After stops across the country, Panda Fest is finally coming to Pittsburgh, bringing its traveling Asian food and cultural festival to Station Square from September 18-20. A way to travel throughout Asia right by the Three Rivers, Panda Fest represents countries like China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam with over 80 Asian food vendors, 200 Asian street food vendors, and 30 cultural marketplace vendors.

What to Expect at Panda Fest’s Pittsburgh Debut

Panda Fest may be new to Pittsburgh but the festival already travels to 15 other cities including Orlando and Philadelphia. The center of the festival is the lines of food vendors that bring you everything from boba tea to noodle dishes, dumplings, bao, skewers, hot pot, egg waffles, grilled squid, katsu, curry bowls, sushi, and so much more. There are even vendors that lean more fusion-heavy, carrying menu items like sushi pizza and Korean corn dogs, so you don’t have to stray to far from what you already love to enjoy the cuisine. It’s a chance to try both traditional Asian cuisine and trending treats such as tanghulu and bungeoppang (fish shaped pastries).

One of the biggest draw of Panda Fest, besides the food, is in the name… pandas. A 15-foot inflatable panda is the landmark of the festival though there are plenty of other panda-themed photo opportunities, treats, panda bounce house, games, and products. A lot of the food and drink items even come with a little panda figure on top. Expect cuteness overload when you order up a latte that features a cloud of foam in the shape of a panda bear.

Outside of the Food, Explore Shopping and Live Performances

But, despite the panda mascot, culture is at the core of Panda Fest. Throughout the day you can walk through a marketplace featuring cultural vendors selling Asian specialty products. Look through handmade crafts, clothing, accessories, and specialty ingredients from around the world. Artisan teas, artwork, origami earrings, and crochet plushies are just a few of the things you’ll find.

After browsing the market, stop by the main stage for performances all day long whether it’s lion dances, K-pop artists, or Thai dancers. Even off stage there are demonstrations that you can watch like sugar painting, paper cutting, and calligraphy. So, your day is truly up to you, whether you’d rather indulge in the food, take home a trinket for your shelf, or bask in the traditions of Asia.

General admission tickets are $14 (through Saturday is $16) and include a free Pittsburgh panda pin and a panda headband. Or, you can purchase VIP for $35 (or $37 for Saturday) to receive fast-pass entry, access to exclusive VIP areas and bathrooms, and a panda bag. Plus, for all families, children under six get in for free.

