OC Night Market

The OC Night Market is an experience. The food, although good, was grossly overpriced. It's very crowded and becomes more so as the evening progresses, so be aware. We enjoyed purchasing permanent jewelry.

This place is a rip off. They charge $55 for 10 tickets. Also the booth with ball tossing will scam you if you don’t immediately announce when you land one in the right cup. The girl moved my winning ball away while I finished my other tosses then said “oh I didn’t see any land in the blue cup”. The food is also mediocre. But the margaritas were great.

The 626 Night Market at the OC Fair grounds is representative of most things Japanese. We try to attend the Night Market whenever it is in Orang County because it is one of the best fairs that truly show a glimpse into the Night Market in Japan with products that are authentic to Japanese culture and appeal to a wide age group. The food vendors are always changing, so even if you have been a couple of times, you are guaranteed to be pleasantly surprised by new booths and the excitement that abounds. My suggestion, if you don't like to go when the crowds are large, would be to go earlier in the day and buy your tickets in advance. There is no advantage to buying your ticket at the venue, as they will charge you the same convenience fee as online.

I arrived early, which meant I got straight in without any waiting around 🤩. There were so many food places to choose from, it was quite overwhelming 🤤. Sadly, it seemed like the majority of these spots were actually run by the same vendor 😕. I still managed to find something I enjoyed, so it wasn't a complete loss for me 😉.#FoodieAdventures #EarlyBirdGetsTheBargain #VarietyIsTheSpiceOfLife

This event hosted by 626 Night Market and featuring Day Trip Pop-up was really cool. The DJs kept the house music coming all night while the food trucks and other vendors kept the food and drinks flowing. We had a great time. So many good food options we enjoyed everything we had. Food, drinks, desserts, and snacks. We picked up some good merch too. All to say, if you’re looking for something fun to do in the OC this is definitely worth checking out. A few things to note: * it’s at the OC Fairgrounds so plan accordingly. Daytime can be warm but it gets chilly in the evenings. It drizzled a little for the last 2 hours of the night (9-11pm) during our visit. Layers are your friend. *plenty of parking but the way they manage parking can make it feel like it’s taking forever to get in. Parking is also $12 per car. Carpool with friends and family to save some money there. *entry is $6 per person buy your tickets online via event brite so you can walk in without stopping to pay tickets day of. *there is a line to get in on most nights (Fridays and Saturdays) but it moves quickly. *there are restrooms scattered throughout but look for the ones to the left and right of the hangar at the entrance by the artist vendors. Most people miss these and the lines are shorter. *Wear comfy shoes or sneakers. There aren’t enough tables and chair for everyone and if you’re like me and have a bad back you don’t want to be in flip flops, or sandals all night. Have fun and enjoy!!

It was my first time at a night market. There were a variety of Asian foods, performances, and game stores, and I enjoyed looking around.

That’s such an LA thing to do and I highly recommend it. It’s probably not something I would do often but I’m so glad I did it once. So much fun playing the games, so much variety of food, arts and crafts, music, entertainment, super awesome time.

Great assortment of foods! Definitely bring an appetite. I'd also recommend going earlier if you want to try multiple things. Lines became QUITE long as it got later.

When the day is scorching, these are the nightly events that are a much needed escape ($6 entrance, online or cash at the booth). Parking is $12, cash or card. Food stands/trucks outnumbered the other vendors at this 626 Night Market OC and were available for 2 weekends so it wasn't as chaotically crowded like the Japan Fair. The food lines were so short...happily made us venture to a handful of expensive tasty treats (bone marrow tacos) and some very unique bites (pizza bao). Inspirational art tents are my thang but was drawn to an authentic Thai clothing boutique (Ingkarat). Lots of anime and Kawaii stickers/plushies. They hosted a free silent disco that was a big hit with 3 DJs. Some of the same old games and an amusing new one with dropping magnetic sticks that really tested people (one guy grabbed 5 on the first run).

I'm usually at the Arcadia location so this is my first time going to the OC one. I was visiting my friends in the OC and we decided to get some drinks after a late lunch. We were here right when they opened to avoid the crowded. I tried eastern tails and cocoboy. Both drinks were very good! We walked around the different booths and everyone was selling Labubus. It was a nice stroll with friends as it's more about the vibes than the food. Feels a little smaller than the Arcadia location.

I love going out and exploring new things and trying new foods. The 626 market is the perfect opportunity for this. I have it 3 stars for a few reasons: 1. Parking is $12 plus entrance fee 2. Vendors tend to have very steep prices 3. If not going right when doors open, they have very long lines On the positive side: 1. Plenty of paid parking 2. Very clean restrooms 3. Accesible washing stations 4. Wide variety of foods 5. Table areas to sit or stand Overall I would come back, but I'm aware I will be spending as if I went to a fancy steakhouse for not that type of experience. 1 visit is probably enough on a weekend unless you want to try multiple foods, but it adds up very quickly.

We LOVE coming to 626 OC!!! We look forward to it all year. Great food choices. Some were better than others (I have edited my food post after a further review). Thumbs up to Cafe 949 (great lobster and garlic noodles) and MJ's Bellychon Basket for excellent lechon, Daddy's Catch for great dusted fries and lemonade, Molly Kitchen for grilled octopus, HGG Tanghulu for interesting sugar glazed fruits on a stick. Thumbs sideways for New England Seafood for lack of flavored oysters, and Bonanza Bakery and Cafe for creepy realistic animal shaped mousse cakes. Thumbs down for Kanto Filipino Street Food for chewy (not in a good way) fried chicken skin (old and rubbery probably leftovers from the previous day) and lack luster flavorless lechon. Overall 626 is an experience too good to pass up even though some foods are a disappointment. Atmosphere here is great, service is excellent! Just be choosy when making your selections. There were more to tastes we wanted to try, but our bellies and take home bag was stuffed.

