Walking into OC Night Market is a foodie’s dream come true! This year definitely topped previous years in size, vendors, and things to do! It’s not just about food and drink, they have artists, performers, and even carnival games.
Inspired by night markets in Asia, this event brings together local businesses and community into one dedicated space. Here’s how to make your visit to one of the night markets most memorable!
Bring Cash: Most places only accepted cash or had a fee if you used credit card. So make sure you withdraw some cash before you enter the venue, the line for the ATM was long too! You’ll need money for parking, admission, food, drinks and merch! Make sure you keep track on how much you spent.
Prepare your Stomach: It’s easy to let yourself go in the beginning; it’s a marathon not a race. Pretend you’re on a food tour; buy one small portion and share with your group. This way you can sample a lot of different dishes and desserts instead of getting full on one meal.
Come Early: It is a night market, but they do open around 4pm! I think it’s best to come during opening so you can avoid all the crazy lines that for later in the day, this way you can get everything you want to try quickly. Also with daylight still around you’ll have the best instagram pictures. Trust.
Plan what you want to try out: Look at the directory on their website before you get to Night Market and make a top five list of things you absolutely want to try! Once you get your first meal, head to whatever you want next. Skip the tables, eat while you wait in line and be efficient with your time. Some lines can get up to 1 – 2 hours especially for the insta-worthy food.
Take Pictures: All the vendors and performers definitely appreciate the social media love! Take some pictures of your amazing food and drinks and tag the restaurant where you got it. You’re a food blogger now! Don’t forget to document what you feast one, once you eat it all up it’s gone!
Try Something New: If you really want this to be a unique experience, try something that you’ve never had before. This is the time to be adventurous! Some booths don’t actually have physical stores, or the food trucks are hard to catch when they’re in town. These vendors are priority since you’ll never know when you’ll be able to try them out again. Make your visit worth it by not getting something you can buy at another time (local shops).
Let me know what you guys decide to try!