Shinji “Dogga” Mizuno is well known around the Mount for his longboarding skills, fun-loving personality (look for the video of him surfing in a gold jumpsuit) and food. He’s been serving up his delicious Golden Balls takoyaki at TLBM for years, with many fans who immediately beeline towards his stall.

“I just love working outside and in good vibes! The market is amazing ‘cause there’s a chance to grow our small businesses and it’s great to see creative people doing cool things.”

Shinji started cooking takoyaki in his hometown of Osaka, Japan, at age 15, around the time he fell in love with surfing, which has taken him to Byron Bay, Fiji, Indonesia, Taiwan and Sri Lanka in search of waves.

Settling in the Mount, he finally opened his own business. “I had lots of takoyaki parties with my friends here and they loved my balls!” he laughs. “So my friend [surfboard shaper] Jordan Griffin helped me set it up.”

Traditional takoyaki include octopus, but Shinji’s are vegetarian with mushies, cabbage and spring onions, served with mayo and takoyaki sauce. He also offers a mean chicken karaage, and his Golden Ball merch ranges from hoodies to condoms and totes.