Moemachi, small takoyaki shop in the Pathway

Although not the best-known or most widespread Japanese specialty in Paris, takoyaki are nevertheless a delicacy of choice 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 of town, Moemachi recently opened the doors of its small, pop-decorated shop, with shelves loaded with a multitude of figurines. The kawaii decor is undeniably original and, from the street, catches the eye of onlookers and fans already won over by the surge of manga and anime in popular culture over the last ten years.

Originally, takoyaki is the street food dish par excellence in the Osaka region. In fact, it's an open-air extravaganza, since the little stalls that serve it, called yatai, have an outdoor cooking hob, the ideal way to attract customers and guarantee the freshness of these little dumplings, eaten fresh out of the mould by the dozen, 3 or 6.

A tradition that was lost with the arrival of takoyaki in the capital, but still persists in a few Japanese-Parisian restaurants, Moemochi being one of them. It's hardly surprising, 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 few, for our taste, at Moemachi), and then gracefully turned with a long, thin wooden spade.

Moemochi's takoyaki, though lacking in octopus, are nevertheless, in flavor and texture, true Japanese takoyaki, topped with okonomiyaki-like sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and shavings of katsuobushi, the famous dried bonito, whose ballet is always a pleasure to watch.

On the menu of this little boui-boui, 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 skin of fried tofu for strength and taste.

• To be read
• Japanese restaurants in Paris, our top picks
• Akira Back Paris, the Prince of Wales's modern Japanese restaurant
• Wrap'n Roll Sushi: the Japanese eatery serving creative, accessible rolls for everyone

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

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.