Shinsaibashi Roastery

I heard there was a café in Shinsaibashi serving an extremely rare taiyaki breakfast set, so I went to check out the place—Shinsaibashi Roastery. I wondered, “Why would a café serve taiyaki?” but it turns out the café is run by the same company as Fukuhachi, a taiyaki specialty shop, and Shifon-do, a chiffon cake specialty shop, both of which operate in the same building. So, it seems they’re serving products from those shops alongside their own café menu.

Putting that aside, is the taiyaki breakfast actually any good? That’s what I was most interested in, so I went to Shinsaibashi Roastery one morning to try it for myself. So, how was it, exactly…?

Actually, It’s a Prestigious Roastery That Produced Japan’s Top Roaster… Here’s What Shinsaibashi Roastery Is Like…

Shinsaibashi Roastery is a relatively new roastery café founded in 2014 behind the Hotel Nikko Osaka. But don’t underestimate it just because it’s new. In fact, the café is home to a barista who won first place in Japan at the Japan Roasting Championship in 2023. I see—so this isn’t just a shop that’s attracting attention solely because of the novelty of “taiyaki for breakfast.”

Now, Shinsaibashi Roastery operates on a somewhat unique system: first, you secure a seat in the second-floor dining area, then head down to the first floor to place your order and pay at the register. When you go up to the second floor, there are roughly 20 seats—all at tables. Since it’s quite cozy, it often fills up in the blink of an eye right after opening in the morning. So, especially on weekends, it’s probably best to arrive before opening time…

It’s more like a panino than a taiyaki… How did Shinsaibashi Roastery’s “BACON & CHEESE” breakfast menu actually turn out?

So, let me introduce the “BACON & CHEESE” breakfast menu I ordered that day at Shinsaibashi Roastery—available until 11:00 AM. I added the Shinsaibashi Special from “Today’s Coffee” to this breakfast set, and the total came to 650 + 550, or 1,200 yen including tax…

After placing my order, I waited at a table on the second floor, and a staff member brought me my meal and coffee. I knew this was coming, but it really does look just like a taiyaki… Looking at it, I almost automatically assumed the filling was red bean paste.

But when I cut this “taiyaki” in half to check the inside, it wasn’t red bean paste—it was bacon and cheese, just as the menu said. So, while it looks like a taiyaki, it’s not a “taiyaki breakfast” in the true sense of the word.

When I actually took a bite, the outer crust was thin and baked to a crisp, with a toasty aroma, and the texture when I broke through the crust felt incredibly satisfying. Then, melted cheese oozed out from inside, and its rich, creamy flavor and just the right amount of saltiness spread across my tongue. There’s also a generous amount of ham inside—it’s sort of like a pizza or a panino… it’s a taiyaki with a distinctly Italian feel. That was the moment my preconception that “taiyaki = red bean paste” was completely overturned.

The coffee served with this taiyaki—the Shinsaibashi Special—starts with a fruity acidity, followed by a mild bitterness. It was incredibly easy to drink, and I polished it off in no time. And just like that, I finished off the Shinsaibashi Roastery’s “Taiyaki Morning: BACON & CHEESE” in one go and left the shop. I’d decided to visit simply because a “taiyaki breakfast” is such a rare find, but by the time I walked out, my thoughts had shifted to, “No wonder this place is so popular…”

Other Menu Items at Shinsaibashi Roastery (Prices include tax)

• Espresso Macchiato: 450 yen
• Cappuccino: 650 yen
• Caffè Latte: 650 yen
• Americano: 600 yen
• Café Mocha: 730 yen
• Caramel Macchiato: 730 yen
• Dirty Chai: 700 yen

Purchase coffee beans roasted by Japan’s top roaster… The Shinsaibashi Roastery is a 2-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, the nearest station.

At the Shinsaibashi Roastery, you can also purchase coffee beans, original glasses, and other coffee-related items…

There are several types of coffee beans to choose from, and a chart shows the flavor profile of each one, which makes it easy to pick the right one. Of course, it’s not just beans—they also sell drip bags so you can brew coffee quickly even when you’re alone. Plus, the shop has an online store, so you can order from home. They even offer a free-shipping trial set, so if you’re curious about coffee from a roaster who’s won Japan’s top roasting award, be sure to give Shinsaibashi Roastery a try.

Now, here are the shop details…