-shaped iron mold sits over an open flame, pouring thin batter around a dollop of sweet adzuki bean paste. Naruto Taiyaki Honpo specializes in this traditional technique of baking taiyaki one at a time, known as tensei-yaki. While mass-produced versions use automated machines to bake many fish at once, the staff here flips each heavy metal mold by hand until the skin reaches a precise, paper-thin crispness. Customers wait on the sidewalk for the scent of toasted flour and caramelizing sugar.