Always way to crowded and lines are too long. So many better places to hold this and they pick the same place every year. It either needs a better layout or a new location. read more

What a perfect event to have on a dreary January day. This is more of a 3.5 star review but I'll bump it to 4. My father in law bought my wife and tickets to Soupfest. They're $5. This entry fee simply gets you in the door. We pulled onto the road where Riverworks sits. There was a looong line of cars waiting to park but it went fairly quick. $5 to park. For the people who love math, that's $10 down without even tasting soup. We parked in a gravel lot a decent distance away from the entry. As we headed to the door a man walking away from the event was screaming, "Soupfest is a scam! It's a f****** rip off! You have to pay to get in and that doesn't get you any soup!" I think he was having a bad day... Anyway we walked in and folks were very helpful directing traffic and explaining which lines are for buying tickets, picking up tickets or the line to enter. Once we were finally in you then had to buy tickets for the soups. I believe tickets were $1 each. You could buy a full sheet. I ended up getting $20 worth of tickets. That's now $30 I've spent and haven't filled my tummy yet with warm broth. Soups ranged from two tickets ($2) to four tickets. It was really cramped at times but I never waited more than a minute for a soup. You get a cup sized portion. There were also dessert and snack options as well. I think people simply need to use more common sense when they're in line - don't cut folks, don't block the line to look at the menu, when you get your soup move away from the table so others can transact. Pro tip - they post the full menu on their website. Riverworks bars were still open which was nice. Best thing I tried was Joe's Deli's Chicken Bacon Jalapeno Popper soup. Great taste and had a perfect kick to it. Overall a fun event that I would attend again next year. Would I rather spend $30 elsewhere and have a full meal? Sure but you'll never have an opportunity to try so many great soups in a single spot. read more

This was an amazing festival. Soup is one of my favorite meals. And they had every kind of soup you could imagine. I had 7 different soups, and one even came with a shot of whiskey. But I also gained like 50 pounds after eating it all lol one of my favorites was the homemade spaghetti Os! It was soooo delicious! It was held at riverworks, which is always a great place to hold anything. The atmosphere was great. And there were a tooon of people. The prices were reasonable. You get tickets first and then give like 3 or 4 for a soup. And you get a good portion for each soup. So when this festival comes back next year, I will be there. And so should you. Lol read more

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This is my third year going to Soup Fest. Why I come back: 1. They always do well with picking a variety of soup vendors. 2. They get a few stands that accommodate special diets (gluten free, vegan), and even denote these ahead of time on the menu. 3. The prices are fair. For $2-3 a sample you get a good amount of soup. Some people think this is expensive but one sample is enough for two people to have a few bites, so go with someone and split the cost. 4. They keep the place clean and empty the garbages regularly. What they could improve on: 1. Put the menu in order either by number or alphabetically by name. 2. Ask the vendors to post their soups in a highly visible place, and ask ALL to post their prices (most did) 3. Setup lines 4. Consider setting up a small aisle behind stands so the soup carts can access. With the amount of people, transporting anything was difficult for those folks. What I would like to see in upcoming years: 1. Soup-related vendors that don't carry soup, such as locally made breads, herbs/spices/soup mixes to take home, or a place with side salads. 2. Consider adjusting the layout, the center aisle was insanely packed yet the last aisle had no soup vendors so it was empty. They could've expanded the center aisle more to accommodate the long lines. Looking forward to coming again next year! read more

Soup Fest - Buffalo chicken ramen by Sato. - Soup Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Soup fest is something I look forward to every year! $5 entry and soups range from 1-5 tickets. Parking is generally okay. You have to park in a lot or ramp. My favorite soup this year was a full pickle with pulled pork out of this world! Tons of people, lines are usually not that bad. There is a reason why people will stand in line though!! The portions are sample size but still a good size for what you pay! read more

Always a fun event (but get there early) Tons of soups (large selection) with decent portions..... samples range from $2-$4 ....admission is $5.....desserts and beverages for sale too. My personal favorite this year was the crab corn chowder from Raintree Restaurant. A suggestion for next year, put the amount of tickets for each soup on the flyer you get when you first walk in. Also more attendants at the coat check line (only time I was frustrated waiting) read more

First time attending. Good soup, decent crowd, the venue was pretty uninspired. Not a bad event to attend on a cold winter's day. read more

