Gas Dorayaki Maker Buying Guide 2026: Commercial Imagawayaki & Obanyaki Machines, Specs & FOB Prices

A gas dorayaki maker is one of the most profitable small machines you can put in a dessert shop, bakery, food court stall, or hotel snack counter. With molds that turn out dozens of filled pancakes at once and running costs of just a few cents per piece, these gas-fired griddles are a staple across Asian-snack retail from Jakarta to Jeddah. Yet buyers often struggle to compare models, because the same machine is sold under many names — dorayaki maker, imagawayaki maker, obanyaki griddle, or “red bean pancake machine.”

This 2026 buying guide explains exactly what a gas dorayaki maker is, how gas and electric versions differ, how to read the specifications, and what you should pay (FOB China) for each size. Prices, power figures, and output rates below are indicative 2026 factory ranges to help you budget and compare quotes.

What Is a Gas Dorayaki Maker?

A gas dorayaki maker is a tabletop or floor-standing griddle with a row of round, shallow molds heated by gas burners underneath. You ladle batter into each mold, let it set, add a filling (sweet red bean paste, custard, chocolate, cheese, or savory fillings), then fold or sandwich the discs. The result is the soft, filled pancake known in Japan as dorayaki and in the imagawayaki/obanyaki family across East and Southeast Asia.

The same hardware category covers several closely related snacks, and it is worth knowing the difference when you read a supplier’s catalog:

• Dorayaki — two flat, thin pancake discs sandwiching a filling. Made on shallow round molds or a flat griddle plate.
• Imagawayaki / Obanyaki — thicker, drum-shaped filled cakes made in deeper round molds; the two halves are joined while hot.
• Taiyaki — fish-shaped filled cakes made in hinged fish molds (a different plate, but often the same machine body).

Because the molds are interchangeable on many machines, one gas body can often be ordered with different plates, which is a key flexibility point we return to below.

Gas vs Electric Dorayaki Maker: Which Should You Choose?

Both gas and electric versions exist, and the right choice depends on your site’s energy supply and mobility needs.

Gas dorayaki makers heat faster, reach higher plate temperatures, and cost less to run wherever LPG or natural gas is cheaper than electricity — which is most of the Middle East, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. They are the default for street stalls, night markets, and food courts. Typical LPG consumption is roughly 0.3–0.8 kg/h depending on mold count, and a single 5–15 kg cylinder can run a stall all day. The trade-off: you need ventilation and a gas connection, and some malls restrict open-flame equipment.

Electric dorayaki makers suit indoor mall kiosks, hotel buffet live stations, and any location where gas is banned or impractical. They are easier to clean, offer thermostatic temperature control, and plug into a standard outlet, but draw 3–6 kW and cost more to run on expensive grid power. For export, confirm the voltage and frequency (220–240V/50Hz, or 220–230V/60Hz for markets like Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, and parts of the Caribbean).

How to Read the Specs: Molds, Plates, Output and Power

Four numbers decide whether a machine fits your business:

• Mold count — the number of cavities per plate. Common gas configurations are 18, 25, 27, and 30 molds on a single plate, and double-plate machines with two banks.
• Mold diameter and depth — dorayaki uses shallow 70–90 mm discs; imagawayaki/obanyaki uses deeper 70–80 mm cups. Deeper molds mean a thicker, filled cake.
• Output rate — an 18-mold machine produces roughly 180–300 pieces/hour; a 27–30 mold machine 300–540 pieces/hour; a rotary or conveyor obanyaki machine 600–1,000 pieces/hour.
• Heat input — gas models are rated by burner output (often expressed as LPG consumption 0.3–0.8 kg/h); electric models by wattage (3–6 kW). Plate working temperature is typically 180–220°C.

Mold material matters for durability and release: cast iron holds heat well and is forgiving; aluminum heats fast and is light; brass molds give the cleanest release and the most even browning, and are worth the small upcharge for a high-volume stall.

Commercial Dorayaki & Imagawayaki Machine Price Guide 2026 (FOB China)

Indicative factory (FOB) ranges for 2026. Final pricing depends on mold count, plate material, and order quantity:

For a small kiosk, a single-plate 27-mold gas machine plus a spare plate and a batter dispenser is a realistic USD 350–700 FOB starting package. A busy food-court or hotel operation running two flavors in parallel typically steps up to a double-plate or rotary machine.

