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May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Yelp Coastal Virginia is celebrating with free events and $5 check-in offers through May 31.
AAPI Heritage Month commemorates the first Japanese immigrant to settle in the U.S. in May 1843 and the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in May 1869.
Yelp kicked off the festivities on Monday with a kamayan style dinner, also known as “Boodle Fight,” at Koco Korean Fried Chicken and Croffles in Virginia Beach. It’s a Filipino feast with an array of foods served on banana leaves and eaten without utensils.
More than 25 guests and Yelp Elite Squad members attended to usher in the month. They sat at two long tables lined with soy garlic chicken wings, chicken and vegetable pancit, lumpia, white rice, fries topped with beef bulgogi, Korean cheesy corn dogs sticking out of pineapples, and bulgogi sandwiches. Everyone helped themselves with tongs after taking Instagram-worthy pictures.
Throughout the evening, Project Seed Coffee served samples of ube cold brew and cold brew coffee made with salted egg yolk custard.
Aqua S provided ice cream for dessert and Koco Korean staff passed out mini sweet banana and passion fruit croffles. Lizzie B Crafts gave party-goers branded tumblers and stickers to take home.
More than a dozen businesses are participating in the $5 deal (taxes not included) throughout Hampton Roads. To redeem, check in on the restaurants’ Yelp business pages. Customers must use their Yelp account to RSVP for each event, which feature samples and swag, and wait for email confirmation before attending.
Details and list of events, yelpcova.com; contact for questions, coastalvirginia@yelp.com.
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Business deals
Aqua S, 2204 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, 757-563-8808; $5 for choice of one soft serve and choice of one ice cream mini-tub (excluding durian and pistachio).
Aroi Thai Cuisine, 70 Colony Road, Newport News, 757-879-5118; $5 for a choice of chicken, beef, pork or vegetable pad kapow; sesame chicken; or chicken, beef, pork or vegetable pad thai.
Bonchon Chicken, 1637 Hilltop West Shopping Center, Virginia Beach, 757-916-8229; $5 for one of the following: five chicken wings; five chicken drumsticks; or five chicken tenders.
Gogi Guys Korean BBQ, 717 W. 21st St., Norfolk, 757-668-0808; $5 off any all-you-can-eat and one free soju bomb.
Hot Pot 757 and Korean Barbecue, 550 First Colonial Road, Virginia Beach, 757-937-8666; $5 off of any all-you-can-eat and one free boba drink.
JoYu Tea and Coffee, 3545 Buckner Blvd., Virginia Beach, 757-301-2384; $5 for any 16 ounce drink and choice of one croffle (a hybrid of a croissant and waffle).
Koco Korean Fried Chicken and Croffles, 4224 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach; $5 for one Korean dog and choice of one sweet croffle (strawberry cream or ube).
Nice Thai Cuisine, 1937 S. Military Highway, Chesapeake, 757-543-9116; $5 for one spicy chicken salad with rice.
Rajput Indian Cuisine, 742 W. 21st St., Norfolk, 757-625-4634; and 5860 Harbour View Blvd., Suffolk, 757-484-4444; $5 for one mango lassi and one naan bread.
Let's Eat
Rajput Indian Eats, 1412 Greenbrier Parkway, Chesapeake, 757-222-2888; $5 for one mango lassi and one naan bread.
S’mores Amore, 208 E. Main St., Norfolk, 757-386-0303; $5 for choice of any one “The Original S’mores” brownie and choice of one “Premium Flavor S’mores” brownie or one s’mores blondie.
Tira’s Foods, 5444 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, 757-904-0494; $5 for any drink and one topping.
The Whale Tea, 4876 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, 757-977-8886; $5 for one Blue Crystal tea and choice of one Fresh Fruit Tea.
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Another event to explore
Asian Fest: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 27. Kaufman Mall, Old Dominion University, 4821 W. 49th St., Norfolk. 757-453-3088. Hosted by the Asian Pacific American Heritage Organization, www.apaho.org/asian-fest.
Rekaya Gibson, 757-295-8809, rekaya.gibson@virginiamedia.com; on Twitter, @gibsonrekaya