Taiyaki time: Where to find fish-shaped treats around the Valley

Waffles aren’t just for breakfast. Cafes, specialty markets, sushi restaurants and ice cream shops around metro Phoenix craft them into dessert, topping and stuffing fish-shaped waffles with customizable ice creams and fillings. 

Some eateries serve taiyaki, a traditional Japanese treat filled with Nutella, custard, or red bean paste, then sealed into a sweet pocket. Others make a Korean version of the fun fish-shaped dessert, shaped into hollow cones, perfect for holding swirls of soft serve.

Here are six Valley spots to find these unique, sweet and satisfying desserts.

Dessert in Desert

18511 N. Scottsdale Road, #105, Scottsdale
Tucked among several car dealerships, this off-the-beaten-path dessert shop has a wide assortment of Japanese offerings, including airy cheesecakes, bubble waffles and taiyaki. The fish-shaped cones are filled with soft serve, a single topping and a filling at the tail of the fish for $7.50.

Dessert in Desert is charming with a photo booth perfect for entertaining the steady flow of customers, ranging from couples enjoying desserts to families with children still in their karate and dance uniforms. The taiyaki are made to order and come out hot and fresh.

Ramen Kagawa

111 W. Monroe St., #130
Downtown Phoenix Japanese restaurant Ramen Kagawa has a lot to offer for both food and dessert. They serve a dish of two red bean paste-stuffed taiyaki alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for $5 to end the meal perfectly.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

Multiple Locations
There is something so exciting about going to a revolving sushi bar and watching the little plates of fish rolling past your table. Kura Revolving Sushi Bar has locations around the Valley where customers can chow down on all the sushi they can manage and then keep the theme going with fish-shaped dessert. Enjoy taiyaki filled with red bean paste, served over creamy vanilla ice cream and topped with additional red bean paste as garnish for $5.85.

Sweet Snow

15591 W. Roosevelt St., Goodyear
This Goodyear ice cream shop uses the Korean name for fish cones, Ah-Boong. What sets Sweet Snow apart is its rotating lineup of soft-serve flavors, which changes every week. Frequent options include matcha, chocolate, strawberry, taro, cookies and cream, vanilla and a swirl option. The Ah-Boong can be ordered as a handheld cone or upside down in a cup with two toppings and a drizzle for $7. Sweet Snow offers unique toppings such as honey condensed milk and peppermint sticks. They also have bubble waffles, giant shakes and traditional Korean shaved ice called Bing-Su with a milk or fruit base.

Snowtime Desserts

2095 N. Dobson Road, #6, Chandler
1919 W. Main St., Mesa
At its shop in Chandler and food-court counter in Mesa, Snowtime Desserts offers many types of caffeinated drinks, acai bowls and ice cream options. Order a fish cone for $7.89, with up to two different soft-serve flavors. Choose from vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, taro, green tea and coffee. Fish cones come with a choice of filling of Nutella, custard, red bean or blueberry cream cheese and two toppings, including coconut flakes, matcha dust, Pocky or taro dust. Already going to H Mart? Stop by the Mesa location for a special treat while picking up groceries. Snowtime also offers smaller Taiyaki buns with fillings such as red bean or Nutella and a selection of savory taiyaki, including ham and cheese or pesto. 

Andy’s Water N Ice

3141 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe
Many Arizona natives of a certain age fondly recall going to Water and Ices around the Valley after school for unique snacks and treats. Andy’s Water N Ice in Tempe has a lot of imported and unusual snacks on offer, such as retro candies, funky Oreos and KitKats. Andy’s recently added taiyaki to the list of offerings, and customers can choose from several fillings (we are partial to the Dubai Chocolate) and add a side scoop for an additional charge. The taiyaki here are not as crispy as some others, but the smaller size and generous filling make them a nice little treat. Andy’s Taiyaki are made to order and cost $5 for one or $10 for three. For an additional charge, add a scoop of Thrifty Ice Cream on the side.