Smorgasburg Miami Honors AAPI Heritage Month with “Asian Street Food Festival: Flavors of the Tropics”
Source: Smorgasburg Miami
Reported By: Caroline Dalal
May 15th, 2025 – Miami’s beloved open-air culinary gathering, Smorgasburg Miami, is once again honoring Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with its signature Asian Street Food Festival: Flavors of the Tropics, returning Memorial Day Weekend for its fourth consecutive year. The two-day event, held in partnership with journalist and Cross Cultures founder Cheryl Tiu, is set to transform Wynwood’s bustling market into a flavorful and festive tribute to AAPI culture on Saturday, May 24 (12pm–10pm) and Sunday, May 25 (12pm–8pm).
This year’s theme, Flavors of the Tropics, introduces a sun-soaked twist to the festival’s culinary core, highlighting tropical influences across Asia and the Pacific Islands through an eclectic mix of guest vendors, immersive entertainment, and hands-on family-friendly experiences.
A Taste of the Tropics, Through an Asian Lens
With cuisine as its central language, the festival will spotlight guest chefs and vendors offering a variety of dishes that speak to the spirit of tropical Asia. From Filipino pork belly skewers and Vietnamese wings to imaginative Japanese plates and modern matcha creations, the lineup blends nostalgia with discovery.
Among the featured guest vendors:
Anora’s Thai/Lao Hut serves up deep-fried jumbo squid and tornado potatoes—quintessential street food with serious flair.
Chef Norlan presents elevated Japanese specialties, from sushi rolls to creative nigiri compositions.
Mr. Takoyaki satisfies cravings for savory, grilled bites with a Tokyo street stall feel.
Tala’s Delightful Bites brings Filipino barbecue skewers, lumpia, chicken isaw, and grilled squid straight from the islands.
Yen’s Kitchen highlights Vietnamese comfort foods with crispy wings and classic grilled dishes.
Primoo Boba and Salamat Cookies round out the culinary journey with handcrafted teas, small-batch cookies, and creative syrups.
Smorgasburg’s resident vendors will also debut tropical-themed specialties crafted exclusively for the weekend. Highlights include Boca Burgers’ Tropical Burger, stacked with grilled pineapple and barbecue sauce; Fizz & Matcha’s Lychee Rose Matcha Latte and Mango Sticky Rice Matcha Latte, layered with fragrant floral foams, fruit purées, and textured toppings; and Lechona Truck’s Plátano Bites, which fill crispy plantain baskets with slow-roasted Colombian pork and crunchy chicharrón.
Lei Giveaways, Live Music, and Island Rhythms
The celebration extends far beyond the plate. Guests arriving early each day will receive complimentary tropical leis, setting a festive tone for the afternoon. Polynesian dance group Poly Proud will take the stage from 5:30 to 7:30 PM on both days, bringing island culture to life with rhythmic movement and traditional performances. Earlier in the day, a rotation of DJs will soundtrack the market with upbeat sets from 2 to 5 PM, turning food-hopping into a full-sensory experience.
Families and children are also welcome, with interactive activities offered throughout the event to create a welcoming environment for guests of all ages.
A Celebration Rooted in Cultural Exchange
Smorgasburg’s partnership with Cheryl Tiu of Cross Cultures underscores the event’s deeper purpose: to use food as a vehicle for cultural dialogue. Tiu, known for championing cross-cultural culinary events globally, brings a curatorial eye to the lineup, ensuring that each vendor adds dimension to the weekend’s narrative—one rooted in community, flavor, and shared heritage.
Set in Miami’s creative epicenter, the Wynwood location offers an ideal backdrop for this type of celebration—where global culture and local creativity intersect in ways that feel both authentic and electric.