The Richmond Night Market is a hallmark of the summer season. Starting in late spring and running through to fall, with its peak in summer. It brings many tourists to the Lower Mainland and business to local restauranteurs who opt to rent out a stall, given the traffic it draws.
This year Joyce of @monkeyeatsworld and I were visiting with a couple from out of province. Two individuals who have little experience with Asian cuisine, both of which have never visited the market, until today. One with a turkey allergy and the other with a seafood allergy.
So our goal was to showcase the variety of cuisine the Night Market hosts, while meeting their dietary restrictions. The following is a combination of that, plus our favourites, some new vendors, and a few more thrown in to test their how adventurous their appetites can be. And I must say, what started out as a cautious culinary tale, turn into the willingness to try the exotic.
We arrived at the market early and immediately bee-lined it to historically busy stalls. A safe one to start at is Rotato. Everyone loves potatoes and with a selection of flavours there is something for everyone. Our hosted guest went with the sea salt and ketchup, and all agreed the latter was the better of the two, given that it had more flavour.
Next it was off to Chef James. Ever since post covid he has been doing lamb buns and noodles, after taking a break and another vendor picking up his iconic lamb and meat skewers in his absence; and the market having to limit the number of vendors offering similar items.
Just as well, as his Xin Jiang style lamb buns and pan fried noodles with lamb are doing just as well, and are still bringing down loyal fans and crowds alike. You get the same heavily cumin seasoned, tender pieces of lamb, balanced by either white dough and sauce or chewy noodles to slurp up.
Taking a pause from punchy flavours, we grabbed some doughnuts from Mochido. This years there are two vendors offering this mochi take on doughnuts, but this is the original with flavours like fruit pebbles and taro crunch.
We started cautious with the coconut churro with a chocolate drizzle and cinnamon and sugar coating, and went a bit more fun with their dragonfruit in florescent fuchsia. Both were hits with the group. The former, a classic that isn’t too sweet; the latter, naturally sugary with a more floral taste from the exotic fruit.
Next we stopped at the Butter Beer Factory and went a bit rogue with their flavours. Here they take the base of butter beer, a carbonated caramel-like beverage and to it add in your choice of flavouring. There are options like watermelon, peach, lychee, and matcha. We pushed the envelope and our guest’s gut by ordering the durian butter beer. You certainly smelled the fruit, but don’t get much of its pungent essence in the cup. Nonetheless our guests liked it!
And right next door we discovered my favourite item at this year’s market: Mango Rainbow Sticky Rice, by a stall with the same name. Vegan, gluten-free and authentically Thai. This classic treat combines naturally sweet mangos with coconut milk sticky rice. The “rainbow” adds no flavour, but the stunning visual does not go unnoticed. Sweet and chewy in perfect harmony, a great refreshing option.
We then went back to savoury with Momo’s. These are Himalayan-style dumplings steamed or deep fried, stuffed with pork or beef, and either coated in their signature sauce or chilli oil. We went with their most popular, the original beef. Served hot, there is a cool down period. Chewy soft dough hiding bundles of meat, the sauce is what sets them apart.
Looking to cool down and for another drink to hydrate, we stopped at the Tropical Paradise booth for natural fruit juice served in rind. Today it was a whole pineapple with its flesh blended into a smoothie. Decorated with a pineapple paper craft and enough pineapple printed straws for sharing. Deliciously refreshing.
Next the Ice Monster shaved ice stand caught our eye. Shave iced in a variety of fruit flavours decorated like monsters with the use of icing sugar for eyes and cheeks, and bugle corn snacks for horns and mouths. Between chocolate, taro, mango, and matcha we went for strawberry and got to watch a whole block of pink coloured ice get shaved down into our dessert.
And our final stop had us exploring the world of konjac as a low calorie, healthy, gluten-free alternative to noodles. Seasoned spicy with bits of fried tofu and fresh cabbage, and doled up in a bag. Easy to eat on the go, and a fun texture to work through your mouth.
Now full, we took some time to digest the above by exploring the Richmond Night Market grounds. We noted the carnival games for prizes, the inflatable play pen for children, and goods vendors selling mostly Korean style jewelry and socks.
New this year are the live performers stationed at high traffic areas to engage the crowds. One such was a snake handler in costume and her albino boa constrictor.
There were also more neon lights, and a few that make for great photo ops.
Hot tip, for the best view of the entire market space, head into the vape lounge at the far left corner of the market and walk up to its roof for a great vantage point. All you need is ID to enter and there is no pressure to purchase. Must be 18+.
And there you have it, my first market visit of the year and we definitely maximized it. Hitting up some new and classic food stalls, then fully exploiting the entertain aspect of the marketplace.
Richmond Night Market
8351 River Rd, Richmond, BC V6X 1Y4
(604) 244-8448
richmondnightmarket.com