Fun atmosphere and great people watching. Prices are expectedly high. Friendly vibe with music and sounds and smells of a night market. Some great food options for all kinds of tastes. It's worth the night out and won't blow you away but will be as much fun as you make it! We tried some new things and got some things we always get. Staff were helpful and friendly. Worth the visit.

Parking is $12 Food is expensive. It's a mid experience. I would say going to the Spectrum is much more fun. Got 2 drinks from here: *Sugarcane guava 6/10 *Eastern Tales Bangkok Breeze 8/10 (refreshing and had notes of lemon) could get this cheaper at my farmer market I also got Corn in a cup for $12 because I was hungry. A good snack but again can be easily made at home for a cheaper price. Overall not super impressed. The service from Eastern Tales was amazing! Their server was so friendly and had samples available. There was a lady selling a Kimbap Children's book! I loved it I think that was the highlight of the night.

Had a great time at the night market! We went on a Saturday night, so it was definitely busy, but the crowd was manageable. Some food lines were pretty long, while others moved quickly. We tried a variety of things, and most of it was really good: * Strawberry tanghulu - $15 and super tasty! A great sweet treat. * Jerk chicken - $20 with a generous portion. It had a solid kick of spice, so keep that in mind if you're sensitive to heat. * Drink from Sunday Cafe - $30 and comes with free refills, but the line was so long that it didn't seem worth going back for more. Got the strawberry lemon and it tasted like a good strawberry lemonade so I definitely recommend. * Dirt cake ice cream - Delicious and one of our favorites of the night! Overall, a fun experience with lots of unique food options. I'd definitely come back next year and try even more!

I visited the 626 Night Market this weekend and I'm OBSESSED with the new Pasta Puffs food vendor! I highly recommend their ravioli sampler so you can try all 3 fillings. The marinara sauce is classic and the whipped lemon, honey ricotta sauce is soo delicious and unique too! The staff is super friendly, they had really giveaway merch for their opening weekend. Ravioli sampler - 2 of mushroom rav, beef rav, and spinach & cheese rav. My personal favorite was the beef ravioli filling hands down! I thought it was priced really well for a market too, 6 raviolis for $15. Calamansi Sparkling Ade - 5/5, my fave!!! Really good calamansi flavor and SOUR! Raspberry Lychee Sparkling Ade - 4/5, too sweet for my tastes but very popular with my sister Peach Mango Sparkling Ade - 3.5/5, not my flavor profile but if you like the Jollibee peach mango pies then this was made for you!

The 626 night market is a fun outing, I'd highly recommend getting here as soon as they open because it gets extremely crowded as the night goes on, longer lines, colder temps and sooo many people. We arrived around 4:30, waited in very few lines, had plenty of options for places to sit, and were able to try everything we wanted. There are vendors selling merch, art, games to play, and yummy foods and drinks. This year they even had a DJ booth on stage and large area for dancing which really filled up as the iChat went on. Buy tickets online for early bird discount and package deals ( 2 for the price of 1 or 4 for the price of 2)

When this night market first began, it was something that was new and and a reasonably priced outing, similar to the markets in Asia where you could find lots of varieties of food for varying price points, with some being cheap. Now, that is no longer the case. Whether due to inflation or the social media effect, everything is now all about the aesthetic and is mostly overpriced food from restaurants, which you can just go to on your own. While the feel/vibe of the event still resonates, it doesn't provide the value it once did. Now you can easily spend $50-100 ea on admission/parking/food and still leave hungry. If you take this for what it has now become and just take it as an opportunity to hang out with friends and just take in the sights/sounds/food variety, yet not splurge on tons of food, this can still be a great experience if you know what you're going for. Kudos to the 626 night market team for keeping this event going all these years.

Honestly they need more variety It's predominantly Asian cuisine and some Mexican food , one Jamaican vendor . It was sub par. It was too big for nothing

We used to come here often but ever since the event got more popular (long line) and food is also getting more expensive 15-20 dollars for each item now; we had not gone as often. Decided coming to check it out after a couple years of hiatus and feeling good to be back...we tried a few sufferer things walking around to check out so booths and had a great few hours spending there. Most of this food can now be found at a store, but the thing is you can try them all here at one spot. Now most of the stands are taking cards now (back then a lot of cash only) which making ordering much easier and faster! Get tickets online for faster entrance...

Outrageous Prices! Sucka Beware. Don't let these 5 star reviews con you into going. Went to the OC night market today and it was costly. Pre COVID prices were doable. Today it was $12 parking, $5 entrance (online), $23-$29 per main item. That Katsu Beef Sandwich was $26. Popcorn Chicken $16. The beef sandwich was really good and the popcorn chicken was ok. I'll pass on that next time. I'll pass on OC Night Market next time. Average tasting Food is double the price from Pre COVID. FYI: it sucks because there could be 2-3 of the same businesses located in 3 different locations which makes the event full of vendors. No variety! Squid and skewers everywhere!!!! No variety, just like the LA County Fair. Over priced food, lack of variety and long lines wasn't worth it. Just go to DTF for a nice meal and spend your $100 there. Short wait, excellent food and no parking and no entrance fee. I feel like I got robbed today. After winning, this I feel like I'm a grumpy old man.

Come ready to walk, wait in lines, be hungry, and adventurous. Otherwise this will not be your jam. Oh and to spend money, but it's worth it. Everything we had was SOOO GOOD! My favorite was the Korean hot dog. My one wish is that there were more beer options other than two.

