Moemachi, small takoyaki shop in the Pathway

Although it is not the most famous Japanese speciality nor the most widespread in Paris, takoyaki are nevertheless a choice dish in Japanese gastronomy. Literally meaning 'grilled octopus', takoyaki are small dumplings similar in consistency to pancake batter, filled with pieces of octopus.

On the Sentier side, Moemachi recently opened the doors of its small shop decorated in a pop way, with shelves loaded with a multitude of figurines. A kawaii and undeniably original decoration which, from the street, catches the eye of the curious and the amateurs already conquered by the surge in popular culture, these last ten years, of mangas and other animes.

Originally, takoyaki is the street food dish par excellence of the Osaka region. It is even a real open-air show, since the small stalls that serve it, called yatai, have a cooking plate outside, which is an ideal way to attract customers, on the one hand, and to guarantee, on the other hand, the freshness of these little dumplings, eaten just out of the mold by 3, 6 or even by dozen.

A tradition of the show which was lost when takoyaki arrived in the capital, but which still persists in some Japanese-Parisian restaurants, and Moemochi is one of them. No wonder, then, that passers-by with stomachs hollowed out by hunger are intrigued by the meticulous preparation of these minute dumplings, whose dough is poured into round molds, covered with pieces of octopus (too little, for our taste, at Moemachi), then turned in a graceful way with a long and thin wooden spade.

Even though the octopus is not enough, the takoyaki at Moemochi are nevertheless, in flavors and textures, real Japanese takoyaki, covered with a sauce similar to the okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and shavings of katsuobushi, the famous dried bonito, whose ballet is always pleasant to watch.

On the menu of this little place, another unusual street-food dish, to be eaten with the fingers: inari sushi, a kind of rice ball covered with a choice of sweet and sour dried pork, beef (surprisingly served cold, too bad), and surrounded by a fried tofu skin for the sake of the taste.

• To be read
• Japanese restaurants in Paris
• Akira Back Paris, the Prince of Wales's modern Japanese restaurant
• Wrap'n Roll Sushi, the Japanese restaurant for generous, unusual and truly affordable rolls

For the rest of the menu of Moemachi, ramen, katsudon and other dishes in sauce, we will prefer a visit to the Japanese restaurants of Saint-Anne Street which, for a similar price, offer more refined and better executed dishes.