The moment the gates opened, it hit me. Not a smell. Not a sound. A FORCE. An invisible pressure wave rolling across the OC Fairgrounds, carrying with it the ghost of hot oil, caramelized soy, and charred pork fat. My legs stopped moving on their own. My pupils dilated. Somewhere deep in my chest, something ancient and hungry woke up. This is no ordinary fair. I approached the katsu booth the way a duelist approaches a championship match -- with respect, with hunger, and with absolutely no plan for what happens after I win. The tonkatsu arrived golden. Immaculate. The breading was shatteringly crisp, each panko flake toasted to its individual peak, forming a lattice of crunch so structurally perfect it could have been engineered. Beneath it, the pork loin yielded -- oh, how it yielded -- with a softness that defied its confident exterior. The house katsu sauce landed in dark ribbons across the top. Worcestershire backbone. Tomato sweetness. A whisper of apple that you don't taste so much as feel. The crunch hit my ears before it hit my teeth. Then the fat bloomed -- warm, rich, flooding every taste receptor like a tide coming in. The sauce cut through the richness like a blade, precise and tart, snapping everything into focus. My shoulders dropped. My eyes closed. For exactly 2.4 seconds, the OC Fairgrounds ceased to exist and there was only this pork cutlet and me and the universe between us. If the katsu was a precise, elegant sword strike, the grilled skewers were a war drum. Yakitori-style chicken thigh. Beef bulgogi on wooden stakes. Pork belly lacquered in tare glaze so sticky and concentrated it seemed to defy physics, clinging to the meat through sheer ambition. The char lines were perfect -- not burned, not pale. Perfect. That specific Maillard browning that only happens when protein meets high heat and someone who genuinely cares is standing over the grill watching every second. I bit into the pork belly skewer and something happened that I am not medically able to explain. The fat rendered on contact. Not in the pan -- on my tongue. The smoke was still alive inside the meat, curling out with each chew like it had somewhere to be. The tare hit last: molasses-dark, soy-deep, with a hit of mirin sweetness that rose into my sinuses and planted a flag. I heard a sound. It was me. I had made a sound involuntarily. Dessert at the OC Japan Fair is not an afterthought. It is a closing argument. Taiyaki -- fish-shaped waffles filled with red bean -- arrived hot enough to require strategy. The batter was crisp at the tail, pillowy at the belly, and the anko filling inside was dense, earthy, and just sweet enough to feel like a reward rather than a sugar assault. It tasted like something a grandmother invented specifically to make you feel like everything was going to be okay. Mochi ice cream in black sesame arrived next. The exterior had that signature resistance -- that slight chew, that glutinous drag -- before giving way to ice cream so cold it almost stung. The black sesame flavor was serious. Nutty, slightly bitter, roasty. This was not a dessert that wanted to be cute. This was a dessert with intentions. And then -- matcha soft serve. The color was a green so saturated it looked like a threat. And it was. The bitterness arrived first, vegetal and bold, and then the cream rose beneath it like a rescue operation, smoothing everything into a flavor that was simultaneously too much and not enough. I finished it in forty seconds. I am not proud. I would do it again. The OC Japan Fair at the OC Fairgrounds is not simply a food event. It is a gauntlet. A love letter written in frying oil and soy smoke. Every booth is a chef extending their hand across a cultural distance and saying: taste this, and understand something true. The katsu will rearrange your understanding of what fried food can be. The BBQ skewers will remind you that fire is the oldest cooking technology and also somehow still the best one. The sweets will settle into your memory like a song you can't stop humming. Go hungry. Go with someone you trust. And go with the understanding that you will leave changed -- not dramatically, not permanently -- but slightly shifted, the way you are after any encounter with food made by someone who genuinely, fiercely, unironically cares. Review conducted in a single afternoon. Three layers of clothing were rendered food-stained. Zero regrets. read more

Expensive with not much new additions. I've been attending this event for the last three years. This year, I notice a big change in terms of offerings. Tickets- have increased in price. And with parking also costing $15- the initial overhead cost of visiting is pretty high. Food- continues to be expensive. I understand their prices reflect the cost they paid to be there, but no one wins if people can't afford to spend money. Vendors: theres too many resellers selling poor quality items and AI items as well. Ocjapan used to have a lot more smaller artists vending and that created a more unique market. I do objectively love this event, but I wish they prioritized making the experience more affordable for families and geneal public. read more