First time I attend this night market and I went on both Friday and Sunday, mostly for the silent disco. Parked across the street at the school for $5, just look for the signs to pay. Quick entrance and restrooms outside as you walk in. Vendors are very friendly, bought a Power Rangers bottle opener and some food. One star off for the overpriced beer and margaritas but otherwise a great time.

Sounded like it would be a great time, but it wasn't. Tickets were $6/pp and parking was $12/car. The market starts with a covered arts and crafts booths and then becomes an open collection of eateries arranged in an oval. The center of the oval was filled with vendors for cars, above-ground jacuzzis, and other oddities. The food is heavily Asian-inspired, but there were a few Mexican fusion places as well. You can find anything from takoyaki, to boba, to Asian tacos, to jiggly cake, to tanghulu, to sisig, etc... Sounds dreamy, right? Wrong! Just about everything is $20 and very small -- it's OC Fair prices without the fair. After a few laps and a few overpriced items, I was over it and left. It's a novel concept, but an absolute cash grab on all ends. A half-dozen Asian food trucks in a random parking lot would be infinitely better. You've been warned!

Here's my take on the 626 market nights at the fair grounds. GET THERE WHEN IT OPENS! We got there right at 4 and there was already a line of people waiting for the gates to open. The line moved fast and we got in pretty quick. When we left around 6 the place was getting packed! It was warm. Would be nice if there were more shade options to eat at. We decided to walk and see what there was until something stopped us dead in our tracks to eat. We got food to share and split who bought the next item. We also took turns going in lines. The lines didn't start getting long til after 5 and even then there was only a few with long lines at that point. Here's every we ate (2 people) Tanghulu. Sugar coated (hard sugar) fruit. We each bought a skewer ($7 each) and shared. These weren't as hard as I expected. I was thinking the sugar would be jolly rancher hard and was little scared to bite it. The fruit was hot, which threw me off but it was juicy and I would for sure try this again. From Lobsterdamus. I got the lobster garlic noods ($17) and Christa got the lobster fries ($22). These were my favorite things I ate. We didn't finish them because we wanted to save room for more food. Honestly I'd go back just to get this again though. The price was kinda expensive, but it's real lobster The pouffle. It is a fresh made loaf of bread stuffed with cheese and gooey garlic sauce. ($17 for the bread and $3 for the sauce) we shared and it was delicious! I think we waited longest for this one. Mochi ice cream crepe ($16). We got the strawberry banana with whipped cream, mochi ice cream and caramel. It was good. We had thought it would be served on a plate (images and display showed it flat ‍) it was good and the ice cream didn't taste like any mochi ice cream I'd had before, so I'm not really sure where the mochi came in. Devil souffle pancake tiramisu. My favorite dessert is tiramisu so, if I see it on a menu, i order it. I liked the jiggle it had. Was it tiramisu? Not really but it was still a good treat with coffee flavoring. I walked it half way across the area to get back to our table. I think I'd want to eat it right by the stand so it's the freshest. I'm not sure if it got a little denser walking it all the way to our table. I'd try the soufflé pancake again, maybe a different flavor. Over all, I'd go back and try more food as long as I go when it opens.

All the food is soo good, especially the mango sticky rice!! My friends and I had a blast looking at all the store fronts and trying all the food. We went on a busy saturday and the crowd was there but the lines were thankfully not too long. It is definitely a go to place if you're a foodie in OC!

This is so much fun for everyone! This is at the OC Fairgrounds so it's definitely accessible! Loved getting there early to avoid the lines. By 8:30 the lines are long and you just need to be patient. If you can't be patient, this is NOT the event for you. At all. Super cute date spot. Lots of standing tables to eat at and a few sit down tables but not as many. Of course we loved the juice served in the teddy bear cups. Those come with one free refill! Yum! The piggy buns were adorable and filled with really great, super smooth, red bean paste. Most of the food here is fried. Or dipped in sugar. BRING YOUR OWN NAPKINS AND WIPES! There are a few hand washing stations around but I was so glad I brought extra utensils and napkins in my purse! The non-food vendors had so much kawaii stuff! Definitely a great place for stocking stuffers and super cute gifts!

Got tickets online. It's $5 per ticket for admission and $12 for parking. Prepare to walk. The parking is far away from the night market. And then once you get to the night market, it's all walking. There's a huge tent when you first arrive. They have vendors selling stuffed animals and other toys/ merchandise. If you keep walking, you will find the food trucks and tents. The food is comparable to fair food. A lot of fried foods and junk. Don't come here looking for something healthy to eat lol You won't find it. We tried the rainbow grilled cheese, Mac and cheese, slider wagu from Japan, cheese pancakes, dog made out of yogurt, seal made out of yogurt, horchata, and pizza buns (steamed and fried). All of the food is overpriced and just mediocre. It is fun to try tho and sample out things. But I was not impressed with the food. You are paying for an experience.

I've gone two years in a row now and the night market is such a fun date night or night with friends - it's usually put on a couple weekends during the summertime at the OC fairgrounds and it's a food and vendor event with So Many good and interesting options! The night market is pretty inexpensive to get into and then you pay for what you buy which can vary between $5 and $30 depending on the vendor/items. I love soup dumplings, bao Buns, noodles etc and there are tons of options both savory and sweet for these items! It's very "fair" like where you order and then wait for your item/number to be called then can walk around with it or find a spot to sit (sometimes quite limited)! The website lists all vendors and menu related items or links to their social media which is super helpful if your like me and prepare ahead! Happy Munching!

norigami- The spam had a nice crisp coating on it that wasn't too greasy and added nice texture to it. I put some spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce on top as well because you can never go wrong with spicy mayo and teriyaki. The avocado spread was so light and creamy it was unlike what I am used to (which is chunky guacamole lol).

