Asian Streetfood Festival Berlin

Asian Diaspora in Berlin

Berlin is home to one of Germany's most diverse Asian diasporas: over 50,000 Berliners with roots in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. The Vietnamese community is by far the largest (primarily descendants of former GDR contract workers), followed by the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese diasporas. The Asian Streetfood Festival is one of the few Berlin events that makes these communities visible together and curated — not in classic tourist formats (Chinatown, Sushi), but in the dense, diverse reality of Berlin's Asian scene.

What to Eat

Twelve to fifteen food stalls serve typical street food specialties from the major Asian cuisines:

• China: Bao Buns, Jiaozi, Mapo Tofu, Hot Pot to-go
• Japan: Yakisoba, Takoyaki, Onigiri, Matcha specialties
• Korea: Bibimbap, Tteokbokki, Corn Dogs, Bulgogi
• Thailand: Pad Thai, Tom Kha, Som Tam, Mango Sticky Rice
• Vietnam: Pho, Bun Bo Nam Bo, Bahn Mi, Spring Rolls
• India / Indonesia: Curries, Samosas, Satay, Nasi Goreng

The stalls are run by Berlin-based diaspora chefs, often from small family businesses not visible in traditional restaurant settings. Prices are moderate (€4–10 per dish), with portions typical of street food.

Stage Program: K-Pop, Lion Dance, Kung Fu

Alongside the food market, there's a continuous stage program: K-Pop dance shows by Berlin cover dance crews, lion dances in the Chinese Mahayana tradition (with characteristic lion costumes and drums), Kung Fu demonstrations by Berlin schools, plus live DJ sets with Asian electronic music (K-Pop, J-Pop, Asian Hip-Hop). For children, there are craft stations with Asian themes (calligraphy, origami, kites).

RAW Grounds and MAAYA Berlin

The venue is MAAYA Berlin at Revaler Straße 99 in the RAW grounds in Friedrichshain — an established address for diaspora and alternative events. The former Reichsbahn-Ausbesserungswerk (Imperial Railway Repair Works) has been one of Berlin's most vibrant event areas since the 2000s and now hosts numerous cultural initiatives.