There really is nothing like a fresh Taiyaki fish shaped waffle cone. Taiyaki NYC is the original shop/location that made this type of waffle ice cream cone popular over 10 years ago. The soft serve ice cream here is far above average making the experience all around amazing. A favorite menu item of mine is their small custard or red bean filled fish waffles. They are made to order & soooo good! Do not try & order these before closing because they will say no! This is a grab & go type of business. There are no tables for dining in. Street parking is free & on typical NYC/Little Italy/Chinatown parking. I have had good luck when arriving as late as possible. One of my favorite spots. I hope it never closes. Especially since Williamsburg location no longer exists!! read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Overall: 3.6/5 We got the Straight Out of Japan ($9.64) which is a hojicha and matcha ice cream swirl with red bean in a taiyaki cone topped with rainbow mochi and a wafer stick. The ice cream is thick and creamy but not as rich as American brands. The hojicha flavor is strong and really good and was definitely the dominant flavor, so the matcha got a little lost. The red bean was buried at the bottom of the cone but was good too. The taiyaki cone wasn't that great. I could taste salt, it wasn't sweet, and the batter had a bit too much flour. The texture was very crispy though which I did love. The rainbow mochi was tasty, soft, and you could taste the different flavors. The wafer stick was unnecessary. We both prefer Somi Somi, which is also dairy free, but I will say their hojicha is worth trying. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Menu 04.05.2026 - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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Went on two different days, one was a Saturday around 8PM and the other was a Friday around 5PM. Both days were pretty busy but the Friday was slightly more crowded. The staff were very nice and very quick with making the taiyaki. The red bean taiyaki was very fresh and very hot, it wasn't too sweet, but not tasteless either which is perfect for me. The flavors of the ice cream is good too. I'm especially in love with the hojicha, the flavor is strong enough to taste. The space inside is pretty small but there is some seating available, no tables though. I would definitely recommend trying the taiyaki ice cream as wrll as the regular taiyaki. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Straight From Japan (I believe this is the name). - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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What a fun experience! The shop is quite small, so expect a wait to get inside. The line moves fairly quickly though. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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Went to get the Knicks Buy1get1free soft serve and is pretty good vanilla soft serve with sprinkles.. soft n creamy soft serve.. will come back try the ube matcha flavor read more

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Souffle pancakes are so fluffy and yummy. I got the classic. Comes in a take out box. Takes a while to make...we went on Saturday close to opening time so only a few people already in the place-- can't imagine how long it would take to make if it was a long line. Don't really need the butter or syrup that comes on the side. Whip cream and taiyaki fish is a nice touch. There is not really official seating but some seating available. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

SO YUMMMMMMM i would definitely go try again its so goooooodd 10/10 the food is so pretty aswell read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Taiyaki never misses. Recently stopped by for some yuzu matcha swirl with mochi and cotton candy sprinkles and it was perfect. Ube taiyaki was also good, but it was served SCALDING hot - I'm happy it was made fresh (15 min wait) but watch out for that. read more

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Dropped by to taste the new items. Was busy on the day I visited. Service was great. Check out the picture! Hit the spot! read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Food/drinks: *disclaimer: came here with Yelp event* tried the matcha yuzu Taiyaki and the combination was so yummy! Both flavors came through. Also loved the crunch/texture of the Taiyaki Atmosphere: cute tiny little shop, very limited bench seating - more for grab and go Service‍: pretty quick service! Price: kinda pricey for what you're getting at ~$10 but I think it's worth it compared to other NY prices! read more

Service was great and very fast; the soft serve itself is delicious. Unfortunately very limited seating, which means you have to eat standing on the sidewalk or as you're walking. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Matcha Better - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Taiyaki is pure happiness in dessert form! From the moment you see those adorable fish-shaped cones, you know you're in for something special. The soft serve is creamy, rich, and perfectly balanced, and the taiyaki waffle cone? Soft on the inside, crispy on the edges, and just the right amount of sweetness. I went with the classic matcha and vanilla swirl with red bean filling, and it was chef's kiss. Not only does it taste amazing, but it's also super Instagram-worthy--because let's be honest, if you didn't take a picture of your taiyaki, did you even go? The staff was friendly, the shop was cute, and the whole experience was just fun from start to finish. If you're craving a unique dessert that's as fun to eat as it is to look at, Taiyaki is a must. Can't wait to go back and try more flavors! read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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Ice cream was a bit on the pricier side for soft serve, but you come here for the experience and not your day to day soft serve. The cone itself is tasty, and the shape is fun. They load it up with ice cream - fast and friendly read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

First time trying taiyaki! It reminded me of a Belgian waffle for breakfast with ice cream on top. While the cone wasn't for me, (growing up on waffle cones has made me prefer crunchy over soft and chewy ice cream cones) the soft fish waffle was fresh and the strawberry mango soft serve was great. I was originally concerned that the filling in the bottom took up most of the cone, but the employee explained that the filling is just a small amount in the bottom. I can't say how this place compares with other Taiyaki, but I recommend Taiyaki NYC for those who have never tried it before. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Strawberry and Mango - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

