Whole Octopus Takoyaki in Dotonbori: Odoridako's Must-Try Street Food

Odoridako: Takoyaki with a Whole Baby Octopus

In Dotonbori, there is a shop where you can eat takoyaki with a whole octopus inside.

Regular takoyaki contains small diced pieces of octopus. But here, each ball has an entire octopus. The shop is called Odoridako.

This article introduces Odoridako Dotonbori.

About Odoridako Dotonbori

Odoridako Dotonbori is a takoyaki specialty shop located in Osaka. It has gained popularity for its striking takoyaki, each containing a whole baby octopus (iidako).

Quick Ordering via Ticket Machine and Fast Service

Ordering at Odoridako is done via a ticket vending machine. You purchase a meal ticket from the machine at the storefront.

The menu is simple. Just choose how many Odori Takoyaki you want.

• 4 pieces: ¥600
• 6 pieces: ¥800
• 8 pieces: ¥1,200

You can choose from three flavors: sauce, soy sauce, or rock salt. Even with 4 pieces, you can select the half option with both sauce and soy sauce.

Toppings like mayonnaise, aonori (green laver), and katsuobushi (bonito flakes) are free. You can add all of them or none.

After handing over your ticket, the staff will grill your takoyaki right in front of you. Due to its Dotonbori location, there is often a line, but once the takoyaki is ready, the queue moves fast. The wait was shorter than expected.

Simple Menu: Just Choose the Quantity and Flavor

The simplicity of a dedicated takoyaki shop is part of Odoridako’s appeal. No need to overthink. Just decide how many you want and which flavor.

Here are the flavor options.

This time, I ordered 4 pieces (¥600) with sauce flavor.

Tasting: The Impressive Presence of Whole Octopus

The moment you receive it, the first thing that catches your eye is the octopus tentacles. The legs of the baby octopus are poking out of the takoyaki batter. A sight you would never see with regular takoyaki.

I went all out with sauce, mayonnaise, aonori, and katsuobushi toppings. The appearance is nothing short of bold.

When you pull the baby octopus out of the batter, its presence is astonishing. A whole octopus, from head to tentacles, is inside. And this is in every single ball. Iidako is a small species of octopus, but seeing it like this, it looks impressively sized. Rather than saying there is octopus in the takoyaki, it feels more like there is takoyaki attached to the octopus.

Starting with the octopus. It is bouncy and juicy. Not tough, not too soft, just the right texture. When you bite into it, you can clearly taste the octopus flavor and sense its freshness.

The batter has a light crisp on the outside and is soft and chewy inside. The chewiness is notable, creating a pleasant contrast with the springy texture of the octopus. The batter itself is simple but has a distinct dashi flavor. Green onions add an accent, bridging the octopus and batter together.

The presence of the octopus is incomparable to regular takoyaki. The bouncy octopus and chewy batter create a harmonious texture that defines Odoridako.

Enjoy the Overwhelming Octopus Experience in Dotonbori

Takoyaki with a whole baby octopus inside. This overwhelming octopus presence is the charm of Odoridako.

The visual impact combined with the bouncy texture makes it a memorable experience and a great conversation starter.

Located right in the middle of Dotonbori, access is easy. There are benches in the center of the street, so you can enjoy your freshly made takoyaki right away after purchase.

Experience the takoyaki from Odoridako, where the octopus is so large it barely fits inside the ball.