The biggest day of the year for Asian food fans in Wichita arrives this weekend

If you like Asian food and have never been to the Wichita Asian Festival, you’re doing it wrong.

The annual event, which returns to Century II on Saturday for its 38th annual installment, is always a colorful, educational and interesting display of Asian culture — with cultural performances, vendors and a Miss Wichita Asian pageant.

But the part of the festival that Wichita foodies in-the-know never miss fills the venue with dozens of food booths, manned by local restaurateurs as well as cultural clubs and home cooks.

People pack the place and line up for egg rolls, banh mi sandwiches, noodles, dumplings and boba tea. This year’s festival will feature 38 booths selling dishes native to China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, Pakistan, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

New this year: food from Afghanistan.

Dining at the festival is an experience, and so is just walking around, taking in all the sights and smells. People must bring cash to buy the food, and the festival has tables set up so diners can sit down and enjoy.

Among the Wichita restaurants that are participating this year: Passage to India, Lolo’s Crepes, ICTea, New Paradise Biriyani Pointe, Zaytun Bistro, Beard Papa’s, Yokohama Ramen Joint, Boba Zone, Noble House Hawaiian Plate Lunch and La Galette.

It’s free to attend the festival, which is put on by the Wichita Asian Association, though the group accepts donations at the door.

Activities also include cultural performances native to countries like China, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Laos and Japan, and performers will display their singing, dancing, musical and acrobatic abilities. Seven young women will compete for the title of Miss Wichita Asian, and the winner gets a $1,000 scholarship.

38TH ANNUAL WICHITA ASIAN FESTIVAL