Meet the Food Vendors of Panda Fest Pittsburgh

• At Boba: Giant Panda Fruit Juice, A Panda Bottle with Watermelon Juice
• Mumu Sweet: Mochi Mochii (Mochi Donuts), Churros & Ice Cream, Fluffy Soufflé (Fresh Made Fluffy Soufflé Pancakes)
• King Squid: King Squid (Grilled King/ Whole Squid), King Skewer (Grilled King/ Whole Squid on a skewer)
• Softbite: Mala Twist (Twisted Potato and Twisted Cucumber), Milky Bingsoo (Panda Matcha / Strawberry Bingsoo)
• Baozang: Chow Mein, Rice Cake, Crispy Pancake (Shrimp/ Seafood/ Beef/ Vegan Pancake)
• Le Poke: Panda Sushi Pizza (Rainbow / Grilled Eel Sushi Pizza), Taco Sushi (California-style taco), Sushi Push Pop (Salmon Sushi Push Pop), Sushi Donut (Salmon Sushi Donut)
• Heaven Noodles/Saucy Bao: SaucyBao (Pan-friend Crispy Saucy Bao), Soup Dumplings, Bento Bao
• Chan Bai Mei: Chan Bai Mei (candy fruit– Candy Rainbow / Candy Gem), 3D Fruit Ice Cream, Flame-Cooked Beef Noodles
• Dumpling King: Fried Dumplings, Signature Shaped Bao (Custard Bun/ Chocolate Bun), Pan Fried Pork Bun
• Cozy Tea Loft: Moo Moo Panda Land (Brown Sugar Milk Tea, Bubbles Teas, and Lemonade), T J Big Pan: Omurice & Japanese Fried Rice, Ice Cream Mochi
• BBQ Master/K Food Master: Tteokbokki (Stir-Fried Rice Cake), BBQ Chicken / Lamb / Beef, Korean Hotteok
• 九头鸟/Amo: Crispy Burger (Roujiamo – Chinese Burger), Korean Crunch Dog, Amo Noodle Bowl (Chewy, Sesame-rich Noodle Bowl)
• Panda Paws Cafe: Unique Taiyaki and Soft-Serve, Trendy Asian Drinks Food Fest, Happy Belly: Mango Sticky Rice & Fruit Smoothies
• Sarin Grill: Grilled Chicken & Beef Kebob
• Sippin’ Sushin: Boba Tea, Smoothie, Matcha
• Mr. Takoyaki: Authentic Japanese Street Food Takoyaki, Creamu Creamu (Fried Japanese Cream Sandos)
• Hawaiian Honey Cones: Hawaiian Honey Cones
• Hoshino: Teriyaki &Thai Fried Rice, Panda Takoyaki
• Kream Seoul Crepe: K- Crepes with Ice Cream, Coco Could Float (Coconut Water Ice Cream Float)
• Yu Kun: YU KUN Sesame Cake (Hearty Meat Pie)
• Taste of Korea: Korean Corn Dogs, Boneless Korean-Chicken, Bbong Uh Bbang & A-Bbong (Korean Takoyaki)
• For U: Fried Skewers, Korean Grilled Pork Belly
• Baobutong: Chili garlic noodles, Chicken Noodles & Beef Noodles
• Spring Tea: Spring Tea, Mango Sago Pudding Sticky Rice
• Panda Fizzy: Fizzy Fizzy (Fizzy Coffee & Tea)
• Rolled Ice Cream: Rolled Ice Cream (Chocolate Oreo, Strawberry Cookie, Matcha Cream Banana, Blueberry Mixed
• Rich Tea: Fruit Tea & Lemonade
• Second: Korean Fried Chicken & Rice Cake, Bangkok Milk Tea
• Crisp and Cool/ Neko Crepe Cafe: Japanese Crepe
• Lamoon Thai Tea: Thai Tea Cream Cheese
• Pop Asian Street Food: Fresh Onigiri, Cold Udon & Tempura
• Goku Kitchen: Japanese Custard Cake
• Kung Fu Soup Dumpling: Shanghai Soup Dumpling (xiao long bao), Pork Soup Dumplings, Rice Siu Mai
• Kopitiam: Traditional Malaysian Handpulled Coffee
• Inari Sushi: Sushi
• Manila Grill Asian Fusion: Filipino Skewer
• La Bella’s Kitchen: BBQ Skewers (Intestine & Lumpia)
• Tri Asian Bao Bun: Bao Bun
• VK Delicious Bites: Crispy Pork Belly & Loaded Crabfries
• Mattari Suru: Crispy and bold Korean street eats
• Elotador/ La Nomade: Iced Banana Cream Coffee and Iced Salted Maple Cream Coffee Coffee n’ More: Fresh Fruit Tea, Vietnamese Coffee Soursop Tea
• Be Ngo Vietnamese Foods: Grilled meat, Beef offal
• YuKun: Fresh wontons
• Hello, Yam!: Japanese Sweet Potato Desserts
• Japanese Sandwich: Rainbow cheese sandwich
• Maya’s Merienda and Asian Street Foods: Filipino BBQ & shrimps
• 2NDBITELLC: Japanese Fruit Sando
• Tiger Sugar/ Panda Sugar: (Brown Sugar, Boba, Tea)

Is your mouth watering yet? While you wait, explore Pittsburgh’s best Asian restaurants. Or, find more things to do throughout Pittsburgh.

Story by Kylie Thomas
Photos Courtesy of Panda Fest

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