Disappointing and Very Disorganized We went to the OC Japan Fair and unfortunately had a really disappointing experience. There were way too many people, and the event felt extremely disorganized overall. The food vendor lines were especially chaotic -- lines were intertwining with each other, making it confusing and stressful to figure out where to stand or even move around. It didn't feel well planned at all. We were also expecting more activities and fun photo opportunities, but there really wasn't much to do. It definitely wasn't what we were hoping for or what we expected based on the hype. Overall, it felt overcrowded, unorganized, and not worth the time for us. I don't think we would come back again. read more

OC Japan Fair - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is a yearly event happening at the Orange County fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. They have a lot of vendors, but it seems that this year there are less funds than normal that is for the food vendors there unless there are more merchandise than food vendors there are activities and musicians and tonight is supposed to be the balloon release however I don't think it's a fun event for the fact that you can't really release the balloon it's on a tether. I give it a four out of five stars. read more

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It was really cool to come visit this fair for the first time . I love all things Japan and it brought back memories going here. It was nice of the fair to have free admission for older 65. But everything is so expensive ! But it is a fair and small businesses need to make something. I did appreciate how much food vendors there were however read more

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This was our first time here!! I have to say I personally loved it, especially since I'm missing Japan(it was last year right now, we were in Japan vacationing)!! So being here gives me a Japan Fix!! Parking is $15...prices vary to come here, depending when you buy your tickets. Here they have shopping, entertainment and yes...all kinds of food to check out, prices varies. Only thing I do wish is that the stage outside, wish they put like a covering over the area where audience sits, because it was hot with the sun. Otherwise everything great! read more

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The OC Japan Fair was just okay overall. The food lines were very long, the performances were fine but nothing special, and most of the food we tried was average--though the spam and egg sandwich was my favorite. Many of the retail vendors sold similar items, prices were high, and there were very few places to get soda--mostly just specialty drinks. I'm glad I experienced it once, but I wouldn't return. read more

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We went to the OC Japan Fair just by chance after a visit to Downtown Disney. I saw an ad on instagram and we decided to check it outs I am so glad we did because it was so much fun! It is located the OC Fair and Event Center and is a 3 day event with lots of food, cosplay and cultural performances. Parking is $12 and tickets are $20. (Tickets are cheaper if you buy ahead of the main weekend but since we were last minute visitors - we paid full price). I was worried that the food lines would be long. Previous reviews were negative but I actually found the food experience to be pretty good here. Some lines were long but not extremely long. Among the food we tried were some delicious dango, crispy karaage and a sweet surprise of Dubai chocolate taiyaki. There were also a lot of fun vendors too. I got to meet the talented Lela Lee who created Angry Little Asian Girls. It was fun to check out the different crochet vendors as well as the Japanese craft sellers. I got myself an Asian Little Girls shirt, a Hello Kitty crochet plant and some Hello Kitty phone charms. (I could not leave without getting myself a Hello Kitty souvenir ;)). Aside from checking out the vendors, it was fun to see some of the shows. The shows at the main stage were extremely entertaining. There were definitely lots of kawaii! For a different and unique show, check out Baby Beard! (Words would not put this into justice. You'll need to see that show for yourself! Lol!) Overall I really enjoyed the OC Japan Fair. The food was yummy. The vendors were great. I would definitely go again! read more

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*** October 17 to October 19, 2025 *** OC Japan Fair is the largest Japanese cultural festivals in Southern California and was held since 2009. This year the event location was in the OC Fair & Event Center. [Parking]: $12 parking fee at the OC Fair & Event Center. [General admission]: $14 (until Aug 31) / $17 (Sep 1 to Oct 16) / $20 (After Oct 17th at 12:00 AM). [What to do here]: The fair was separated into one smaller outdoor section, one bigger outdoor section, and one indoor setup with performance stage and vendors selling traditional & anime merch. Few indoor vendors offered free food/drink samples and outdoor vendors gave a very similar vibe as the 626 or OC Night Market. I got a free tote bag to take home. [Other notable events]: Tuna cutting shows and anime sing-along dance parties on October 18th and October 19th. Also lantern release at Freedom LA on October 18th at 7:50 PM. Also free giveaway on drink and snacks (everyone on October 17th and first come first serve on October 18th & October 19th). [Conclusion]: Expect to see two-thirds = overpriced food vendors and one-third = arts + crafts + anime vendors. I actually don't think this event itself was all that bad and definitely worth to check it out, but $20 admission is a bit expensive comparing with $7 general admission price for the 626 or OC Night Market. read more

