Takoyaki is one of many Japanese foods that make average Americans cringe. Literally translated as “fried octopus,” I love these little snacks that hail from Osaka. Made primarily of eggs, flour and octopus, Takoyaki are cooked in a specially designed pan and resemble Dunkin Donuts’ Munchkins. Covered in a sweetish sauce, mayonnaise and typically served with pickled ginger, these little guys make a fantastic late-night-been-drinking-I’m-hungry-snack. The only problem I have is that the insides tend to hold their heat and approximate the temperature/consistency of molten lava. I have yet to manage eating the little guys without burning the roof of my mouth.

If you ever run across a Takoyaki on a menu outside of Japan, give ‘em a try…if you make it to Osaka, don’t leave without eating at least a dozen. Or, if you are an adventurous cook, Lunch in a Box has a tutorial.

Photo by Jetalone

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