How to make Takoyaki at Home

Posted on 13. Apr, 2007 @ 5:34 pm by in Culture, Food Views: 2,191

Everyone loves Takoyaki right?

Japanese people in the Tokyo/Yokohama area often joke that an electric Takoyaki set is standard fare in every home in Osaka. Granted, I have been to a few Osaka Takoyaki parties, but there are for sure, a few people over there who don’t own one…

But don’t let that stop you. You can buy a Takoyaki maker from J-List and make Takoyaki in your own country! Of course, you’ll need to find a super market that sells octopus tentacles… I’m sure Asian foods stores in your area would have them available though.

You may be wondering why the maker that J-List provides is so cheap. The reason is that it is not an electric Takoyaki Maker. This is just the iron tin, that you would then cook on the stove top. The new-fangled makers available in Japan now are plug-in, as you can see in the scrumptious picture below.

However most modern kitches in the states have an electric stove top anyway, so I’m sure the iron tin would work fine if placed right on top as well.

A recipie for making Takoyaki is available here, as well as other places on the web, but remember, making Takoyaki is not a precise science! You can do it 適当に and it will turn out fine!

- Harvey

  • http://ikimashokie.nutang.com Jess
  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    Hey! That perfect puffs machine DOES look like a takoyaki pan! I guess the number of puffs it can do at once are a little on the low side for takoyaki, but as long as the temperature is high enough it looks like it could do the job!

    They should add “OCTOPUS ARMS” to the list of fun things to put in the perfect puffs machine!

  • Michael

    I’ve really missed good takoyaki since being back in the US. Unfortunately for those of us on the east coast, the octopus varieties found in the Atlantic Ocean are virtually flavorless, and much more tough and rubbery than their Pacific counterparts. The little mini octopi aren’t as bad as their bigger brothers, but still aren’t anything to excite and delight a takoyaki lover. When we get back, I’m gonna get me a nice pan like this, and eat takoyaki every day… or at least until the Mrs. says enough is enough. ^_^
    —
    By the way, Jess, nice to see another Hokie here! Well, I only went there my freshman year… but what a year it was!

  • http://heyneatjp.blogspot.com/ Kaspian

    I don’t think there’s such thing as too much takoyaki. That stuff is just too tasty! Unlike the picture above, I’m more used to far more chopped up octopus in my takoyaki. Still, good stuff!

  • sorryd

    I am in my 7th year in most recent stint in Osaka and I can proudly say we have 2 takoyaki machines (1 was a gift!). Most families I know have one, and even some of the people that have transferred from uncultured locales such as Tokya end up buying one.
    Takoyaki is so simple yet the combinations are countless. My favourite is using a really thin batter to make takoyaki that is still a little runny inside and then eat these with ponzu sauce. If you ever go to Universal Studios Japan, I recommend going to the takoyaki section in Universal Walk between USJ and the station. It has several different shops with lots of variety (anyone for a takoyaki crawl?). Personally, I like Aizuya (http://www.aiduya.com/)

  • Esther

    Hi I would like to buy a takoyaki maker but I couldn’t find anywhere in Melbourne. The link that you’ve mentioned is not working either. Do you know where I can get one with 240V? Thanks a lot!

  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    Oh man the Takoyaki kit on J-List seems to have been removed, or just sold out or something! Terrible.

    How are people supposed to make Takoyaki overseas now? Anyone know of any other places to buy takoyaki makers online?

  • Michael

    Well, Rakuten has announced plans to start doing business in the US, so let’s hope they’ll carry takoyaki makers when they do. Future plans include Europe and China eventually, too. No word yet on Australia…

  • Cherry

    hello,

    i recently got a takoyaki maker from japan….not realizing it uses 100v and 650w…. it won’t work in australia because voltage here is 240v… ><

    does any other know how i can make this maker work?? an adaptor of some sort to convert voltage ?? and where i can get it?

  • http://www.japannewbie.com Harvey

    @CHerry Check a hardware store – they should have power converters.

  • Cherry

    thanks Harvey for the quick response,
    I’ve checked out a electrical store already. they say i need a ‘step down transformer’ to convert the voltage and provide enough power for the takoyaki maker. the transformer costs literally 10 times the price of my takoyaki maker…. >< and weights abt 10kgs… i was wondering if there is a cheaper and lighter option to make takoyaki at home… i might as well buy a new takoyaki maker which uses 240v… know where i can get one?

  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    @CHerry Yeah you’ll need a transformer. We had those all over the house while I was living in Africa. You’ll just need to find a takoyaki maker built for your local voltage. I haven’t seen one of those on sale for a while though… J-list.com used to stock one… but haven’t seen it available forever!

  • http://honkiememories.blogspot.com/ teenagefoodie

    found takoyaki machines in melbourne i think. Look for dutch pancake makers, some of them are actually takoyaki machinese sold under the name of dutch pancake maker and have an octopus on the iron plate =]

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