Foodies Delight at the Vancouver Summer Night Market
We’re big fans of the outdoor markets in Southeast Asia, so when the annual Vancouver Summer Night Market opened its doors in 2008 we put it on our list of things to do in Vancouver. After 3 years of putting it off, we finally made it out to the increasingly popular market last weekend.
Although the open-aired Asian-style market hosts several vendors that sell a variety of inexpensive items, the real draw to the market is its diversity of mouth-watering Asian cuisine.
We arrived at the market just as its doors opened to the public, which turned out to be a wise decision because parking quickly became a nightmare. We brushed past the tacky souvenirs and mobile phone accessories and headed straight for the market’s star attraction – the food!
Dozens of welcoming merchants shouted out their daily offerings as we sized up their enticing menus. Clouds of smoke spit out from the makeshift kitchens as the assortment of freshly prepared meat skewers sizzled on the open grills.
The Potato Hurricane, a unique take on the deep-fried potato.
It’s probably the most popular item at the market
Rice noodles with spicy prawns and vegetables
Takoyaki – pastries stuffed with scallops, squid, octopus and prawns
Takoyaki served with Yakisoba noodles, garnished with a variety of sauces, herbs and shaved dried fish
Assortment of noodles, dim sum and steamed pork buns
Delicious BBQ meat skewers straight off the grill
Hungry crowds sampling the various Asian food offerings
Fresh imported Asian fruit
Stewed mystery meats – I’m told it’s a combo of stomach, lung and other organs
Freshly made steamed pork buns
Delicious sweet and sour pork buns – surprisingly, a favourite taste of the night
Chinese fish balls stewing in a spicy sauce
Steamed dim sum pork dumplings
Steamed pork dim sum dumplings
Fried wrapped tofu
Steamed prawn dim sum dumplings
Stuffed prawn and squid pastry
Malaysian roti with gravy
Variety of Korean marinated chicken, beef and pork skewers
Homemade Japanese pork gyoza
Thai chicken satay with spicy peanut sauce
Grilled octopus and squid
Now that’s a lot of grilled octopus!
Mango, ice cream and chocolate crepe
Deep fried cheesecake and chocolate bars – now is that really necessary?!
Caramel candy apple
The Verdict
The Vancouver Summer Night Market is a great place to spend a few hours on a summer evening. We liked that there is no entrance fee or tickets required, which also makes it a good last minute option for those nights that you’re looking for something to do.
What to expect at the Vancouver Summer Night Market
- The food is delicious and there are plenty of options for all food preferences (Nicole is a vegetarian and she made out just fine!)
- The crowds are never-ending. It’s not that there are excessive line-ups for food, it’s that once customers receive their food they just stand in the middle of the market walkway, making things quite congested. There are few places to sit and eat, so people tend to collect near the food vendors. As long as you go in expecting crowds, it’s actually not a big deal. In fact, we think it adds to the atmosphere
- There are lots of cheap clothing, toys, foreign videos and accessories for popular electronics like the iPhone and 4G Slide Android Phone. And, like the markets in Asia, there are a lot of vendors selling similar items (but barter with caution – you’re not in Bangkok!)
- Bring money. Although most of the food is priced between $3-$7, if you’re like us you will probably want to try several items. One can easily burn through $20 on the meat skewers alone!
- Arrive early or late. The parking situation is quite chaotic. There is free parking right at the Vancouver Summer Night Market, but it fills up quickly. After 7:30PM there is a slim chance of finding parking at the market. Neighbouring businesses offer parking spots for between $3-$5
Hours of Operation
- June – August 2011
Fri-Sat: 7:00pm – 1:00am & Sun: 7:00pm – 12:00am - September 1-18, 2011
Fri-Sat: 7:00pm – 12:00am & Sun: 7:00pm – 11:00am
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Wow, what a post to read just before heading up for lunch! This all looks so great, some of my favorites from our local Taiwan night markets and food streets…
It’s making me hungry too! 😉
Let me just say, I hate you! These photos are incredible and making me hungry! 🙂
Haha. We were stuffed when we left the market 🙂
Your pictures are great! I don’t think deep fried cheese cake is necessary but why not give it a try!
I never mad it to the markets before we moved away. It will go on my list on our next visit home:)
Eva
It’s taken us a while to make it to the market as well, but we are glad we did. It will be a yearly ritual.
Why don’t the Asian-inspired night markets here (you know, in ASIA) have deep fried cheesecakes?
Someone seriously dropped the ball on that one.
Next time we have to try one! By the time we saw them, we were already too full. Next time 😉
Oh darn, now I am not just hungry but STARVING. Looks fantastic!
Agreed, too much food to choose from.
Ooooohhhh….YUM! Can’t believe we missed that when we were in Vancouver. Maybe next time…
Definitely check it out when your in Vancouver.
Dang it, I didn’t take your advice — I read this hungry and now I want a Potato Hurricane like whoa! No wonder they’re popular. 🙂
The most unusual food, but very popular!
I usually don’t get off on food pics — but these are stunning! Thankfully I just ate… 🙂
Thank you!
That looks soooo yummy! I just ate something, but could just start right away again! 🙂 Yummy foodie post!
These photos are… crazy! It’s almost 9:00 pm here and I promised myself long ago that I will not eat anything after 6:00 pm, but reading your post just made me break my promise… I’m having a BIG sandwich right now… thanks a lot! 🙂
Seriously though, I wouldn’t miss this food market if I was in Vancouver … Unfortunately, I’m not. Thanks for the great photos!
Haha, hope the sandwich was good!
My mouth is watering! Thanks so much for sharing – You take great photos!
Thank you 🙂
Amazing photos! Better being there though!!
Agreed. Can’t beat being able to actually try all the food.
wow this looks amazing wish my city had one
We didn’t hear about it until last year. Maybe your city does? It’s fairly new here in Vancouver.
Excellent food shots of some tasty, but not-so-photogenic, foods!
Thanks Abby!
Guys, the food looks so great! Especially the grilled octopus and the yakitori. I’m hoping we have something like this in California.
Another great reason we love BC. They are always coming up with new ideas.
I have never heard of the place – looks like fun.
Some great food shots – and I’ll pass on any mystery meats.
Great food shots! Looks delicious.
WOW! How on earth did you decide what to eat? It all looks so good.
Because I wasn’t disappointed enough in my soggy, recently microwaved pizza… :-p
Potato hurricanes are the bomb! Such a Korean festival mainstay.
Food looks yummmmy!
Went there for the first time this year and loved it! Tried a few food items and enjoyed everything. Grilled squid was my favourite — delish!
Lots of different kinds of food!
Ooh, how I wanted to visit the Summer Night Market! Looks amazing!
Lovely photos. Truly.
Great post except for one thing. My family and I are enjoying a long-term trip through Europe right now, and you’ve just given a massive craving for about ten different Asian foods that I won’t be able to get until we return to Vancouver in 2012!
Nom nom… everything looks delicious…
this looks like the event for me. i love asian food and would go nuts eating as much dimsum as possible.all the pictures you took made me really hungry.
Deep fried cheesecake can definitely be necessary. What isn’t necessary is probably deep fried butter. Yes, deep fried butter was revealed this summer at a state fair in Iowa. Wonder why we’re fat.
Food looks great lot of variety there, the long potato hurricanes have recently taken off here in Cebu, Philippines. Do they cover them in flavoured powder there?
Yum!! Great pics!
Amazing pictures, it makes me want to start cooking