Note: Schedules/locations are updated at https://www.japanfes.com/newyork/2026…read more Always on weekends, and always on a handful of blocks, this is a very popular and very crowded Japanese food festival. From previous years, the space was very cramped, but at least this year, on the Upper East Side earlier today, it wasn't as bad as usual, as it seems some stuff was actually spread out for once. There are a couple of vendors who are commonly there, such as Karl's Balls, a takoyaki/octopus ball stand, among others. New for me this year was Mochi Mochi Sisters, which had various types of mochi, as per the name. This included fruit-filled ones (mango/peach/pineapple) for $3, larger daifuku for $5 to $6, depending on type and filling, or a single skewer of Mitarashi Dango for $5. I got the latter one, and I regretted it a bit even outside of the price, as it lacked any char, though at least the sugar/soy sauce syrup wasn't super sweet. Another newcomer was Chotto Matcha, which unfortunately only made matcha lattes, so I wasn't interested. I thought of getting some $5 broth from Menya Jiro, but in hindsight, I'm happy I didn't based on reviews. It's a fun thing to check out, but the prices are laughable.

I had so much fun at Japan Fes and ate so much good food. I enjoyed learning about Japanese…read moreculture. The festival did not only have food, but they had music, games, and art. There were a lot of vendors there. I was able to try Japanese dishes like onigiri, inari zushi, yakitori, gyoza, karaage, and the katsu sando. I had sweet treats like mochi, tanghulu fruit candies, and the delicious ube soufflé pancake. They also had refreshing drinks and different matcha vendors. I plan to go to Japan Fes every year. The festival is throughout the year in different boroughs in NYC and ends in December 5th.

Been to eeeeeatscon 4 times now and it's always a blast! NYC Oct 2025 had some great vendors…read moreincluding Cowy Burger (from Miami, their burger was probably my favorite bite of the day), Santo Taco, a delicious collab between Potluck Club and Carnitas Ramirez, and much more. The "passport" feature is fun, if you eat at 7 different stands you can earn some free swag. It's a fun challenge, but definitely filling!! Activations were fun, including the Pepsi shuffleboard and trying a few new flavors of LaCroix.

Back in August, infatuation released a limited number of tickets for this year's Eatscon, along…read morewith this years lineup of panelists and food vendors. If you were a Chase card holder, you'd be able to purchase one of these coveted tickets for $25. Upon entering, I was greeted with free infatuation merch at the door. Then I was given the chance to meander throughout the venue to search for delicious viral food and other freebies/ activities. I had such a blast eating at this festival. If you were a chase card holder, you'd also be able to receive $10 cashback for a food item over $10 (1 redemption per account). Additionally, I was given a passport at the start of the experience. After dining at 7 different booths and receiving stamps at each, I was able to trade the passport for a prize and a tote bag. Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait for next year.

The best dressed parade each year. It's fun it's colorful and I have a good time. Guess I'll have…read moreto find my photos. I didn't go this year. If you're in Manhattan on Easter Sunday go to the parade. It's a guaranteed good time with friendly people! Oh by the way wear your bonnet!

Not exactly a parade…read more But so worth experiencing at least once in your life. Maybe twice if you didn't participate hat wearing the first time. In about a five block stretch in front of St Patrick's Cathedral, the street is blocked off from car traffic. Everyone floods the street to mingle and take pictures of the many others that create their best or most elaborate "Easter Bonnet". Some rivaled the Queen's and matched the wearer's entire ensemble. Some sported bonnets of baskets, bunnies and flowers. Others went for as avant-garde as they could imagine. Especially the two that were "head over heels" for each other and fashioned hats made of high heels. As you mill, don't be shy. Compliment the ones you love. Ask for poses and snap some pictures. This is a happy crowd out enjoying the day.

TASTE OF SUNNYSIDE 2023 REVIEW…read more Taste of Sunnyside for the uninitiated is like an adult trick or treat! You get your bingo card showing all the participants and a map. You walk all throughout Sunnyside picking up delicious food and adult beverages at the restaurants, bars and cafes along the way. There's a DJ and drum squad, even a New Orleans style jazz band making for a festive and exciting event. All this for your pay one price ticket. It truly is my favorite food crawl in all of NYC. This year there were two check in areas under the 7 train. I checked in at 40th Street, but the new one was at 46th St - much louder with drummers and DJ (can be a little difficult telling the volunteers your name over the din). The weather was perfect 60 degree fall day - great for clocking those steps! (There are free trolleys to move you along as well) There were 53 scheduled participants this year and we would have hit them all if it wasn't for those meddling kids! (Scooby doo reference) haha.. Actually some of the places simply quit towards the end with more than an hour to go which is disappointing. I will put them on blast, but first the good. I am grateful and appreciative of all the restaurants participating, but the stand outs for me this year are... Rincon Melania with their generous roast pork, fried plantains and ceviche "taste" (generous portion!). Cardamom Indian Cuisine was also generous with 3 different treats - Fried seasoned okra strips, Chicken 65 and panipuri - love this spot! De Mole gave delicious mole drenched chicken in a corn tortilla and drinkable (at least I did) octopus ceviche which I loved. City Tamale with their loaded tamale. La Adelita had a fantastic empanada. Tito Rad's roasted pork and chicken with refreshing cantaloupe juice. Arcobaleno had amazing and generous gelato samples Maison De Gateaux was my hands down favorite sweet treat with their incredible Napoleon! The places that disappointed by not having enough food and closing up early (before 6pm, event ended at 7pm) were: Bajeko Sekuwa Oasis Pizza and Gyros Riko Borderline: Bolivian Llama party announced they were running out of Sopa De Mani, but our group managed to get it before they ran out around 5:30pm. Consider checking it out next year. You will spend the day meeting great people, you will probably find a new favorite place to try, you will get full, you will laugh and get your steps in, you will dance a little (I did) celebrating what has become a quintessential Queens event!