My first and last time here unfortunately. It was definitely an experience but not a very good one . The tickets to go are only $5.90 which I totally understand why the food is extremely expensive it was $12 for parking that was no issue. Tons of space and no lines really for many foods. The vendors are very nice and some give samples. Honestly if you're willing to spend a ton of money on sample size items then this is the place for you. There's games and a bunge jump trampoline typa thing. A lot of the foods are repetitive and it was alright. There are few plates worth getting for price and amount but a lot of the stuff is really high priced for such small amounts of food. They were playing very explicit music with children around which was really upsetting to me and I don't even have children.

plenty of vendors here, and was super fun! There were so many different food options and I was definitely getting my steps in walking around trying to figure out my next bite. The vendors were incredibly kind- both food and merch booths! As it was my first time visiting, I wasn't too sure what to expect but it wasn't overwhelming at all; there was plenty of space for walking and browsing, and you didn't feel overcrowded. If you're planning to visit with a large group, definitely snag a table right away as the bench tables were filling up quickly BUT there were standing tables available too! I would definitely come back and try out more food next time :-)

Since I can't find them on Yelp, I would have to do my review here. I enjoyed the vibe at the 626 night market however, super disappointed with "Kanto Street Foods." Super overpriced, 2 "silog" meals, 2 BBQ chicken skewers, 2 BBQ beef skewers, and an order of Lumpia came out to over $100!!! I mean we could have gone to Cheesecake Factory and ordered appetizer, entree, and dessert for less than this price! Appallinggg! To put cherry on top, service is mediocre. Bad, and I mean, baaaaaad service! They just keep taking orders not realizing how much food is left and if they "run" out, they'll go to the other side where they have the same Filipino stall to "check" for inventory. Oh, and what's displayed on their commercial poster, is not what the food looks like. BBQ? Seafood city Grill City serves a better tasting one for probably cheaper price. Avoid this place if you can help it!

EXPENSIVE AF. Same as the OC night market. Parking fee, entrance fee, overpriced food for mediocre flavors. Not worth.

I've learned some valuable insight about the 626 Night Market at the OC Fairgrounds. - Buy your ticket online so you don't have to waste your time trying to figure out how to buy your ticket at the venue. I bought mine through the EventBrite app. Tickets are $5 per person. - Arrive early to get a parking spot close to the entrance. How early is early? About 15-20 min before the 4PM opening. Parking is $12. - Snag a table as soon as you get in and plan to take turns going to the different food venues so you don't lose your seat. - Be prepared to share a table! Socialize. Make new friends. And yes, it's okay to ask, "where did you get that dish/drink/cute ceramic bear cup?" - If camping out at a table isn't your thing, bring a folding chair with you. That way, you can move around to different areas without worrying about where to sit. - The venues selling BBQ seem to have the longest lines, so hit up those places first. - Bring cash because some venues only accept that. And bring like $200+ cash! Food be expensive there. - Bring a tote bag to carry your food haul around. Better yet, bring a foldable wagon if you're planning to buy a bunch of stuff to take home. - Get the hell out of there after a few hours. The food lines just get worse as you go into the evening. Unless you have a folding chair to hang out in and don't mind the long lines. THE FOODS | Since we got there early, lines weren't long at all. In almost all cases, there were just a few people in front of us at each venue.... except the line LuckyBall Korean BBQ. Standing in that line made me irritable like no other. Anyway, here's what we tried out. - Lobsterdamus | Lobster Nest ($42): The lobster was delicious and came with clarified butter. The garlic butter noodles were mundane and nothing to write home about. - Zindrew Chili Oil | OG Batch (3 Large Jars for $45): Spicy, but not "my mouth is numb" spicy. Great chili flavor and a great topping for almost any Asian dish. - LuckyBall Korean BBQ | Pork Belly Skewer ($9 - cash only): Nice charred edges with a bit of meaty chewiness, but balanced with soft layers of fat. - Liam's Lemonade | Mexi Corn ($12): Sweet and buttery with a kick of spice. The corn juices lets all the ingredients stew around and the flavors are incredible. - Mussels & Pearls | Sampler Plate ($30): 3 grilled mussels and 3 grilled oysters with your choice of toppings. The mussels are good. The oysters are phenomenal! Choose OG (garlic her butter & cheese) for the topping. - The Beer of Legends | Kirin Ichiban ($14): Japanese lager type beer. Refreshingly smooth with a yeasty, bread-like flavor. - Nikuman-Ya | Pork Bao ($12) & Melty Bao with Pork ($14): The melty bao is the best with its melted grilled cheese slapped on each half of the steamed bun. Get it! - Hana Hou Shaved Ice | Halo Halo ($12): I loved the fruit jellies (lychee!!!) and the fruity pebbles sprinkled onto the subtly sweet ube ice cream. The boba balls were too tough for me though. - Bearology | Kiwi Lemonade ($20 - cash only): The boba is free, but I said no thank you. The drink container is the cutest ceramic bear with a metal boba straw!!! Worth it. Get it. Oh, and the kiwi lemonade tastes like a Jolly Rancher. WOULD I COME BACK? | If I can strategize better, yes I'd go back. I think the biggest thing is the lack of adequate seating. Maybe tables don't need to be everywhere but put more chairs out; there's plenty of space for it.

This night market is awful. You have to pay to get in just to have low quality and expensive food that you wait in line for quite a while. We had mediocre nachos, and a terrible katsu Sando. There aren't any places to sit to eat your food so it's pretty uncomfortable. It also felt kind of grungy and a bit dirty.

