The Cute Takoyaki, the Soul Food of Osaka, Wouldn’t You Like One?

It's no secret that Takoyaki is the most unique "soul food" in Osaka. With the most anticipated large octopus enclosed by the crispy noodle balls with sauce, sea sedge and wooden fish flower on the surface, the freshly baked Takoyaki is the most lovable food. Below is a list of the 7 most popular Takoyaki restaurants. One who fails to try Takoyaki is wasting their time in Osaka.

Takoyaki is one of the most must-see dishes in Osaka, so there are many options for Takoyaki in Osaka. There are more than a dozen Takoyaki restaurants in _x0008_ Dotonbori alone, among which, the most popular is this Takoyaki restaurant (Japan's best Takoyaki restaurant). In the old restaurant with a history of 40 years, very large pieces of octopus feet can be visible in the Takoyaki, tasting very good. Therefore, this restaurant has become the most popular in Dotonbori and it claims to be Japan's best Takoyaki restaurant.

Opened 30 years ago, Kougaryu takoyaki Honten, the famous restaurant in the American village, was the first to drizzle salad dressing in the form of a mesh over the sauce of Takoyaki, this got popular later and became the specialty sauce of Takoyaki in Osaka today. Kougaryutakoyaki Honten’s homemade salad dressing features a unique sour and sweet fruit flavor, and matches with the sweet sauce perfectly; in addition to the octopus, there are also seven ingredients, including shellfish powder, kelp, red ginger and sweet potato. It is definitely the "exclusive taste in Kansai" (there are no other branches in Japan).

In addition to the self-made sauce and salad dressing, the restaurant also provides other flavor options such as onion vinegar and rock salt. It is supplied in 10 Takoyaki each piece, charging less than 500 yen. Therefore, it is absolutely a fine example of cheap and fine food. No wonder the restaurant has attracted such long queues of customers.

Dotonbori of Osaka is home to a number of Takoyaki restaurants and can be described as the first-level battle zone of Takoyaki competition. Among those restaurants, one always attracts an endless stream of customers and boasts Takoyaki dish that makes you fall in love with it like an addiction once you taste it. It is Shirotae Wanaka. The characteristic feature of Wanaka Takoyaki is the inclusion of large octopus chunks! With the crispy skin enclosing the large octopus chunks and the creamy taste, it has become the delicacy that Osaka people are proud of.

The standard Takoyaki as a must-order is dominated by the special sauce edition, and supplemented by other editions including salt, Japanese-style soy sauce and spicy sauce, for you to taste the original flavor of the dough; in addition, there are also original meals such as TAKOPON dipped in orange vinegar, and WANKODAKO dipped in ancestral bonito stock. The restaurant also has a special "OOIRI" package, which includes Takoyaki of three basic flavors, namely, sauce, soy sauce and salt. In addition, there are limited flavors during seasonal adjustments. Therefore, the restaurant is suitable for gluttons who want to sweep them all away.

It is said that the originator of Osaka Takoyaki is ”Aizuya” that was founded in 1933 with a history of more than 80 years. Most of the Takoyaki on sale are seasoned with sauce or mayonnaise, but Aizuya sticks to the most traditional and original Takoyaki without sauce as its signature. Aizuya is committed to providing customers with 100% original flavor, which reflects Aizuya’s confidence in its Takoyaki. In addition, its Takoyaki boasts an unsophisticated mellowness that no other Takoyaki can provide.

The restaurant’s another signature dish “broadcasting ball” is said to be the ancestor of Takoyaki. Its fillings are made of beef tendon konnyaku instead of octopus. It was quite popular in Osaka in the past. The special taste of beef tendon konnyaku is different from the octopus. After mixed with the strong garlic, it is virtually a work of art, making you feel that you can never have enough.

Edo Funk, voted as No. 1 Takoyaki by many travel magazines, is located in Nishinakajima, Osaka. It opened a branch restaurant in Dotonbori in 2004. The stalls of Edo Funk are still very popular in Dotonbori, the first-level battle zone of Takoyaki competition. The crowds in the holidays are even more exaggerated; therefore, fences are set up in front of the door for guests to queue up.

The octopus used for cooking Takoyaki is delivered directly from the central wholesale market every day, and is thus guaranteed to be completely fresh; the flour is a mixture of sakura shrimp, ginger, fried bran and milk, contributing to the solid taste of the Takoyaki. The crust is crispy because of the fried bran, which sharply contrasts with the soft filling dough. It is thus quite special.

Yamachan near Tennoji Station is quite a popular Takoyaki restaurant locally. It got a high score of 3.57 in Tabelog. It was also introduced in Michelin Guide: Kyoto •Osaka this year, and may be called a "quasi - star" restaurant.

Yamachan's Takoyaki benefits from the delicious stock made of chicken, kelp, bonito and many other ingredients, and the octopus ball's crust. The crispy shell and creamy and soft filling bring double the enjoyment. More specifically, the sauce can be freely matched to individual taste: "the most recommended flavor (original flavor without sauce)", "young flavor (sauce and salad dressings)", "young B flavor (homemade soy sauce and salad dressings)", "general flavor (sauce and seaweed powder)", "chili flavor (homemade soy sauce and seaweed powder)" et al., which are very appetizing .

In Umeda, Osaka, there is a famous Takoyaki restaurant “Takonotetsu”, which attracts people's attention with its new concept of "self-sufficiency and self-roasting". The secret of its popularity is that you can make the octopus balls by yourself. The Takoyaki dishes supplied by Takonotetsu are very rich, from the most basic octopus balls, to the purple perilla Takonotetsu with purple perilla and to the tropical Takonotetsu with pineapple. Naturally, the baking method will be explained by the shop assistant. Please rest assured that if it is really challenging for you, you can ask the shop assistant for help.

Roast the food on the iron plate to your own preference. The restaurant has even prepared six kinds of sauces. In addition to the standard flavor, there are also homemade sauces, hot sauces, sesame soy sauce, vinegar soy sauce, octopus soup and sauce vinegar, which will definitely create a unique flavor.