Japan – EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

japan title 2018

People standing in line at a Japan-themed food kiosk, eagerly anticipating their turn. A menu is displayed above the counter, and the sign reads "Japan." Some are ordering food while others wait their turn, savoring the promise of delicious bites to complement a perfect Food & Wine experience.

Japan, one of the 11 World Showcase countries, has been a presence at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival since the very beginning in 1996. “Delight your appetite with delish dishes and lively libations from the Land of the Rising Sun.” This year’s 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival takes place August 29 – November 23, 2024.

Menu for the Japan Global Marketplace at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

A menu board displaying Japanese food and beverage options stands in front of a Japanese-style building with people walking around it. The board, perfect for food & wine enthusiasts, has a heading that reads "JAPAN" in red letters.

Food:

  • Teriyaki Chicken Bun: Steamed Bun filled with Minced Chicken, Vegetables, and Teriyaki Sauce – $7.95
  • 🆕 Wagyu Temaki Sushi: Hand-Held Sushi with Sweet and Savory American Wagyu Beef, Topped with Takana Japanese Pickles and Spicy Mayo Sauce – $9.50
  • 🆕 Eel Temaki Sushi: Hand-Held Sushi with Grilled Eel, Egg Crumbles, Cucumber and Pickled Daikon Radish Served with Eel Sauce – $9.50

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Kyoho Drink: Calpico with Fragrant, Mellow, Kyoho Black Grape Flavor (Non-Alcoholic) – $7.00
  • Sapporo Premium Beer (4.9% ABV) – $5.50 for 6 oz., $10.00 for 12 oz.
  • Sake – $12.00
  • 🆕 Kyoho Grape Sour: Kyoho Black Grape Cocktail with Japanese Vermouth and Shōchū – $8.75

Sapporo Premium Beer makes its first Food & Wine appearance this year, having previously been a part of Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.

Photos of Menu Items from the Japan Global Marketplace at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

Teriyaki Chicken Bun: Steamed Bun filled with Minced Chicken, Vegetables, and Teriyaki Sauce – $7.95

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Teriyaki Chicken Bun: Steamed Bun filled with Minced Chicken, Vegetables, and Teriyaki Sauce – $7.95
Epcot Food & Wine 2018 Japan Teriyaki Chicken Bun
Teriyaki Chicken Bun: Steamed Bun filled with Minced Chicken, Vegetables, and Teriyaki Sauce – $7.95

Inside of this delicately prepared bao bun is a good amount of shredded chicken tossed in a sweet teriyaki sauce. The menu description says there’re vegetables in there, but there’s far more chicken than vegetables—and that’s a good thing! There’s a lot of value here in the relatively large portion for the price, especially in EPCOT Festival terms. It’s a tasty and safe bet for this year’s festival.

Rank out of 7: 6

*NEW* Wagyu Temaki Sushi: Hand-Held Sushi with Sweet and Savory American Wagyu Beef, Topped with Takana Japanese Pickles and Spicy Mayo Sauce – $9.50

A hand holding a rice ball wrapped in seaweed, topped with ground meat, sliced red pickles, seaweed salad, and a drizzle of sauce, placed in a small paper tray—perfect for any Food & Wine enthusiast.
Wagyu Temaki Sushi: Hand-Held Sushi with Sweet and Savory American Wagyu Beef, Topped with Takana Japanese Pickles and Spicy Mayo Sauce – $9.50

This isn’t really hand-held, it’s a bit too messy and hot. The ground beef is well-cooked and well-seasoned. The rice is cooked fine, too. It’s nothing special, we could probably make it at home. It’s essentially a Japanese cheeseburger. That said, it tastes good.

Rank out of 7: 5

*NEW* Eel Temaki Sushi: Hand-Held Sushi with Grilled Eel, Egg Crumbles, Cucumber and Pickled Daikon Radish Served with Eel Sauce – $9.50

A hand holds a rectangular box containing sushi wrapped in seaweed, filled with rice, yellow pickled vegetables, cucumber, and shredded egg—the perfect artisanal creation for any Food & Wine enthusiast.
Eel Temaki Sushi: Hand-Held Sushi with Grilled Eel, Egg Crumbles, Cucumber and Pickled Daikon Radish Served with Eel Sauce – $9.50

This is decent. It’s cooked well. It’s not chewy or fishy. The sauce gives it a nice sweet flavor.

Rank out of 7: 5

*NEW* Kyoho Drink: Calpico with Fragrant, Mellow, Kyoho Black Grape Flavor (Non-Alcoholic) – $7.00

A hand with manicured nails holds a small clear plastic cup filled with a light purple liquid in front of a wooden railing, evoking an elegant moment perfect for Food & Wine enthusiasts.
Kyoho Drink: Calpico with Fragrant, Mellow, Kyoho Black Grape Flavor (Non-Alcoholic) – $7.00

This reads like a non-alcoholic version of the Kyoho Grape Sour but it’s much sweeter. It feels like it needs to be colder with more ice. Kids will like it.

Rank out of 7: 5

Sapporo Premium Beer (4.9% ABV) – $5.50 for 6 oz., $10.00 for 12 oz.

Sapporo describes their Premium Beer as “a refreshing lager with a crisp, refined flavor and a clean finish. The perfect beer to pair with any meal and any occasion.”

*NEW* Kyoho Grape Sour: Kyoho Black Grape Cocktail with Japanese Vermouth and Shōchū – $8.75

A person holding a tall glass of pink champagne outdoors, by wooden stairs, celebrating the finer moments of Food & Wine.
Kyoho Grape Sour: Kyoho Black Grape Cocktail with Japanese Vermouth and Shōchū – $8.75

This is delightful. It’s light and refreshing with a bit of sweetness. It tastes like a grape soda.

Rank out of 7: 6

Location of the Japan Global Marketplace at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

The Japan Global Marketplace is logically located adjacent to the Japan Pavilion on World Showcase Promenade. You can find it at number 22 on the map below.

A detailed, colorful map of Epcot theme park showcases a variety of labeled attractions, pavilions, and countries surrounding a central lake. Highlights include Test Track, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and the Block & Hans pavilion for craft beer enthusiasts.

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