I did not enjoy this event and would not attend again. You have to buy tickets to go to a place to buy from vendors who also had to pay the promoters. It's like a fair where you pay to get in to shop and buy food, but at a fair there is at least entertainment and fun things to do. This was a huge letdown. The lines were long. The food was just okay. My family didn't have fun.

I was not that impressed. When I think of a night market with different food vendors, I think of vendors that are offering something unique and/or providing "street food" that are common in night markets in Asia. This isn't it. While there are over 50 food and drink vendors at the 626 Night Market OC in a comfortable, open environment for you and your company to walk and peruse through, none of the food was impressive. The food quality is less than you will get at a standard Asian restaurant and the price is probably the same or sometimes a bit higher. There isn't any particular originality in any of the food offerings either. Overall, I would say it's a good time to be able to experience the event once just to see so many food offerings, but in my opinion, there just isn't any value in going to a place that offers less quality food at equal or higher cost.

626 Night Market in OC Felt like I entered an amusement park with so much Asian food. Should've walked an entire loop before we filled ourselves with delicious shrimp wontons @zindrewchili, mango pandan sticky rice @mama, tea from, Ube and Matcha malasadas @mochihaus, and lobster fries @lobsterdamus. All the ramen places were a bit overpriced (but so was the other food): -Shake Ramen was a full meal, but had minimal broth, diced pieces of pork belly which I prefer tender strips though I appreciated all the vegetables. -Daikokuya Ramen was served well like in it's shop but half the amount for about the same price. -A-sha dry noodle was decent but pricey without any meat. There were also non-food vendors selling candles, apparel, stickers, patches, art, plush toys, etc. All in all, a fun food filled evening but more of a once in a year event for us. We spent $150 just on food for 3.5 people! If I go back, I would want to try the Tamagoyaki, the Honey Cone, All Day Dumpling, and a Giant Squid! Note: $5 tickets per person free for little kids. $12 parking, BUT you can park at the college across the street for $5! Btw, when we came the first weekend they opened we left and got a refund as the line was 1+ hour long to get in. We came the following weekend around 4:45pm and entered in 10 mins. If you have time beforehand, go check out Tewinkle Park nearby. It has a wonderful playground, and a walking path around a lake and fountains. IG: @grace.loves.adventures @626nightmarket_oc

So they are price gouging like crazy. They charge $55 for 10 tickets! Not only that, the game vendors cheat your out winnings by saying "we didn't see you". The food is way overpriced for what you get and quality does not equal what you paid for. Avoid at all cost!

Lines weren't too bad, food was ok.. pricey and smaller portions than previous years. Loved seeing the animals live music and various vendors. Some of the Carnival workers acted like DMV workers.. (geez would it kill you to smile and be polite) you are working at a GAME in the FAIR.. lol.. at least the whiskey bartenders were friendly!

Our first time at the 626 Night Market was in Arcadia, and the lines there were so crazy that I never thought I would go to 626 again, but we decided to check out the OC 626 Night Market as we assumed the lines would be better. Thank goodness the lines were much shorter than the ones in Arcadia! Food was still overpriced, but again, I'm a sucker for variety of food stands, so overall I enjoyed the experience. Parking is $10, but we parked for free in the nearby side streets. Here are my thoughts about what we got: Pearsons Food Truck: Alligator bites for $20. 2/5. Too much breading, not much meat, and overpriced Bobaful: $7 boba. 5/5. Delicious. We got the brown sugar boba, which was perfection Shake ramen: $15 for the regular size, but we got ours for free using the complimentary vouchers my boyfriend won from the Toyota stand. 3/5. Pretty tasty but too salty. Bellybombz: Soy shrimp for $6. 5/5. Flavorful and delicious Nikuman-ya. Pork bun for $10, but we used the complimentary vouchers. 5/5. It was juicy and yummy, but may not be worth the price if we didn't have the vouchers Rainbow grilled cheese for $13. 4/5. Yummy. Slightly too buttery. Cheese taste was pretty mild Yakitori Yado: 2 Chicken skewers with mochi for $12 (got 1 regular and 1 spicy). 4/5. Pretty tasty but slightly too burnt

So this 626 Night Market is obviously smaller than the one in Arcadia, so I'm not sure why people expect it to be as big. I had a good time! I actually enjoyed that there was a ton of space to eat, or hangout, even if I had to sit on the floor. I enjoyed the space! I just don't think people reviewing this event based on the Arcadia night market is fair because I just appreciate that 626 is trying to expand and have more events, even if they're smaller. Also, it's open from 1-11pm which is a good amount of hours to enjoy! (Also, there is re-entry stamps given if you need to leave!) There was still a good amount of vendors! I ate good that night, let me tell you. Whole Lobster from Lobsterdamus, Spicy Wonton and Har Gow from All Dat Dim Sum, Prime Beef Skirt Skewers from Shin-Sen-Gumi, and Crispy Spam Musubi from Fist of Fusion to name a few! I was satisfied! And the lines weren't too bad. We did not wait more than 10 min for any line which was awesome. Overall, I had a great time. I got to shop for some cute little trinkets, pins, and stickers as well. There was so much to do and see, it was definitely worth the $5 admission. I will definitely be coming back to this night market.

I usually try to go once a year, at least. Always had a great time eating with company and also seeing others having a great time as well. I'm looking forward to the next one coming up in July!

Overpriced food I came here because I was excited to try out food from many local restaurants. Admission was $5 and parking for $10 at the OC Fair & Event Center. There were lots of food, drinks, desserts, and retail shops. We came around 5pm and lines were not bad. There is lots to eat but a lot of it was so expensive for what you get. I felt like you would get a snack size item for a full price entree at a restaurant. There did appear to be multiple stalls selling the same thing. The food that we did order was a mix of good and bad. If it did taste good, we thought it was overpriced. It was cool to check out once but don't come hungry unless you're prepared to drop alot of money. We felt we could've used that money towards a nice dinner somewhere else.

