Though takoyaki is getting more and more popular in Madrid, there is still not that easy to find in Madrid, and only a few Japanese restaurants offer this kind of croquette stuffed with octopus. What is really difficult to find is a good one, but not anymore! Balón Tokio is a takoyaki bar, near Atocha train station, that offers the best takoyaki in Madrid hands down.
Their menu is short and simple: takoyaki is the main character here, which they offer in 5 sizes with 6 different sauces (original, soy sauce, salt and pepper, sesame, chili and teritama), but you can also get Japanese curry and udon. And a few small dishes (chicken or vegetable gyozas, karaage, gomawakame, yakitori and onigiri), too. For the sweet tooth, end your meal with any of the 3 kind of dorayaki they have.
If it’s your first time eating takoyaki I suggest you try them with the original sauce first, their gyoza and yakitori are also fabulous, you shouldn’t miss them!
Balón Tokio won’t break the bank, the price of all the dishes are very reasonable. You know that Japanese restaurant is normally synonym of pricey, but not at this place: they want to offer authentic Japanese food at a normal price.
