The folks behind LA and OC's popular 626 Night Market are ushering in the Year of the Monkey in a big way: with a new festival, called Taste of Night Market.
Fans of 626 should mark their calendars for the first weekend in February, when Taste of Night Market arrives at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica for two days of live entertainment, crafts, chef showcases and, of course, fantastic food that celebrates both new and traditional Asian flavors. While the vendor lineup is still rolling out, attendees can expect to sink their teeth into sriracha pork belly tacos from SoCal Grill Shack, Singaporean-style ice cream bread from Crescendo Ice Cream, ramen burgers from The Original Ramen Burger and boba tea from MILK+T. Dragon dancers, hand-pulled noodles, acoustic performances and more will round out the party.
Taste of Night Market offers all-inclusive tickets, which can be bought for both Friday and Saturday night; a VIP option is available for $20 more (VIP ticket holders can enter the market one hour earlier). It's a refreshing alternative to the traditional 626 Night Market, which charges a nominal fee for entry but often draws massive lines as everyone buys individual dishes and drinks. We're looking forward to this new format—and for a taste of what's to come when 626 resumes this summer.
Taste of Night Market takes place on February 5 and 6, 6-11pm. Tickets will sell out quickly and may be purchased here.