What’s on at Zagreb’s Asian Street Food Festival

Asian Street Food Festival returns in Zagreb

From May 6th to 12th, a rhapsody of exotic flavors is coming to Strossmayer Square in Zagreb, along with the most prestigious ingredient ever presented at a street food festival.

The Asian Street Food Festival in Zagreb is back, and from May 6th to 12th, Zagreb’s Strossmayer Square will once again celebrate millennia-old Asian cultures and traditions through an unparalleled abundance of exotic flavors and aromas.

During that week, visitors will be able to indulge in juicy bao buns, generous gyozas, creamy curries, aromatic phad Thai, creative sushi rolls, authentic Japanese ramen, tuna tartare, and tuna katsu sandwiches made from premium bluefin tuna—the most prestigious ingredient ever presented at any street food festival.

First Asian Street Food Festival

There will also be irresistible honey chili chicken, delicious tikka masala, enchanting Korean fried chicken, powerful Korean hot dogs, tasty mochi ice cream, crispy som tum papaya salad, refreshing mango fruit salad, sticky rice, crispy tempura shrimp, succulent veggie spring rolls, premium tropical cocktails, authentic Thai lemonades, popular bubble tea, healthy Crobucha kombucha, as well as exotic spritzers and cocktails with yuzu citrus.

Following the exceptional success of last year’s inaugural festival in the region dedicated exclusively to Asian cuisine and culture, organizers from the creative agency Kokoš ili jaje have once again gathered passionate and skilled representatives of Asian cuisines. They tasked them with putting a specific dish or ingredient from their menu into special focus.

Visitors will have the opportunity to taste the highest quality ingredients and a truly rich and diverse selection of traditional and favorite dishes from China, Japan, Thailand, India, Korea, Malaysia… At the second Asian Street Food Festival, visitors can expect:

Curry House by Tuk Tuk Express, Gyoza bar by Purple Monkey, Phad Thai by Thai Thai, Tuna & Bar by Picnic, Ramen House ZU KU JI, Sushi by Soho Sushi, K Dogs by K Dogs, Bao Buns by Jellyfish in Space Gingle Bells and Central Bar.

Another surprise gastronomic participant is announced, along with a rich accompanying program: Metro brings a fun themed Food quiz, Asian motifs will be painted at an attractive workshop by Pinelli & Vino, the company Marikomerc will donate a whole bluefin tuna to the Association Down Zagreb, which will be the star of a cutting show with chef Mario Mihelj, and there will be socializing with the association’s beneficiaries.

At the end of the festival, 200 oysters will be served with Royal sparkling wine, and live performances by Zagreb Street Art artists are expected, along with the carefully crafted music program and performances by top DJs under the creative direction of Ozren Kanceljak.

The festival will be ceremonially opened by the honorary consul of the Kingdom of Thailand, Dr. Stjepan Ćurić, and visitors will be able to enjoy an exceptionally attractive performance by a traditional Thai dance group. During the festival, after enjoying top-notch delicacies, you can relax with a traditional Thai massage and even have the chance to win a trip to Thailand.

Throughout the duration of the Asian Street Food Festival, regardless of the dish chosen, visitors will enjoy premium Kikkoman soy sauces, the official sauce of the festival, and a rich selection of premium drinks at the Central Bar, led by Staropramen and Grif beer, selected wines, brandies, sake, popular bubble tea, and as always, a wide selection of carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks.

At the Central Bar, visitors can also enjoy Crobucha Kombucha, a sparkling, refreshing non-alcoholic drink based on black and green tea.

Crobucha Kombucha

This ancient elixir, originating from Asia, is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to juices (and even alcohol), and is attributed with positive effects on immunity and digestion. Crobucha Kombucha is made in synergy with organically grown aromatic herbs and fruits from Croatian islands and small, local producers, and each of the five flavors represents an ode to a specific Croatian island.

The creative team at Gingle Bells booth will take care of signature cocktails and premium refreshments, preparing themed Yuzu Spritz, Yuzu Gin, and Yuzu Mojito cocktails for this edition of the Asian SFF—featuring yuzu citrus, which has been globally trendy in gastronomy for two consecutive years, mainly cultivated in Japan, Korea, and China.

More details about the participants and gastronomic offerings of the Asian Street Food Festival:

Curry House by Tuk Tuk Express

This is the debut participation at the Asian Street Food Festival for this small pan-Asian restaurant located at the top of Tkalčićeva Street in Zagreb, where it captivates visitors with diversity and authentic flavors. They offer Asian specialties from Korea to Thailand and Malaysia, introducing guests to the world of incredible tastes with brilliant combinations of authentic spices and local ingredients. While their food tends towards the traditional expression, each dish carries a small dose of modernity.