I love this place when I need a sweet treat in the area. I don't even care if it's snowing, it's that delicious! The employees are good at explaining the menu. It is very small inside with not much room to sit but that's okay, it is easy to take to go just like an ice cream cone. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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If you're craving Japanese red bean cake and soft serve ice cream, this spot is perfect for you. The ice cream was delicious and super cute! However, the indoor seating is very limited, with no cushions or comfortable seating -- so it's not really a place to sit and stay for long. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

They should inform clients of their hours more accurately. Told to get there by 4PM, but when we got here at 3:45, they said it's already closed. What a waste of time. Be smarter and more accurately read more

Small taiyaki spot in the Chinatown area perfect for a quick in and out/ togo dessert spot. Staff was friendly and attentive and were incredibly prompt with serving out orders. Location is not ideal for groups of 3 or more. Delicious dessert and fun tip is that you CAN customize their preset menu items if you don't like a particular topping. read more

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Despite the hype, it's really not my favorite. It is a mess to eat, more than usual. The flavors weren't particularly unique or tasty, just kind of average. Here, you'd be paying more into aesthetics, not taste, which I prefer it if taste.. or best case scenario, both. Worth trying once if you really want but there's definitely sooo many better ice cream spots read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Fun favors and super cute place with ice cream or red bean or custard or plain. You can sit or take out. No bathroom. It's a small space. Love it. Cozy. The place smells good! It's clean. Music playing. read more

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This is a great, quick dessert spot in Chinatown right off canal street. If you've got a sweet tooth, definitely check this place out. The matcha yuzu flavor was so good. They had a variety of flavors that all sounded good so making a decision was hard but I think the matcha yuzu was delicious. Service was very quick and friendly. There isn't much seating inside though so it's more of a grab and go type spot. read more

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so so good!! I got the matcha soft serve! It was super yummy. Service was quick and friendly. The matcha flavor was strong but in a good way. The cone itself was amazing, softer than a traditional waffle cone. Perfect ice cream for a hot summer day. There was a couple of people in there and for good reason it is worth trying :) read more

Taiyaki NYC - matcha soft serve - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Love this place! Their matcha ice cream is so good! They have yuzu soft serve now. Also their portion is generous. I also like the custard Taiyaki fish cone. read more

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Tried the yuzu matcha soft serve. It was surprisingly very well balanced. Definitely tasted the yuzu which was surprising considering how strong matcha can be. The taiyaki was not my favorite. It was hard and the beans were more like a paste. Would definitely just get the soft serve. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

This is a laid-back soft serve ice cream shop that will impress your friends who love Japanese culture. My ice cream was served quickly and was well-prepared. The staff were friendly and recommended the matcha flavor, which I must say is very good. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

I've come here twice. Both times the soft serve was amazing. They label some of the allergens on the menu and they even double checked for me so the ones not labeled. I really appreciated that. Great service. A few seats inside but not much. read more

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I got the seasonal matcha swirl (yuzu), and this is a solid soft serve. The yuzu was flavorful without being overtly tart, and it worked surprisingly well with the matcha. I'd come back again for just the soft serve. The taiyaki itself was good too - flavorful, still crispy on the parts untouched by ice cream. It is gimmicky, and I don't think the ice cream needs to be served in it, but not bad. read more

My second time going, why did I wait so long to go back? This place is great, treat yourself!! So many amazing and different flavors to choose from. They all sound so yummy I wanted to try them all. The Taiyaki waffle cones made fresh on-site are so warm, fluffy and moist... they almost melt in your mouth. Off the main road crowded with tourists, it's a sort of hidden gem. Everyone is eager to help and friendly. Very small and very busy, but the wait is not long. So much better than your typical "ice cream or soft serve shop." And, it has and A rating!! You will not be disappointed. read more

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It's a pretty good dessert, I would say go with more of the creamy ice cream, the mango I tried was closer to a sorbet which starts melting faster in the taiyaki. I was still satisfied with everything, the cotton candy sprinkles were a bit of a nice surprise. The taiyaki itself with the custard filling was decent too and held the ice cream well without getting soggy. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Some of the best soft serve in the city! The flavors there and possibilities of combinations are awesome. Highly recommend one of the signatures as they blend in flavors well read more

Taiyaki NYC - Matcha Better - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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A variety of adorable original delicious creations, in a shop that's also adorable (the store front was cute with a classic design, and the interior clean with a modern layout), staffed by people that were friendly :) We tried several of the flavors, and you basically can't go wrong, my favorite was chocolate, take a look at the photos for the designs Would go again when I visit NYC read more

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Stumbled upon this fu, tiny, tiny ice cream shop after dim sum with my wife and children. The sign said they opened in 10 minutes at 12 noon (it was 11:50am), and it looked unique and different, so we decided to stick around and wait. They didn't open right at 12 noon - closer to 12:10 - no biggie, but we should have taken this as a sign. We were the first to order and the lady said our order would take 6 minutes. It took more like 20 minutes. In all fairness, she appeared to be the only person working and she was working very hard. They were also out of their signature matcha ice cream flavor, the machine was down. None of this ruined our visit, kids enjoyed it. We'd go back if we were in the area. read more