This is my review for Taste of Sunnyside 2023…read more This was a great way to try a bunch of restaurants and get introduced to new spots in the area. I also was so excited to see a bunch of restaurants that did a great job catering to vegetarians. My list of places to come back to: Cardamom - One bite of that chicken 65 and I was already planninig my next dinner back here City Tamale - so wonderfully made. Fresh off the grill too! La maison de gateuax - Napoleons that were flaky as the friend that cancels on you last second and light as air. De Mole - an amazing chicken mole with a sauce so delicious I wanted to take a bath in it. Rincon Melania - ceviche was out of this world. IG: QueenOfAdventureNYC

Are you spending your Saturday afternoon in Flushing Meadows Park or Citi Field and found yourself…read morecraving for more of that Queens energy, but more importantly, craving for more of that diverse food scene? Well, then head on over to the Queens Night Market! Although there seems to be some kind of food festival popping up each weekend across the city, the vibe and diverse food scene here is still unmatched! The food selection has grown exponentially since I last visited over five years ago, making it easier for visitors to sample international bites all in one place. Moreover, the prices remained reasonable with most items under $8. On this visit, we tried the egg-shaped waffles stuffed with Nutella and custard, the Burmese pancakes stuffed with meat, the Venezuelan corn pancake stuffed with beef and mozzarella, and some Hainanese chicken with rice. Most of these items were delicious and the standout were the Burmese stuffed pancakes. The portions, although small, are still good enough for sharing. If you need more reasons to visit, they are also showing World Cup games here when we visited. You can have your watch party with great food options! The service is usually quite quick despite some long lines.

I went when QNM first debuted in 2015. It was a great concept and still is. it showcased a variety…read moreof cuisines at an affordable price point ($5 at the time). The portion and value at the time was definitely there. I have returned a few times over the years, most recently in 2026 coincidently for the World cup games as well! However, I feel like the food portion has decreased drastically. I do understand prices will need to go up with inflation, but the portions are much smaller from when it first started. For example, the Romanian chutney cake (dessert cone) and the amount of Filipino lumpia they provide for the price is much smaller now. For four years, the price was at $5 max. In 2019, the stalls raised their maximum price to $6, which remains the same today in 2026. From a recent 2026 Gothamist article though, 2026 will be the last year for the $6 cap so 2027 may potentially be increased to $7 cap or be eliminated. that is in the air right now. Despite the pricing/portion value, QNM is great way to try different cuisines all in one place. its a great way for growing families to chill in an open grassy area that has music and pop-ups at times (ie: HK VITA brand lemon tea had a pop up there). Parking is crowded so its best to walk from 7 train-111th st hall of science train stop or uber if you live close by. Overall, QNM is a nice event to go with friends to share items, but im personally losing the allure of it after going a few times over the years with diminishing returns.

The years I have left to live have been shortened. Don't worry, it was my fault, and I'm okay with…read moreit! Why? It's all about the bacon. It's hard to turn down the opportunity to consume nonstop bacon and bacon dishes for three hours and not think you'll live a little less (did I mention three hours of beer drinking too?). But hey, at The Bacon and Beer Classic, you gotta embrace the moment, one pig at a time. This event was back at the end of April and my second year attending. Citi Field houses all the bacon and beer goodness and spreads things out amongst the main field level as well as the highest concourse. By doing this, the crowd control worked pretty well, though nothing with oodles and oodles of people roaming around is ever perfect. Enough setup. Let's eat. And eat and eat and eat and get to a point where quite possibly, you don't actually want to consume any more bacon. I know, it sounds crazy, but there is such a thing as a "bacon wall." While on that edible adventure, the possibilities ranged from creative main dish concoctions, to a variety of bacon strip flavors, to sweet and salty dessert options. It's just everywhere and sponsored by a ton of NYC establishments (Bareburger, Blue Smoke, BarBacon, etc.). And just when you thought you couldn't eat anymore, you wash it all down with some quality brews. The BABC grabs plenty of local breweries from Long Island to the Burroughs and beyond. Sampling each beer in the most awesome tasting glass ever (the resemblance of a mini red solo cup, ceramic style, with the event logo on it) only adds to the fun. Despite all this pig and hops greatness, there are a few downers to the festivities. Lines can get lengthy which puts a damper on your ability to try everything, especially when some food and drink spots run out of samples way before the end of the night. It's best to go with the flow and get what you can from whatever's available. In the end, you'll still be full of pork. Overall, The Bacon and Beer Classic is a mouthwatering, thirst-quenching extravaganza that is worthy of the trek to Citi Field. If you're a vegetarian, this may not be the event for you. But if you're a fan of the pig and his drink of choice (beer, of course), then plan on coming next year. There's a good chance I'll be back, even if it does continue to lower my years. It's just hard to say no to that much bacon. You'll see...

