(Note: Taiyaki should never be confused with takoyaki, or baked octopus balls that are usually topped with mayo and savory shaved fish flakes.)
Back to the present. BeanFish Taiyaki is the child of Liana and Brady Woo, who are currently only selling their addictive treats at their stand, which shows up at the Fremont Sunday Market and food truck events. And it’s just a stand, which is rare in Seattle’s food truck world, but it’s a great setup for summer bites. We tried three flavors: the traditional azuki bean, grandmother’s apple pie, and cinnamon sugar, which were $2-$4 per fish. They have a growing and wonderfully eclectic lineup, from custard to peanut butter and banana, that you can get at their usual stops.
In complete contrast, the grandmother’s apple pie is pretty much what the McDonald’s apple pie dreams of being: the apples are lightly spiced and in perfect, tiny cubes, and the smell of cinnamon and apple hits you before you even take a bite. For those who aren’t ready for azuki beans, this is the fish for you.
And if you’re still not sold, even the cinnamon sugar is like eating a fluffy, crispy snickerdoodle. Coated with cinnamon and sugar inside and out, the taiyaki is a little challenging to eat at first bite, like nibbling carefully on a powdered sugar doughnut. Shake the fish in the bag first if you’re nervous, and that solves the problem.
If you have a friend who can’t make it, they’re almost as good reheated in a toaster or conventional oven as getting them fresh. And don’t buy out the stand: two or three make a rather filling dessert, and they can definitely make it a full meal with their savory options. Liana said they’re hoping to hit more places besides the Fremont Sunday Market soon, so watch their site for updates.