Montreal is getting a huge Japanese pop-up market with 55+ vendors and so much street food
YATAI MTL, Montreal's annual Japanese culture and street food festival, known for its massive pop-up market, has announced that it will return with another immersive multi-day celebration this June.
Organizers are promising 25+ culinary kiosks serving up tasty Japanese dishes, including karaage fried chicken, ramen, takoyaki (fried octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), and mochi.
In terms of beverages, the Société des alcools du Québec plans to run a "Bistro SAQ" where members of Association Saké Québec will be on hand, serving a selection of their finest sake. You'll also be able to imbibe other Japanese specialties, such as sake cocktails, Suntory whisky, and Asahi Super Dry beer, which is sponsoring this year's event.
Beyond just food and drinks (not that we needed more reason to attend), you can expect 30+ booths selling Japanese products — from traditional kimonos to eco-friendly bento boxes to art prints, handmade ceramics, matcha, and more.
Accounting for both the food and the products, that's more than 55 vendors to enjoy.
The full program has not yet been released. However, organizers confirmed that it includes an '80s disco City Pop party on June 15 and a piano concert of Studio Ghibli music by pianist Kanae Nobori on June 14.
While earlier editions of the festival, which launched in 2018, have taken place in the Mile End and at the Peel Basin docks of the Lachine Canal, this year's event is being held at Hangar 1825 — also on the banks of the canal but further west in Little Burgundy.
You can grab a ticket on Zeffy for $4, which guarantees fast, priority access. That could be useful considering the event usually attracts 30,000 people, according to the press release. Children and seniors get in free and you're welcome to bring your pup.
Keep an eye on the YATAI MTL 2024 Facebook page for upcoming details. If the event is anything like this year's Japan Week, put on by the same organization over the past week (and ongoing this weekend), then you're not going to want to miss it.
YATAI MTL 2024
Price: $4 (free for children and seniors)
When: June 13 to June 16, 2024
Address: Hangar 1825, 40, rue des Seigneurs
Why You Need To Go: Experience four days of total immersion in Japanese culture. If you can picture yourself eating delicious Japanese street food in an idyllic spot on the banks of the Lachine Canal as a live pianist plays music from Studio Ghibli films, this is the event for you. And if you can't picture yourself doing that, you've probably never experienced anything like it before, which is all the more reason for you to go check it out. You won't be sorry.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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Turquoise's Treasures mega pop-upCourtesy of Élise Gravel
People wearing body paint.
The Collectif Créatif Montréal holiday market in the Angus neighbourhood.Courtesy of the Collectif Créatif Montréal
Turquoise's Treasures mega pop-upCourtesy of Élise Gravel