A new night market had a wildly successful weekend in Chinatown. A total of 25 local businesses participated in the highly anticipated market that took place November 10 and 11 between 5 pm and 9 pm on the 500-600 block of Grant Ave.
The Chinatown Night Market was expected to be a hit, and it occurred right before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit San Francisco is hosting. The market followed the success of similar events, particularly a wildly successful one in the Sunset earlier this year.
The market itself was bustling, filled with music and thick crowds that spread several blocks. The atmosphere was lively and vibrant, something many people have felt is lacking in San Francisco, particularly the downtown area. I went on Saturday, only an hour into the market, and many vendors were already selling out of food; I was still able to have my pick of many great bites and quickly found my arms full of to-go boxes. A beautiful Lion Dance swept through the market in the early evening, drawing a large crowd. Booths served a variety of food, from tea and tasty pastries to sushi and egg rolls. Many of the stores along Grant Ave stayed open late to welcome in the crowds.
All the vendors were small businesses in Chinatown lining the streets for the open-air market. Payments for the market were made via a food voucher you could purchase on each block of the market. Cashless payments were preferred for the vouchers, including credit cards and Apple Pay.
Be Chinatown organized the night market. A coalition of leaders, merchants, and residents in Chinatown, Be Chinatown is very involved in Chinatown’s community. The organization aims to strengthen the community and create economic opportunities for the neighborhood.
Chinatown Night Market vendor list
- AA Bakery
- CCHP
- Charming Sun Market
- Cool Tea Bar
- Dragon Papa
- Enter the Cafe
- Far East Cafe
- Golden Gate Fortune Cookies
- Golden King
- Grant Place
- House of Dim Sum
- Imperial Palace
- Lady Luck Cafe
- Lucky Creation
- Metro Hong Kong Dessert and Milk Tea
- Mon Sing Noodle
- New Golden Daisy
- Rock Sushi
- Sam Wo
- Ti Bear
- Tien Ren Tea
- Wing Sing Dim Sum
- Wong Lee Bakery
- Yummy Bakery
- Zhu’s Tea