Soup Fest - Soup trucks and booths - Soup Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Disclaimer: I was a judge for Yelp's soup contest, so I didn't pay for admission or for most of the soups I tasted, but I did pay admission for Lee, and he paid for soups himself while there. So. I think this is a festival that needs a new venue. There were no problems getting checked in, but once I got into the space where it was held, that's when the problems started. There were so many people packed into the space that the entire time I was there I was on the verge of a panic attack. It was honestly one of the least awesome experiences I've had in this type of event. The crowd was so big that it was really hard to move, and it was completely unclear where lines for the soups started. The soups themselves were delicious, but the booths were so low that it was hard to actually find particular vendors because of the crowds. it was difficult to find a place to eat the soups, there were some tables spread around, but they were piled high with discarded bowls. It seemed like there should have been more trash cans around. The crowds, the heat, and the noise were all so overwhelming for me that once I had discharged my judging duties, we left. If this was in a larger venue and perhaps better organized (selling a limited number of tickets maybe?) I would be back. read more

Def. Not atteding the soup festival next year. Not worth it. Over priced, unorganized, the soups were not tasty at all. Limited tables and put them all in random locations. People had no space to walk around or even had hard time to find the right lane to line up to get their soups The Louisiana at the end sold most of their soups. So they just add more water and seasoning in their jumbo soup to sell it to people. Very disappointed!! Nothing really speical at all. I would rather spend the money to go a nice restaurant instead of paying a fee to attend the event and tickets to purchase the soups!!! read more

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Great event! There's a $5 admission fee which gives you access to the event but you can't actually sample anything. Then you can purchase ticket which cost $1 per ticket. You could sample soup, cookies, cupcakes, and some other foods for $2-5 each. I got there as soon as it started and I didn't have to wait more than five minutes at any booth. The crowd was large and there were not as many booths as I expected. I'd still go again though. The kimchi soup was the best soup I tried! read more

This was my 1st year at Soupfest as I was lucky enough to be a judge for Yelp! The place was crowded!! I think next year they need to have a little more room for people to walk around and stand to sample the many soups. I was assigned 4 restaurants to sample from. I picked my favorite which was Eddie Ryan's Beer Cheese soup. Sadly it wasn't everyone's favorite but I would highly recommend it! I would definately volunteer for this event again next year! read more

I was lucky enough to be chosen as a Yelp judge for this event. Free soup tastings? Sign me up! It was wonderful seeing how many restaurants went all out for this event. Some favorites included J&L Boulevard Barbecue's Brunswick Stew and the Roaming Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup. Orazio's stole the show with their "S weet Crab Chowder w/Sherry, Corn & Fresh Dill" presentation. Simply amazing. I have never visited the restaurant before, but the soup makes me regret this decision! Sadly, the event was severely compromised due to poor set-up and ticket overselling. Despite only using half of the upstairs space, an exorbitant amount of tickets were sold. To say that the place was "crowded" would be the biggest understatement of all time. I have no issue with crowds and regularly find myself in situations involving large amounts of people. This was above and beyond any of those experiences. You couldn't move without bumping into someone, tripping over a stroller, or getting decked by someone taller than you. Now for the kicker: all of these people were carrying cups of steaming hot soup. Not a good combination. The lines for the soup stands were so long that they extended across and through the walking area, meaning that, in order to move from stand to stand, you had to cut through lines of stationary people. I probably apologized more that day than I did during the entirety of 2015. On top of all of this, the program, booth numbering, and map for the event was a complete joke. The program was not organized alphabetically or numerically, so it was painful to figure out where specific restaurants were located. The map was hand-drawn on a piece of poster-board and hung on the wall when people walked in. Due to the crowds, it was almost impossible to fight your way back to the map to figure out where a specific booth was. Booth numbers were often covered up by signs or removed completely. I really hope that the event is reconfigured next year to allow everyone to enjoy the restaurants in a safer, happier, healthier way. It was a complete disservice to the restaurants who poured their heart and soul into a soup bowl. read more

Over crowded this year. Feels like a venue change may be in order once again. Outside of that, the staff at each spot held their own very well, remaining focused and positive, regardless of the increased tension of the crowds as the afternoon wrapped up. Tip for future visits from my group to yours: sharing is caring, delicious and easily the cheaper route to take. read more

This event gets crowded fast. Plan on arriving early. Very well run, and most of the attendees are understanding enough to go with the flow of the lines. read more

Sorry, but the last time I go to this event. I went to the very first one years ago at the Millennium hotel near the Galleria. It was crowded, slightly unorganized, but enjoyable and I thought it would improve with time. When it was moved to the Convention Center I thought things would get better. I was wrong. And as each year goes by it gets no better. Now it's even more crowded and more unorganized and less enjoyable. The list of disappointments would go on too long so in a nut shell; hot, loud (mostly from the stage), lack of seating, long lines, terrible bar access, pricey... Off my list of things to do. Would rather enjoy a nice afternoon at a fav restaurant. p.s. This is NOT a slam on the vendors, just the event. I found most of the soups quite good. read more

