Have you ever tried Japanese takoyaki? It’s one of my favourite things to eat! You can sometimes find them here in Japanese restaurants or even make them at home but the best ones are the ones you eat in Japan.
What is takoyaki?
Takoyaki is a popular Japanese street food that originated in Ōsaka in the 1930s.
It (or should I say ‘they’?) consists of small, round balls of flour-based batter, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger and negi onion (Japanese leek) with a delicious piece of octopus at the centre. In fact, it’s the octopus which gives the dish its name ('tako' means octopus and 'yaki' means grilled or fried).
The balls are cooked in a specially moulded takoyaki pan and turned with a skewer to achieve their signature round shape. Once cooked, takoyaki is typically topped with savoury takoyaki sauce (a thick brown Japanese sauce - or okonomi sauce is a good substitute if you can't get it), Japanese mayo, bonito flakes (katsuobushi) and dried seaweed (aonori).
The result is a delicious, savoury snack with a crispy exterior and a soft, gooey interior. It’s real comfort food!
The history of takoyaki
Takoyaki was invented in 1935 by Tomekichi Endo, a street vendor in Ōsaka.
He adapted the recipe from a similar dish called akashiyaki, a softer, egg-based dumpling filled with octopus which originates from Akashi city in Hyogo prefecture.
Takoyaki quickly became a staple street food in Ōsaka and later spread across Japan, especially during the post-war Showa era, when it was made more accessible and convenient with the development of takoyaki pans for home cooking.
Today, takoyaki is a popular snack at festivals and street markets and, although there are many regional variations, it has become an iconic symbol of Ōsaka’s food culture.
A place in Japanese culture
Bright and vibrant Japanese festivals, known as matsuri, are crowded social events where you can find food stalls (yatai) lining the streets offering traditional street food, sweets and drinks.
Matsuri are community events that take place all year round in Japanese towns, villages and shrines and natsu matsuri, summer festivals, are some of the most popular events in Japan. They are famous for spectacular fireworks displays, traditional dancing and team games. As with festivals all over the world, food and drink are all part of the fun.
With their rich umami flavour and delicious toppings, takoyaki is a standout festival food favourite. Served fresh and hot, they’re perfect for enjoying while walking around the busy stalls, taking in the atmosphere and enjoying the spectacle.
Many Japanese people associate the smell of takoyaki cooking on the grill with their childhood and happy festival memories. This gives them a certain nostalgia in people’s minds and makes this crispy treat feel like a traditional comfort food from the past.
These days, of course, you don't have to wait for a festival to eat takoyaki. There are many big chain restaurants where you can eat them any time. My favourite is Gindaco which you can often find at big train stations and also in shopping mall food courts which makes it especially easy for foreigners to access (large picture menus!).
Because of their popularity, some restaurants have developed modern fillings such as cheese, shrimp and even dessert versions. But while there are also many regional variations on classic takoyaki, mostly they are seen as a representation of Ōsaka’s food culture.
Ōsaka gained a reputation as 'Japan’s Kitchen' or 'tenka no daidokoro', and takoyaki embodies the city's reputation for delicious, casual and accessible street food. For Ōsaka locals, takoyaki is a source of pride and a symbol of their regional identity.
In the meantime, while takoyaki is quintessentially Japanese, its popularity has spread worldwide. With takoyaki shops and food trucks popping up in many other countries, it’s a great example of how Japanese cuisine has had an influence on global food culture.
The shape of perfection
It also occurred to me that the golden round shape of takoyaki fits in nicely with the Japanese appreciation for small, round, neatly presented objects and I can’t help feeling that this plays a part in its mass appeal.
Round shapes often symbolize completeness, unity and good fortune in Japanese culture. Temari balls, for example, were historically given as gifts to wish someone good luck and round bells are found at Shinto temples and shrines and are associated with festivals and celebrations.
Circles too are important with the sacred ensō, a hand-drawn circle created with one brushstroke, having special significance in Zen Buddhism. The circle represents wholeness, infinity and the cyclical nature of life. It encompasses harmony, balance and simplicity, core values in Zen aesthetics and Japanese culture.
Round shapes naturally feel gentler and friendlier than sharp, angular forms. And, like the ensō circle, roundness in Japan often represents balance and completeness, wholeness and harmony. There’s playfulness too in its cute shape and an appealing warmth.
Many much-loved Japanese characters and mascots are round or have round features, which aligns with the Japanese preference for soft, approachable and kawaii (cute) aesthetics. Their roundness conveys friendliness, simplicity and warmth. Just look at characters like Doraemon, Kirby, Marumofubiyori, Sumikko Gurashi and Hamtaro: Round, soft and lovable to the extreme!
Surely I’m not the only one to see that same delicious cuteness in a dish of takoyaki! For me takoyaki fits right into this world of charming spheres; small, golden and perfectly shaped, they’re as charming to look at as they are good to eat.
Perhaps part of their enduring popularity comes from this deep-rooted love for all things round, a shape that represents comfort, completeness and a little bit of fun!
Fun facts about takoyaki
- The largest takoyaki ever made weighed over 56 kilograms and was created in Ōsaka in 2024.
- Takoyaki is so popular in Japan that there are even takoyaki-themed amusement parks and museums! For example, TAKOPA Takoyaki Park in Ōsaka and Odaiba Takoyaki Museum.
Let’s celebrate takoyaki!
Whether you’ve eaten them at one of the many takoyaki chains in Japan, sampled them at a local restaurant or made them yourself at home, takoyaki are an iconic part of Japanese food culture. The complete opposite of formal kaiseki, this casual street food is heartwarming, fun and delicious and can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere.
And while the taste and texture of takoyaki are undoubtedly the primary reasons for its lasting popularity, it’s possible that the small, round shape also plays some part in its widespread appeal on a deeper, cultural level.
The Japanese affinity for round objects, rooted in aesthetics, symbolism and practicality, aligns perfectly with the design and experience of eating takoyaki. This combination of deliciousness and cultural resonance, I believe, is what makes takoyaki such a well loved snack in Japan and beyond.
Japanese cookware at Hatsukoi
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Round things at Hatsukoi
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