Tiger explored new flavors, cultures, and experiences at the 626 Night Market in Arcadia. The market is one of the largest Asian-inspired festivals in the Los Angeles Area.
Story by Harriet Godson, Anna McDonnell, & Ellie Song
Photos by Zoe Chen & Mac Shropshire
Every year, on select weekends in July and August, the 626 Night Market fills the Santa Anita mall parking lot with live music, booming crowds, and mouth-watering food. Harriet, Ellie, Zoe, Mac, and I came to the market eager for a new experience, excited to spend the night at one of the largest Asian-inspired markets in Los Angeles County, despite the long lines, high prices, and jam-packed walkways. Not only did they offer unique food, but there were also many vendors selling clothes, posters, and other knick-knacks.
Ticket prices range from $5.90 to $6.93 (with free parking), and children under three years old get in for free. Contrary to the low entry prices, everything else in the market was extremely expensive.
We had high hopes as we walked through the security gate, attempting to find our way around the sprawling venue. We did not know what to expect as we pushed our way through a sea of people, all under the spell of the trained vendors trying to draw attention with loud music, flashy signs, and eye-catching goods.
“All natural, all authentic metals and stones!” I heard more than a few vendors yelling to the crowd as we meandered around the jewelry stands. We took some selfies at a backdrop and went headfirst into a chaotic night filled with delicious dishes and countless memories.
Bumping shoulders with everyone as we made our way to the slightly more spacious food section, we were met with plumes of smoke and vendors calling out people’s order numbers for exotic foods including $30 deep-fried alligator bites and $15 roasted pig noses.
We had not eaten dinner before, so we were eager to find some food. After walking past various vendors, we found what we were looking for: a wide array of sweet and savory dishes, and a welcoming curb to sit on. Ellie and Harriet got dirt cups for $10 each. Mint chip ice cream topped with crushed Oreos, gummy worms, and a sprig of mint was placed cleverly inside a seedling cup to look exactly like a mini garden. I had $17 deep-fried piggy buns filled with red bean paste. The sweetened condensed milk that was drizzled on top cooled my tongue from the scalding rice-based bun and grainy red bean.
We watched from the curb as busy crowds came and went, laughing, eating, and roaming around the alleys of canopy-tents and food trucks. Each shop we passed had a new smell, sound, and flashy visuals to accompany it. The deep-fried food truck was smoky and loud, whereas the ice cream stand was bright and cheery. No matter which stand we went to, there were competitive crowds elbowing to get in line; it was every man for themselves.
I ate my $20 chicken kebabs and rice as I people-watched, observing the crowd. The chicken was spicy and grilled to perfection. The sauce dripped onto the rice and made it soggy in the puddle of salt; I immediately scarfed it down.
Though the food was delicious, some of it was clearly for show. Many stands sold drinks in various flavors, which came in large plastic containers shaped like gummy bears and baby bottles that could be shown off on a large lanyard around your neck. Large portions made it difficult to take the last bite, like half of a pineapple stuffed with fried rice and umami sauces or the crunch of crispy tanghulu, covered in a shell of sugar. Seemingly everyone was walking around with a striking potato wedge spiral on a kebab with sriracha.
The other half of the market was dedicated to vendors selling items like jewelry, stickers, clothing, posters, and other knick-knacks. Anything imaginable, from finger chains to permanent bracelets, hair pieces, brooches, and pins, could all be found in most stands. One vendor we met, Leo, has been helping his wife Roseline sell products for her business, Little Women Goods, for many years now. They sell stickers and pins with feminist-themed designs.
Another vendor sold socks, some cute with lace and pastel colors, others fun and whimsical with arms and magnets, designed so the two socks could hold hands. They cost $5 a pair, and for me, socks that can hold hands are worth every penny.
Lastly, no festival is complete without an array of carnival games. Human claw machines, trampoline swings, and stick catchers seemed to be the most popular. We also spotted classics like ring toss, balloon darts, and bean bag toss. All cost around $15 to play, and most resulted in a fun prize. None of us tried any of the games, as we were filled to the brim with food and did not feel like spending the extra money on a game.
The human claw machine strapped contestants into a moving arm that lowered them into a large pit of stuffed animals. Players had to try and grab as many as they could before the claw pulled them back up. At another attraction, the trampoline swing, people were harnessed to two taut ropes above a trampoline. They could jump high, do flips, and even swing in a full circle. Lastly, the viral stick grab tested people’s reflexes and was featured in the middle of the game arena. The game has players stand under a machine as they try to catch rods that are placed in a circle around them. If a player caught all of them, they won, but people rarely did, and bystanders laughed as contestants tried and failed to grab the falling sticks.
We were stuffed with food and tired out from spending three hours scampering around the festival, so we sat down in a patch of grass next to a live EDM performance to debrief and wait for our ride. Once the car arrived, we gathered our leftovers and $5 treasures for a sleepy car ride home and the big food hangover waiting for us the next day.
It was a great experience to see all the different flavors and cultures in one large parking lot for the community to enjoy. All the vendors put their own twist on everything they were selling, like the rainbow grilled cheese or the Hot Cheeto corn dog. The swirl of culture around us, the wide variety of products offered, and the feeling of community all made for a unique night. Although the 626 Night Market tested our temptation and emptied our wallets, we hope to come back next July when it is due to return.
