Basil Takoyaki @ Seiryu Park Food Trucks , Hakata Ward, Fukuoka

 

Tucked in the heart of the city, lies the central node of the food truck scene. And in here I found something pretty unusual. But then again, if its a bit too weird, you have to try it. Well at least once. 

Welcome to Seiryu Park

Fukuoka is famous for its yatai street stalls and is one of the few places you can still enjoy such alfresco dining in Japan. Before we begin, it should be noted that there is no official name for this stall. I deliberately chose Seiryu Park Food Truck as it is from a food truck in Seiryu Park. It should be noted that this is a regular event, and not the yearly Freedom Night Market that occurs at the end of the year.  So there you go. 

Target acquired

After some exploring,  I found a spot that serves basil takoyaki. I was pretty intrigued as to how this is actually made and how it would taste like. Within a split second 700 yen poofed just like that. This was definitely one of the more memorable takoyaki meals I have had. The green sauce on top makes for a stunning visual.

A more achievable six pack.

The octopus balls are pretty standard, but they are still pretty good. More closely resembled to the Osaka style, the outer crust is a bit more soft and supple, compared to the Tokyo style that has a crunchy shell. Think of Gindaco and you probably get the picture. The batter was well salted and the bouncy octopus inside competes the experience. 

A close up

Then how about the basil topping? It was actually quite interesting. Similar to an Italian pesto, it has a strong herbal smell with some pungency. Probably due to the inclusion of parmesan cheese. It in itself was pretty good and would mix well with hot pasta. With the takoyaki, not so much. As the takoyaki batter is quite salty as it is, adding more sodium seems a bit off. Lucky that the basil aroma was able to temper some of that saltiness. Otherwise, it would have been an awkward eating experience. Probably an experiment that went a bit too far. But in the end, I took everything down with relatively ease. Perhaps I will stick to the traditional toppings like spring onions the next time round. As least it was memorable. 

Another shot of the premises. I need to improve my night photo taking skills. 

Be that as it may, this area now has more than just the regular yatai fare. With food trucks serving churros, jerk chicken, and various fried and grilled items, I am sure you will get something that you fancy. And of course, unique takes on takoyaki. So if you would like to try the octopus balls that I had or would like to see what other food trucks are available, just head out to Canal City. The park next to it is where you need to be.