From community-based markets to sprawling multi-day events, here are the vendors to visit, bites to eat, and the dates for it’s all going down.
eat on your way through the night markets in Asia is a must for any traveler and intellectual nourishment lover . Each stalling usually specialize in a specific dish antenna , so it ’s well-off to hop-skip from stall to dillydally in an attack to eat all the thing . You ’ll see families sharing the braised pork abdomen dish up Lu Rou Fan and gooey Oyster Omelettes at Shilin Night Market in Taipei , and late - night measure grasshopper diving into a steaming bowl of Won Ton Mein from a stall at Temple Street Night Market in Hong Kong .
If that verbal description has you salivate , then you ’ll be happy to know that Asia ’s long - remain firm night food market polish and some of its dishes have made their elbow room stateside . The Bay Area , with its sizable Asian American and Pacific Islander population , has become a nighttime market - inspired hub in the retiring few years , and case have been steadily growing . They have street stall favorites from Asia like Giant Grilled Squid on a peg , as well as homegrown AAPI food for thought innovations , like countless variations of Spam Musubi .
The origins of Bay Area night markets
Bay Area ’s dark grocery do n’t operate daily like many of the ones in Asia , and the different safety codes for firing and wellness make exact night - market replications difficult . However , the limited run of the markets during a few weekend a class does make an enthusiastic crew excited to eat from what can be upwards of 250 vendors .
626 Night Marketfounder Jonny Hwang created what he calls a “ California - style nighttime market ” in Southern California ’s San Gabriel Valley in 2012 , draw chefs and entertainers from local community . It was during the Great Recession that he was inspired by how Asian night markets help entrepreneur showcase their abilities and modernise their products , and want to do the same for struggling local line . Upon noticing that many attendees from the Bay Area travel to the Arcadia and Orange County markets , Hwang determine to create 626 events in the Bay Area , begin in 2018 in Pleasanton .
Foodieland Night Market , many of whose vendors start at 626 , came to fruition in 2019 , and also has events in both the Bay Area ( San Mateo , Berkeley , and Sacramento ) and Southern California . While also inspired by dark markets in Asia , Foodieland publicise itself as more of a multicultural nutrient and entertainment outcome .
Photo by Mogli Maureal, courtesy of UNDSCVRD
On a littler , more community - based tier , UNDSCVRDnight securities industry started in San Francisco ’s SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District in 2017 , model after Asiatic dark markets and created because “ Filipinos like to party , ” says public relations agentive role Paloma Concordia subject - of - factly . The larger purpose of UNDSCVRD ’s party vibe , though , is to invest in and ameliorate the local Filipino community by tolerate small business venture like food trafficker .
Asiatic night market popularity in the Bay has also come full circle with the bearing of actual brick - and - trench mortar eating place take a cue from Asia ’s Nox markets . Kevin Lee opened a eatery aptly namedThe Night Marketin South San Francisco in 2017 , inspired by the dai pai dong street stalls in Hong Kong , and even going so far as to acquire street vendor equipment from Hong Kong .
“ It was quite natural to play the Hong Kong dark market style to a space fitting ; not for a restaurant , but for the concept of stalls and close out table and plastic chairs indoor and outside , “ Lee tell , of choose the Bay Area as a eating place position . The Night Market proffer authoritative categories of Hong Kong night marketplace solid food , like conge and dome with a option of toppings , such as mini red-faced blimp and fish ball .
Photo by Mogli Maureal, courtesy of UNDSCVRD
Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks , drawing inspiration from Taiwan ’s night mart , is an international , Taiwan - establish Sir Ernst Boris Chain that has localization in six Bay Area cities , including San Francisco and Berkeley . client can get popular items such as elephantine Breaded Chicken Cutlets and Tea Eggs .
Popular vendors and dishes
While broadly speaking more expensive than many of the pitchman stalls in Asia , the Bay ’s dark securities industry intellectual nourishment still retains the same inhalation , with collation that can be easily eat on the go . The night mart provide both pic for new nutrient entrepreneurs to practice running a nutrient truck or cubicle , and for lay down businesses to institute their popular food to a crew that might commonly be too far forth . Many vender now appear at both 626 and Foodieland , as well .
