*You can find all of the F&W menu boards as well as links to the ones I’ve reviewed so far right HERE.
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Always another of my first stops, the Japan booth at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – which you’ll find just outside the Japan Pavilion in World Showcase – is usually another big winner. This year they have three food items, all savory, and several drinks.
- Teriyaki Chicken Bun: Steamed Bun filled with Chicken, Vegetables, and a Sweet Teriyaki Sauce (kid approved and DDP snack credit eligible) ($5.75)
This is a fairly kid-friendly option. It’s basically a soft, doughy bun filled with a small amount of teriyaki chicken. A little too doughy and sweet to be a major foodie win, but it’s filling and a decent value at $5.75. It’s not going to be a go to item for me, but we enjoyed it enough the one time we ate it.
- Frothy Ramen: Chilled Noodles and Dashi Broth with a Light Foam Topping (DDP snack credit eligible) ($6.00)
This is a new item this year and my kids and I really enjoyed it. The ramen is cooked well and served in a small amount of cool soy broth. There are flakes of what I can only describe as tempura bits – like the kind that float in your soup after you eat a big bowl of tempura udon – on top, along with a froth of unknown origin. It’s served cold, so it’s lovely on a hot day.
- Spicy Roll: Spicy Tuna and Salmon Sushi Roll topped with Volcano Sauce (DDP snack credit eligible) ($5.75)
This is pretty simple and very good. If you like spicy tuna and salmon sushi, you’ll enjoy this – and the way that it’s served, uncut and wrapped in nori at one end, is fun and great for eating as you stroll.
- Draft Sake ($8.00)
This is lovely – a cool, crisp, solid sake. It’s also $8 for a tiny glass, though, so while I’d recommend trying it out (it really is very good) I cannot imagine making a frequent stop for it.
- Nami Sake Cocktail: Sake, Gin, and Blue Curacao ($8.50)
That said, the draft sake is better than this. I hate to say it, but this is just too sweet for comfort – and there are SO many better drink options at Food and Wine. A friend summed this up as “the 80s in the form of a drink” and I can’t really add any more value to the review than quoting him.
And that’s a wrap!!
I’m sure I’ll be back for ramen and sushi – but for now?
Japan? Check!
