Takoyaki

Takoyaki — octopus balls — is the defining street food of Osaka, a city that takes enormous pride in its food culture to the point where Osakans have a phrase, kuidaore, meaning eat until you drop. The dish was invented in 1935 by a street vendor named Tomekichi Endo in the Shinsekai district. The special cast-iron pan with hemispherical moulds is essential — there is no substitute. Osaka has thousands of takoyaki stalls and the dish is eaten standing up, still burning hot, straight from the pan. The toppings — takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes and aonori — were established by the 1960s and have barely changed since.

The takoyaki pan must be very hot and well oiled. Turn them constantly and quickly to get a perfectly round shape. The inside should still be slightly molten.