First off, thank you to whom ever made this awesome picture! (Above).
Now, this has been on our bucket list since before COVID – it has FINALLY come back! The 626 Night Market is in the San Gabriel Valley in California, hence the “626,” which is the geographical area code. It is held at Santa Anita Park and is “inspired by the famous open-air nighttime bazaars of Asia.” Since we have not been to Asia, we cannot compare the two experiences, but we can say that this awesome event brings people together for eating, drinking, socializing, and more. The festival is jam packed with food, merchandise, live entertainment, and games. Tickets must be bought online, but they only cost FIVE DOLLARS!! What a steal! Keep in mind, any food or retail items that you purchase are additional, but still, it is reasonable. We recommend that you bring a tote bag with you for take home foods because you will quickly realize that your eyes are bigger than your stomach. Presentation is everything here! Here are some of our favorite vendors from the 626 Night Market….
~ BearologyUSA – Glitter Lemonades in an Angry Birds limited edition glass bottle. We are not big Angry Birds fans, but it is a cool bottle that can be filled with our beach finds. We got kiwi lemonade and it was delicious! It is $12/bottle and cash only.
~ Potato Hut – Get a Potato Swirl stick and season it with BBQ, cheddar, jalapeno, ranch, pizza, sriracha, sour cream, or salt! They are basically Pringles on a stick. If you know us, you know we got ranch! They are $9/stick and cash or credit card is accepted.
~ Bombing Giant Squid – Gigantic Fried Squid that are bigger than your face! They are $17/squid, and it is cash only. Get your squid flavored with salt/pepper, garlic, chili, or BBQ seasoning. These are a full meal and absolutely delicious. This is a MUST TRY, even if it’s just for the picture! We got garlic!
~ Big Bite – Try the world-famous mousse & ice cream animals. They’ve got dogs, alligators, bears, and more. We got the dog…the artist certainly has talent, but this was hands down one of the most disgusting things to eat. Don’t get us wrong, it tasted delicious, but mentally it felt like we were eating our four-legged loved ones. Definitely gram worthy but takes a semi-sociopath to comfortably eat!
~ Flavour Fusions – Here you can get a beverage in a bucket. They are sugary soda or lemonade-based drinks with Jello shots, candies, and mint added on top for aesthetics. We ordered one of their signature drinks called the Love Potion – it is described as Thai Green Candy Soda. They are $14/bucket and credit cards, or cash is accepted.
~ Asian Boba Girl – A boutique stand with the cutest Boba candles and soap. If you like Boba…this is the spot for you. The owner also has a store on Etsy…it’s the same name.
~Mini Des – A jewelry stand that has the cutest handmade jewels. Dainty and unique, you will find earrings, bracelets, rings, and other items for a reasonable price.
~ Forever Love Flowers – A stand with everlasting flowers. They are Australian strawflowers that are dyed in multiple colors and require no water. Just pick an arrangement you like and revel in looking at it! No maintenance needed!
This experience will definitely become an annual affair for us. The food was incredible, and the overall vibe was very fun! This event is only in California, but for those of you that are not locals to the SGV, the 626 Night Market also holds events in Costa Mesa and Pleasanton. When buying tickets online, know that there are two time slots for each day; 4PM to 8 PM and 8 PM to 11 PM. If you choose to go, we recommend choosing the later time slot, as it was 97 degrees on black asphalt. If you go early like us, wear sunscreen, and drink plenty of water! We hope you enjoy this as much as we did!
Nom Nom Nom,
TnT