Takoyaki Ultimate Guide: Japan's Favorite Octopus Balls
Takoyaki is a casual dish made with flour and octopus, loved throughout Japan. It's not uncommon for Osaka households to make takoyaki at home.
I'll never forget the excitement I felt when I first ate takoyaki at "Aiduya", said to be the birthplace of Osaka takoyaki. The crispy outside, the gooey inside, the springy texture of the octopus - it was delicious even without sauce or mayonnaise.
Since then, I always make sure to eat their takoyaki whenever I visit Osaka.
In this Takoyaki Food Guide, I'll introduce the charms of takoyaki based on my own dining experiences.
What is Takoyaki?
Takoyaki is a representative dish of the common people originating in Osaka, and now a popular street food loved throughout Japan. It's made by pouring batter made from flour and water into a special mold called a takoyaki pan, adding ingredients like octopus, tempura bits, and green onions, and cooking it into round shapes.
Takoyaki is so deeply rooted in Osaka's food culture that it's said every Osaka household has a takoyaki pan.
When eating takoyaki, it's common to top it with takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, aonori seaweed, and katsuobushi (shaved bonito flakes).
The sweetness of the sauce and the richness of the mayonnaise bring out the flavor of the takoyaki. The aroma of the sea from the aonori and the refined umami of the katsuobushi are also essential to the taste of takoyaki.
Trivia About the History of Takoyaki
The origins of takoyaki date back to around 1933. It's said to have started when a dish called "radio-yaki" was born at a street stall in Dotonbori, Osaka. At the time, they used beef tendon as the filling in the flour batter, but after the war, octopus became the ingredient of choice.
In the 1960s, takoyaki evolved from a street food to a soul food representative of Osaka. And from the 1980s onward, it started being sold at department store food fairs nationwide, becoming widely known.
Now, there are even specialty takoyaki shops overseas, and it's become a popular dish among tourists visiting Japan. I was moved to learn the history of how it grew from a dish of the common people in Osaka to a taste of Japan loved around the world.
Why Takoyaki is Loved in Japan (Especially Osaka)
One reason takoyaki is loved throughout Japan is because it's a casual street food. Osaka in particular is a region with a strong tendency to love things that originated in their own prefecture. I have many friends from Osaka, and for them, takoyaki is a dish that originated in Osaka and has become a part of their pride.
People in Osaka love takoyaki so much that they think "takoyaki from outside Osaka isn't real takoyaki". If you go to Osaka, you'll find takoyaki shops everywhere, and I'm sure you'll understand the strength of their love for takoyaki.
Takoyaki Ingredients and Variations
The standard ingredients for takoyaki are octopus and green onions.
The octopus used is boiled until tender, offering a pleasantly chewy texture. The green onions are finely chopped and mixed into the batter. The refreshing flavor of the green onions enhances the taste of the takoyaki.
Recently, various takoyaki variations can be enjoyed depending on the arrangement, such as cheese, kimchi, and mentaiko (spicy cod roe). I recommend finding your favorite customization.
Takoyaki Toppings
The standard topping combination for takoyaki is takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, aonori, and katsuobushi. Aonori is a type of seaweed that stimulates the appetite with its aroma of the sea. Katsuobushi are thin shavings of bonito that add a refined umami and richness.
The sauce is typically a sweet and thick type, and it's delicious when eaten with slightly burnt parts. Mayonnaise brings out the sweetness of the sauce and adds richness. Many people like to add it to their preference.
The fragrant aroma of the aonori and the gradual flavor of the katsuobushi enhance the deliciousness of takoyaki.
Akashiyaki: Different from Takoyaki?
Akashiyaki, which developed in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture next to Osaka, looks similar to takoyaki but is actually a different dish. At first, I thought it was "Hyogo's version of takoyaki".
The defining characteristic of akashiyaki batter is that it includes dashi stock. In contrast, takoyaki batter is flour-based. Also, while akashiyaki uses a lot of eggs, takoyaki does not.
The way of eating is also different. Akashiyaki is typically dipped in soup and eaten, without any sauce or mayonnaise. On the other hand, sauce and mayonnaise are essential for takoyaki.
In this way, akashiyaki and takoyaki are similar but separate dishes. But there's no doubt that both are delicious!
Takoyaki Chain Restaurants in Japan
While takoyaki was originally a soul food of Osaka, there are now chain restaurants where you can easily enjoy takoyaki all over Japan. They're also recommended for foreigners trying takoyaki for the first time.
Aiduya
Source: Tabelog by Aiduya
Aiduya is an Osaka chain restaurant said to be the birthplace of takoyaki. It's mainly located in Osaka, but there's also one store in Odaiba, Tokyo.
The characteristic of Aiduya's takoyaki is that you can enjoy it simply without sauce or mayonnaise. It's known for being able to savor the original flavor of takoyaki. As I mentioned at the beginning, it's also the shop where I first ate takoyaki in Osaka and was deeply moved.
Website: https://www.aiduya.com/
Gindaco
Source: Tabelog by takao197007
Gindaco is the largest takoyaki chain restaurant with locations all over Japan. Its appeal is being able to casually enjoy classic takoyaki. It's often located in commercial facilities like shopping malls, making it easily accessible.
Gindaco has also expanded overseas, so some of you may have eaten takoyaki before coming to Japan.
Website: https://www.gindaco.com/
Kukuru
Source: Tabelog by Kukuru
Kukuru is a popular takoyaki chain centered in Osaka. There are also stores in Tokyo.
Kukuru's takoyaki is characterized by large pieces of octopus inside. It's very filling. You can also enjoy akashiyaki, which originated in the Kansai region.
In my opinion, having eaten takoyaki at both Aiduya and Kukuru in Osaka, I recommend Aiduya when you want to enjoy simple and rustic takoyaki, and Kukuru when you want to eat sauce-covered, filling takoyaki.
Website: https://dotonbori-kukuru.com/
How to Eat Takoyaki
The standard way to eat takoyaki is to use a bamboo skewer and pop the whole thing in your mouth in one bite. However, since it's piping hot, I try to let it cool down a bit before eating. I also recommend splitting it in half and enjoying the filling ingredients and gooey batter inside.
Takoyaki also pairs excellently with cold alcoholic drinks like beer and chuhai. Since takoyaki shops are characterized by their casual enjoyment like street food, I recommend eating it on the go rather than sitting down to eat inside the store.
Frequently Asked Questions About Takoyaki
Finally, I'll answer some common questions foreigners have about takoyaki.
What's the difference between takoyaki and okonomiyaki?
Both takoyaki and okonomiyaki are known as representative flour-based dishes from Osaka, but there are differences.
Takoyaki mainly uses octopus as an ingredient and is characterized by its round shape. On the other hand, okonomiyaki often uses pork and has a flat, pancake-like shape.
Is it true that all Osaka locals can make takoyaki?
Of course, there are some who can't, but it's true that many Osaka households have takoyaki machines and many people are used to making it.
In Osaka, "takoyaki parties" abbreviated as "takopa" are often held and serve as a place for friends and family to interact. Making and eating takoyaki together while having a lively good time can be said to be a unique culture of Osaka.
In this Takoyaki Food Guide, I've introduced in detail the charms of takoyaki, a popular dish born in Osaka.
Piping hot takoyaki with fluffy batter and large pieces of octopus inside. Top it with sauce, mayonnaise, aonori, and katsuobushi, and once you take a bite, you're sure to be hooked.
Although it originated as an Osaka dish, you can now enjoy it all over Japan, so try looking for the takoyaki shops I introduced in this article at your destination and give it a try!