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OC Japan fair was fun! My family missed it last year so we really made sure we would attend this year. We got our tickets earlier for a lower cost ($17). Parking was $12. If you bought tickets at the door it would be $20. Just like another yelp elite, we were worried about the long lines for food, but that wasn't the case. There were lines but it wasn't very long. We did go right when it opened though. Everything was pretty smooth. Bathrooms were clean. Plenty of food choices and vendors for random trinkets and clothing. My only complaint was maybe having more seating or seating with an umbrella. It appeared there were tables but without umbrellas and it was really hot. But I suppose that's something to take up with the fair grounds We didn't get to do the rickshaw but I'm hoping we can next year. Because yes we all want to go back and eat more food. Going to Japan isn't in our cards for now but OC Japan fair is something we can do in the mean time. read more

OC Japan Fair - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The artist Soma is at the OC Japan Fair this year. He's an autistic 12 year old artistic genius. See his many fine works at the 2026 fair while you can. Colorful, and beyond incredible. read more

OC Japan Fair - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Did not expect the chaos coming from this fair. It was my first attendance to the OC Japan Fair and before even attending on Saturday, we were notified from social media that the event was at maximum capacity. This was earlier in the day, and I planned on attending at nighttime. Food vendors were scattered all around the fairgrounds, but each line was around a 30-minute wait. I decided it wasn't worth it to wait for any of them after getting only one drink from a stand that took forever. They have typical Japanese vendors for snacks and a few recurring ones that I always see at food festivals, so there wasn't anything truly unique/ have not seen before. I do like that there is a variety of entertainment and Asian shop vendors/small businesses. Got some cute keychains and a car freshener! I did not park at the event, but there was not any ride share pick up/drop off either which may have made finding the event easier instead of getting off in the middle of the street. I don't know if I would attend again, honestly. My group had a great time but we definitely had to split up in order to get things we wanted, and it seemed like a mission to do so. read more

OC Japan Fair - Sanrio Cups - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Save your money, time, sweat, and tears. It MIGHT have been worth it if you were literally the first person or group to get to the actual event but, still, doubtful. We drove from San Diego and had been looking forward to this event for weeks. Even though I lived in, and visited, Japan for years, I was still hyped to go because I haven't been back there in so long... ! I wish I trusted my gut and didn't waste my whole Saturday, but it's OK because now I can WARN everyone else. First- let's talk about actual logistics and execution of the event. There were no signs or staff to help guide people. We had multiple groups ask us personally during our (15-20) minute walk from a nearby park WHERE this fair is. That goes to show the lack of consideration, care, and professionalism when it came to the actual event. Second- the god dang lines (SEE PHOTOS). You might as well have gone to Disneyland for the exact same effort and time required to get inside the actual event location through ONE entry gate. No one - and I mean absolutely NOBODY - was there to guide people. It was distasteful and disgusting how unorganized this event was considering how many people showed up, only to be disappointed. The line was maybe 1/4 mile long from the end (somewhere in the corner of the parking lot) to the front of the gate and more people still coming. With the sun high up, ain't no way we were waiting in line. I can't even imagine the catastrophe it must have been if/when you get past the entrance and make it inside the event. I would not be surprised if even the vendors were overwhelmed with the chaos and volume of people. We ended up walking back to our car (another 15-20 minute walk - at least we got our steps in!). On our way back, more people asked us, again, WHERE this event was. We shared with them our experience and advised they should consider turning around and not go. I guarantee it's not just me that feels so blindsided after spending $70+ on tickets alone. And if we actually stuck it out and made it inside to spend money on food? The marginal benefit would have still been way less than actual marginal cost given the audacity of the markups. This feels like a bait and switch, and almost like false advertisement. Because of this, and despite no refunds (shady AF, by the way) under any circumstances, I'm considering complaining to the County because this was completely unacceptable. I implore others to consider doing the same because whoever is in charge of this event should NOT get away with this without repercussions. More notably, I did not see any way people with disabilities would have been able to attend. Yes- there are parking spots for disabled persons. However, since there were NO STAFF to help and with just ONE entrance to the actual event, what was supposed to happen?! Although my parents aren't wheelchair-bound, my dad and our family friend are both (100%) disabled vets... again, just something vital to think about because what if my dad or mom have to be in a wheelchair? Pretty sure not having ADA access for instances like this is potentially against compliance and a serious violation. These damn vultures will repeat this unhinged business practice without fail if left unchecked. PLEASE CONSIDER BOYCOTTING AND STOP SUPPORTING THESE EVENTS. SUPPORT THE ACTUAL VENDORS DIRECTLY INSTEAD! *** Orange County Report Fraud: https://orangecountyda.org/report-fraud/ *** read more