Soup fest was a great success!! It was very well attended and I think relatively well organized for such a large crowd of people. My favorite soup came from the Rain Tree Bar & Grill....crab corn chowder, seconded by Alleyways creamy Rueben soup. A fun afternoon at the Buffalo Convention Center!! So many friendly happy Buffalonians....where would you rather be on a cold, but sunny February day in Buffalo? read more

The variety and diversity of soups are remarkable. The long lines and compactness of the crowd is also overwhelmingly remarkable as well. Worth going to on a cold winter day. read more

My first time at soupfest ! Great variety ! Liked the set up . But... By 3 alot of vendors were out of 1 of their soups . Most popular of course . Have to give 5 stars to Zoup who was still going strong with 3 soups at 430 ! Plus their lobster bisque was award winning ! The poor cupcake people were overwhelmed ! Gone by 3! But I loved it and will b back . For 21 dollars u could have 7 soups!! Quite the deal ! read more

Soup Fest - Soup Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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For my 100th Review I decided to write about Soupfest, It was the 6th annual (my 1st time going as well as my Nathans) and it was fun by the Spoonful. Located in the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center downtown lies an event for all Lovers of Soup (we were gonna find out which one reigned Soup-reme). It went from 11 to 6, we arrived at 5:40 and we were here for only 40 minutes walking around. It wasn't overly packed, Lines weren't that long and a good amount of the Soups were sold out. Out of the 80 soups that they had there I only tasted 9 of them, 3 soups that I was dying to try were: The Whole Hog's Chilled Beet Borscht with Apple & Sour Cream, Sato's Spicy Miso Ramen (They both sold out before we even got there) and Mooney's Beef on Weck soup (I wasn't thinking about it at the time, who doesn't love Beef on Weck). The 9 Soups that I tried were: 1. Smoked Tomato - Fat Bob's Smokehouse (I was curious to why one of the Best BBQ places in town was doing here. Were they gonna serve a Bowl of BBQ soup with Pulled Pork, Brisket and a Rib on top or something?. But I love Tomato Soup and when I took my first spoonful I could taste the Smoke, It was Smooth and Creamy. It had a subtle smoky flavor to it, Probably the best Tomato Soup I've ever had). 2. Bison & Black Bean Chili - Lenox Grill (Believe me, I've had Bison Meat twice before but I've never had it in Chili before. I really liked it, I couldn't even tell if it was Bison or Ground Beef. I also liked that there was some Corn and Red Peppers in there for Color). 3. Bangarang Soup - Lomo ! Lomo ! (One of the best soups that I had there, showcasing Big and Bold Asian flavors. Thai Chilies, Ginger, Scallions, Shredded Pork, It was Sweet & Spicy and I love the Bread they gave you to soak some of it up). It was the 1st one that I had Twice. 4. Sweet Crab Chowder with Sherry, Corn & Fresh Dill - Orazio's (This would be something to enjoy in the Springtime, Sweetness from the Corn and Richness from the Crab) 5. Fruit Gazpacho - Providence Social Club (Gazpacho is a Spanish Soup made of Pureed Fruits or Vegetables and served cold. They incorporated Strawberries, Pineapple, Raspberries, Banana and Apples, but it was more Liquid than chunky. It tasted and felt I was drinking fruit juice from a can, my least favorite). 6. Golumpki Soup - Roaming Dee's (I'm Polish through and through and this is one of my favorite Polish dishes to eat. Soft boiled cabbage leaves stuffed with Minced Pork or Beef and topped with a Tomato Sauce. This was like a deconstructed Golumpki with Rice, Shreds of Cabbage and Minced Beef all swimming in a Tomato based broth. So Hearty). 7. Murphy's Irish Onion Soup - Winfield's Pub (Normally I'm not a big fan of Onion Soup like Onions swimming in Broth. But I was curious to try it, Caramelized Onions in a Broth made from Pork Bones and Chocolate Stout Beer with Homemade Croutons. Croutons gave it some Texture, Stout Beer gave the soup some Decadence but to me it would've scored more points if there were bits of Pork instead of just essence of Pork from the bones. To me this was Hit & Miss). 8. Bean & Beer Soup with Brooklyn Insulated Lager - R&R BBQ (It was rich and warm bowl of soup, I loved a bits of Ham and Bacon in it, the Lager gave it some Richness and Bitter Notes). 9. Sausage, Potato, Leek, Smoked Gouda & Brown Ale Chowder - Joe's Deli (Aside from Bangarang Soup this was my other Favorite Soup and the other one that I had Twice. I just loved taking spoonful after spoonful of this soup, It was nourishing and comforting and I loved the smokiness you get from the Gouda. This would be something to have when your stuck in the House on and extremely Cold Night). These were the soups that Nathan had: Chicken Noodle - The Lakehouse on Lime Lake, Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wing - Danny's, Bangarang Soup - Lomo ! Lomo!, Beef on Weck from Mooney's (That's all I can remember). We also got some Bangarang Soup for Dad and Zoup's Lobster Bisque for Mom. I loved coming here, it was Soup-erb !!! read more

