Tampa snack shop sells one of Asia's most popular street foods

Made in Tampa Bay: Juju Taiyaki in Tampa

Carmi Sutliff came up with the idea during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was hoping to take a trip back home to the Philippines and also visit Japan while in Asia, but both countries were essentially locked down. She decided to start making her favorite treats in the Tampa Bay area.

TAMPA, Fla. - Juju Taiyaki is a Tampa snack shop that sells one of Asia’s most popular street food items. 

Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake with sweet filling inside. Red bean paste is the tradition filling.

Carmi Sutliff came up with the idea to start the business during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was hoping to take a trip back home to her native Philippines and also visit Japan while in Asia, but both countries were essentially locked down. 

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"I was craving street food. I had to find a way," she laughed. 

So, she started making her favorite treats right here in the Tampa Bay area. 

She offers the traditional red bean flavor, but also created a Filipino inspired ube flavor. Ube is from a purple yam. 

Sutliff also makes Nutella, vanilla custard, guava cheese, Oreo and smores flavored taiyaki.

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You can find Juju Taiyaki in the Bakery Box Pop-up located at 5226 South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa every Monday. Sutliff also attends a lot of area markets, so be sure to follow here on Instagram to find the times and locations of those.