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Honestly expected more. Went maybe around 6pm and it was so packed it was ridiculous. There were not enough vendors. I thought it would be more cultural, but it was not decorated good. I was super disappointed. read more

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such a fun event.. for all us cool kids who cant afford a trip to japan. tons to see and do. the taiyakis werent very good. you can see japanese shows check it out read more

It's not worth it to come. It's a one and done type of deal. Just like everything else, it's all overpriced. Lots of vendors here... unsure if they change over the years though.... read more

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I encourage those who left 1-star reviews to experience Japan and then return to this annual festival to gain a new appreciation. Having lived in Japan for many years, this fair always rekindles my desire to go back. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the venue, which was worth the expense. The only area for improvement is the parking system, which needs to be streamlined to avoid traffic congestion at the entrance. read more

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Crowded lines lines lines but overall everyone friendly. Lots to look at everyone polite. Many choices for food but only one real vegan booth. I'm not vegan but I had one in my group. I drank my beer! Happy to wait! Viral fried noodles takoyak long wait so bring people you like. Or don't eat and just drink more beer. That line was fast and so was the 85 degree line out front. read more

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This was an amazing event. We had so much fun. From the moment you enter you are emerged in a world of culture. There were ongoing live performances which showcased everything from dances to some comedy. There was no shortage of vendors. The rows were conveniently set up with plenty of room to roam. I found myself in shopping overload wanting something from every little stop. Food ? There was more food than you can eat with plenty of seating to enjoy it. I got to try many things I hadn't before and enjoyed it all. A band was set up to the rear and the music rocked, literally. What was cool is the music was both in English and Japanese. I truly can wait to return, this was definitely a fun experience. read more

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A fair that showcases Japanese products and culture. We visited the fair on opening day, Friday at 4:00pm. We arrived the fair ground a bit before 4 and there was already a long line starting from the entrance. The gate opened promptly at 4:00 pm but it took a while to get into the fair ground. About Half of the exhibits were indoor that mainly sells various items. Outside there was a hugh food court like set up catering all sorts of tastes. All together there easily had over 100 stalls. Of particular interest was the free items you got when you completed a short survey of the fair. The other unique feature was a ride on a Japanese style rickshaw around the fairground. There was a stage set up for some sort of performance but we didn't get to see it. Overall it's worth the visit. read more

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I've been 3 times and the OC Japan Fair never disappoints! The Ramen Burger one of the vendors offer keeps me coming back every time! It really is one of a kind and sooo good. I'm not usually a burger go-to kind of person, however, this one you got to try. A lot of fun options and worth the experience. read more

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Went with some friends on a Saturday evening. I feel like too many tickets were sold for the size of the event. It was way too crowded! Couldn't really enjoy walking around much. We were shoulder to shoulder with people as we walked through the pop up shops and food lines. The lines for all of the food were extremely long. Easily about 1-2 hour waits. There were also not enough tables so we had to stand and eat. There wasn't too much to see or do and only a few Japanese themed. Some of the pop up shops were cool and others were a little random. I think they could have displayed more of the Japanese culture and feel like they really missed the mark on this one. I got the early bird ticket which was $9 but normally it is a $10 entrance fee and $12 for parking. Overall, I was pretty disappointed. read more

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Absolutely disappointed. This event has become a complete scam. I enjoyed the event in 2024 and wanted to return this year, around April 2025. Upon arriving, I was met with a disorganized mess; There was no control when it came to the lines, and the wait time was ridiculous. Everyone around was confused and did not understand what was going on. The main issue was the overfilled capacity of people. I could not fathom how all of these people could be put into less than half of the fairground. And you could imagine how the inside of the venue was like. The venue looked almost the exact same and its space was not maximized to cater to the amount of people in there. The wait times were TRIPLE the amount of what you would expect at a usual fair. Being there was just filled with waiting, crowds, and barely any breathing space. The worst part is their social media. OC Japan Fair's Instagram account DELETED all of the posts and comments speaking towards the overall flaws of the event. Take as you must; whatever you see on social media does not nearly match the experience I and many others have experienced. read more

