Hanamaru Cafe is now slinging freshly-made taiyaki in San Antonio. Credit: Instagram / hanamarucafetx

Another player in the Asian street food arena has opened in San Antonio, this one serving freshly-made taiyaki in the Balcones Heights area.

Japanese food newcomer Hanamaru Cafe held its grand opening Sunday, offering sweet and savory versions of the popular fish-shaped snack. Taiyaki typically features a Japanese pancake or waffle batter filled with red bean paste, custard, chocolate, cheese or sweet potato.

While the cafe offers traditional bean paste- and custard-filled snacks, it also offers fillings more tempered to Western tastes, including ham-and-cheese and turkey-and-mozzarella. There’s even an option to add jalapeño.

Hanamaru also serves up iced drinks and floats featuring soft serve ice cream and ramune, a Japanese carbonated soft drink.

The new spot is located at 7460 Callaghan Road, #333. If that address sparks recognition, it may be because Hanamaru is situated near another San Antonio mainstay dedicated to Japanese cuisine, Minnano Japanese Grocery.

Hanamaru joins LA-based Korean donut spot Mochinut — known for fluffy Korean-style doughnuts and battered hot dogs — and noodle haven Bakudan Ramen in opening new San Antonio locations this year.

Hanamaru Cafe is open Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday from 1-6 p.m.

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This article appears in Apr 20 – May 3, 2022.

Nina Rangel uses nearly 20 years of experience in the foodservice industry to tell the stories of movers and shakers in the food scene in San Antonio. As the Food + Nightlife Editor for the San Antonio...