One thing I will never stop loving about living in the Fresno area is the diversity of the food we get to enjoy. I didn’t fully grasp how diverse our food options were until I traveled elsewhere and realized how limited they were in even larger cities. Despite making a conscious effort to regularly try new (to me) foods from local businesses over the last 15 years, I’m still discovering things I’d never known about, and it’s a joyful journey!
This past week, I saw an Instagram ad and then read an article in the Fresno Bee by Bethany Clough highlighting a new ice cream shop, Nummy Yummy, in northeast Fresno that specializes in Taiyaki.
Taiyaki originates in Japanese and Korean cultures. It’s essentially batter that is crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, cooked like a waffle but in the shape of a fish. Taiyaki’s most literal Japanese translation in English would be “fried fish,” but the ingredients do not contain fish. Instead, they consist of flour, sugar, milk, eggs, and baking powder. Traditionally, Taiyaki are made with a filling, with the most common being red bean paste, which is mild and sweet.
My son and I had an opportunity to check out Nummy Yummy and try Taiyaki for the first time this week, and it was a tasty and fun experience. Nummy Yummy is located in the shopping center on the southeast corner of Herndon and Cedar. When you enter, you’ll see menu screens to your right instructing you on how to order. You can choose either a Taiyaki with ice cream or a savory Taiyaki, like one filled with pepperoni and cheese or bacon and cheese. The ice cream Taiyakis begin with one of three fillings: red bean paste, custard, or Nutella. They are then served with either soft-serve ice cream or regular ice cream. Finally, toppings can be added at the end, like sprinkles, fruity cereal, cookie crumbles, or sweetened condensed milk.
The shop is small but very cute, and the service is friendly and helpful. I’d never had red bean paste before and was offered a sample before deciding on my Taiyaki filling. I liked it and went with it. I ended up getting Taiyaki with red bean paste, mango soft serve, and a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk. My son had his with Nutella filling, vanilla ice cream, and cookie crumbles on top.
I couldn’t decide how to start eating the fish first—pick it up like an ice cream cone? Chomp the tail? Apparently, there is lore about this! An online search led me to the explanation that those who eat the head first are considered optimistic and assertive, while those who start with the tail are considered calm and idealistic.
Regardless of how you eat your Taiyaki, I can’t imagine a scenario in which someone wouldn’t enjoy one. My son and I both really liked the texture and flavor of the Taiyaki, and the ice cream was high quality and refreshing.
If you’re looking for a new and delightful treat, I highly recommend giving Nummy Yummy a try. It’s a fun and delicious experience that you won’t want to miss. Head over to the southeast corner of Herndon and Cedar and discover the joy of Taiyaki for yourself.
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My daughter, who absolutely loves this place, and I stopped by today to have a taiyaki. I was fascinated by the whole process. It’s fun to be able to watch how the fish are actually made. I liken the fish to a delicious eclair or cream puff – very yummy. You can have the fish on top of ice cream in a bowl, or you can have the soft serve ice cream placed inside the fish which serves as an ice cream cone. The shop is very clean, and the young lady who waited on us was so very friendly. She and her sisters run this cute place. I can see it becoming a very popular place to get ice cream which was delicious. I hope you’ll give it a try because I know you won’t be disappointed.