We have visited our fair share of night markets in Los Angeles and 626 seems to be the best. Not in terms of quality but quantity. They have the biggest venue and a few really good food spots. It is always fun to hang out and eat. My complaint here is the charge for parking, the charge for tickets and the the 20.00 price tag attached to most food items. Don't get me wrong, the experience is so much fun. I just can't say that the food is great. In fact, most of it is average to plain. A few place get 5 stars and we ultimately eat at the same spots every time we go. Blue Main Lobster is Def worth every dime. Lobster fries and Lobster rolls here are among the best in Los Angeles and for 18.00 to 20.00, well worth the cost. Lobsterdamus is good, not great. Very pricey though for street Lobster. The Bao bun scene is overwhelming here. I think every other stand is Bao or dumpling stand. In general, the variety is just lacking for the venue to be so big. But it is fun and you will find some good treats. Be prepared to spend at least 100.00 for 2 people and at least $150 to $200 for a group of four. $20.00 per dish, a drink or 2 and maybe some $20.00 icecream should sound about right. Have fun

First time going this year and admission was $5+ tax along with parking for $12. The food was mostly overpriced as you'd expect at these types of events, much like the fair food. It was super easy for me to get in because I took the back streets, cruised right into the parking lane and it flowed well when going a tad early. The line was long to get in, but it flowed around time of opening. The lines were short for us because we got there early. It gradually got more and more crowded, lines got longer and upon leaving the lanes to enter the parking were huge and not moving much. If you go late, that is what you'd expect - longer wait times for everything. If you have time to kill and want to be there in the later evening, do that - whatever you're into. You can expect a few repeat food vendors like the baby bottle agua frescas, which kind you are delicious and make sure you get the ones with a lanyard for easy carry while you walk. They are a hefty price $25 for small & up as you increase the size. You will see several Filipino food vendors with similar offerings and you can skip the Korean corn dogs Ghostix? It wasn't that good for the price and they were a tad stingy when asking for napkins...they tore one ONE for my friend and I...like damn we just spent $40 on two corn dogs with a tip, yet we got one paper towel to split? Never again lol. I wanted to get the garlic noodle with grilled lobster so bad but did not want to get full too fast, but luckily I am going back again with more people and will get it! The lobster rolls also looked good. The longest lines I saw were for the Hotato Potato and Thai food. You'll find everything from bao buns, churros, ube desserts/ halo halo, wontons, dumplings and sweet drinks like boba or slushes. If you are looking for alcohol, there is a little Kirin Ichiban "beer garden," Spike Michelaguas - as well as several other non-alcoholic versions. There are jewelry vendors, plushies stands and a bunch of cute typically Asian accessories and character items. There was a small lane for games/prizes, but I really missed seeing the rides and lights you'd usually find with the OC Fair. Good thing it's coming back soon! Anyway, bring a good amount of money and extras mouths to share food or maybe forgive out how to get super hungry because all the carb options will fill you up FAST. Overall: It was something to do and try, kind of underwhelming and boring pretty quickly u less you're there spending tons of money that you can spend for a nice steak dinner somewhere good. I recommend once, but not more than that. I kind of regret getting tickets for another weekend, but I want the kids to try it too. Ehhh. Let me know if you want to buy them, haha!

My second time at the 626 Night Market and will be my last. Probably not all food items were bad but the ones I tried were pathetic. I first tried the Myungrang hot dog. I got a sausage and mozarella. First of all it took nearly 10 minutes once I ordered even though the stand was not crowded. After taking several bites I wondered if they forgot the sausage. After eating nearly 75 percent of the "corn dog" I found the meat. I was about 3 inches long and maybe 1/2 inch diameter and tasted like a bad hot dog not a flavorful sausage. Tossed it after one bite of the so called sausage. I next tried smash kings for a simple smash burger. I watched them cooking the burger and was puzzled by the fact I saw no smash device used and the cook appeared to be flipping the patties with her gloved hand rather than a spatula. Once I got my order I was immediately put off by the amount of grease on the top of the top bun. This WAS NOT a smashburger. The patties were too thick with no lace and NO crust. I took a bite and only tasted grizzle. I have never in my life not finished a smashburger but this one I tossed after 3 bites. Compound the bad food with the totally absurd prices and I have no use for this type of experience. Contrast this to the Orange Street Fair I attended a week earlier where the food was excellent and the prices reasonable

This place is nice to walk around have some food and drinks or maybe buy some of their cute decor. Yet, that's pretty much it! We probably wouldn't come back honestly I say Smorgasburg is WAY BETTER! They don't charge you to get in and they have the same foods/food trucks. It gets really over crowded during sunset luckily we were leaving at that time. If you do decide to give this place a try I recommend going early to avoid large crowds.

