We’re a Little Confused by This Festival of the Holidays Booth
It’s time for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays! The first day of the festival is here and we’re at EPCOT to check out all of the holiday fun.
![Festival of the Holidays](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-signs-stock6-1024x685.jpg)
![Festival of the Holidays](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-signs-stock6-1024x685.jpg)
Festival of the Holidays
There is a lot of different food to eat at the festival, so come along with us to check out one of the returning Holiday Kitchens!
Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen
You’ll find Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen at the Japan Pavilion, close to the water of World Showcase Lagoon.
Here’s a look at the menu:
First up, we got the returning Sushi Tree! This is a sushi roll with krab meat and cream cheese topped with Aonori seaweed, Ikura salmon roe, and spicy mayonnaise for $7.50.
![Sushi Tree](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-sushi-tree-1-scaled.jpg)
![Sushi Tree](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-sushi-tree-1-scaled.jpg)
Sushi Tree
Our reporters weren’t fans. They described it as “a cute presentation,” but the sushi is too fishy. Also, the sushi balls are so hard that our reporter worried they might crack a tooth. Eep!
![Sushi Tree](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-sushi-tree-3-scaled.jpg)
![Sushi Tree](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-sushi-tree-3-scaled.jpg)
Sushi Tree
We also tried the new Sweet Potato Mochi Cake for $6.50. This is a gooey sweet potato mochi cake with purple sweet potato cream, strawberry, black sugary syrup, and sesame seeds.
![Sweet Potato Mochi Cake](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-sweet-potato-mochi-cake-1-scaled.jpg)
![Sweet Potato Mochi Cake](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-sweet-potato-mochi-cake-1-scaled.jpg)
Sweet Potato Mochi Cake
While our reporters enjoyed the taste, the combination of the mochi and cake created an odd texture that was also a bit chewy inside. So, we’re on the fence about this one.
![Sweet Potato Mochi Cake](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-sweet-potato-mochi-cake-3-scaled.jpg)
![Sweet Potato Mochi Cake](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-sweet-potato-mochi-cake-3-scaled.jpg)
Sweet Potato Mochi Cake
We did not get the New Year Celebration Soba, which is returning buckwheat soba noodles in a hot dashi soup with yuzu, shrimp tempura, and chopped green onion for $8.50.
For the drinks, we got the returning Ichigo Milk Boba for $7. This is a non-alcoholic cranberry and yuzu cream drink featuring Japanese calpico soft drink and popping strawberry boba pearls.
![Ichigo Milk Boba](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-ichigo-milk-boba-2-scaled.jpg)
![Ichigo Milk Boba](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-ichigo-milk-boba-2-scaled.jpg)
Ichigo Milk Boba
This drink was kind of sweet but didn’t really stand out to us. It was not cold OR warm, and it didn’t seem to have any real flavor. It was basically a sweetened milk drink.
![Ichigo Milk Boba](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-ichigo-milk-boba-3-scaled.jpg)
![Ichigo Milk Boba](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-wdw-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays-shi-wasu-holiday-kitchen-ichigo-milk-boba-3-scaled.jpg)
Ichigo Milk Boba
You can also get Japanese Christmas Punch with Shōchū, plum wine, cranberry, and lemon for $8.25, the new Choya Sparkling Plum Wine for $8.25, or the Sapporo Premium Beer, which is $5 for 6 oz. and $9.50 for 12 oz.
![2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Japanese Christmas Punch Shi Wasu](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-EPCOT-International-Festival-of-the-Holidays-Japanese-Christmas-Punch-Shi-Wasu.jpg)
![2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Japanese Christmas Punch Shi Wasu](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-EPCOT-International-Festival-of-the-Holidays-Japanese-Christmas-Punch-Shi-Wasu.jpg)
Japanese Christmas Punch
Overall, we couldn’t help but feel a bit underwhelmed by the offerings here relative to some of the other Holiday Kitchens.
You can follow along with us at the first day of EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays right here!