6 Tips for Attending Houston’s Asian Night Market

grilled rice paper (bánh tráng nướng)

At night, we rise! Asian Night Market Chợ Đêm Houston is a free event celebrating street food and live entertainment. Houston’s chợ đêm, Vietnamese for “night market,” is located in the parking lot on the backside of Hong Kong City Mall. The market operates on a weekend Friday through Sunday from 6-11 P.M. The dates for the market are not on a set schedule; historically, it pops up once every 2-3 months, maybe a few times a season. At this particular night market, the majority of the vendors serve Vietnamese cuisine.

It used to be difficult to find out when the market would be held since the organizer’s mainly advertised through word of mouth, but now it’s growing even more popular thanks to the power of social media. They seem to be hosting them more frequently now due to the growth. As it keeps growing, the crowds may seem intimidating, but have no fear.

6 Tips

  1. Bring cash
    Cash is king. Very few booths will have a card reader (if any). $25 per person is a good amount to bring if you’re interested in trying multiple items.
  2. Share with friends
    Maximize the number of dishes to try by splitting them with your friends or family. Not only do you get to share food, but you’ll also share some memories with them!
  3. Arrive early or late
    The best time to go is right when the event opens around 6-7. There is plenty of places for you to park around that time. During the peak hours of 7-9, the crowds make it hard to navigate to each booth and the food quality may suffer since vendors are feeling rushed. Arriving later than 9, the crowd starts to fizzle out, but you run the risk of items being sold out.
  4. Wear earplugs
    The elderly Vietnamese people love cranking up the volume to the max. It will be loud. There will be a lot of singing. You will have to yell at your friends to communicate.
  5. Bring a chair
    The market provides tables, but if you’re not prepared to fight a family of 5+ for seats, you can always bring a portable folding chair. You can also move the food to eat inside the mall building.
  6. Stay hydrated
    If you want to save a few dollars for more food, bring a bottle of water! There is always at least one bubble tea booth, but nothing beats the hydration of good ol’ H2O. Plus, it will help dealing with the smoke from the grills.

What to Expect

Expect a good selection of street food to choose from ranging from meat on a stick to noodles to grilled seafood to traditional Vietnamese foods. Each market will have different booths, but some of the repeat booths include Tanuki Go, Ngọc Lan Bánh Bao, and The Bep Teahouse.

With that, those are my tips for enjoying the Houston’s Asian Night Market! The next one will be held next weekend October 18-20, 2019. For the latest date announcements, follow the vendors above or the official organizer’s Facebook page linked below. Be sure to check it out when you have a chance!

grilled meat skewers
grilled clams, snails, prawns (ốc, tôm nướng)
sugar cane juice (nước mía)

Follow Asian Night Market

Asian Night Market Chợ Đêm Houston
11205 Bellaire Blvd.
Houston, TX 77072
(Market is located at the backside parking lot)

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