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Far East Fest – Austin Asian Food Festival 2019

by Chronicle Staff February 14, 2019October 30, 2025

Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups. Pictured: winner of the Judges’ Championship award, Sway’s Chạo Tôm (pork and shrimp dumping wrapped around a sugar cane stick with “so good” aioli). For more scenes from Far East Fest, see this week’s “Snapshot.”
Winner of the People’s Champion award: Tito Adobo’s Lechon Kawali (deep-fried duroc pork, provided by Tender Belly, on a bed of tangy apple jicama slaw and fried rice).
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Mayor Steve Adler
Tso Chinese Delivery’s green bean fries
Tender Belly’s habañero dry rub uncured bacon
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Matcha tres leches cake from Michelle’s Patisserie
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Fancy Fluff’s wasabi cotton candy
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest co-founder Gavin Booth and Karen Reinsberg, who together run recipe and travel food guide company Couple in the Kitchen
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Far East Fest celebrated its second annual all-you-can eat Asian food festival on Saturday, February 9 in the parking lot of the nearly one-year-old H Mart (year one was held on the grounds of the Austin-American Statesman). About 2,900 foodies braved frigid temperatures to sample bites from 30-plus local restaurateurs and watch performances from various Asian entertainment groups.
Ken Taro, winner of the no-hands noodle eating contest

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