Takoyaki in Osaka
Activity > Osaka > Eating > Umeda
Takoyaki is maybe something people outside of Japan have heard of but, I think it's still one of those Japanese foods many people do not know about. Takoyaki is a ball of fried batter with a piece of octopus in the middle. It's a simple food but Japanese people love Takoyaki! "Tako" means "octopus" (no, NOT a Mexican Taco) and "Yaki" means to fry. Workers plop a bit of batter into the specially shaped Takoyaki fry pan, plop in a piece of octopus, let it cook for a bit, flip the ball over once, let it cook and.... done. Traditionally you get 6 to 9 Takoyaki balls for 500 - 1000 yen. They usually hand you a paper plate with the balls. Takoyaki are also brushed with a semi-sweet Takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, aonori (green laver) and dried bonito. You eat them with a toothpick.
Although Takoyaki became popular in Osaka first, nowadays people all over Japan love Takoyaki. It's one of those "quick treats" you can find at stalls here and there throughout many cities. Takoyaki is also very popular at festivals where it is sold from venders in food stalls. Even convenience stores carry Takoyaki these days but... best to try an find a "real" Takoyaki shop for the good stuff. There is a difference! We have a saying in Japan, "Buy rice cakes from a rice cake shop"... the meaning being that is best to buy something from the specialty shop that makes something... not from a 2nd hand shop that makes stuff just to make money.
This Takoyaki I had today was... GREAT! Some of the best Takoyaki I've had! Well... it's really not that difficult to make but good Takoyaki is so good! The batter ball was light and fluffy and the octopus was so fresh! The sauce was not too sweet and had just the right amount. I got 6 pieces of Takoyaki for 700 yen. If your in Osaka, either ask your hotel front desk where a great Takoyaki shop is or try this one. I know octopus is not something people in the Western World normally eat but you should try it at least once.
This is the place I went, a short walk from Nanba Station in Osaka:
Takoyaki Wanaka Sennichimae
たこ焼道楽 わなか 千日前本店
Nanbasennichimae 11-19
Ōsaka-fu, Ōsaka-shi, Chūō-ku
〒542-0075
Website: http://takoyaki-wanaka.com/04_tenpo.html#001
