Japan House’s Matsuri Festival is this Saturday, May 6th. Culture Editor Louise will share a preview of the event tomorrow, so keep an eye out for that. The festival will have performances, activities, and many food and drink vendors all with unique bites. Here are some Matsuri menu items that made my tummy rumble.
First, I really want to try Watson’s Japanese fried chicken. The chicken shack’s Matsuri special is a basket of crispy twice-fried chicken tossed in Japanese barbecue sauce plus red chili and rice-vinegar mayo on top.
If you want matcha or matcha cookies, swing by Japan House’s matcha cafe. You can also try shaved ice and an awesome Japanese snack called inarizushi (fried tofu skins filled with seasoned sushi rice).
ISHI and Kaori’s Oven are teaming up with Pond Street for Matsuri this weekend. I want to try the collab’s hiya-jiru with seared salmon. The chilled summer miso soup will be refreshing on a sunny afternoon, and you’ll still have room for Kaori’s ichigo daifuku (strawberry mochi).
I am eyeing Suzu Bakery‘s entire list of Japanese baked goods. The $3 Matsuri cookie pack is a good pick because Suzu’s sets of multiple cookies usually include a sampling of flavors, but the brownie bites, yuzu cake, and chocolate chip mochi cookie sound very yummy, too.
Popcorn lovers should try some of RiPoppedIt’s Matsuri mix popcorn, which will be a savory flavor with wasabi peas. Read Ashley’s interview with the owner of the Champaign business that sells pretty popcorn at the Urbana farmers’ market.
If you want bulgogi, then stop by Kimchi Factory‘s table for their tasty bulgogi at the festival. The Campustown restaurant will also serve an off-the-menu dish for Matsuri: a Korean corn dog with cheese or potato.
Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage will serve up fusion dishes like Japanese potato salad with carrots, cucumber, corn, and Kewpie mayo. I’m also hungry for the sandwich shop’s $4 steamed buns with pork, shiitake, carrots, and cabbage.
Urbana’s Siam Terrace will be a vendor at Matsuri, too, with $1 crab rangoons and vegan potstickers. The restaurant will also offer smaller versions of their popular dishes like chicken pad Thai, panang curry, and more.
Last but not least, under the Libations Tent, check out Triptych Brewing‘s special brews for Matsuri: Mirai | Beautiful Future, a sparkling lager made with puffed jasmine rice and Kansha | Gratitude, a hard seltzer brewed with vanilla and yuzu.
Matsuri Festival
Japan House
2000 S Lincoln Ave
Champaign
Sa May 6th noon to 9 p.m.
