Vancouver's annual Powell Street Festival is one of the best ways all year to get to know the city's Japanese culture. The most delicious part is that there is so much to eat and drink, including specialty items that are a little harder to find in Metro Vancouver.
Taking place August 4-5, 2018 from 11:30 am to 7 pm each day at Oppenheimer Park, the Powell Street Festival is free to attend. Of course, once you get a look at the menu, you'll want to make sure you've got cash on hand to feast on an array of sweet and savoury treats.
There are over 20 food vendors confirmed who will be on hand to serve up authentic Japanese eats. Past Fest attendees know this is the spot for items like takoyaki, spam musubi, imagawayaki (wheel cake), chicken karaage, osaka balls, ramen, okonomiyaki, sushi, and even a wild salmon bbq.
Japadog. Photo courtesy Powell Street Festival.
Familiar vendors like Japadog and Mogu from the city's street food scene will have signature items like fusion hot dogs and sweet and spicy fried chicken. There's going to be tons of ice cream, matcha, cold drinks, crepes, noodles, teas, grilled squid, and of course those giant "hurricane" potatoes on a stick.
If you're still hungry after the festival, head to neighbourhood spot Dosanko to check out their homestyle Japanese eats and their special offerings for the weekend.
Here is the full list of all the amazing foods you'll find at the 2018 Powell Street Festival.
Artisan Sakemaker
Ginger Rice Cream, Cranberry Rice Cream, Chocolate Rice Cream, Apple juice, Cherry juice, Sake kasu
Chicco Café
Odaifuku Ice Cream, Beef Rice Burger, frozen ice S’more
Coconama Chocolate
Namachoco – many flavours of fresh Japanese chocolate
Damien’s Belgian Waffles
Japanese themed waffles and mini waffles, Meringue, Madeleines, Cookies, Pearl Sugar
Hatchan
Takoyaki. Photo courtesy Powell Street Festival
Squid Takoyaki, Octopus Takoyaki
Ichiyo’s Matcha Bar
Usucha, Matcha/Hojicha Latte, Iced Matcha/Hojicha, Matcha/Hojicha Frappe, Matcha Affogato
JAPADOG
A variety of Japanese-inspired hot dogs (Kurobata Terimayo, Okonomi, Oroshi, Gomamiso), French Fries (with toppings), Ramune, Fries
Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association
Wild salmon BBQ dinner, Spam musubi sushi
Japanese Crepe Sasuke
Japanese Crepe Sasuke (Photo courtesy Powell Street Festival)
Crepes (Strawberry, Banana, Half/Half, Japanese Luxury, Ice Cream)
Konko Church Imagawayaki
Imagawayaki, Cold Green Tea, Iced Tea, Rice Crackers
Mogu Food Cart
Sweet & Spicy Chicken Karaage
Osaka Ball
Osaka balls (Shrimp, Scallop) in original, wasa mayo, and teri mayo flavours
Otowa Ryu Dance Group
Gyoza dinner, Gyoza side dish
Potato San
Hurricane Potato (Spicy, Sweet Miso, and Miso Garlic flavours)
Republica Coffee Roasters
Coffee, Iced Coffee, Lattes, Iced Lattes, Organic Agave Syrup, Cold Brew, Roasted Coffee Beans
Benkei Ramen
@benkeiramen/Instagram
Ramen (Tokyo Shoyu, Negishio, Kokumiso Tonkotsu, Spicy Miso, Shirunashi Tantanmen), CC lemon, Oolong Tea
Tea Lani
Handcrafted teas
Tenrikyo Yonomotokai
Yakisoba, Korokke (fried croquette)
Teriyaki Boys
Teriyaki Don (Chicken, Beef, Tofu), Ikayaki (grilled squid), Garlic Shrimp
The Uncommon Café
The Uncommon Cafe (Photo courtesy Powell Street Festival)
Yakiniku Pulled Pork Sandwich, Yakiniku Jackfruit Sandwich, Fresh Prawn Sunomono Salad, Frozen Watermelon, Peppermint Lemon Iced Tea, Kombucha on tap
Tonari Gumi
Cold Ramen Salad, California Roll, Inari Sushi, Sushi Set, Mochi Manju, Mugicha, Shiso Juice
Vankoji Foods
Homemade Koji products
Vancouver Buddhist Temple
Curry Beef on Rice with Salad, Inari Sushi, Manju, Mugi Cha, Corn on the Cob, Ice Cream
Vancouver Japanese Language School (VJLS)
Chicken Yakitori, Okonomiyaki (Beef and Vegetarian), Yakionigiri, Kakigori (snow cone), Uji Kintoki (Japanese shaved ice dessert)
