Trader Joe’s Mini Taiyaki Are Quite a Catch

There’s a lot to love about the food offerings in Japan. Ramen at every corner. A sea of sushi bars. Wagyu up the wazoo. And freshly made taiyaki for dessert. Or for a snack. Or a pre-dinner appetizer. Really, there’s no wrong time to eat custard or red bean paste that’s cooked up in a crispy waffle shell right in front of you. Heck, the viewing experience is half of the novelty! But how good then could Trader Joe’s Mini Taiyaki be if they aren’t made fresh and they aren’t even full-sized. Well, let’s dig in and just find out for ourselves.

New Product!

Trader Joe’s Mini Taiyaki

Trader Joe’s

Pros: The only way these could be better is if I was eating them with my anime waifu in Akihabara right now. I truly mean it—these are perfect. The exterior crisped up in the air fryer and gained the aroma of a freshly made waffle that could pull your hungover ass out of bed on a Saturday morning. Then you take a bite and find this bright and vibrant creamy custard! Maybe I’m the only one, but the second I hear custard I temper my expectations. I mean, sure, it’s good, but when have you ever had a custard that’s worth remembering? Well, for me it’s this exact moment. And thankfully, Trader Joe’s has managed to add the perfect amount of filling throughout (a rarity for them in recent taste tests). 

Cons: How do you critique perfection? Okay, I actually do have one gripe. These little fishies are so tiny. Forget mini taiyaki—those cowards at Trader Joe’s should be giving me more! There are eight micro taiyaki in a bag and you can, and will, easily get through them in one sitting. So hurry to TJ’s to clean them out of this limited time drop before I beat you there!

Rating:

10/10

Sporks