Hyper Japan 2013 Special: Yaki Japanese Bakery

Yaki (meaning 'grilled' or 'baked') had a street-food feel to its stall, with the spectacle and aroma of takoyaki-making drawing a long queue of people.

How should I describe takoyaki? Octopus...batter...balls? They may not sound particularly appealing put that way but these creamy, fried delights are a staple snack on the sides of busy Japanese streets. Although taiyaki (sweet, fish-shaped waffle snacks filled with read bean paste) were also on offer, I opted for some good old takoyaki and a matcha latte.

Open the box and...Ta-da! Pockets of mystery deliciousness promised within.

  OK, they look a little messy but that's street food for you. Octopus-batter mix gets contact-grilled in a dedicated contraption (similar to a waffle iron), leaving it soft inside with an easy-to-handle skin on the outside. Then mayonnaise,  seaweed flakes and a sweet, brown sauce are generously slathered on top to create a satisfying, saucy mess (ahem) where each piece is perfectly sized to pick up with chopsticks.

So how did they taste? Well, it was a pretty decent effort. Retaining the details of having two sauces plus seaweed was a nice touch, but the mayonnaise wasn't as creamy as the kind used in Japan. I think that Helman's or something similar would have worked, but the giant tub of whatever they used wasn't quite there. This is important because when it's right, the mayo matches the texture and mouthfeel of the soft batter inside, accentuating the creaminess - which I did miss. What octopus was there was great; firm without being chewy, but I definitely wanted more.

The basic idea is there but the balance could use work to make the them delicious. If you've never tried takoyaki before then by all means do give Yaki a visit for the novelty - it's an unusual food find and I loved the way their stall gave a street food feel. I hope that their store follows a similar idea  in that respect.

You can find Yaki in London at 53 Goodge St, or online at yaki.co.jp