Takoyaki (たこ焼き; lit. fried/baked octopus) is a popular Japanese dumpling made of batter, octopus, tenkasu, pickled ginger, konyaku, and leek, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, green laver (aonori), and these days mayonnaise. Making takoyaki requires a special frying pan made of cast iron with half-spherical molds.
Although takoyaki can easily be made at home, provided the equipment is available, it should be considered fast food and is almost exclusively sold over the street. It is especially popular in the Kansai region, but has seen a surge in popularity in recent years in other parts of Japan.