April the 22nd, 2025 – The wildly popular Zagreb Asian Street Food Festival is back once again, this time with all kinds of workshops and some mouth watering gastronomic premieres.
There will be 50 or so exotic delicacies available at the Zagreb Asian Street Food Festival from April the 23rd to the 29th. This year, we’ll be able to taste Sri Lankan kohta, Chinese Rou Jia Mo, Harajuku pancakes, squid skewers, bao buns with pasticada, sushi in the form of burritos and squid in kadaif. At Strossmayer Square, we will learn how to make the perfect ramen, knead traditional mochi dough, and prepare matcha latte. We’ll also be able to watch an Asian hit film, engage in humanitarian work alongside handball players, and enjoy excellent performances by carefully selected DJs.
As April the 23rd and the opening of the 3rd Zagreb Asian Street Food Festival approaches, we’re learning more and more new details about the rich programme that will take place at Josip Juraj Strossmayer Square until April the 29th. We’ve already announced that this year’s 11 exhibitors will feature new items, from the premiere of the Noel* by Ivan Temšić shop, whose diverse offer includes the Japanese Katstu Sando with chicken, to the popular Sri Lankan restaurant Curry Bowl, which will offer the public a sumptuous selection of curries as well as the traditional delicacy Kothu. Then we have the world exclusive Gdje je Jura shop by young Juraj Klepić, who will prepare Fry Dubai – pistachio gelato breaded in kadaif and egg white.
The always original Jellyfish in Space will offer a powerful selection of soft and juicy baobuns with a special emphasis placed on fusion. That fusion will see the buns get a Croatian touch. Visitors will be able to try bao buns pašticada combined with kimchi and mango sauce. The Kawaii shop will delight all lovers of sweets, as they’ll bring Japanese Harajuku crepes and Tonghulu caramelised fruit on a stick that crunches under your teeth.
For his first appearance at the Asian Street Food Festival, MasterChef jury member, chef Mario Mihelj has also prepared a real exclusive. For the first time ever in Croatia, he will present the famous Chinese street food dish Rou Jia Mo (pronounced ro-đa-mo). This dish is considered the Chinese equivalent of a Western burger because it combines bread and meat, but apart from that, there aren’t many similarities.
Chef Mihelj has prepared Rou Jia Mo in two versions for the festival. In this way, visitors will have the unique opportunity to taste this special dish in a crispy bread made of pulled dough similar to burek with beef and chicken. The specially marinated meat comes in combination with wok vegetables and Chinese spices, side dishes and sauces.
Original novelties are also on the cards from Purple Monkey, who will offer two completely new dishes at the Gyoza bar. Along with crispy and juicy chicken, pork, duck and veggie gyoza – in portions of six, 12 and 24 pieces with a signature sauce: Squid Stix – a skewer with exceptionally soft and juicy squid, and Pop Corn Chicken with two sauces: creamy sriracha mayo or sweet chili. They will also have popular mochi ice creams in four flavors: mango & passion fruit, chocolate, coconut and pistachio.
The Thai street food restaurant Thai Thai, which has been operating in the very heart of Zagreb since last year and at a new location in Vrbani, is proud to announce its participation in the Zagreb Asian Street Food Festival. Lovers of authentic flavours will be able to enjoy a rich selection of Thai dishes – from the legendary spicy crispy chicken with rice, to the spicy and sour Tom Yum soup with shrimp and rice noodles and, of course, the indispensable Pad Thai.
Visitors will also be able to sweeten their palates with a unique dessert – fresh young coconut stuffed with sticky rice and coconut ice cream, with exotic decorations. Thai Thai cheerfully says: “Join us and taste Thailand in the best possible way – on the street!”
Zagreb’s SoHo, best known for its fabulous sushi rolls, will present a new hit at this year’s festival – SoHorrito. This hearty sushi hybrid in burrito format comes in five versions: chicken, tuna, shrimp, salmon and vegan. Their famous Premium Shrimp will also be on offer – four pieces of juicy and crispy shrimp with sauces (creamy sriracha mayo or sweet chili), and a special surprise that we can’t wait to try is Squid Kadaif – squid balls in kadaif with creamy sriracha mayo or sweet chili sauce.
These exotic savoury delicacies are complemented by a selection of mochi ice cream that combines traditional Japanese rice cake with refreshing ice cream, making it both visually and deliciously irresistible dessert. Maki Nagayoshi, the incredibly likeable owner of the Japanese restaurant Pink Pig, will also be working on mochi in her workshop. He explained that in Japan, mochi isn’t only a dessert, but also a side for savoury dishes, just like rice. Maki will demonstrate how traditional mochi is made during a two-hour workshop powered by Metro on Sunday, April the 27th at 13:00.
She revealed that she will explain to visitors the roots and cultural significance of mochitsuki, an ancient Japanese technique in which cooked glutinous rice is pounded and kneaded with a wooden pestle in a large basin to obtain a smooth and elastic mass for mochi. Enthusiasts will also be more than welcome to join her in this ancient Japanese ritual. After all that, those gathered will have the opportunity to taste traditional mochi served with sweet soy sauce and nori seaweed.
All the secrets of what goes into truly excellent ramen will be revealed to those gathered during the Kikkoman workshop by Nastasja Chiara Petrić on Thursday, April the 24th from 17:00, and on Friday from 20:30, all film lovers will be glad that the Staropramen Movie Night and a phenomenal Asian hit film are scheduled.
In addition to entertainment and education, this edition of the Zagreb Asian Street Food Festival will also have a humanitarian character. In cooperation with Fisheria and the handball team of RK Zagreb, a humanitarian sale of Fisheria sushi snack boxes will be held on Sunday, and all proceeds will be intended for Davor Rostuhar’s project that brings new technologies to small schools across Croatia.
Handball players Matej Mandić and Luka Lovre Klarić will participate in the humanitarian sale. Monday, April the 28th from 18:00 will showcase a Materia matcha workshop. Materia is a well-being brand that promotes a healthy lifestyle and longevity through functional products and self-love. It was launched by Maja Blažević, and today it is run alongside her sister Zrinka Blažević.
The most popular product of the Materia brand is matcha, a delicate green tea powder, and at the Zagreb Asian Street Food Festival, during a pop-up matcha workshop, they’ll show all those interested how to properly prepare the popular matcha latte, describe its benefits, and explain why matcha is an excellent healthy alternative to coffee.
Throughout 2025’s Zagreb Asian Street Food Festival, visitors will be able to enjoy excellent signature cocktails from Ginglebells and a rich selection of drinks at the Central Bar. The already excellent atmosphere will be further heated up with live performances by the best DJs carefully selected by Ozren Kanceljak. They include Jazozzo, Tabu Keeper of the Groove, Marin Bukljaš, Hrwoe, Benc, William Collins, Ela Radić, Kanceljak, Manta and Stanko Bondža, in special programmes such as Spicy Noodle Grooves, Soy Sauce Sessions, FantAsia, KurtoAzija, while the Festival will close on Tuesday, April the 29th with a sensational Dim Sum Disco.
For all the latest news and how to register for the workshops, follow the Asian Street Food Festival on Instagram and Facebook.
Location: Trg Josipa Juraj Strossmayera/Josip Juraj Strossmayer Square, Zagreb
Duration: April the 23rd to the 29th, 2025
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12:00 – 00:00, Sat-Sun 11:00 – 00:00
Entrance: Free