Who doesn't love soup? I'm vegetarian but was able to find plenty of vegetarian soups. Go Veggies was there as well as several other vendors with vegetarian options. The event was reasonably priced and benefited several charities. Entry tickets were $5 at the door (cheaper online) and you purchase soups with 'soup bucks'. I split a 20 ticket sheet ($20) with my friend and we were both full by the end. The room was packed and the lines were long. read more

It was a nice event to get out of the house for on a winter day. Would I go again? Probably not. Lack of tables to eat at with young children. ( We had our 8 and 9 year old with us)The event was posted that it was kid friendly and there was literally nothing for the kids to do. The lines were long and made it difficult to navigate to a open spot to eat at while not being in the way of people moving from line to line. Event also rather pricey as we paid $15 to park, $30 for food tickets and $10 to get in ...however we enjoyed several of the soups.. read more

Great variety of soups. Lines were pretty long for each station but it was expected . There were a lot of delicious tasting soups and desserts . One think I believed they could of done better is to have a menu that can be seen by everyone in line . The menus were sometimes hung in front of the table so you wouldn't be able to see it until you already waited in line for 15 min and you're right in front of it. I disliked that because twice I didn't see something I wanted to use my tickets on but I got something because I waited so long. Other than that complaint I really liked the variety . read more

Buffalo Soup Fest 2017... This year I made it to the Soup Fest!!! I would love to be a judge for this event next year... We arrived at about 4:15. I really like that there was a FREE coat check and accepted donations. At the time of arrival, it was not too crowded. The space was much better than in the past. There were lots of trash can around with a lot of table chairs and high top tables to stand and eat. However, people need to learn how to clean up after themselves. Even though there were plenty of trash cans close to the tables, patrons did not use common couritousey to clean up after themselves. (Remember your "consideration of others" manners). Good thing there were a couple people to police up the trash and help keep it clean. Overall the soups were great. I think it is a little pricey. $5 each admission then pay $1 per soup ticket. So for the two of us we got $30(30tickets) and $10 to get in (plus price of drinks.) Each soup ranges from 2-4 or more tickets each. I woukd rather it be 1 soup ticket per taste for a 1.5-2oz taste and charge more tickets for larger portions. This year at this location, it did not have much "Ambience". When this was at the Millennium Hotel by the Galleria mall, there was a very nice atmosphere to it. One thing I really enjoyed, was the selling of the children's soup bowls , coffee cups etc. I love this idea. Children from different area schools and grades; made ceramic bowls, cups, etc...They are for sale and comes with a note from the student who made it . We purchased a coffee cup and dip dish. I really would love to write a letter to all the students. They did an amazing job with their creativity! **Can't wait to see how this soup fest gets better for next year. I wish this was a semi-annual event! Once a year is not enough. My favorite event of the year. Please consider bringing this event to Niagara Falls,NY!! read more

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We loved Joe's Deli's "Sausage, Gouda and Beer soup" the most out of the couple we tried at #SoupFest16. It was the kind of stick-to-your-ribs soup that is perfect for a winter day but - holy hell - we couldn't hang out and sample any more. They gave a maniac a microphone and between him shrieking into it and the techno music, it was completely frenetic. We really wanted to stay but we just could not! We came, we sampled, we bolted and we shan't be back! P.S. and F.Y.I. (Note that this has nothing to do with this review but will henceforth be included in all my Yelp reviews): I'm not sure if there is a "PokéStop" nearby and you have got to be kidding me about the fact that this is a survey question on Yelp! read more

Very, very crowded. We had some good soups, but several we wanted to try were sold out.

