'Takoyaki' proving an unexpected hit in Britain

LONDON (Kyodo) Fish and chips, burgers, pies and kebabs are the traditional fare for many British people in need of a quick bite on the go.

William Christophers (second from right) prepares "takoyaki" octopus dumplings at his stall at Sheffield University in England. PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM CHRISTOPHERS/KYODO

But one enterprising young man is hoping to lure his countrymen away from their usual fast-food habits and introduce them to the delights of breaded octopus, or "takoyaki."

William Christophers has just finished putting up a mobile "yatai" (food stall) selling takoyaki.

Takoyaki is a dumpling made of batter, octopus, pickled ginger and spring onions, topped with slightly sweet sauce, dried seaweed and mayonnaise.

Christophers believes he has the first takoyaki yatai in all of Europe.

The 22-year-old is half British and half Japanese. He came up with the idea after talking to the owner of a takoyaki stall in the United States who said it was a big hit.

The budding restaurateur hails from Kobe, where takoyaki is especially popular. He said the snack appeals to Britons looking for a change.

"I thought that takoyaki would be a healthy and different option from the usual fast food in Britain such as burgers and kebabs," he said.

His international staff of 14 keeps busy feeding takoyaki to hungry students at Sheffield University, 270 km north of London, where Christophers is currently studying architecture.

His crew is there every Tuesday, but in the future they want to try their luck in other northern cities such as Leeds and York. They also plan to attend music festivals, which they think will be a lucrative market. Some of the profits made by the yatai go to Sheffield University and a local charity.

Christophers' success belies a hesitant start. He feared octopus might not appeal to many Britons, so he experimented with dumplings filled with vegetables, chocolate and chicken.

But his test marketing of the authentic takoyaki with students and the general public proved to be a hit.

"We found that the most popular one was the traditional takoyaki with octopus. A lot of people were willing to try it and there was a very positive reaction," Christophers said.

"I think we are breaking down a lot of misconceptions because people tend to think that Japanese food is expensive," Christophers said. "Making takoyaki is something of a performance art and the public love to crowd around and watch us make it."