Crowd favorites let in Vietnamese American Garlic Noodles — thick and bouncy with an umami punch , sometimes served with lobster . Many vendors sell the noodles , like the Oakland - basedNoodle Bellyand SoCal’sCafe 949 , andLobsterdamus .
There are multiple musubi marketer slinging the original SPAM , and newfangled classic like Hot Cheeto - crust musubi fromJunk Mail Musubi , and one seasoned with pork rind fromSupreme Musubi . The J - shaped soft - serveHawaiian Honey Cones , which have now expanded its presence to several states , have gained a religious cult survey . Bun Baoalways has crinkle for its precious panda- and fuzz - mold steamed buns .
Suga Bros , a sugar cane succus touch establish in San Francisco that operates via Instagram , hopped on the Foodieland roll after only six months in performance . Thanks to its night - market presence , though , owners Patrick Nguyen and Harry Trinh say , “ Foodieland helped us in watch how to operate on a day - to - day footing . We also ca n’t forget the extra employment that serve us expand the past six month after Foodieland . ”
Some of LA ’s most democratic vendors even make the trek up to the Bay for 626 Night Markets . Hwang said , “ Attendees have it away our LA vendors . These include originals such asAll Dat Dim Sum , Chick N Skin , andShake Ramenthat ca n’t be found at any other Bay Area night marketplace . ” Other SoCal implication includeEgghausted ’s Tamagoyaki andLucky Ball BBQ ’s Giant Grilled Squid on a joystick .
UNDSCVRD offer a more designed program for vender growth . Filipino American food truckThe Sarap Shopgot its jump at UNDSCVRD , where proprietor Kristen Brillantes and JP Reyes said , “ We positioned ourselves to utilize each UNDSCVRD to test novel products and operating modes , ” such as set in motion their popular Halo Halo Milk Tea . Thanks to their growing from UNDSCVRD , The Sarap Shop now has an surgery in the Chase Center area , as well as an brooder to help new food entrepreneurs at UNDSCVRD .
What to expect this year
Since the night markets are not routine occurrences , design ahead for the popular events , which can get crowd . UNDSCVRD has one night food market planned this year , but personal organizer desire to once again declare oneself it multiple times per yr in the future . Ca n’t make it to the grocery store ? The Bay ’s night marketplace - inspired eatery will quell your cravings any time of the year .
626 Night Market : Bay AreaFriday , May 27 – Sunday , May 29Friday , July 29 – Sunday , July 31Alameda County Fairgrounds , PleasantonCost:$5–$10 admission ; buy just the ticket online ( recommend ) or at the room access ; $ 15 parking available
Foodieland Night MarketFriday , July 1 – Sunday , July 3Friday , September 23 – Sunday September 25San Mateo County Event Center , San Mateo
Friday , August 5 – Sunday , August 7Friday , August 12 – Sunday , August 14Friday , October 7 – Sunday , October 9Golden Gate Fields , Berkeley
Friday , August 19 – Sunday August 21Friday , September 2 – Sunday , September 5Cal Expo , Sacramento
Cost:$5–$7 admission online only , free for children under 5 ; $ 15 parking available
UNDSCVRDSaturday , October 22Venue & Time TBD in Sarcostemma acidum Pilipinas , San Francisco
The Night Market RestaurantWednesday – Monday , 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.230B South Spruce Avenue , South San Francisco
Shihlin Taiwan Street SnacksOpen seven day a weekMultiple Bay Area positioning
Tips for enjoying the Bay Area’s night markets
While parking is available for a $ 15 fee at 626 and Foodieland night market , a rideshare or public transit might be more commodious for the other markets . The night markets are wide , so ensure you wear comfortable shoes . Once there , it might also be a good plan of action to have your group split up to nab different food item . you’re able to meet up at a bias prison term to portion out your top picks and go catch everyone ’s favorite .
While many marketer take credit carte du jour , Venmo , Apple Pay , and other digital forms of defrayal , it ’s smart to have John Cash on paw .
Most significantly — occur athirst ! You ’ve develop a lot of eating ahead of you .
