6th Annual Rooftop Party Recap
We held our 2023 Rooftop Party right after Labor Day weekend. We had 30 chefs who flew in from various parts of Japan. We also had over 2000 guests + 300 volunteers and service providers for our 2-day benefit event, featuring “Yatai” Japanese street food.
With your participation, it was a great foodie event, for a good cause, with our Beneficiaries this year being
Hunger-Free Colorado, and World Central Kitchen-Maui.
For this, we cannot thank you enough!
Here is the 2023 Rooftop Party video to enjoy!
2023 video by Brent Andeck
2019 video by Brent Andeck
2022 video by Culinary Trendz
2023 Summer Rooftop Party Event Details
Join us at our 2023 Den Corner Summer Rooftop Party on September 5th (tue) and September 6th (wed).
Our annual Japanese Street Food Festival on our parking garage rooftop keeps getting better and is much more exciting!
This year, like we’ve done every year, we are flying in 25 handpicked chef/owners from restaurants from all over Japan to join this event.
In between juggling bowls of steaming ramen, hand rolls, and Yatai (Japanese street food), you can enjoy award-winning sakes, Japanese spirits-inspired cocktails, international wines, and beers from some of Colorado’s finest breweries. Mingle and dance to the live band playing oldies from the 60s-70s, and sample authentic Japanese street food. And it’s all for a good cause!
The Rooftop Party was first inspired to benefit the victims of the devastating earthquake which hit our hometown hard, the Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan in 2016. Along the way, our beloved, longtime home, the U.S., has also experienced many unfortunate natural disasters, which we strive to support. Over the years, thanks to your generous support, we were able to send $195,000 to our partner humanitarian organizations in the U.S., Japan, Puerto Rico and Mexico, including local non-profit, Denver’s We Don’t Waste.
This year’s non-profit partner is Hunger Free Colorado providing healthy school meals to all Coloradans.
With your assistance, over the previous 5 years, the fundraiser has grown from 850 to 2000 guests over two nights, with tickets selling out months in advance. Without your support, this could not have been done. For this, we are truly grateful! You are so amazing. Thank you very much for supporting this great cause! Hope to see you there!
Most Sincerely,
Toshi and Yasu Kizaki
View Photo Gallery from past years!
Our 2023 Beneficiary
Hunger Free Colorado 
“Hunger Free Colorado connects people to food resources to meet existing needs and drives policy, systems and social change so all Coloradans have equitable access to nutritious, culturally relevant food.
As the leading anti-hunger advocacy organization, Hunger Free Colorado helps people access SNAP, WIC, local food pantries, and more. Their latest victory involved partnering with a statewide coalition to create and pass the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) ballot initiative, a program which will provide universal free meals to all Colorado public school children. Your support enables Hunger Free Colorado to operate a statewide food resource hotline, maintain an on-the-ground outreach team, ensure an effective rollout of HSMA, and actively advocate for more equitable food systems.”
FAQ / IMPORTANT DETAILS:
What is Yatai?
Yatai is the Japanese Street Food commonly found at outdoor stands all over Japan.
In Japan, enjoying street food is an occasion for us to meet friends and catch up while enjoying drinks and yummy food in a casual setting, and one of the few places in Japan that you see people walking around and eating. In summer, we find these food stalls at summer festivals and stroll around the food booths and enjoy the fireworks. Naturally, there is no seating available at the summer street festivals.
Seating
Since this is not a sit-down dinner event, no regular dinner service is available at the party. At our Summer Rooftop Party, even though we have some seating available, because of the space limitation at the top of the garage, the seating is meant to be temporarily occupied, then when you finish eating, you can continue strolling and someone else can temporarily sit for a little while. We ask for your cooperation and understanding that there is no guarantee you will have seating.
Can I buy a ticket at the restaurants?
Sorry, no tickets are sold at the restaurants. All tickets are purchased online through Ticket Spice.
- All-inclusive tickets (Includes 5 drink tickets)
- $180 plus tax & handling fee
- Choose your ticketed Entry Time for:
- 5:00 pm
- 5:30 pm
- 6:00 pm
- 6:30 pm
- $180 plus tax & handling fee
- Please note there is no guaranteed seating at any ticket Entry Time, it is all Open Seating.
Is the ticket for one day or two days?
All tickets are good for one day’s entry.
Can I transfer my ticket to another person or update the name?
Yes, you can transfer tickets – Please send all transfer requests to TicketSpice Transfer
Can I switch days?
Yes, you can switch ticketing days, if tickets are available – Please send an email request to Hrassist@sushiden.net
Can you refund my ticket?
Unfortunately, there are no refunds. Because this is a charity event and there are supply chain costs with ordering food, there are no refunds. However, you can transfer tickets to someone else free of charge by emailing your request to TicketSpice Transfer!
What do I need to bring for entry?
Please bring:
- Your confirmation email from TicketSpice and your photo ID.
- You will have an e-ticket furnished by TicketSpice sent to your email.
- If you have multiple tickets, screen shot them and save them on your phone for faster entry.
Can under-age attend the event?
- Yes, they can. Must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
- The alcohol beverages will be served only to 21 and over.
Are dogs/pets allowed at this event?
Pets are not permitted. Service and working animals are not considered pets and are exempt from this policy.
What happens if it rains?
The show must go on! So the party will take place, rain or shine. Dress for the weather! We recommend a sun hat, sunscreen and shades until the sun goes down. There is cover in the lower levels of the garage in the event of severe weather, until it passes.
How many guests are expected for each evening?
We are expecting approximately 800~1000 guests for each night.
Is this a charitable event?
Yes! With our Rooftop Party, a portion of the proceeds and donations raised from this event go to: Hunger Free Colorado.
Who are the chefs?
There will be 25 Japanese chefs flying in from various regions of Japan.
What kind of food do you serve?
We are serving Japanese comfort food for the soul, including Ramen, Okonomiyaki, and BBQ/Yakiniku, hand rolls, and much more. These are typically served as street food called Yatai, also found at festivals across Japan.
Are these foods gluten-free or vegan?
Some of the dishes are vegetarian and gluten-free. The menu will be announced sometime in August 2023!
Can I do take-out with this food?
So sorry, take-out is not available.
What kind of drinks do you serve?
- Sake, Wine, Beer and Shochu-based Cocktails.
- Complimentary soft drinks and bottled water.
- Your Ticket includes 5 beverages of your choice.
- You’ll receive 5 drink coupons when you check-in.
- There will be a booth available for purchasing extra beverage coupons. Soft drinks and water are complimentary.
- No refunds possible on beverage coupons.
Where do I park my car?
- We highly recommend you take Uber or Lyft or taxi.
- Limited Valet service available in front of Sushi Den.
- Otherwise, please find 2 hour parking in the neighborhood street parking.
Where do I check in?
We will have a check-in booth at our garage/event building, at 1540 South Pearl St., across the street from OTOTO restaurant.
What kind of music will you play?
We plan to have a live band playing 60’s-70’s oldies.
Who is the organizer of this event?
- Sushi Den/Izakaya Den/OTOTO
Are there any bathrooms at the venue?
There will be the porta-potties on the ground level of the parking garage where the entrance is.
Are the 3 restaurants open as usual while the event is on for 2 days?
- Yes, business is as usual at Sushi Den and Izakaya Den.
- OTOTO will Be CLOSED during the 2 day event.