Written by Ishika RoyNew Delhi | September 29, 2025 05:26 PM IST 4 min readAnanya Jena first heard about street raves from her cousin abroad last year. Soon after, the culture landed in India, starting in Mumbai. In the months that followed, she came across a variety of raves – especially ones centred around food. Coffee and matcha, doughnuts and noodles, even soup raves have begun shaping the current party scene. With Gen Z, it seems nothing is off the table.Rahul Punjabi, chef & founder of BANG BANG! Noodle hosted Mumbai’s first-ever Noodle Rave, aiming to break the mould of conventional dining.“Food has always been at the centre of culture, but I wanted to push that a step further – to make noodles not just a meal, but a movement. Pairing hand-pulled noodles, bold MaLa flavours, and a high-energy music scene felt like the perfect way to bring people together. It’s rebellious, playful, and very much in line with the spirit of our restaurant,” he explained.Guests experienced noodles being pulled live on the floor, DJs spinning throughout the night, Sichuan flavours hitting the palate, and the collective buzz of sharing food and music under one roof. “We wanted everyone to feel like they were walking into an energy-fuelled night market – with their red glasses on and chopsticks in hand. Not too polished, just pure connection through food, rhythm, and vibes,” Punjabi added.Why are food raves such a hit among Gen Z?For Jena, a food rave blends the best of a traditional rave and a food festival. While standard festivals can feel exhausting – long queues, distant food stalls, and sprawling crowds – a food rave introduces people to new music while enjoying great food.“Most of my friends who love raves already live on EDM. It’s the music they start and end their day with. A food rave layers that energy with good food, people, and a bar-hopping experience in a compact space,” she said.Punjabi believes Gen Z loves this format because it’s not just dining; it’s a layered social experience. “For them, food is social currency. It’s not enough to just eat; it has to feel memorable, Instagrammable, and in the moment. The fact that they could dance, eat, get their hands messy, capture cool noodles-in-motion shots, and meet like-minded people made it feel like more than just a night out. It became a cultural moment.” A food rave blends together the best of a regular rave and a food festival (Source: Instagram/@kitchenrave.in)Raves and pop-ups allow Gen Z to engage with food in an informal, participatory, high-energy way. It’s less about sit-down dining and more about creating memories with friends in a communal atmosphere.Story continues below this adJaivardhan Bhatia, Director of Sidewalk Cafe, recently organised a matcha rave. Noticing the viral popularity of coffee raves, he sought to create something fresh while connecting more deeply with young audiences.“Matcha itself has been gaining cult popularity among Gen Z for its clean, vibrant, and health-conscious appeal. Bringing rave energy and matcha culture together, we knew we had something special on our hands,” he told indianexpress.com.The response exceeded expectations. “Within just one hour of the event details going live, we had over 150 entries. The buzz it created, both online and on-ground, was a clear sign that we had tapped into something Gen Z truly resonated with,” Bhatia said.Unlike conventional nightlife, food raves combine taste, health, and culture in one moment. “It is fun, but with a thoughtful twist – exactly what defines Gen Z today,” he added.Story continues below this adFor Divya Jain, who attended the matcha rave, it was all about the vibes. “It was a two-hour event. There was a dress code – we all wore white – and the music was amazing. Plus, matcha is trending, so everyone wants to try it nowadays! It was a completely different experience,” she said.Food raves and immersive dining experiences are not just a passing trend; they are reshaping how young audiences engage with eating out. Between viral matcha pop-ups and themed events, people are recognising food’s potential as a social experience that goes beyond the table. The game has changed, and party trends are evolving along with it.Ishika Roy is a Sub Editor for the lifestyle desk at The Indian Express. She shares a keen interest in reading, writing and researching on all things beauty, entertainment, pop culture and lifestyle. Ishika holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Miranda House, Delhi and a Post-graduate degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune. ... Read More For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd