Wismettac Sake & Food Expo

A food and beverage trade show hosted by Wismettac Asian Foods, a company specializing in Japanese food imports, took place on July 19 in Anaheim.

The annual event targets industry professionals, including retailers and restaurant operators, and featured around 80 booths showcasing over 100 different food and beverage products.

Japanese cuisine has been rapidly expanding in the U.S., from ramen and izakaya-style dishes to street food.
This year’s show highlighted premium ingredients, including fresh seafood from Toyosu and melons grown in Japan.

The beverage section featured not only sake and beer, but also a variety of cocktails made with shochu.

Los Angeles restaurants have struggled with chronic labor shortages and rising costs since the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, customer traffic fell further due to wildfires and U.S. immigration enforcement.
And rising tariffs have raised concerns over higher import prices, creating multiple challenges for restaurants.