Takoyaki – Octopus balls

You will find Takoyaki sold mostly in specialist stalls or small shops, often cooked in plane view and sold to people walking past on the street. While it is a specialty of Osaka, you can get Takoyaki anywhere in Japan.

The amount of octopus will vary as it is fairly expensive. Quality in general is a bit hit-and-miss depending on how much you are paying. A good Takoyaki ball should be soft generously decorated with sauce and toppings, with a decent sized piece of octopus inside. Takoyaki is usually served right after it has been cooked so the inside is stupendously hot. Never eat straight away unless you want the roof of your mouth burn off.

Some locations will offer different flavors however this has never been that popular with the Japanese. When you see Takoyaki it is almost always the traditional way; you just choose how many you want, with the standard being 6 pieces which should set you back ¥600-¥800.