If you are always looking for your favorite ethnic place, mark this Turin address: Takoyaki Minamoto, the real Takoyaki, tasty and original, directly from Osaka! With the open kitchen, you can also watch the preparation in front of the chef.
Finding corners of authentic Japan in the city where you live is always an emotion. It seems to go back to the places visited, savor dishes we loved and immerse yourself again in special atmospheres, only dreaming of the next trip to Japan! It is finally possible today taste Takoyaki in Turin. Where is it? From Takoyaki Minamoto, a Japanese-style street food venue.
What are Takoyaki
It is a true and ancient specialty of Japanese gastronomy, traditionally prepared in the city of Osaka: Takoyaki are tasty fried octopus meatballs in batter. You have surely seen them in cartoons, manga or some Japanese-themed movies. Takoyaki are very famous, they can be considered a cornerstone of street food in Japan.
The meatballs are cooked on a special plate and seasoned with a special sauce, with a mayonnaise a little different from what we Italians are used to, dried seaweed and dried fish flakes.
Takoyaki Minamoto Turin: what to expect
Takoyaki Minamoto is located in the heart of Turin (via Bogino 17 / d). Very easy to reach with a pleasant walk from Porta Nuova Station.
As soon as you enter you will feel catapulted into Japan, in particular the city of Osaka: with its perfumes, its cheerfulness and its atmosphere strongly dedicated to food. Osaka is also the right city to experience what this country has to offer on the street food side.
Takoyaki in fact are considered snacks, snacks, to be consumed quickly, while walking or in special specialized shops, just like Takoyaki Minamoto.
Takoyaki Minamoto, with its splendid show kitchen and the sympathy of the cook (who comes from Osaka!) Perfectly embodies this spirit. It is very nice to sit at the counter right in front of the kitchen and observe the incredible dexterity of the chef while preparing this dish which at the end will take on the famous spherical shape. I recommend you come back several times and try all the sauces available, they are excellent: the house sauce, the one with pepper and mayonnaise and finally the one with wasabi and mayonnaise.
Little advice: do not give in to the temptation to swallow your meatballs immediately, the takoyaki are served ultra-hot, you would really risk getting burned!
Another specialty
Another specialty of this small and characteristic place are the fried chicken wings (and glaze with a special sauce): Tebasaki karaage. For those who love chicken: the Japanese fried one you should really try, it is really tasty and crunchy.
I recommend that you finish your meal with a great matcha ice cream, perhaps in the variant with a crunchy flower-shaped wafer: monake. You will certainly not be disappointed, the taste of green tea makes the dessert very light and fluffy.
You can choose to sit on the bar or take your order takeaways. As already mentioned, the Takoyaki in particular are born just as takeaway and strolling food.
I am already thinking about my next visit to Takoyaki Minamoto, a place that immediately struck me for many factors: the quality of the food, the friendliness and hospitality of the owners, the 100% Osaka street style!
