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)
