Ikayaki facts for kids
Ikayaki (いか焼き, イカ焼き, or 烏賊焼) is a super popular fast food in Japan. When most people in Japan talk about ikayaki, they mean grilled squid. This tasty snack is usually topped with soy sauce. You might get a whole squid body (without the insides), rings cut from the body, or even just one or more tentacles. It all depends on how big the squid is!
Ikayaki is a common sight in many izakayas, which are like Japanese pubs or casual restaurants. You'll also often find grilled squid tentacles on a stick, which are a big hit at Japanese festivals.
Osaka's Special Ikayaki Pancake
In Osaka, a big city in Japan, the word "ikayaki" can mean something a bit different. It refers to a special kind of "squid pancake" that's a local favorite.
How Osaka Ikayaki is Made
This pancake-style ikayaki is made a bit like a folded crêpe. It uses chopped squid mixed into a firm dough. They also add Worcestershire sauce and sometimes an egg. The mixture is cooked and pressed quickly between two hot iron plates.
This way of making ikayaki is super fast, taking only about a minute to cook! That's one reason why it's so popular in Osaka.
Where to Find Osaka Ikayaki
One famous place to get this Osaka-style ikayaki is at the Snack Park in the Hanshin Department Store in Umeda, Osaka. You can also often find ikayaki sold as street food or at the beach, perfect for a quick and yummy snack!
It's important not to mix up ikayaki with takoyaki. Takoyaki are those round octopus dumplings that are also famous in Osaka. They are quite different!