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Pleasantly surprised by the icy quality of this Matcha Taiyaki. We got Matcha soft served with red bean and chocolate syrup which was a must. There is intense Matcha flavor that really packs a punch. The waffle cone was soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside which perfectly balanced the ice scream's texture. The restaurant is a grab and go style and has some bench seating. The staff was really friendly and kept us updated on how long our order would take. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Matcha Taiyaki - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

This place is great spot for a summer time treat! Pros: + Ice cream just to pretty to eat - get your cameras out + Great flavor combos - you can customize your toppings if you don't like one Cons: - Can get a little pricey - Little to no seating inside - great to grab this to go IG: QueenOfAdventureNYC read more

Taiyaki NYC - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

What an inconspicuous but fantastic find! There is so much construction at the moment blocking the way but this is honestly one of the best Taiyaki spots I've been too. I've taken a few out-of-town friends here as well and they have also liked it. The good thing here is that while yes, it is "instagrammmable" I can confidently say it is also quite good (it's not just a gimmick, which I'm always afraid of falling for, but for the sake of reviewing, I had to give it a go). Now I am the worst cause I forgot the name of the flavor I chose but I know it was the choco-something! Tips-- --There is no proper seating area but some folks will sit by the window. --There is no bathroom here so look elsewhere (Pollo Campero not too far from here has a clean one if you really gotta go. Requires a code.) read more

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3/5 Overhyped. The mango sorbet and strawberry were good. Not too sweet but felt artificially flavored. The taiyaki cone was premade and cold. The red bean did not taste good at all. Service was quick but there was also no line. I was disappointed since the taiyaki wasn't fresh and was quite stale. It ruined the taste for the ice cream. It also tasted like pancake/waffle mix which is what they probably use to make the pancakes. Highly disappointed read more

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Small shop with a couple windows seats nestled on a side street. Offering predetermined or 'make your own' Taiyaki. Ice cream and Taiyaki were good. Ice cream was icy, yet creamy, and Taiyaki had a good filling in a fresh warm fish 'cone'. Toppings added a nice texture. Service was also quick. Not the best I've ever had but tasty enough to go back again and try more; the drinks with Taiyaki looked interesting! read more

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This place has been on my foodie list for forever and I FINALLY had the chance to try it and it didn't disappoint. The spot is a quaint hole-in-the-wall that is easy to miss if you're not really paying attention. It has limited seating and can get tight quickly so it's probably best to enjoy your treat outside. The employees were friendly and happy to recommend if you needed help. They had a variety of really great flavors and combos - I went with one of their signatures, Straight Out Japan, a taiyaki red bean cone with a twist of matcha and black sesame ice cream. It was really yummy and a perfect summer treat! I love black sesame and matcha ice cream, and have had twists of them before. My only wish is that the matcha was a bit more strong - it felt overpowered by the black sesame. Otherwise, this was perfect. I cannot recommend this spot enough if you're looking for taiyaki AND ice cream while exploring Chinatown! read more

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I ordered the hojicha with coconut flakes and caramel sauce. The taiyaki cone was unfortunately too soft and lacked crispiness. However, the ice cream itself was outstanding rich, flavorful, and reminiscent of black tea. read more

Taiyaki NYC - Taiyaki cone with Hojicha ice cream topped with coconut flakes and caramel syrup. - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Was looking for interesting looking dessert places near the Italian district as it was pretty warm during my visit, and Taiyaki NYC popped up as an interesting option to check out! I love taiyaki and I love soft serve, so I went around 3pm on a Saturday to how the desserts are here. Taiyaki NYC itself is a pretty small shop, I would say only about 15-20 people could fit into the shop and everyone would probably be elbow to elbow in terms of space. There are about 6-7 spots near the front of the shop that people can sit to enjoy their treats, otherwise you will have to take your dessert and either enjoy in the shop while standing or take it to go. Ordering is done at the cashier, and they will call out your name to pick up once your order is ready. My order only took like 5 minutes to fulfill. I got the number 4: straight out of Japan option. This included matcha and black sesame soft serve, garnished with a small skewer of mochi and a wafer cookie roll. The red bean filling was in the taiyaki fish itself, closer to where mid way of the pastry - the filling was hearty and may be a bit hefty after enjoying some light ice cream. I thought that the soft serve tasted smooth and there was definitely a black sesame and matcha flavor profile. Matcha itself doesn't really have a strong flavor so the black sesame flavor dominated, which is what is expected - This was nice and refreshing on a hot day, note that it does get challenging to eat as the soft serve will drip everywhere. For dessert, almost $9 is not cheap by all means, but I guess you are paying for the novelty of such a dessert. But most ice cream places in this area of town are likely $5-8 anyways (nearby gelato). If you are looking for an interesting looking dessert option, Taiyaki NYC has you covered on those bases. read more

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