Honey Chilli Chicken – Tuk Tuk Express

At the Asian Street Food Festival, they will offer Tikka Masala Rice Bowl—a dish rich in flavors and aromas with tender chicken served on steamed rice, accompanied by creamy tikka masala sauce and a garnish of fresh coriander. Then there’s Honey Chilli Chicken—an irresistible dish with crispy chicken with chili and honey, served on steamed rice, drizzled with homemade sweet and spicy honey chili sauce, and garnished with chopped spring onions for extra flavor and texture.

They will also have Korean Fried Chicken—crispy and flavorful fried chicken coated in homemade sweet and spicy sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. At the Curry House by Tuk Tuk Express booth, visitors can also taste colorful homemade lemonades: Blue Lagoon, Mango Lemonade, and Raspberry Lemonade.

Korean Fried Cicken – Tuk Tuk Express

Gyoza bar by Purple Monkey

After winning over visitors at the first festival last year, Purple Monkey returns for the second Asian Street Food Festival, where they will once again take visitors to distant places with their dishes and flavors.

Purple Monkey – Gyoze

The philosophy of their gastronomic destination in Tomašićeva Street revolves around balanced dishes inspired by original Asian flavors and preparation methods, but packaged in a completely new guise. “China meets Thailand and Vietnam on our plates,” they emphasize. At the Asian Street Food Festival, they will offer gyoza with sauce (menus of 6 pieces, 12 pieces, and 24 pieces), tempura shrimp with sauce, and Mochi ice cream balls.

Pad Thai by Thai Thai

Following last year’s success, this Thai street food restaurant returns to the Asian SFF, offering authentic Thai flavors at two locations in Zagreb. This year’s focus is on Pad Thai Chicken, a favorite dish with fried noodles that perfectly balance spicy flavors with a touch of sweetness. Then there’s Som Tum Papaya salad with fried chicken wings, a tempting mix of crispy vegetables: green papaya, carrots, cucumber, spicy fish sauce, and perfect chili notes.

Phad Thai by Thai Thai

Paired with juicy fried chicken wings, Som Tum is a culinary harmony of crispy freshness and juicy satisfaction that promises a symphony of flavors with each bite. For vegetarians, they have homemade hand-rolled spring rolls where gently wrapped in light, crispy pastry, each bite reveals a symphony of fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs.

Their sweet-spicy sauce brings an explosion of flavors that will take you to the bustling streets of Southeast Asia. Whether as a snack or a meal, these spring rolls are a beautiful culinary journey not to be missed. For a sweet ending, there’s Mango fruit salad + sticky rice—this classic Thai dessert features sweet slices of mango, strawberries, and blueberries on a layer of warm, sticky rice infused with creamy coconut milk.

Tuna & Bar by Picnic

In collaboration with the Pelagos company, the team from the well-known Picnic in Zadar is extremely pleased to have secured the presence of Adriatic bluefin tuna at this year’s Asian Street Food Festival. “By joining forces with three Zadar companies—Pelagos, Kroštula, and Picnic—we bring this exceptionally special ingredient to the street at a very reasonable price,” they emphasize. Young bluefin tuna are caught in the Jabuka Pit and raised for eighteen months. Through Japanese ike jime technique, the tuna feels no pain or fear.

This is A+ grade sushi/sashimi quality tuna, and all Pelagos products are IFS higher level, Kosher, and Halal certified, suitable for consumers with specific dietary requirements. The Adriatic bluefin tuna is also served in their restaurants and by the world-famous Nobu chain, co-owned by Robert De Niro. Although almost the entire quantity of this premium tuna goes to foreign markets, a certain amount is reserved for the domestic market, and it will be specially showcased at the Picnic booth as part of the Asia festival.

Tuna tartar

“The goal is to present a top-notch ingredient from our Adriatic Sea through Asian-inspired dish formats,” say the folks from Picnic, who will create two dishes from this premium ingredient: Tuna katsu sando—tuna steak in panko crumbs, Asian salad, teriyaki mayo, and sesame, served in a brioche bun created for them by Kroštula and Boogie Lab. Then there’s Tuna tartar sando—tuna tartar with fermented soybean paste, poke sauce, teriyaki mayo, and sesame, also served in a brioche bun from Kroštula and Boogie Lab. Picnic continuously promotes an accessible quality policy, so dishes with Adriatic bluefin tuna will be priced at only 8.5€.

