14 Best Night Markets In The U.S. For Foodies

Night markets have their origins in Asia all the way back to the year 600 during the Tang dynasty in China. The concept of a celebratory evening street fair when the work day is over, and the weather is cool has unsurprisingly stood the test of time and is popular around the world, notably in the United States.

A night market is a feast for the senses. There's the visual aspect of glowing lanterns, string lights, an array of vibrant colors and decorations by vendors, and charming tchotchkes for sale. You'll hear a boisterous, happy din of conversation from everyone gathered. Then you're hit by the intoxicating aromas of all the incredible food stalls. And finally, you're faced with some really tough decisions about what to eat.

Typically, night markets are community-operated and oriented featuring local or regional vendors. Night markets are also generally family-friendly. And, very importantly, night markets are more often than not free admission, so just wander in and take a gander at the various stalls and see what strikes your fancy. We invite you to take a night market road trip with us — or, in the case of Hawaii, an ocean voyage — across the United States. We'll venture around the west coast and travel from the Midwest to the Northeast to check in with major cities that celebrate the night market tradition in their own unique ways.

For those that are living in Seattle or just visiting, be aware that it provides a gem of a night market. But there are a few caveats to note. A number of previous and upcoming events hosted by Seattle Night Markets have been for those 21 and older — so make sure to line up a sitter for the little ones.

The adult-oriented events have also not been free. At a Lunar New Year night market event in early 2023, $15 was the cost of entry and included a tote bag with one non-alcoholic drink ticket. Tickets to the New Moon Night Market event on April 22, 2023, feature a dazzling spectacle of luchador wrestling bouts and a boozy boba bar. Whatever you do, be sure to arrive hungry because there will be plenty of food — look out for all sorts of tasty treats, including dumplings, fry bread, gyros, and Korean BBQ.

While you'll find Foodieland Night Market happening up and down the Golden State of California — and even making appearances in Las Vegas — it got its start in Berkley, California, in the summer of 2019. With regular visits to the state capital in the Northern California region and venturing as far south as Del Mar in San Diego County, it's also claimed stomping grounds at the expansive lawns surrounding the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.

Be advised that while Foodieland Night Market is ticketed, you probably won't have the best luck showing up and buying them at the gates. Event tickets are only sold online through Eventbrite, but children under five years old are admitted for free. The prices fluctuate a bit depending on the venue, but are fairly reasonable and max out at around $7 per person. Popular food vendors have included hand-pulled noodles from Liang's Village based in Cupertino, California, tropical smoothies from pineappleWHIPS, and BBQ-inspired grilled oysters from Saucey Oysters & BBQ. 

After taking a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Las Vegas Asian Night Market has once again graced Clark County's night market scene with its presence. Back and better than ever, it seems eager to place a strong focus on the local community. You can find this night market at the College of Southern Nevada's Charleston campus. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but keep in mind that only cash will be accepted.

On offer are Korean-inspired hot dogs from Buldogis Gourmet Hot Dogs, Filipino pastries from MILKFISH Bakeshop, and Chinese noodles and dumplings from Shàng Miàn. Aside from delicious food, you can also expect to come across fun games, exciting cultural performances, and, of course, local Asian food. General admission is more than fair at $5 per person. There's also a VIP ticket option for $88 per person — while we're not entirely clear on what that includes, it's probably safe to say you get more than just one entrance at that price, plus a few extras. And like most other night markets, kids under six are free. The night market opens at around 6 p.m. and closes around 12 a.m. 

Any hungry food fan within the metro area of Houston needs to take a trip to 713 Night Market. First and foremost, the entry into this market is completely free. And as one of the more populous and ethnically diverse cities in the United States, it's no wonder that a night market in Houston would offer up a wide range of cuisine. According to the market's Facebook page, this is "Houston's first multicultural night market," and it is "bringing together the best of Houston's cultures through delicious food, music, arts, and more."

Of the many delicious items you can find at this market is the famous Hot Cheetos burger from Prime Chicago Tacos Food. Other offerings include cheesy, beefy, spicy Super Quesabirria and Birria Fries by Blk Mkt Birria, a tasty kimbap or sushi sandwich from Kawaii Sweet LLC, a handheld chicken and waffle situation from The Waffle Bus, and a range of beverages from the Teahouse Tapioca and Tea.

While night markets generally are about bringing the broader community together through food, fashion, and evening fun, the Atlanta International Night Market goes above and beyond. It was founded in 2016 as a nonprofit to celebrate the diversity within the area's population. There are educational experiences that help introduce children to regional and global culture, as well as live performances from local community music and dance troupes, and plenty of art on display and for purchase. Surprisingly, this night market is free of any charge and open to people of all ages. It's also dog friendly — just be sure to keep your furry friends on a leash.

Focusing on the eats, past events at the Atlanta International Night Market have showcased food stalls with influences from around the world. Vendors have included the Bite of Korea, that's served up some unique skewers featuring rice cakes and pork sausage. There are also several plant-based options with vegan BBQ from Grass VBQ Joint. And because it's Georgia, of course, you're going to want some Southern sweet tea — in the case of this night market, look for cooling cups of lemon strawberry brews and creamy milk-based concoctions from Teamo Tea Cafe.

This night market has been skipping up and down the East Coast from Georgia to New Jersey and New York. And, with a name like Midnight Market, it should be fairly clear upfront that this isn't an event for children. According to the main site, this is the "first 21+ foodie nightlife event." Midnight Market also tends to be a ticketed event, so check the calendar to know what the ticket is going for. Entrance fees tend to vary, depending on the type of event — we've seen prices between free to $65 per person.

According to the Midnight Market site, "every event is unique." Overall, the market takes inspiration from nights out on the town and food festivals to create "a foodie nightlife event complete with DJs, a lot of eating, dancing, activities/games, and of course, a bar."

The folks at Midnight Market have required that the food vendors have at least one option at their booth that's at the cost of $5 and maxing out at $8, which enables you to sample a larger assortment of what's on offer. After all, the market aims to offer "small bites for a small price." While the eats are going to differ from event to event and location to location, rest assured you will find an array of mouthwatering cuisine from Thai to disco fries to antojitos.

Not to be confused with the chain restaurant, Boston Market, the Boston Night Market is a sporadic event in the heart of Beantown currently located in Boston City Hall Plaza. After a temporary break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the night market plans to return to the food scene in May of 2023. According to the market's website, this is "one of the largest food festivals in the Greater Boston Area, connecting people through food, art, and entertainment" and is "inspired by traditional night markets in Asia."

Aside from the solid selection of food, you can expect live performances, art, and retail shopping from local merchants. To get you started, check out the Shaking Crab for some fresh New England seafood generously spiked with bold Cajun seasoning. Tackle the cheeseburger dumplings from Moyzilla, and treat yourself to some incredibly cute and delicious cupcakes from Small and Sweet Bake.

For this night market there are tiered tickets for sale, but look out for early bird specials online for $8.88 per person. General admission tends to go for $12 per person, and VIP passes that include a non-alcoholic drink, game tickets, and tote bags have been priced at $35 per person and also feature express entry to the event.