From Charity to Cosplay: Chef Junzo Miyajima Led Two of Rockville's Most Talked-About Food Festivals

Chef Junzo Miyajima is best known for his restaurants. IVEA Concepts lists him as its Executive Master Chef and a co-founder, and his menus run from Japanese barbecue to Wagyu shabu-shabu, izakaya plates and soufflé pancakes. He also led two of the most talked-about food festivals in Montgomery County, both with free admission: the BiteMe Charity Festival in 2025 and Tomodachi Food Fest in 2026, including its cosplay runway. Both took place on the square at 36 Maryland Avenue in Rockville Town Center.

BiteMe Charity Festival, August 30, 2025. IVEA presented BiteMe in support of the Maryland Food Bank, and Junzo led it. The festival ran from noon to 8 p.m. at The Square at Rockville, with free admission. The MoCo Show listed what visitors could expect: authentic Asian dishes from across the continent, live cultural performances, an Asian goods market with snacks and specialty products, and cultural showcases for all ages.

The most important part was where the money went. All proceeds were donated directly to the Maryland Food Bank to support its mission of fighting food insecurity in the community. Participating restaurants included Okaeri, Panda Dumplings, Gong Cha and Lao Sze Chuan. Okaeri is the café where Junzo perfected the soufflé pancakes that Northern Virginia Magazine called the region's only authentic version, so his own cooking was on the menu.

Tomodachi Food Fest, September 5, 2026. A year later Junzo led Tomodachi Food Fest, billed as the DMV's only anime food festival. "Tomodachi" means "friends" in Japanese. It ran from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Rockville Town Center, with free admission for all ages, and pets were welcome.

What was there: more than 20 food vendors, including Kapow Buddy, The Bing Spot and Panda Flame Hibachi; anime-inspired merchandise, art and décor across the square; a beer garden; and a main stage with dance performances and DJ sets throughout the day. The festival's Eventbrite page lists 6.7k total attendees.

The cosplay runway. Visitors were encouraged to come dressed as their favorite characters, and Junzo led the festival's cosplay runway too. For us it was the most fun part of the day: an anime festival where the costumes were as much of the show as the food.

Why a chef runs festivals. Junzo's restaurants are built around shared tables, plates passed around and families eating together. BiteMe and Tomodachi took the same idea out of the dining room and into the town square, free to enter and open to everyone, with food sold by the vendors. In our view, that makes them two of the best things a restaurant group can give its neighbors: a full day of food and culture, and, at BiteMe, real help for families facing hunger.

Want the food without waiting for the next festival? Okaeri Japanese Café serves Junzo's soufflé pancakes in Rockville and Centreville. Follow IVEA's journal for the next festival he leads.