Octopus & squid (tako / ika)

Cephalopods — chewy boiled octopus, smooth raw squid — clean and subtly sweet, all about texture and knife work.

Ika

Ika is squid — served raw for a dense, slippery, subtly sweet bite, often finely scored with knife cuts to tenderize it and catch the soy.

蛸 tako

Tako

Tako is octopus — usually pre-boiled for a firm, springy bite and clean, mildly sweet flavor. Getting it tender instead of rubbery is a quiet test of the kitchen.