Takoyaki: Osaka’s Hidden Culinary Gem

Takoyaki, a highly underrated Japanese dish, offers visitors a unique culinary experience in Osaka, the city renowned for this savory delicacy. These golf ball-sized snacks consist of a crispy exterior and a soft, gooey interior filled with tender pieces of octopus, green onions, pickled ginger, and tempura scraps.

The best place to savor authentic takoyaki is in Dotonbori, Osaka’s bustling food district. Here, visitors can find legendary takoyaki stalls like Aizuya, established in 1935, which serves some of the city’s finest octopus balls. The street is lined with vendors expertly grilling takoyaki in specially designed pans with 16 to 20 hemispherical molds.

Watching skilled chefs prepare takoyaki is a mesmerizing spectacle. They pour batter into the hot molds, add fillings, and then deftly flip the balls using long metal picks, achieving a perfect golden-brown crust. The finished takoyaki are typically served in boats of six or eight, topped with a sweet-savory takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, aonori (dried seaweed flakes), and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes).

For an immersive experience, visitors can join a takoyaki-making class at cooking schools like Osaka Cooking Class Y’s Kitchen. These 2-3 hour sessions teach participants the art of crafting perfect takoyaki, from mixing the batter to mastering the flipping technique. Learning to make this iconic Osakan street food provides a deeper appreciation for its culinary heritage and makes for an unforgettable travel memory.

By exploring Dotonbori’s takoyaki scene and participating in a cooking class, visitors can gain a profound understanding of Osaka’s food culture, making their trip feel like the culinary adventure of a lifetime.