Key Features to Check Before You Buy (2026)

• Independent burner zones on gas models, so you can run half the plate at a lower flame during slow periods and save fuel.
• Flame-failure safety (FFD) on gas units — increasingly required by mall and food-court fit-out rules.
• Removable / interchangeable plates so one body can switch between dorayaki, imagawayaki, and taiyaki molds.
• Non-stick or seasoned cast-iron molds for clean release and faster service.
• Correct gas type and injector — specify LPG or natural gas at the order stage; the injectors differ.
• Stainless 304 body for corrosion resistance, especially in humid or coastal markets.

Because these machines are simple, the real differences between suppliers show up in mold quality, burner safety, and after-sales parts. When we build these units, the molds, voltage/frequency, and gas type are configured to the buyer’s exact market at the factory stage rather than adapted afterward, and a small kit of spare plates, igniters, and thermostats ships with the order so a stall is never idle waiting for a part — backed by a 2-year warranty on the burner and control components, with replacement parts dispatched in 3–5 days.

Matching the Machine to Your Business

Dessert shops and bakeries usually do well with a single-plate 27–30 mold gas machine and an interchangeable imagawayaki plate for menu variety. Snack and filled-pancake machines are a natural add-on to a pastry or bakery production line retail counter, where they create theatre and an impulse-purchase item next to the bread display.

Street stalls and night markets prioritize fuel economy and speed — a gas rotary obanyaki machine pays for itself quickly at 600+ pieces/hour. Hotel and buffet live stations often prefer electric for indoor use and a clean look. Quick-service chains standardizing across outlets should lock the mold size and plate material so every location produces an identical product.

How to Source a Gas Dorayaki Maker from China

China is the dominant manufacturing base for snack-griddle equipment, so most buyers source here directly. Define your mold count, gas type, and voltage first; request a unit photo and a short video of the machine running; and confirm the plate material and spare-parts availability before you order. Standard production runs 25–45 days, faster than the 60–90 days common when buying through a trading layer. For a vetted starting point, see our guide to the top commercial kitchen equipment manufacturers in China, then ask each candidate for FOB pricing on your exact configuration.

If you are fitting out a full dessert kitchen or a chain rollout rather than buying a single machine, ask your supplier to quote the snack griddles together with proofers, mixers, and display refrigeration as one package — it simplifies shipping and gives you a single point of contact for parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a dorayaki maker and an imagawayaki maker?

Both belong to the same machine family. A dorayaki maker uses shallow molds (or a flat plate) to make thin pancake discs that are sandwiched around a filling. An imagawayaki/obanyaki maker uses deeper molds to make a thicker, drum-shaped filled cake. Many machines accept interchangeable plates, so one body can make both.

How much does a commercial gas dorayaki maker cost?

FOB China in 2026, a single-plate 18-mold gas machine runs about USD 120–260, a 27–30 mold machine about USD 240–460, and a double-plate or rotary obanyaki machine USD 480–2,200 depending on capacity. Electric tabletop versions start around USD 160. Brass molds add roughly USD 30–90 per plate.

Is gas or electric better for a dorayaki machine?

Gas is cheaper to run and heats faster wherever LPG or natural gas is affordable, making it the standard for street stalls and food courts. Electric suits indoor mall kiosks and hotel live stations where open flame is restricted; just confirm the voltage and frequency for your country (for example 60Hz for Saudi Arabia and the Philippines).

How many pieces can a gas dorayaki maker produce per hour?

An 18-mold machine produces roughly 180–300 pieces per hour, a 27–30 mold machine 300–540, and a rotary or conveyor obanyaki machine 600–1,000 pieces per hour. Actual output depends on batter handling and operator speed.

Can I order custom molds or voltage?

Yes. Mold count, mold shape (dorayaki, imagawayaki, taiyaki), gas type (LPG or natural gas), and electrical voltage/frequency can all be specified at the order stage. Allow about 25–45 days for production of a configured unit.

Get a Quote

Planning a dessert counter, a food-court stall, or a chain rollout? Contact our project team at project@gracekitchen.com / WhatsApp +86 158 1364 3427 with your target mold count, gas type, and market, and we will send FOB pricing and a unit video.