Food & Drink
Int’l teams at Taste of the Marianas Food Challenge
By
Marianas Visitors Authority April 24, 2025
Jamika Taijeron, Managing Director
Marianas Visitors Authority April 24, 2025
Sang Hyuk Kwon of South Korea, second left, beats four other competitors in the international food challenge held at the Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival in May 2024 in Saipan, The Marianas. Kwon will return to defend his title as part of a team in the Inas’ Kitchen International Food Challenge on May 10, 2025. The 26th Annual Taste of The Marianas will be held by the Marianas Visitors Authority on May 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31, 2025, at American Memorial Park. (Marianas Visitors Authority)
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) – The 26th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival in Saipan, The Marianas is doubling down in May 2025 with the introduction of team competition for the top eating challenge.
On May 10 professional food fighter and 2024 champion Sang Hyuk Kwon of South Korea will defend his title with a teammate in the Inas’ Kitchen International Food Challenge. Sanghaegi, also known as Sanghaegi (상해기), is a top mukbang creator with 1.59 million YouTube subscribers (@sanghyuk1109). His teammate will be Hyunhwa Kim, a self-proclaimed dessert-loving mukbang creator with over 550,000 YouTube subscribers (@cossert) whose nickname is “Cossert” – a word she created by combining “choco” and “dessert.”
(Mukbang creator Sang Hyuk Kwon of South Korea)
(Mukbang creator Hyunhwa Kim – or “Cossert” - of South Korea)
Sachiyo Masubuchi of Japan, a former champion of several “Taste” food challenges with nearly 380,000 YouTube subscribers (@爆食ますぶちさちよ), will also return to the main stage in May in a bid to win back the title. She will be joined by fellow food fighter Max Suzuki, who has 730,000 YouTube subscribers (@maxsuzukitv).
(Professional food fighter Sachiyo Masubuchi of Japan)
(Professional food fighter Max Suzuki of Japan)
Joining the pros in the food faceoff will be a home team from The Marianas.
“We are upping the stakes for this year’s Inas’ Kitchen International Food Challenge by making it a team competition, and we are grateful to prior champions Mr. Kwon and Ms. Masubuchi for agreeing to this new, exciting format at Taste of The Marianas, and for bringing new friends!” said Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) Marketing Manager Thomas Kim. “We’re also projecting more than double the social media exposure via the respective channels of all these pro food fighters, who have millions of subscribers combined. It’s a great way to showcase to their followers one of The Marianas’ top island festivals and our delicious food, as well as other visitor attractions, our beautiful nature, and our friendly community.”
The winners will walk – or waddle – away with $1,000 cash.
Taste of The Marianas is an annual signature event of the MVA and will be held every Saturday night from 5-10 p.m. (until 11 p.m. on the final night) during May Tourism Month 2025 at American Memorial Park in Garapan, Saipan. The festival is a gourmet’s delight, offering some of the destination’s best cuisine and featuring affordable dishes from local hotels and restaurants, live entertainment, eating and cooking contests, arts and crafts sales, and more. Entry is free.
This year’s festival eateries will include Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Herman’s Modern Bakery, V-Lyn’s BBQ, Benki, Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant, 123 Foods, CK Smokehouse & Salad, T Bar, The Hut, Kanto 10, Yaya’s Baked Goods, Loco & Taco, Lanlan Tea House, Fork & Spoon, Matty’s BBQ, Tupu Cane Juice, Oh My Grill, 38 Mitsubachi, Surf Club Saipan, Great Harvest, Saipan World Resort, Dea Jang Kum, Chow Time, and Pho Tam. Drink vendors will be WSTCO, MARPAC/Unified Sports Organization, and Napu Brewing.
Festival Platinum Sponsors are IT&E and Dave Electronic Center. Gold Sponsor is American Memorial Park. Silver Sponsors are Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands (HANMI), Northern Marianas Technical Institute, Century Insurance, Subway, Foremost, Coca-Cola, Inas’ Kitchen, Jose & Ruri Ayuyu Foundation, EST Rental and M&C LLC General Construction.
The Subway Sandwich Challenge will be held on May 3, accepting 12 contenders racing to be first to finish an 18-inch Subway sandwich. Rules and registration forms for the Subway Sandwich Challenge are available at www.mymarianas.com and at the MVA offices in Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Entry is free.