A catalog of recommended festival booths for school culture festivals, with ideas that will shine on social media.

chijimi (Korean-style savory pancake)

Crispy Batter! Veggie-Packed Korean Pancake (Chijimi) / Miki Mama

Okonomiyaki tends to overlap with items at other restaurants, but since Korean pancakes (chijimi) are less likely to be duplicated elsewhere, I recommend them.

They’re easy to prepare, you can expand the flavor variations as much as you like with a bit of creativity, and they’re also great because you can easily adjust portion sizes by cutting them into pieces.

Okonomi Taiyaki

Even beginners can do it! How to make authentic “Okonomi Taiyaki” for a festival stall

Taiyaki is a classic festival food, but some people don’t like red bean paste or aren’t into sweets.

For those folks, a quietly popular option is okonomi-taiyaki.

Simply put, it’s like making okonomiyaki using a taiyaki mold.

You can rent a taiyaki maker from rental shops, so give it a try.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Tamasen

How to make tamasen

Many of you may have tried this nostalgic treat at night-market stalls: tamasen.

At the stalls, they quickly make a fried egg with the yolk lightly broken and cooked on both sides on a large griddle, place it on top of a prawn cracker, drizzle okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise, then add toppings like aonori seaweed, bonito flakes, and crunchy tempura bits.

You can make the fried egg in a frying pan or use a hot plate.

A tamasen bigger than your face is perfect for photos, right? You can also fold a prawn cracker in half to sandwich the fried egg and wrap it in cute parchment paper.

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utatane

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Sauceless Dan Dan Noodles

Dan Dan Noodles (without soup): How to Make Them – A Ridiculously Tasty, Addictive Bowl!

Although it’s labeled “soupless,” it’s said that the original dan dan noodles actually began as a brothless dish sold by street vendors carrying their wares on a pole.

Sauté ground pork with long green onions, garlic chives, and nuts until it forms a meat-miso, then season with soy sauce, doubanjiang, and garlic, and serve it over noodles to finish.

Because it’s a meat-miso, leftovers are easy to pack in a container and take home.

smoked

Smoked food lovers: How to make homemade bacon — full process, no cuts

Smoking is one of the most popular outdoor dishes.

Bacon and smoked salmon are classics.

Smoked marinated eggs and smoked cheese are also easy and highly recommended! It may seem like you just need to smoke them with some wood chips, but surprisingly careful prep is required—so finish the prep by the day before.

Also, after smoking, let it rest overnight to mellow the harsh smokiness and bring out a rich, flavorful taste.

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Hane Keisuke

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canned goods shop

I tried making a Top 3 ranking of the most delicious canned foods sold at convenience stores!

Have you heard of a canned-food izakaya? It’s a place where you can eat on the spot from a lineup that includes original canned foods, cans from all over Japan, cans from around the world, and unusual varieties.

How about trying that as a festival stall? Create a slightly nostalgic atmosphere and offer canned foods people have seen before but never tried.

Ochazuke (rice with tea poured over it)

"Ochazuke Dashi" Recipe (How to Make It)

Simple, gently flavored items can be surprisingly useful among school festival menus that tend to lean toward strong flavors.

Using rice and tea with just a light seasoning as the base, you can easily create variety with toppings like pickled plums or salmon flakes, and it’s a menu that also gives buyers the fun of choosing.