Came here Saturday August 26th with my friends around 7:30pm. Some tips before going! -You can buy your ticket at the venue or buy your ticket online I bought mine through the Event Brite app. Tickets are $5 per person and parking is $12. - Bring cash because some venues only accept that and bring like $200+ cash! Food be expensive there. - Bring a tote bag to carry your food haul around. Better yet, bring a foldable wagon if you're planning to buy a bunch of stuff to take home. THE FOOD: - Baozza! | Pepperoni and BBQ Chicken ($9 each): We chose the steam bun and it was soft on the outside and full seasoned filling which was incredible! Would have ordered like 10 more! - Blue Maine Lobster and Seafood | Lobster Roll ($15): The lobster was delicious and came with butter and a lemon wedge on a toasted hotdog bun. - Big and Long Potato | Sour Cream and BBQ ($9 each): Hot right from the fryer seasoned with powdered sour cream and spicy BBQ dust. They were very long and big and could really feed like 4 people definitely a snack to share! - Sunday Cafe | Large Bear Drink Bottle + your choice of flavored Agua Fresca ($40): Ok this one is really pricy but so worth it! you get about 40 oz of your choice of fruit juice. I picked Pineapple and Mango. It comes with a bottle or bear shaped container and it lights up on the bottom! - Honey Cones ($20): This one was so good! It had honey/vanilla flavored soft served inside a crispy corn flavored hallow cone. Such a sweet and savory refreshing dessert! Definitely a must try! - D-Cake |The Batman ($9): I mean the name speaks for itself lol! A hot steamy 7 inch D shaped waffle dipped in Nutella with a sugar icing. Yum! Final thoughts: Overall I think the biggest thing is the lack of adequate seating. There are multiple hangars at the venue in which you could have just designated seating in that area as well. 4/5 stars would recommend if you're a big foodie and don't mind paying for pricy food and waiting in lines!

For 2023, parking was $12. While most cars are following each other to park orderly, you can literally veer off and pick a closer spot near the event (I did that lol). There was only one line to get in and it was long af (see picture). It was the LONGEST line I have ever seen out of any night markets, expos, fairs. I got there at 4 and there was still a long line when I left at 7. Ticket prices are $5. There is a box office before the outer gates. There are no signage reminder to have your tickets until you get deep in that line, so don't lose your place in that long line. They sell tickets online. You see the same Asian food vendors at all the fair events with some new vendors. The beer and hard liquor vendors are in the middle. There's atms inside. Most of them take Apple Pay or Venmo. The DJ is at the end of the venue. I saw at least 3 restrooms locations. PROS + They serve alcohol + Good variety of Asian vendors + Apple Pay and Venmo accepted CONS - They need to have more entrances to shorten the line - Need more seating for eating and lounging MY RECOMMENDATIONS * Wear comfortable shoes * Start counterclockwise, most people start on the left

Six years later ... A friend and I ended up here after dinner nearby and after the experience we had, I had on overwhelming urge to update how I feel about the the OC Night Market aka the 626 Night Market at the OC Fair & Event Center. I came back and I'll be back again. From how organized the admission & entry process was, to the way the vendors were laid out to allow space for lines so people weren't elbow to elbow even just walking around; to the number of and variety of booths - I will admit that I had a great time. So, to start off - parking. $10. Lots of parking. It's the Fair Grounds. Unless you're early or lucky, you'll probably have to walk. Get those steps in. Admission $5. You can purchase them online or at the gate. Walk thru metal detectors, present your ticket then go on in and have some fun. Lots of different food and drink options, including beer. I didn't see, but I also didn't look for liquor or wine. Prices will be what they will be. Be prepared and bring cash and card. I did see one vendor's sign posted that they only take cash. I didn't see nor look for an ATM machine either. This was definitely different experience from my last visit. I'm glad I didn't totally write this event off otherwise, I would have missed out on the opportunity to try dog. :-P

PARKING: The total cost for parking was 12 bucks along with a $5 entrance fee. There was a good amount of traffic to access the parking lot. Once we found a parking spot, we had to wait about 50 minutes to get inside because the entrance line was crazy long. After all that waiting we only had an hour left to explore the market. I suggest you plan to get there earlier than 7 pm if you want to explore around because with car and foot traffic it will take you more than an hour to get inside. If you plan to avoid the parking fee by parking outside then I suggest you go around the afternoon time. Also, have in mind that the food lines are just as long so expect each line to take a good 15 to 20 minutes. The more popular food stands have even longer lines, and 25-minute waits give or take. FOOD: Unfortunately, since we did not enter the market until 9 pm we only had time to try 3 dishes within an hour's time frame. Pork Buns (8.5/10) (3x$20): We choose to try the 3 different pork buns, miso, kimchi, and seaweed (I believe). I liked all three. I have had better pork buns, but still very good. Wagyu skewer (9/10) (1x$25): Who doesn't love Wagyu? The skewers are pretty small. Churros (6/10) (2x$14): We tried the Nutella and cinnamon churros. The Nutella churro did not have enough Nutella and the cinnamon one was way too sweet. Both churros were hard. AMBIANCE: The market was pretty crowded even at a later time. Expect your typical fair type of vibe. OVERALL: Truthfully the food is overpriced, but then again that's most fairs or food markets in general. If you enjoy the fair vibe then you will probably have a good time IF you are aware that it will not be cheap, you will frequently stand in long lines and most of the food may be overhyped.

$5/entry and $12/parking. came when doors opened at 4pm and reasonable waittime to get in and wait in lines. first time coming to the OC one in costa mesa, is def much smaller than the one in arcadia. fair amt of vendor booths and you got your overpriced foods and drinks. vibes are nice and fun, the food is all stunt food/nice for show but tastes pretty alright and isnt as best proportionate as it could be to its price. the thing i enjoyed most there was the Zindrew's chili oil wontons? good size and yummy wontons. the chili oil sauce itself is pretty regular and aight. but apparently sells enough for them to have a stand next to their food stand selling the oil. the chicken from the chicken mochi skewers were rlly good also. wasnt a fan of the taste of the single quarter piece of mochi on the bottom of the skewer. def nice to go with friends at least once. is it worth?? ehhhHH for a good vibenor excuse to get together and have fun