The buffalo soup fest is absolutely one of my favorite buffalo events . I go every year. It's the perfect time of year to have some delicious soup, try something new and have fun. It is very well organized and run: coat check, tickets, entertainment and of course soup! I would like to suggest perhaps recycled cardboard soup "trays" for those who would like to try more than one soup. Or a designated tray that you would be responsible for carrying with you throughout the event . As well as selling your own tasting spoon, maybe bought and worn around the neck! Just to be more environmentally conscious and have fun with it in the process ! I love learning about new soups, which leads to me learning about new restaurants in the area! The crowd lessens significantly after 3pm, but you run the risk of places running out of soups ! I would encourage more restaurants to bring menus, cards and be ready to share information on where you can go to try thier food and some of their all year round specials ! Otherwise, thanks to the amazing staff, Volunteers , and restaurants for making one of my favorite events every year . read more

I dont know who's idea it was to move Soupfest to Riverworks, when only a fraction of the Buffalo Convention Center was used in previous years to host this event. Regardless, whomever came up with the idea to have a "Lunch Session" from 11am-130pm AND then a "Dinner Session" 3pm-530pm, obviously does not have the best interest of the consumer in mind. My friends and I have been loyal attendees of Soupfest since day 1. You just lost our loyalty. Soupfest should enjoyed and not be rushed. It would be financially beneficial to both Soupfest and the host to make it an all day affair. I'm guessing you expect people to fill up on soup and drink and leave, when the longevity of the once a year event can be an all day experience. read more

I gave the Soup-Fest 2016 a try for the 1st time. I tried a lot of different types of soups, but their is one that I tried and it was amazing! It was the Stuffed Hot Pepper soup from Mooney's. I had 3 samples of it. I have never been to Mooney's but I am glad I found this place! I will be visiting your restaurant soon. I also visited the Yelp table, "checked in" and played Plinko. I won a Yelp shot glass. read more

The Water Lily Cafe Thai Chicken Ginger Rice soup was AMAZING!!!! Highly recommend visiting this festival!

Nice idea. Glad I went, but probably wont go again. Long lines and very crowded. Tough to eat hot soup when you have to keep you head up to avoid some fat guy in a winter coat who will inevitably bump into you. Lots of good soups at mostly fair prices though. read more

Terribly unorganized event. You could hardly move inside the vendor area it was so crowded. Lines were long at most of the spots there. People were cutting in because there were no barriers set up to control the line. A majority of the soups I tried were pretty good. But they were not worth fighting the crowd to pay 2 or 3 dollars for the small cup. Never again and I will not recommend the event to anyone. read more

So crowed and HOT . It was almost impossible to enjoy. Almost all soups were 2-3 tickets.

Although the soup we got to taste was delicious, the crowd was insane, the music and PA system was too loud and chaotic, and the space was too small. Half the convention center was closed off causing the crowds to be larger than it needed to be. We will NEVER return to this festival. read more

My first year at soupfest and it was generally a great experience. We went early (12:15) since I had heard that later is not better if you want to try some of the more popular soups. There were three of us so we would each get a different soup and try all three, then move on to the next area of interesting soups. This way we got to try a lot more than the 6-7 soups a sheet of tickets would buy us (we ended up sampling about 18 soups, gelato and chocolate). That being said a few things that I would change for next year: 1) Have designated roped off lanes for soup lines, it was often unclear where the line ended and if indeed you were in line at all. It would also prevent people from getting their soup and standing near the stand to eat it which only crowded the restaurants tables and confused people even more. It would also keep people from cutting across lines and bumping into people carrying soup to safe eating areas. It would also make it more handicap accessible. My elderly mom was supposed to join us with her walker, but canceled and it was a good thing. Even as early as we were and as not too crowded as it was, maneuvering through the unorganized crowd would have been difficult if not impossible for her to manage. 2) The portions were generous, and filling so even if I wanted to buy more soup to try I never would have had room to eat more, so I suggest that they cut down the size of the portion, charge $1 a portion which would allow people the opportunity to sample even more soups, which is especially important if you want people to vote on favorites. 3) Adjust the temperature inside to take in consideration the number of attendees and the fact that there are hot soups being served. It was very warm, and even though there was a coat check available, the unseasonably warm weather outside made it very warm upstairs. 4) Signage for soups and pricing should be high up on the pipe and drape near the restaurant signs so people can see them from afar, and I agree with the comment already made that the listings in the guide should be in either restaurant numeric or alpha order. Overall, a fun few hours and I loved the bowl purchase for the Friends of the Night People downstairs. Some beautiful artistic bowls by local students for a good cause. Mine is proudly gracing my mantle as a reminder that as the student artist noted there "are families torn apart by hunger" and that "poverty reaches across all races, cultures and nations." read more