Takoyaki is one of Osaka’s most famous food inventions.
Tako means octopus and yaki means fried or grilled, so it wouldn’t be inaccurate to also call them battered octopus balls or, the slightly more eloquent, fried octopus dumplings, as I’ve heard some say.
Takoyaki is typically served by street vendors (yatai), or little shops that serve customers out of their front street window.
Most shops offer a bit of variety in their octopus balls, as almost any ingredient can be added to the standard chunk of octopus awaiting inside each blob of batter. As for toppings, the cook with usually ask if you’re OK with mayonnaise, takoyaki sauce, and dried fish flakes. If you’re a little confused, just nod your head in agreement. It’s all rather harmless and great tasting!
One thing to watch out for is the heat inside each battered ball. It’s almost a given that you'll burn the inside of your mouth if you start eating takoyaki right away. Bite in cautiously rather than popping the whole thing into your mouth. You’ve been warned!
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