I love Fairs and specially Japan one in Costa Mesa. This year wasn't looklike it at all! The parking was whole headache...Very long walk to event. It was very crowded and everywhere was big lines. I was accepting to see more Japanese crafts and food. The tickets were lil bit expensive for the experience we got. We didn't get the vibes! We skipped the food because the lines were horribly long and i'll be honest the presentation of food didn't catch our attention. The workers were on high stress and barely pay attention to our orders. The other thing that wasnt pleasant the smell of oil...It was very hard to walk through the lines or even wait. They have events but it was crowded and we skipped it. No chair to seat! Trash canes were too far! The parking for a compact car was $12. I dont mind pay $12 but i wished they had a bus to drop off people in front of fair. read more

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If you love your family and friends, tell them not to go. If you hate someone, please tell them to give it a try. Missed gate 10 after getting off the 55. Spent 30 mins getting stuck in traffic trying to turn right on Fair dr and finally got in at gate 3, another 10 mins before I could even pay/park. After parking, there was a HUGE line to get in (even if you purchased tix in advance). I waited close to one hour to finally get in. After you get in, you think it's all smooth sailing? It's another 1.5 hours line for ANY FOOD. The merchandise booths were selling mostly anime stuff or overpriced items that you don't need. read more

OC Japan Fair - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

You have a three day event and you're not prepared? Various food vendors were out of food. It's sponsored by Asahi beer and you don't have Asahi beer? Plan ahead and anticipate the crowds. Have somebody go out and buy more food and buy more beer. Shame on you. read more

My friend and I came here because we thought it may have something good and attraction. There were no attractions and no sushi or good Japanese food. It's took less than 15 minutes to walked through the whole event. Not much to see or do . We did pay $12 for the the parking, $10 per adult to enter what is basically a flea market ( 4 of us is $40 dollars) . Food fair with overpriced Japanese food. Waste time and money! read more

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Wasn't too impressed with the OC Japan Fair. Came on opening night. Was super disappointed that all things Hello Kitty was fake. Food was okay - but be prepared to wait in long lines. And then it takes them a while to make the food too. My friend had to eventually ask for a refund for his food. It was the rolled omelette stall. They were in way over their heads and definitely not prepared. Entertainment on the stage was horrible as well. read more

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I am super grateful that my BF got me tickets to go with his group, but I can not say I was too impressed with this venue. The food is overly priced for what you get. I bought us this pork bowl for $17 and they didn't even fill it all the way. I didn't think that it really delivered in taste for the price too. The idea of this fair seems to be an all-rounded market for families and friends, yet the content in both the booths and music were very juxtaposed. One booth are of small business Japanese brands or sweetly themed culture inspired trinkets, and then the next booth is either suggestive or hardcore adult content. The music was just as confusing too. I feel that the artists that they brought in did not match at all. Between the reggae artists whose energy matched that of a loud music festival (which wasn't even close to the level of noise at the venue) to a Michael Jackson impersonator, the energy once again felt all over the place. The cherry on top was leaving the fair and hearing a remix of the song "Shots" by Lil Jon and LMFAO. I guess it was pretty funny though. Things I did love about the fair were running into more small AAPI businesses, including a miso cookie booth, as well as a Hawaiian cuisine vendor. There were also kimono and traditional Japanese clothing booths as well as modern-day street wear and art that I also enjoyed and wished for more of. I hope that maybe the fair can look into bringing more of cohesive theming for the future! read more

OC Japan Fair - Pork Bowl - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I like how accessible and spread out everything was along with an indoor air conditioned section. Food was ok here, really preferred food at Japan Eats. We loved the premium sake tasting! Shout out to sake sisters!!! Lovely and informative. Just something to do and try. But yea food was a bit of a let down. Omelet place was good, cyute bao buns sacrifice flavor for aesthetics. The food coloring could be tasted. The slushie duck was good! I'm sorry but I don't like boba besties the taro balls texture is NOT soft like I hoped, it was like crystal agar crunchy. Why? No clue. I wanted cha but it's impacted towards the front and I'm in a wheelchair. The shaved ice place is always really good. The omiko was good bang for buck always my prefer food purchase but the one at Japan eats was far superior. We enjoyed the rock n roll performance. Taiko was amazing to walk in to! Japan dogs I heard was good, my fiance ate it. Unique vendors! The guy who does lazer design water jugs is like a good find I'd say. Being handicapped this time around I didn't take an in depth look into vendors. Hopefully next time read more

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I was looking for Stussy store. And not much choices of their products. The stuff they were selling was old and not much of a choice. They sell labubu but not real read more

Unorganized, crowded, and overpriced. We were in Japan a few months ago, this is not a good representation of the country. So disappointing. Save your time and money. read more

