Event Report: Saturday in the Park

Tsukuba Chuo Park, or Central Park in English, is a beautiful park with lovely scenery right next to Tsukuba Station. On most weekends, the park seems to host some kind of event, such as Village Market Tsukuba, Tsukuichi Market, the Ramen Festival, and many others.
It is a wonderful place to spread out a picnic blanket on the grass and enjoy a tasty meal while relaxing outdoors.
I’m happy to report that there is one more event I can add to the growing list of events at Tsukuba Chuo Park: Saturday in the Park.

Saturday in the Park

Saturday in the Park is hosted by a bunch of my favorite food trucks and stalls, but it is the original idea of an amazing burger shop, Hi-5 Burgers. This monthly event is held at Tsukuba Chuo Park and features four fantastic food trucks and stalls: All Right Coffee, Hi-5 Burgers, Mr. Goodman, and Champs de Blé.
Each of these vendors is a master of their craft, and together they create an amazing lunch experience for anyone looking to relax in the park. The organizers set up tables and chairs, and they even provide a few games for kids to enjoy.
The event is also dog-friendly. All Right Coffee’s dog, Saburo, is a huge hit with customers and seems to encourage other visitors to bring their own dogs as well. I always enjoy playing with Saburo while sipping on a cup of coffee.
Despite the name, Saturday in the Park is not always held on a Saturday. The last time I attended, it took place on Wednesday, April 29, during Golden Week.
I’ve been to this event several times, and I’ve always had a wonderful time. Let me introduce you to the food trucks and stalls that make this event so special.

Hi-5 Burgers

Yes, I know this may be the 50th time I’ve written about Hi-5 Burgers and Fries, and yes, I still believe they serve the best burgers in Ibaraki. But since they are part of Saturday in the Park, I’m more than happy to write about them again.
Hi-5 travels all over Ibaraki, serving delicious burgers to burger lovers like me. Their menu is simple and focused: a regular burger, cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, and double cheeseburger. You can also add extra toppings like a fried egg or more bacon if you’re feeling especially hungry.
At the most recent Saturday in the Park, I ordered the bacon cheeseburger, pictured above.
Hi-5 makes both their buns and patties from scratch, and this burger is proof of their craftsmanship. It looked like a work of art and tasted like it was created by a burger genius. Every bite was pure bliss.
Things do get a little messy toward the end, but honestly, that’s part of the fun. It’s the kind of delicious mess I’m more than happy to deal with. And if I’m lucky enough to visit when Hi-5 is serving their freshly made fries—an occasional menu item made from potatoes grown on their own farm—I dip those fries into every last bit of that saucy, meaty goodness.
That’s when I know I’m in burger heaven.

Mr. Goodman

If you decide to check out Saturday in the Park and you’re not in the mood for burgers, why not try a pizza or calzone from Mr. Goodman?
Mr. Goodman is a food stall that brings its own pizza oven to the events it attends, except during the hottest parts of summer, when operating a pizza oven outdoors is simply too much. Their menu usually includes pizza, calzones, craft sodas and juices, and occasionally some delicious fried doughnut balls.
One of the things I love most about Mr. Goodman is their commitment to using local ingredients sourced from farmers around Ibaraki. I’m always happy to see them at Saturday in the Park, and they also have a cute pug named Chai, who is another star attraction of the event.
At last month’s Saturday in the Park, I ordered one of their classic calzones filled with tomato sauce and melted cheese, and it did not disappoint.
I’m especially grateful that Mr. Goodman offers calzones, because they are surprisingly hard to find in Japan. Thankfully, Mr. Goodman does them exceptionally well.
My only piece of advice is to be careful with your first bite; they come out piping hot. But once it cools down a bit, the combination of fresh pizza dough, rich tomato sauce, and gooey melted cheese is absolutely delicious.
Just writing about Mr. Goodman is making me crave another calzone right now.

Champs de Blé

Looking for something a little lighter? Then I highly recommend grabbing a galette from Champs de Blé.
Champs de Blé is a galette food truck that regularly appears at Saturday in the Park and can sometimes be found at Tsukuichi as well. The owner also operates a restaurant near Doho Park, right next to the Owl Café. I haven’t visited the restaurant yet, but it is definitely on my list.
During Golden Week’s Saturday in the Park, I decided to give Champs de Blé a try. The menu offered several tempting options, including a bacon and mushroom galette, a ham and cheese galette, and more. I ended up ordering the bacon and mushroom galette.
The owner prepared the galette fresh in the food truck and brought it out to me once it was ready. It looked absolutely fantastic.
When I cut into it, the egg yolk flowed throughout the galette, coating every bite. The first mouthful was wonderful: creamy egg yolk, buttery mushrooms, crispy bacon, and a fresh buckwheat crepe with just the right texture, slightly crisp around the edges and tender in the center.
It was a perfect way to start the day, and it paired beautifully with my coffee.
Speaking of coffee.

All Right Coffee

If you’re a coffee lover like me, then you absolutely have to stop by All Right Coffee.
Their menu features a wide variety of drinks, including café lattes, drip coffee, mochas, and seasonal specials. If you’re looking for something sweet to pair with your coffee, they also offer gluten-free cookies, brownies, and cakes. I highly recommend the brownie cheesecake whenever it is available.
Need something to cool you down? All Right Coffee also serves espresso-flavored ice cream and an ice cream float, both excellent choices on a warm day.
While enjoying my galette from Champs de Blé, I sipped on a café latte from All Right Coffee. The bold espresso flavor, combined with perfectly steamed milk, made for a rich and satisfying drink. It was the ideal companion as I relaxed in the park and watched everyone enjoying the event.

On my most recent visit, I had a galette, a burger, and a café latte while chatting with friends in the sunshine. It was the perfect way to start my Golden Week.
Before heading home, I picked up a few brownies from All Right Coffee to bring back to Mrs. Ibaraki Eats. Unfortunately, she was working and hasn’t had a chance to experience Saturday in the Park yet.
I’m hoping we can attend the next one together and spend a sunny morning in the park enjoying incredible food, excellent coffee, and the warm community atmosphere that makes this event so special.

Let's enjoy the park!

So, if you’re looking for an event with great food, excellent drinks, and a beautiful park setting for a relaxing outing with friends or family, may I suggest Saturday in the Park? Who knows? You might even see us there, petting Saburo and enjoying a burger and coffee while soaking in the pleasant park atmosphere.
Enjoy!

For more information on Saturday in the Park, check out All Right Coffee's Instagram page for the latest dates on the event:
https://www.instagram.com/allright_coffee/