Japanese Fes 2021: The Tastiest Day of your Life

Have you ever tried Japanese street food? Are you a fan of savory fried delicacies and sweet snacks? At the Japanese Fes in New York City, there are many opportunities throughout the year to expand your palate!

The East Village’s Japanese Fes (4th Ave, 9th-10th St) is a great way to experience Japanese culture through your taste buds. The first festival of the season was on August 29th, the second taking place on September 19th. Running from 10am- 6pm, the festival has successfully fed over 10,000 hungry customers with approximately 500 different foods to try! The vendors of Japanese Fes have created an affordable, safe, exciting environment- with prices averaging at$10 and a completely outdoor venue. Rain or shine, these vendors have served some of the best variety of Japanese dishes you can find in New York. The Japanese Fes vendors are given space for creative Japanese foods, however are prohibited to sell anything containing fish, raw eggs and food, fake or imitation meat, or alcohol.

The East Village Japanese Fes first debuted in 2016 through an indoor food venue, a Ramen contest, and a Street fest much like what we see in 2021. Since 2016, the Japanese Fes has continued to serve as one of the few Japanese food festivals in New York of such a large-scale, taking only a break in 2020 due to the pandemic.

While the spotlight of the Japanese Fes definitely shines on the delicious foods, there is also an array of activities for all ages to enjoy. The August 2021 event offered activities such as die cutting, a Yukata contest, water shooting, bouncy ball scoop, yo-yo, and more! The atmosphere of the Japanese Fes is colorful and lively, showcasing the beauty and fun in Japanese culture.

Some Must-Trys of Japanese Fes

Catmint Wheel Cake

I mean come on, who doesn’t love cake! Made by the masterminds at Catmint Wheel

Cake Inc., these unique cakes made from fresh, high-quality ingredients are an Instagram hit!Catmint Wheel Cake Inc. has adapted the dessert from popular Taiwanese street food that was popularized during Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan. In Japanese, Wheel Cake is known as Imagawayaki, and continues to be a must-try Japanese dessert! See more of these adorable cakes on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/catmintwheelcake/?hl=en .

Authentic Osaka Takoyaki made with Premium Ingredients

Made by Karls Balls, this dish of fried octopus is a relatively new Japanese street food favorite! Popularized in Osaka, this soulful snack has also made its mark at the East Village Japanese Fest as a fan favorite. Check out the Karls Balls website at https://www.karlsballs.com/karls-takoyaki-mission.html for more information on the long process it took for the company to perfect the dish!

Fluffy Japanese Cheesecake

Cheesecake is already a popular dessert adored by Americans, but have you ever tried it fluffy? Fluffy Japanese Cheesecake made by the vendor Uncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecake introduces Americans to a whole new take on their favorite sweet. Uncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecake comes in a variety of flavors, from matcha to oreo! These cheesecakes are made completely from scratch, and are served straight from the oven. To learn more about Uncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecakes, the East Village Japanese Fes is a must, or you can read more about Uncle Tetsu at https://www.uncletetsu-us.com/about-uncle-tetsu .

Didn’t make the East Village Japanese Fes this past August or September? No worries!On October 23rd, the New York Japan Fes will take place in Chelsea this time around (6th Ave, 23rd to 32nd St.) Here you can enjoy many of the same foods and activities, but with a fall twist that will make your experience even more special! For more information about past and future Japanese Fes events, check out https://www.japanfes.com/ for dates, vendors, and details!