Okay... let’s cut to the chase here. Looking for a pristine and 100% hygienic eaterie? Yes? Move along. Care more about the taste and to hell with appearances? Sit yourself down, that is IF you can find a seat! There were ONLY six, which were full when I arrived there, about 18:45 on a Sunday evening. Still, a folding stool was provided for me, at no extra cost I might add. The others (the lucky seated six) who were there were all in their mid-twenties to thirties. I was the only ‘oldie’ there. Haha! There are, as of time of writing, a choice of 6 different toppings for the takoyaki. You could also get a small selection of alcoholic drinks, nothing out of the ordinary though. Asahi beer, some chu-hi, highballs, etc’. I ordered the normal baked octopus dumplings, you get six of the scrummy little babies to wolf down. And trust me on this, you will. Deliciousness with a capital D. All that heavenly flavour for a piddling 530 yen sounds like bargain of the century. But don’t take my word for it, taste and see for yourself. North exit from Kichijōji station, turn right. Walk along to the first pedestrian crossing you see, cross it, walk another 50 metres and you’ll see it on your left. You may have to shove the door to get in, rickety old thing it is. Lol!

+1

The owner with the unruly hair cooks delicious, freshly made takoyaki for you^_^ Both the taste and service are good, and there seem to be lots of regulars. In fact, I've visited many times myself, though irregularly^_^ (There are 4 or 5 counter seats inside? Depending on the time, drunken customers can make it chaotic, but generally I think the atmosphere is nice too.) Below are my personal impressions of negative reviews that made me think, "I've never had that happen," though I won't dismiss them because everyone experiences things differently. There were negative comments about hygiene, but I think it's normal for this kind of business. There were negative comments about service, but at least I've only seen good service. If something happened, perhaps there was an exceptional situation, or they had the kind of relationship where that interaction was acceptable?

An unusual Kyo-tako with an eat-in space. There are about 6 counter seats and manga, and the pocket tissues from an adult-entertainment information office score extra points. The male owner is pretty laid-back about everything, and I liked how he served customers with just the right distance. Regulars may chat you up a little, but they're the sort you occasionally encounter who can read the room yet are slightly annoying, so it's no problem. The menu is only takoyaki and drinks, but there are various flavors, including toppings with seasonings you don't often see elsewhere, which is interesting.

A takoyaki shop where you can casually enjoy takoyaki over a few drinks.

The takoyaki was delicious. The service was courteous too.