Tako-yaki is a Japanese delicacy sold all over Japan, specially in the Kansai area, like Osaka.
Fresh from the hot grill
Nowadays, it is popular all over Japan. We often see these shops during Japanese festivals, and at the busy “shotengai” – shopping districts.
Tako- is the word for Octopus.
Yaki is taken from the verb- “Yaku” which means to grill or to bake.
Tako-yaki is made of diced or whole octopus, with tempura scraps, and the shops secret ingredients…but usually topped with okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise. Sometimes, green nori is sprinkled depending if the customer likes it. Katsuboshi, the dried bonito shavings is also added on top of this food.
According to Wikipedia, this was ” first popularized in Taisho-era Osaka,where a street vendor named Endo Tomekichi is credited with its invention in 1935 .”
As mentioned earlier, Tako yaki is sold usually sold out on the streets… but recently, we can find them at the shopping malls.
Many people line up for Tako-yaki
For me, Gindaco, is one of the most delicious shops that serves Tako-yaki. Their poster below shows the confidence- it says – “definitely delicious” .
Gindaco poster- 8 pieces for 500 yen (about $5.50 -today's exchange rate)
When eating this, be very careful… the tako-yaki balls are very hot inside.
After my big bite of this yummy stuff...
Hope when you come to Japan, you can try this… it is really “Oishii !”
Crunchy on the outside, hot and goooey inside… whooo hot !
Filed under: Food, Fruits, Drinks, Desserts, Photo of the Day Tagged: | Gindaco, Japan, Tako-yaki
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Farah you gave me a terrible craving for tako balls at 1AM!!! I’m gonna have to go to one of the yakitori places downtown for one of these … thank god they’re more accessible in New York, though I’m sure not half as good as they are in Tokyo! *drool*
I hope i can buy that from any Japanese restaurant here in Dubai or in the Phils. Looks so yummy and mouth-watering…Great blog Farah!
I wanna have takoyaki when reading this blog…..
Photo looks so yummy…..
I’ll go to buy the takoyaki!!
Hello Farah, I’ve tried Tako-yaki in Japan on a few occasions, and I’m definitely a big fan. Delicious! Great write-up on it, especially the pictures… now I’m hungry and craving for it. It’s one of the foods I truly look forward to having again when I visit Japan. Cheers!
Arigato Brother J ! See you soon…