What a joke. Japan fair? Did not see much items or true Japan related things here. Disorganized and too crowded. The food vendors are a joke too. For the amount they charge for the food, you can actually get a full, much higher quality meal sitting at a real restaurant. The lines are insane. I can't believe 3 skewers for $36? It's seems like a cheap knock off of the 626 Market. We ended up not buying any food and ate at Honda Ya in Tustin. Never coming again. read more

Way over sold , food lines were one to two hours. The food was terrible. People were getting sick all around us , limited water sources not a lot of authentic Japanese culture at all. Pop ups of junk mostly. Much Worse than last year. Best pop-up was the sake now that one was incredible. read more

The only time I've been to the OC event center is during the OC Fari. It was different to come here and experience a smaller event. I enjoyed my visit here because it was focused on a specific culture. There are different kinds of foods, shops, cosplay and live music. Some food vendors have longer lines than others but of course depending on their food offerings. During my visit I had omosoba, meat skewers and steamed bun. There are vendors outside and the inside as well. read more

OC Japan Fair - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Underwhelming, to put it nicely. This is supposedly SoCal's largest Japanese cultural festival... a walk down Sawtelle Boulevard would've been more enlightening than this. The event usually runs for three days in the month of October. Parking at the OC fairgrounds was $10. To get here, go to Gate 10 along Newport Boulevard or Gate 1 on Fair Drive. My friends and I saved money by parking near the tennis courts along Junipero Drive and sneaking through one of the side gates. General admission is $10. They have early bird specials as low as $7 if you purchase your tickets a couple of months before. Still, the entrance fees are high and you need to spend more if you want to shop or eat. Outside there are over three dozen food trucks and stalls. Some of the options are interesting, but most are vendors you'll find at other events or restaurants that are a short drive from the fairgrounds. Seating is very limited. Most are cash only, I would bring a couple of bills instead of getting money from one of the ATMs on-site. One vendor I visited was Kagura, a small restaurant chain that mostly serves cutlets. They were selling katsu sandos (cutlet sandwiches). The cutlets were fried nicely and paired well with the soft, pillowy white bread. I didn't write down the name of the second vendor I visited. But I think they are called RE&S, a food distributor/exporter of sorts. They were selling assorted nigiri sets. All were very fresh and tasty. There's also a stage outside, with a lineup of musical guests, performances, and demonstrations. The tents towards the center were mostly apparel, accessories, art pieces, pins, plushies, anime figurines, stationery products, and more. There are more vendors and games inside the building. The maid cafe is also there. Overall, this was just like the 626 Night Market but on a smaller scale. It was a boring event, with not enough going on to justify staying for the whole day. There's not enough seating and shade for everyone, and everything is pricey. I liked Kagura, but I'd rather stop by one of their restaurants. For other festivals worth attending, check out Bunka-sai in Torrance (spring) or Obon in Gardena (summer). read more

OC Japan Fair - Katsu Sando from Kagura and Sushi from RE&S (?) ⋅ OC Fair & Event Center - Costa Mesa, California - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Too crowded. Cheap, overpriced, terrible line management both to even park and get anything. Terrible all around, never going back read more

Basically, a Japanese swap meet! It was horrible from the minute we tried to pull into the gate to park. That took 20 mins. It was as if it were the first event at the OC Fairgrounds, completely disorganized in every way! People were having verbal exchanges and using foul language in front of small kids. No signs where the line started, the line was a mile long, and it was chaos. Only one entrance to get in. The food lines were horrible and the food was outrageously expensive, $18 for a beef skewer! The venders were selling overpriced stuff as well. Just overcrowded, overpriced, and just a real drag. I was so excited for this event and it totally stunk! This was my first and sadly my last time going to this event, save your money and time! read more

Worth checking out if you haven't been here. Similar to the 626 night market layout. Some places sold out right as we got our food around noon. PROS: Taiyaki (fish waffle) with custard and red bean were good. Spicy Yakitori chicken with mochi wasn't bad. Cool items you can purchase from vendors (pins, stickers, shirts). Okonomiyaki with squid was a hit. CONS: long lines and the vendors would close because they ran out of food around 1-2pm. read more

OC Japan Fair - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We came here today to check out the OC Japan Fair, didn't buy anything other than lots of food from the food booths. Got a watermelon drink, 4 yakitori skewers, a menchi Katsu beef & pork patty! $10 admission per adult. Kids 6 and below are free. We got free parking by parking in the surrounding neighborhood. read more

OC Japan Fair - Yakitori skewers - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California