SGV: 626 Night Market Returns This Weekend
626 Night Market
626 Night Market returns this weekend to Santa Anita Park starting today at 4 p.m. I checked it out last month and found the atmosphere quite lively with foodies waiting for a taste of night markets in Asia. There were a ton of Taiwanese street food vendors along with trendy, delicious items like ramen burgers, ramen donuts and even just ramen! You could also get all manner of fries including those loaded with spam, pho seasoning or strung up on a stick– okay, those weren’t really fries but they’re fried potatoes. In fact, the 626 Night Market made me think it’s an Asian carnival or county fair.
As usual, there will be art and other wares for sale. There’s also live entertainment and on Saturday, there’ll be a second stage. Blankets will be provided for this side stage.
This weekend is cosplay themed. While attendees are encouraged to dress up all weekend, there’ll be a costume contest on Sunday starting at 7:30 p.m. There are prizes for Best Performance, Best Costume and Best Group (3 or more people). Mock/prop weapons are not allowed and don’t wear costumes that are too revealing.
get all your trendy food in one place
I was intrigued by the U-shaped cone of ice cream, thinking I’d try it later after my savory foods.
noodles with meat sauce
I immediately attacked a bowl of noodles first though possibly I should have walked around first to make a list of what else to get to plan my meal strategy.
fried squid
Like I should have gotten in line for the fried squid but by the time I saw it, I was really, really, really full.
chicharrones from Belly and Snout
I’ve been following Belly and Snout for a while now and was excited to see them at 626 Night Market. We got a chicharrones which were light and crunchy. I am dreaming of a newfangled Caesar salad with these as croutons.
adobo dog from Belly and Snout
I love adobo and had to try their adobo hot dog. I would actually recommend eating the meat separately from the hot dog. It got crazy unwieldy. It’s also very filling.
Foodbeast
Foodbeast was one of popuplar vendors so get in line early if you want your spanimal fries, ramen donut or disco soda, a delicious Thai soda with drinking vinegar inspired by Pok Pok. There’s also dragon fruit and it’s called disco soda with the additional blinking light in your mason jar.
Speaking of that, a lot of vendors sold their drinks in large masor jars. Trend alert.
spanimal fries
My favorite thing was the spanimal fries which was spam cut into sticks, deep fried, covered in a glorious Asian sauce on top of sushi rice. Definitely share this with 5 of your friends.
ramnut
Foodbeast has taken the ramnut idea and ran with it. It’s ramen cooked in horchata that is then shaped and fried into a doughnut. The process takes about three days.
See you there!
- August 7-9
- September 4-6
- 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Sundays are until 11 p.m. except Sunday, September 6 goes until 1 a.m.)
- $3 admission (children 6 and under are free)
- Free parking