# takoyaki

/ˌtɑkoʊˈjɑki/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/takoyaki
Updated: 2026-09-28

## Definition

a popular Japanese snack made of small, round balls of fried batter. They usually have a piece of octopus inside and are topped with a special sauce and dried fish flakes.

For teachers: a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special moulded pan. Typically contains minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion, served with takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise.

## Examples

- We bought some hot takoyaki from a street food stall.
- While visiting Osaka, we stood in line for twenty minutes to try the city's most famous takoyaki.
- The vendor skillfully flipped the takoyaki using small picks, ensuring each sphere achieved a perfectly crisp exterior while maintaining a creamy, molten centre.

## Usage notes

- Often treated as uncountable when referring to the dish in general, but countable when referring to the individual balls.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.