Joe Miyano and his friends tested the concept of selling made-to-order rice balls in Los Angeles by debuting three different products in 2017 at 626 Night Market, an annual festival showcasing food, concerts and artists.
Miyano said the festival served as a “great stepping stone” for their restaurant Jichan’s Onigiri-ya, which specializes in made-to-order rice balls. While the restaurant focused on community events to advance its brand later on, Miyano noted the importance of the exposure he and his friends received by participating at the festival.
“626 Night Market is a great place for aspiring food brands to test their food and see what kind of reaction they get from all of the foodies out there that visit,” Miyano said. “Any given night, we probably went through 300 to 500 tickets and orders. We went through close to a thousand rice balls a weekend.”
SEJSCC’s Virtual 58th Annual Cultural Festival
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Southeast Gakuen sold taiyaki for the first time at the 2013 festival. This year, food will be available for drive-thru pick-up.
NORWALK Southeast Japanese School and Community Center’s 58
th Cultural Festival has become one echoed across Southern California as “virtual festivals.” Some with food pick-ups, some with videos, and some with entertainment.
But none of these can take the place of the pre-COVID festivals where the aroma of freshly grilled teriyaki wafts through the air, the refreshing chill of shaved ice cools a hot afternoon, the drumming of the taiko accompanies the dancers, all mingled with the hustle of family and friends enjoying themselves.