Fried Octopus Balls, anyone?

January 9, 2006 4:19 PM

Does anybody living near Portland, Oregon know where I can find the Osakan delicacy of fried octopus balls? (no, not that kind of balls!!!1!)

Recently, I watched a couple of anime series which featured really lovingly drawn images of Japanese food. Ever since viewing the ubercute Azumanga Daioh, I've had this obsession with tracking down the live action versions of the featured yummy num nums. Fried octopus balls have thus far proven elusive.

posted by pieisexactlythree to Food & Drink (12 answers total)

Make them yourself. If you lack the culinary savvy to make them from scratch, you can always use a mix. To get them perfect, though, you'll need one of these.

Mmm, takoyaki...
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:31 PM on January 9, 2006

Try Uwajimaya. The store here in Seattle has a food court with lots of yummies; perhaps the Beaverton one does too.

I think what you are looking for is "takoyaki".
posted by luneray at 4:32 PM on January 9, 2006

Try Syun Izakaya out in Hillsboro. Hands down the best Japanese restaurant I've ever been to, with a special focus on yummy snacks to eat with sake.
posted by ottereroticist at 5:25 PM on January 9, 2006

On a related note, I've made Sata Andagi using the linked recipe, and they came out pretty good. The batter is like rubber to mix, though, and you may want to halve the recipe, since they're not much good cold.
posted by pocams at 5:25 PM on January 9, 2006

TAKOYAKI!

I've seen them made using a sort of waffle pan that has holes instead of squares. I'm not sure where you'd find that device though.
posted by divabat at 6:13 PM on January 9, 2006

They sound really similar to a snack food that I love and get at my local Korean grocery, called Peanut and You. So if you want the mass-produced version, that might be the way to go.
posted by MsMolly at 6:48 PM on January 9, 2006

I noticed there's a new Asian foods "supermarket" on 82nd (near Powell...?...I can't remember...)

Try there, perhaps, or any of the numerous Asian food stores in that general vicinity.
posted by iced_borsch at 9:12 PM on January 9, 2006

I had these in Tokyo and they are right tasty! You could make them yourself, but they probably won't come out right (no offense. I'm a pretty good cook and I doubt I could do it right either). Takoyaki are 'street food'...the kind of thing made in a booth and sold immediately and appear to require the kind of elaborate preparation and specialized equipment that really only make them practical to make in bulk...like perogis or dumplings or something.

that said, they are soooooo good and you have try them! my suggestion...take a trip to japan! the west coast is about as close as you get...unless you live in like china...and, contrary to what you've been told your whole life, is not that expensive and is totally fun and weird and gorgeous. dare you.
posted by sexyrobot at 9:51 PM on January 9, 2006

(ps...the ones i had were just batter, green onions and octopus with sauce (sweet, thick)...certainly no rice krispies or worcestershire sauce)
posted by sexyrobot at 9:59 PM on January 9, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks for all the advice. I'm always up for culinary experiments but prior to trying it myself, I'd like to know what they're supposed to be like.
posted by pieisexactlythree at 10:18 PM on January 9, 2006

This is the kind of question that readers of chowhound.com like to answer. I suggest you post something (no cost to post or read, nor is registration required) to the Pacific Northwest message board.
posted by WestCoaster at 10:18 AM on January 10, 2006

Best answer: They sell them at a cart outside of Uwajimaya in Beaverton.
posted by kaiseki at 5:03 PM on January 10, 2006