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yatai mtl

Montreal is about to feel a lot more like Tokyo — at least for a couple of days in June.

YATAI MTL, Quebec's largest Japanese street market, is returning from June 5 to 8 at Hangar 1825 along the Lachine Canal, and it's bringing all the flavours, fashion, and vibes you didn't know you needed.

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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.

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Festival season in Montreal is well underway and returning to the culture and food scene is none other than Montreal's Japan Week.

From the creators of YATAI MTL comes the fourth annual Japan Week festival, which is bringing together more than 40 local businesses, made up of Montreal restaurants, stores and cafés to help you explore Japan without needing a passport.

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Montreal's own POCHA MTL Korean street food and culture festival is back this summer with 15 booths serving Korean food, 20 exhibitors and more than 10 cultural activities to enjoy. For those of us with furry friends, specifically adorable dogs, your pet is welcome to attend POCHA with you!

The festival is taking place at Les Quais au Bassin Peel, a venue that will also welcome a Vietnamese cultural festival (Chợ Đêm MTL) and Montreal's YATAI Japan Week event series over the course of the summer.

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Montreal's celebration of local Japanese food, culture and businesses, YATAI MTL, has released its complete list of vendors. 38 in total — including 27 merchants and 11 street food stalls — will take to the Peel Basin between June 8 and 11. The festival will also feature 11 performers and DJs.

Here are the participating merchants:

  • ARTA Arts de la table
    • imported Japanese food products
  • ATELIER GIGI
    • jewellery accessories
  • Atelier Tsubaki
    • jewellery and accessories
  • Bcuit Mtl
    • hand-folded fortune cookies
  • Bosuman
    • anime, manga and cosplay-inspired attire
  • Boutique Kodama
    • clothes and accessories
  • Boutique Meico and Pâtisserie japonaise KotoAn Wagashi
    • two enterprises joining forces to offer accessories, kimonos and sweets
  • Centre Taiyo Inc
    • personal health services (massage therapy, acupuncture, etc.) and products (tea, oils, etc.)
  • Couteaux japonais Stay Sharp
    • knives
  • Kimono Vintage
    • traditional Japanese attire
  • Kimono Yuki
    • kimonos, photo sessions and kimono workshops
  • KoikiJPN
    • floral hair and ear accessories
  • Kyoto Fleurs
    • flowers, plants and home goods
  • La brasserie San-O Sake inc.
    • koji and other Japanese food products made with local ingredients
  • Les enfants sauvages
    • clothes and accessories
  • Loongese
    • tea products, art and home goods
  • LUNCH A PORTER
    • reusable meal containers and bento boxes
  • Maruō Works
    • clothes and accessories
  • MIKA
    • plants, ceramics and home goods
  • Okini Céramiques
    • ceramics
  • SA Design by SASA
    • clothes and accessories
  • Sakao Thé Japonais
    • green tea and matcha
  • SO:yA Bakehouse
    • bakery
  • STRATA
    • artful posters and stationery
  • Sweet Stationery Shop
    • imported stationery
  • Thés Guru
    • tea
  • Tokusen
    • terroir products

These are the participating restaurants and their YATAI MTL offerings:

  • BIIRŪ
    • rice bowl with truffle tuna and watermelon salad (donburi and suika)
  • Dano
    • chicken teriyaki skewers
  • Fleurs et Cadeaux Restaurant
    • BBQ meat and vegetables
  • Hanzo
    • BBQ calamari, octopus, shrimp and potatoes
  • MATCHA ZANMAI
    • dorayaki (pancakes with a red bean filling), mochi and cookies
  • Poke Bento
    • tempura shrimp, takoyaki and fried gyoza
  • Raku
    • okonomiyaki and yakisoba (noodles)
  • Restaurant Imadake
    • takoyaki, fried gyoza, Japanese curry fries and ichigo kezuri (strawberries and cream)
  • Tsukuyomi Ramen
    • ramen (no broth) with sesame sauce
  • Uncle Testu Montreal
    • Japanese cheesecake, madeleines (pastries) and cheese tarts
  • Yamoyamo Cuisine Japonaise
    • teppanyaki steak and vegetables

YATAI MTL 2023 will also include an '80s disco party, a piano concert Studio Ghibli film soundtracks, a taiko (percussion instrument) performance by Ame no ato, and the return of its popular shiba and akita dog party.

Get a summary of the details below.

YATAI MTL 2023

Price:

  • $3 entrance fee
  • food and product prices will vary
Where: Les QUAIS Peel Basin (end of the Lachine Canal in Griffintown), Montreal, QC

When:

  • June 8, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • June 9, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • June 10, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • June 11, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

YATAI MTL website

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Montreal is the place to be all year round, but there's nothing quite like summertime on our island. June is finally here so it's time to get excited about the upcoming festival season.

Whether you're into art, live music, outdoor activities or tasty food, you'll be happy to know there are many things to do in Montreal this month.

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YATAI MTL, Montreal's annual festival of local Japanese culture, products and street food is back again this year. While previous editions have stuck to the Mile End, this year, YATAI is taking over the Peel Basin docks at the end of the Lachine Canal between Griffintown and the Old Port.

Organizers are promising a total of 37 vendors, including 12 "culinary booths" and another 25 selling products, art and crafts.

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From the creators of YATAI MTL comes the third annual Japan Week culture and food festival, which brings together more than 30 local businesses to invite Montrealers "to discover and enjoy Japan, without leaving their city."

This year's Japan Week is taking place from May 8 to 14 at 22 restaurants and 17 stores across Montreal. Japan Week is also hosting three "cultural activities," including a library of artwork and performances by Katsura Sunshine, a Canadian traditional Japanese rakugo storyteller.

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Montreal is going to the dogs this summer but in the best way possible. The very first edition of the Woopaw Fest is coming to Montreal from June 30 to July 2, 2023 — so mark you and your furry friends' calendars.

The canine carnival is being thrown by Pawsome Club MTL and will take place at the Bassins Peel in Griffintown where you and your doggos can enjoy several dog breed gatherings and activities for your pets, their parents and any and all dog lovers.

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Pups in fetching outfits had the run of a Plateau dog park this weekend. Over 100 costumed doggos took part in the Pawlloween Pawty at Wilfred Laurier Park, organized by Yatai MTL, the same group behind the city's corgi parade.

Pupcorn and hot dogs were the most popular looks this year, with tons of food-related costumes so cute you just want to eat them up. Treats (not tricks) were aplenty and no pooch had to dig for compliments.

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Start practicing your slurp. A ramen festival will take place across Montreal this fall. From October 11 to 16, Ramen Ramen will see participating restaurants serve up their best noodle and broth concoctions for Montrealers to try.

Customers can then vote for their favourite on the festival's Facebook page. The restaurant with the most votes will win the People's Choice Award. A jury of people who actually know what they're talking about will vote for their favourite too.

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Ooooooh BABY! We love weekends in Montreal, but this weekend in particular just feels extra exciting. From old festivals returning, new restaurants arriving, to other events getting the summer vibes rolling, the city is buzzing.

What's everyone up to this weekend?

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