I went twice to the OC Market. Based on food alone, I'd say it was about 3 stars. However, the second night I went upped my rating. I went on a Saturday night during the second weekend and I also came on that last night of the night market (Sunday). The last night of the market ended up being so fun! My biggest criticism of the night market are the prices. The prices for food are quite high, especially considering you go to the night market mainly to try out as many foods as possible. Admission and parking together is already slightly over $15, and most foods will be in the $10-$15. It's very easy to spend over $100 here. The first night I went, I had no game plan. My boyfriend and I just looked at a map and walked around and chose vendors on a whim. Our mistake was ordering too much food from the first vendor. We were so full after one booth that we struggled to finish the food we got from other places. Most of the food we had was pretty good, but nothing too stellar. The second time we came, we went in with a game plan. We made a list of the foods we really wanted to try and the foods we wanted to try if we had space. I highly suggest this route! This way, you don't overbuy OR overeat. We also came with a large group so it was much more efficient to share. This night was super fun because in honor of Pilipino American History Month, they had special performers. AJ Rafael came to perform!!! Most Filipinos in their 20s will probably know him from Youtube. My inner middle schooler was sooo happy and his performance was incredibly nostalgic. The DJ before him also played songs that can be heard at most Filipino parties, so I had a lot of fun dancing! Here's the food we ended up trying: 1. Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich (I can't remember the price but somewhere between $12-$15) and Mochi Cheese Balls (~$5) from Chimmelier [3/5]: Good, but heavy. It wasn't anything too special but still enjoyable 2. Tingly Cumin Noodles (~$16) from Bang Bang Noodles [4/5]: My favorite dish of the first night. Line was pretty long! The hand-pulled noodle had an amazing texture. The dish had great flavor and my mouth was definitely tingly. I just wanted more salt. 3. Cheesecake ($13) on a stick [3.5/5]: It was good cheesecake. It was slightly frozen cuz it obviously had to hold on a stick. But was it worth the price? Probably not. 4. Boba from some place I can't remember [4/5]: but it was really good haha 5. Chicken Skin Nachos (idk the price) from Chick n Skin [4/5]: Good nachos! It tasted like what I expected. The chicken skin chip basically tastes like chicharron 6. Garlic Cheese Bread ($15) from Pouffle [5/5]: My favorite! Most people would be surprised and a bit confused at how sweet it is but I LOVED it! It felt more like a dessert or a pastry in that way. Highly addictive! Super good but still pretty expensive 7. Pork Sisig Burrito (~$12) from White Rabbit [5/5]: As a Filipino, I really enjoyed this! It was yummy and filling. I had to take basically like 3/4 of it home cuz I was so full haha 8. Wagyu Ramen Burger (idk) [2.5/5]: Kind of basic to me. I did like the Ramen bun but what confused me was the inside was more of an American style burger. There was a thousand island sauce and your typical lettuce and tomato. I think the burger would've been stronger if it followed more of an Asian theme 9. Potato Spiral (idk) with ranch and cheddar [4.5/5]: I really liked this one! It was crispy on the outside and the inside was fluffy. The seasonings were reminiscent of the powder you put on popcorn and I liked that 10. Ube Cinnamon Roll ($13) from Ubenabon [5/5]: I took this home and it was soo delicious as dessert and even more delicious for breakfast the next morning. It was huge! 11. Borria QuesaTacos [$15/3 tacos) with consomme from Three Brothers Kitchen [4/5]: A fun little fusion twist on birria tacos! I honestly couldn't taste the Vietnamese influence but it was tasty nonetheless I was going to get a Honey J Cone but it was $15!! And I was like OH HELL NO haha Tips: -Show up early to avoid crowds -Bring cash just in case cuz some booths charge extra for card -If you come with a big group, keep one person at the table while everyone else orders. It's a nice way to have a home base and a table all night long -Bring a backpack. Pack your own water. And honestly, bring some tupperware because you will most likely need it haha

The selection of vendors was disappointing and food offerings were uninspired. I found nothing particularly remarkable or uniquely "from the 626" that I couldn't find from plenty of local OC establishments. The things that I tried tasted fine, but for the prices ($22 plus tip for a basic plate of hot cheeto fries, $8 for a single decorated macaron) and lack of wow factor, I wasn't pleased. By the way-- what exactly about loaded fries is supposed to evoke the food style/culture of SGV? It really felt more like going to the basic OC Fair than a specifically Asian fair.

This night market felt underwhelming compared to the 626 Night Market in Arcadia. There are probably only half the number of vendors with the same admission price + $10 for parking (parking was free at the Arcadia one). There's quite a bit of overlap with the 626 Night Market, but there were also plenty of vendors that were not in Arcadia when we went two months ago. It was disappointing that our favorite vendors from the 626 were not present, but we uncovered hidden gems and found new favorites this time. The longest lines were for Bang Bang Noodles and Bombing Giant Squid. BBN was sold out of the Bang Buns by 5:30 pm! I was in line for BBN for 30 minutes to order and 15-20 minutes more to pick up my order. Worth the wait as biang biang noodles and Xi'an food in general are hard to find in So-Cal, and it's really cool watching them pull fresh noodles. Finally got to try Hawaiian Honey Cone and Ridges Churro Bar. I enjoyed both, but I probably wouldn't get Hawaiian Honey Cone again unless I'm sharing it with at least 2 other people. And it was $15... I would get a churro from Ridges Churro Bar again. I also got banana foster and cookies & cream bread pudding from Elaine's Bread Pudding. The price is steep at $8 each, but they are delicious. There were also many vendors selling merchandise, such as pins, paintings, body care products, candles, jewelry, clothes, etc. The jewelry at Mini Des were so cute that I could not resist purchasing a necklace and earrings. TL; DR: I would recommend Ridges Churro Bar, Bang Bang Noodles, and Mini Des from this round. Would I go again? Only if my favorite vendors are there.