Juzu Takoyaki

Ever since discovering takoyaki in Osaka last year I’ve been craving it. Found these guys on brick lane by chance. They are from Kyoto — so from the area of Japan where Takoyaki is very popular. Excellent takoyaki — just as I remembered it & friendly service. Great find!

Warning. DON’T BURN YOUR MOUTH.
But so easy to do, and if you’re going to experience the pain, might as well be delicious. I love takoyaki (tako = octopus yaki=grilled, in Japanese). But no, this isn’t just grilled octopus. Even if you’ve never tried or are scared of or dislike octopus, these are still worth trying and not at all what you think.
Basically, it is a grilled molten ball of savory batter (like pancake) with spring onions and a small piece of octopus inside. Similar to Dutch pancakes: poffertjes, if you’ve had those. They are topped with a thin stream of a sweet teriyaki-​like sauce (okonomiyaki sauce) and japanese mayonaise, then sprinkled with bonito flakes that dance from the steam.
Eat carefully, but eat well. I thought the outside could have been a bit crisper, but this is still Japanese street food at its yummiest.