In Hawaiʻi, festivals may look a little different, but they are an important part of bringing the local community together and keeping cultural traditions alive! Let's learn about six yatai festival foods:
Takoyaki
Takoyaki たこ焼き (grilled octopus) is a popular Japanese street food snack created in the 1930s by a vendor in Osaka. These savory bite-sized treats are typically made from batter filled with diced tako (octopus), green onions, and pickled ginger. They are cooked in a special pan, giving them their unique round shape. Takoyaki is best eaten immediately after it’s freshly made at a yatai 屋台 (food stall).
Yakisoba
Inspired by Chinese noodle dishes, yakisoba 焼きそば (fried noodles) is a widely enjoyed dish made with stir-fried wheat noodles, sliced meat, diced vegetables, and a savory sauce. At a matsuri 祭り (festival), yakisoba is cooked in large batches on a teppan 鉄板 (iron/steel plate). You can find this food stall by following the smells and sounds of cooking!
Kakigori
Cool down during the summer with kakigori かき氷 (shaved ice), a popular treat enjoyed at a natsumatsuri 夏祭り (summer festival). Kakigori is a finely shaved ice dessert flavored with colorful syrups and toppings like condensed milk, fruit, mochi, or azuki beans! Does this dessert look familiar? Japanese plantation workers brought this dessert’s signature fine-shaving technique to Hawaiʻi.
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki お好み焼き (savory pancake) translates to “grill what you like.” Its name reflects its customizable nature. You’ll find variations of this dish across different regions. The base of this dish consists of cabbage and batter. It’s commonly filled with pork belly, and then topped with sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and aonori 青のり (dried seaweed). Okonomiyaki is one of the most filling meals that you will find at a matsuri!
Taiyaki
Invented in Tokyo during the Meiji era, taiyaki 鯛焼き (fish-shaped pancake) is a street food enjoyed year-round. Tai 鯛 (sea bream) is a fish that is believed to symbolize good fortune, prosperity, and joy! Using fish-shaped molds, batter is poured and cooked to create a slightly crispy exterior. It’s traditionally filled with sweetened red bean paste, but now you’ll find modern flavors like Nutella, matcha, and savory ingredients.
Ikayaki
Ikayaki 烏賊焼き (grilled squid) is one of the simplest yet most flavorful yatai offerings. Squid (whole or in pieces) is grilled on a teppan or charcoal and brushed with a savory soy sauce glaze. In Osaka, ikayaki is a flat pancake-like dish. This variation mixes squid pieces into a batter that is flattened and cooked between two iron plates. This snack is quite easy to eat on the go as you wander throughout a matsuri!
