LA Eats Japan: A Feast for Stoners

After a foreseen cancellation in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Annual Japanese Food Festival is making its grand return this November. For the first time, this long-running food festival will now be held in an outdoor venue as the LA Eats Japan Festival. The festival invites guests to take part in modern and traditional Japanese cuisine, music, performances, and cosplay.

The annual food festival is projected to serve as many as 4,000 guests this year. They are excited to showcase Japanese food booths, live music, a cosplay contest, and a classic car show, all happening at the LA Japanese American Cultural & Community Center.

The venue will hold up to 17 yatai or stalls and one alcohol yatai if guests want to indulge in some traditional or contemporary beverages. When heading over to the festival, expect traditional eats like yakitori chicken skewers, savory okonomiyaki pancakes, curry rice, ramen, yakisoba noodles, and sushi, each served by a local restaurant in their individual booth. Later, satisfy your sweet tooth with treats like kakigori shaved ice and baby castella cakes.

Don’t miss out on live performances like the hardcore techno stylings of Repezen Foxx, who has become a staple for contemporary Japanese music and has amassed over 3 million subscribers on YouTube.

One of the more intriguing events of the night is the festival’s cosplay costume competition. The winner will be granted a prize of $1,000, while second and third place will both receive surprise gifts.

It wouldn’t be a Japanese festival without highlighting traditional musical and martial arts like Taiko Japanese percussion and Karate. Not to mention a mikoshi portable shrine will be marched through the venue streets to ward off evil and misfortune while wishing happiness and abundance upon each guest.

Since the 1999 debut of the annual Japanese Food Festival hosted by the Japanese Restaurant Association of America, it was only held in an indoor venue, but this year, the festival is broadening their horizons in an outdoor venue. Last year, guests missed out on the festival due to Covid-19.

“After being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, our food festival emerges better than ever. For the first time, it will be held in an outdoor venue,” said the president of the Los Angeles Japanese Restaurant Association, Kentaro Masuda. “Come for the authentic Japanese cuisine and the outstanding mix of live traditional and contemporary performances.”

Now that you’re ready to experience what the festival has to offer, make room for it in your calendar with the information below, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #LAeatsJAPAN.

Date: Sunday, Nov. 14

Time: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Location: 244 San Pedro St.

Admission to the LA Eats Japan Festival is free. 

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