In addition to this year’s tuna delicacies, they will offer sweet potato fries, which have become their trademark, and from the drink menu, they will once again stand out with their creative and innovative cocktails. This spring, Picnic will present Roza, a spring cocktail based on gin, strawberries, and Degarra rosé wine. This refreshing drink, crafted by taste master Ivan Karačić (the creative mind behind the hugely popular Panetonne cocktail at the Christmas market), is made through multiple steps. By macerating spring strawberries in an alcohol base, it enriches the flavor and aroma.

After maceration, all cocktail ingredients, in defined quantities, are cooked using the vacuum sous vide technique for 2 hours at 55 degrees Celsius. After less than two days of the process, the cocktail is ready to enjoy, perfect for hot weather, refreshing, and drinkable. Who wouldn’t want to taste that?

ZU KU JI Ramen House

With pleasure, ZU KU JI Ramen House is making its debut at the Asian Street Food Festival this year, founded with the desire to enrich the ramen offer in Zagreb. They will present 3 types of ramen, each complex in its own way, and specific to a certain region of Japan. These will be: Tonkotsu Hakata, Shoyu, and Miso Chicken ramen, each priced at 15€.

Tonkotsu Hakata Ramen is a relatively new type of ramen, most popular in southern and western Japan, especially in Fukuoka where it originated. It is also known as Hakata ramen, named after the district where it was created, and is characterized by a long cooking process of pork bones for between 12 and 16 hours to obtain a rich and creamy flavor.

ZUKUJI Ramen House Tonyu Shoyu

Shoyu Ramen is most popular in northern and eastern Japan, especially in Tokyo where it originated. Shoyu ramen means it is made by cooking with soy sauce, giving it a saltier and spicier flavor. Miso Chicken Ramen originates from the Sapporo area of Hokkaido region and is named after its main ingredient. This ramen is characterized by a strong and rich flavor. Additionally, in collaboration with one of the best cocktail bars in Croatia—Peaches & Cream—cocktails have been created that will be offered daily during the Asian SFF at the ZUKUJI Ramen House booth.

Sushi by SOHO Sushi

Well-known and beloved by Zagreb residents and guests, Soho Sushi, located in Palmotićeva Street as part of the well-known Good Food, is participating for the second year in a row at the Asian Street Food Festival, bringing their handcrafted sushi rolls. For them, sushi is a delicate dance between skill and precision, where each roll becomes a work of art.

Sushi by SOHO – Uramaki roll

After delighting visitors last year with Soho Aloha—rolls with tuna, pineapple, avocado, and special sauce, we eagerly await to taste the creations they have prepared for this edition of the Asian Street Food Festival.

Korean Hot Dog by K Dogs

After the exceptional success at the first edition of the Asian SFF, the K Dogs booth offers an authentic Korean hot dog again this year. This dish is savory, crispy on the outside, and creamy on the inside, with a slight spiciness (if you want).

Korean Hot Dog by K-Dog

They will offer four flavors: classic with a sausage, Half&Half—a combination of sausage and mozzarella, then Mozza—only with mozzarella, and Cheese Lover which has a filling of a combination of melted cheddar and mozzarella, all with an ultra crispy coating.

Bao Buns by Jellyfish in Space

Last year, they thrilled visitors to the Asian SFF with their unique sushi rolls and cocktails, and this year, they are focused on bao buns! With a motto of “Uniting the Unlikely,” this team, which regularly garners applause from Zagreb’s gastro and bar scene with their Street Food & Cocktail Bar in Martićeva, will showcase their this year’s flavor rhapsodies.

Bao Buns

They will offer: Bao Buns Pork—steamed buns with slow-cooked pulled pork, cabbage in a sour cream and mayonnaise sauce, and pickled carrots in soy. Following closely are Bao Buns Salmon—where steamed buns embrace kimchi, spicy mayo, salmon, togarashi, tobikko, and cucumbers. They will also have Futomaki surimi, Uramaki Crispy salmon, and shrimp in tempura, as well as three themed cocktails: Mango tiki, Tropical heaven, and Jelly lagoon, all three emphasizing fruity notes, perfect for spring and summer.

You can find out all the news by following the Asian Street Food Festival on Facebook and Instagram

Location: Trg Josipa Jurja Strossmayera, Zagreb Duration: May 6th – 12th, 2024. Opening hours: 12:00 – 24:00 Entry: Free

Photos: Sandro Sklepić, archive, and PR Asian Street Food Festival