Very well organized event!!! Paid for VIP for that early entry. Was able to get on to the field…read more(not the grass!) and take pictures and see what it's like up close. Cons were that the people who set up blocked off one size of stairs going up and down which was beyond stupid because then each time you go up and down you run into people going the opposite direction. I didn't see the point of that at all. The food was amazing!! The gyro and the pizza were my favorite. Loved that it wasn't ridiculously crowded because it was in a huge stadium. There was no one wasted to the point of passing out. Mostly responsible fun people and great food and beer!!! We took lyft and used a code to pay only $50 from Bergen county. Super worth it and got there 20 min early.

What an amazingly good time!! The party starts on the train because everyone is on their way to the…read moreparade. There is good music, friendly people and amazing Caribbean food. My only regret was being born with just one stomach. I wanted to keep eating. The first thing I had was some curried goat. My goodness, it was tasty. When I finished eating, the gentleman I bought it from saw me again and asked what I thought. When I said I loved it and commented on how good his jerk chicken looked, he grabbed a drum stick and handed it to me. There were people in costumes, people with snakes, great music and people dancing. I'm coming back next year, because this year was so much fun. I saw flags from all over the Caribbean, and the American flag too. Everyone was welcome.

This is an amazing event. Beautiful culture, people, food, music, and energy. Enjoy!read more

Meatopia 2011 was definitely a success! I was nervous after reading reviews of the 2010 event and…read moreafter attending a similar poorly planned event this past Memorial Day on Governor's Island. However, my fears were for naught since the event was well run and inexplicably enjoyable. Our tickets were the $85 variety, which came with a 5:30pm entry, all you can eat samples from the vendors, and $7 beer for purchase (Amstel Light, anyone?? 'cause that was the only choice, but a decent one). Vendors really did a nice job of providing well thought out samples that were typically a substantial 5-7 bites in size, but I take small bites so maybe more like 3-5 for most. Nearly everything we sampled was decadent and delicious from farms and restaurants from around the tri-state area and the country. Thank goodness the weather on Saturday was beautiful since there weren't really any rain-out options which I was aware of. The day was really beautiful (excruciatingly hot, but beautiful!) and the views of the NYC skyline from Pier 5 were not to be missed as the sun set over New Jersey. Overall, if you're going to pick an expensive "all you can eat" festival, this one definitely gets a thumbs up!

The second Meatopia event was awesome fun. I didn't attend their first one in 2010, but based on a…read morefriend's feedback and the many changes instituted between last year and this year, the organizers clearly made tremendous effort to improve the event. We commuted by subway and joined the crowds making their way to the harbor. The event was on spacious Pier 5, a yet unfinished pier in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and another sneak peek to what this park will offer when completed. We got our bracelets and a directory and headed into the pier where over 40 chefs/restaurants have booths set up, turning out a meat-centric food item in single-serving sizes. The portions are great for one person but often big enough to actually share with someone so you can fit more in. There were usually no lines at most booths, the people accessible for chatting, and everyone amenable to picture-taking. Very cool to see the meat grilling at many booths and the food prep going fast and furious. Quite pleased to see Yelp (a sponsor) with a booth. There was also a butcher competition and culinary demo schedule that went on most of the evening. I only stopped by to see Michael White demonstrate how his porchetta is made; the mirror atop the station was perfect for viewing the action. I enjoyed most of the foods I tried, although not everything was wow, and ironically some restaurants that I love served up a so-so item at Meatopia. But great fun trying out all these things, Some highlights for me were Kefi's Greek lamb offal, Beast's glazed beef cheeks, ilili's lamb ribs, Pat LaFrieda's Angus steer, Hurricane Club's duck, Sip Sak's Turkish lamb on rice, La Esquina's veal breast taco, and Animal's BBQ chicken hearts. Whole Food's hibiscus soda was amazingly refreshing and I was so excited to see Capogiro gelato (one of my favorite gelato makers!). Again, organization was excellent. Plentiful Fiji water and Honeydrop tea stands, along with several beer stations. Utensils and napkins at every booth, trash cans emptied regularly. There wasn't really enough seating, but you can treat it more like a street fair, where you dine on the go. And the views all around of the NYC skyline are fantastic. Looking forward to Meatopia 2012 and hope its in a location as good as this!