Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryosuke Sano
Hi Ryosuke, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My wife and I recently moved from Florida to Texas in 2023. We both are foodies and love cooking. As a Japanese native, I was sad to see little variety in Japanese cuisine here in San Antonio. The food scene in Japan is very diverse, especially Japanese street food. So, we decided to start a Japanese street food business in 2024. Our specialty is Takoyaki, an octopus ball with toppings—a popular street food item from my hometown, Osaka, Japan.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Somewhat bumpy in the beginning. For some people, consuming octopus is unappealing, given the perceptions about its texture. We have adapted and offered other varieties such as shrimp Takoyaki and Karaage (Japanese fried chicken).
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Kuru Kuru Japanese Street Foods?
As business owners, we want to introduce San Antonians to Japanese food and culture. That is, we want people to explore lesser-known Japanese food and experience how they are traditionally made. As mentioned, our specialty is Takoyaki, a food experience that is not only good but also fun to watch. Traditionally, Takoyaki is cooked on an open grill with several round indents. We use Takoyaki picks to spin the batter to create a ball, hence our name: “Kuru Kuru,” which is an onomatopoeia for spinning in Japanese. We also offer other street food items such as Karaage (Japanese fried chicken with our homemade Yuzu dipping sauce) and will be introducing Taiyaki (a fish-shaped waffle with a sweetened red bean paste or other sweet fillings) very soon!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We do not have a brick-and-mortar (yet), but we are regular attendees at farmers’ markets and events around San Antonio. Follow us on social media for our next location (kurukuru_satx). We are also hoping to collaborate with other small businesses in the future.
Pricing:
- Takoyaki: Small (6pcs) — $7
- Takoyaki: Medium (12pcs) — $13
- Takoyaki: Large (18pcs) — $20
- Karaage (5pcs) — $6
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurukuru_satx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556610801541
