The San Jose Night Market: A Brief Review

By Jeff | Tuesday, August 7, 2012 | 4 Comments

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nightmrkt about The San Jose Night Market: A Brief Review

We have written about attempts to start a night market in Southern California, but I was really surprised when Number Two Son, hungry for Korean Short Rib Tacos, said that his favorite food truck at the San Jose Night Market, only five minutes away from our house. A night market in San Jose? Just around the corner? I had to check that out.

The core of the San Jose Night Market is the gathering of food trucks coordinated by the food truck meetup company Moveable Feast. That’s what got Number Two Son’s attention, and while there were a number of vendors there, the food seems to be the main attraction. There were a lot of food trucks there, more than any other Moveable Feast gatherings that I had been at. Two of the most popular trucks had Taiwanese food, with long lines for Soulnese‘s Stinky Tofu and Eat on Monday‘s Taiwanese Fried Chicken Fillets. I have no idea what Taiwanese Fried Chicken Fillets are, but they must be good for a line like that.

The venue was a flea market parking lot, and there was plenty of parking, which avoids some of the problems that were said to have happened at the first 626 Night market. I was a bit annoyed that I had to pay for parking, but if that can keep the Night Market viable, I think it would be good. The crowd was a mix of all kinds of Asians, from families to young couples, with a smattering of whites and Hispanics also. Number One Son, Number Two Son, and I definitely ate well, and we enjoyed the music and atmosphere. The boys definitely want to head back next week to try different food. I am with them on that one. While at this point, is more food market that retail market, I am personally more interested in the food.

The San Jose Night Market is hosted in the San Jose Flea Market’s parking lot at 11900 Berryessa Road, San Jose, California. Parking is $5. It is open from 6 to 11 PM every Saturday through September 29, 2012.

(photo credit: Andre Rubang)

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Food & DrinkLocalSan Francisco Bay Area

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Yes, I’ve been here before. I hated it. Its just a food truck orgy that has you pay $5 for parking that takes forever to get in and out of. I follow my favorite food trucks when they’re not at the night market.

Really the only redeeming quality here are the community performances– but most of them are generally pretty amateurish. The Djs who cover this event are generally at a loss of what to play, and you tend to get latino music played by the contracted PA providers between sets. The Chinese Lion dancers are fun when they’re there.

The T-Shirt and trinket jewelry vendors aren’t worth noting.

My advice: follow your favorite community performers and food trucks when they’re NOT at the night market.

Sorry for the douchey post.
http://www.8asians.com/author/ancientone95131/ jeffat8asians

No so douchey – it’s good to hear another perspective. I didn’t have a problem with parking other than having to pay for it, but I agree with you that the vendors were not much to get excited about. And I didn’t even get to see a community performance.

I was generally happy to see pan Asian event be generally successful and well attended., While the night market has room for improvement, it’s good that there is something than can improve!
http://hellomoye.com/ moye

So what’s the difference between a night market and a food truck gathering?
http://www.8asians.com/author/ancientone95131/ jeffat8asians

I’d say that the difference is that it is held at night and tries to also have a significant small retail/vendor element.

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