Dotonbori Akaoni

A famous takoyaki octopus dumpling restaurant located in Osaka City’s Chuo Ward which has even been featured in the Michelin Guide. The shop uses raw instead of the more conventional boiled octopus and makes no use of chemical seasonings, resulting in a more delicately flavored takoyaki that has won much renown. The shop also takes great care in the dashi stock used to flavor the dumpling batter. The shop’s takoyaki is so delicious you might be tempted to eat it as-is, but Akaoni also offers conventional sauce and soy sauce for diners to enjoy their takoyaki with. Eating “chapuchapu” style—dipping your takoyaki in a cup of warm dashi stock—is also popular. The shop uses no beef or pork in any of its dishes, making it a good choice for tourists from outside Japan with dietary restrictions.