When you go to a festival, the first things that catch your eye are all the food stalls, right? Game stalls like lotteries and yo-yo fishing are fun, and food stalls that everyone loves—from kids to adults—are a must.
In this article, we’ll introduce a roundup of classic festival foods.
We’ve picked a wide range, from longtime favorites to items that have become popular in recent years.
If you’re wondering what to eat at a festival or which type of stall to run, be sure to check this out!
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Roundup of classic and popular festival foods: trending menu items too (1–10)
candied fruit
In addition to candied apples, a classic festival sweet that’s been around for ages, fruit candy—various fruits coated in a hard sugar shell—has recently become very popular.
Besides apples, strawberries, grapes, mandarins, kiwi, pineapple, and many other fruits are used.
The sight of colorful fruits encased in glossy candy is bright and adorable, appealing to everyone from small children to adults.
The sweetness of the candy pairs perfectly with the tartness of the fruit, making it irresistibly easy to keep eating!
yakisoba (fried noodles)
Speaking of street food menus, yakisoba cooked on a teppan griddle is a must! Yakisoba finished over high heat on a griddle has a different kind of deliciousness than the kind you make at home in a frying pan.
Plus, yakisoba stalls are fun because you get to watch the staff’s skillful moves as they cook.
Recently, more places have started offering omu-soba—classic yakisoba topped with a thin omelet—in addition to the orthodox style.
Some stalls even pride themselves on extra-large portions, so if you’re really hungry, yakisoba is the way to go!
karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken)
When you go to a festival, you can pretty much count on finding karaage stalls.
At bigger festivals, there might even be several vendors selling it! Karaage is such a classic, but each shop has its own flavor and style—craggy, crunchy coating or a thin batter; soy sauce-based or salt-based seasoning, and so on.
You’ll also sometimes see regional varieties, like Hokkaido’s zangi or Oita’s Nakatsu karaage, so it’s fun to stroll around and try different kinds.
French fries
Eating while walking is one of those special pleasures you can only really enjoy at festivals, isn’t it? Freshly made French fries are one of those treats.
Fries are a simple dish of thinly cut potatoes deep-fried in oil, but once you take a bite, they’re irresistibly delicious.
There are all kinds: extra-long fries, spiral-shaped tornado potatoes, and cups that combine fries with karaage fried chicken.
It might be fun to compare different fries at the festival.
Whole cucumber pickles
On hot days at summer festivals and fireworks shows, you just crave something cold, don’t you? There’s the whole pickled cucumber on a stick, chilled in ice.
Many people probably find themselves wanting one of those ice-cold, whole pickled cucumbers.
The seasoning varies by vendor—some use salt and kelp, others use dashi—but all of them bring out the cucumber’s flavor.
They’re great for snacking on while you walk, with a satisfying crunch, and since cucumbers pose minimal allergy concerns, even small children can enjoy them.
grilled squid
Ikayaki is also one of the staple teppan-grilled dishes at festival stalls, and it’s popular with people of all ages.
Generally, it’s simply grilled squid coated in a soy-based sauce.
The savory aroma of seafood and the charred soy sauce really whets your appetite.
On the other hand, in some places “ikayaki” refers to something more like okonomiyaki—similar to a hashimaki—with squid tentacles mixed in.
That version is also packed with squid umami and is delicious, so be sure to give it a try if you come across it.
Takoyaki
Among street food menus, takoyaki is especially classic and highly popular.
I think there are quite a few people who always buy takoyaki when they go to festivals.
Recently, in addition to the basic sauce, some shops offer a variety of flavors like ponzu, salt, and sweet chili, making it fun to choose.
Another thing to watch when buying takoyaki at a stall is the vendor’s skillful hands! You can watch forever as the takoyaki are finished one after another with fluid, practiced movements—it never gets boring!