Apple章魚燒 永大夜市
The octopus balls at Apple Takoyaki in Yongkang Yongda Night Market seem to lack a presence in Google reviews. I specifically bought them to try this time, but I was a bit disappointed. The outer skin of the takoyaki wasn't particularly crispy, and the filling was on the softer side. The bigger issue, though, is that the overall flavor was a bit bland.
Their sauce lacked sufficient saltiness, and the mayonnaise didn't stand out at all. I was originally hoping that the chili powder could save it, but the spiciness was practically nonexistent, and I couldn't taste any of the expected aromatic elements. I asked the owner about it, and he said that ever since the Sudan red incident, they felt like chili powder just doesn’t have any heat anymore. The texture of the octopus itself was acceptable; you could definitely bite into the pieces of octopus, but paired with these seasonings, it felt like it was missing its soul.
In terms of price, it was quite average, falling within the typical pricing range for takoyaki at night markets, and the portion size was just right. However, if you consider the flavor, it doesn't feel very cost-effective. I would suggest that if you're specifically looking for good eats, you might want to save your appetite for other stalls; you probably don’t need to queue just for this one.