When you live in your quiet corner in a massive, sprawling metropolitan area of Los Angeles, it’s easy to get comfortable in your own neighborhood with your favorite restaurants and stores in a 5-mile radius. To escape our corner, we then take transatlantic flights to explore the world. Everyone in a while, when we are on those vacations, jet lagged and bleary-eyed, exploring a boutique store or enjoying a culinary experience, we wonder, surely something similar must be at home.
While I will never stop traveling the world, one thing I wanted to do this year was slow down and enjoy the city that I live in. The hot seat of cinema, a cosmopolitan bowl of immigrant culture, LA has everything for someone.
So, this brings us to our maiden trip to the famous 626 Night Market for an evening of good food and drink.
626 Night Market
So, what is the 626 Night Market?
The 626 Night Market is supposed be the largest Asian-inspired street market with scores of food vendors representing cuisine from across
Where does it happen?
The market moves. Every weekend, it happens in a different location all across Los Angeles and Orange County. To stay updated on where it’s next check out: https://www.626nightmarket.com/
Are there any entry requirements?
There is an entrance fee which can be bought online or on location. In the LA metropolitan area, parking is always a big concern. We were at the Sanita Anita Horsetrack location, and the parking and entrance queues were both extremely well managed.
There are some restrictions on what you can carry inside. There are also simple instructions on what you can carry inside the night market from a safety and security purpose. I don’t know if this varies by location, but check out the FAQs before you make the drive.
Is it only Asian Food?
It’s a lot of Asian food! We saw vendors offering the following cuisines–Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Nepalese, Chinese, etc. However, it’s not only Asian food–there was a small food truck line-up for Mexican food, pizzas, etc.
So, is it a must visit?
Having grown up in India, an Asian country famous for its street food, I struggle to find that hybrid of snack-meal that street food serves. Many an evening, there is that sudden craving for a samosa, poha, fried rice, chow-mein etc. and there is literally nowhere to go. I admit I am yet to explore the Mexican street food that LA offers.
The 626 Night Market provides an evening of atmosphere–gourmet food stalls, live music concert, original artworks and carnival games. I recommend it as a thing to do on a weekend with friends or family, but it’s too manufactured and pricey to be the actual street food experience.
I will probably visit this just once a year – not an every weekend thing.
For more street markets, go here.
