8351 River Road, Richmond
Every weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) from May 17 to October 14
Hours: Fridays and Saturday (7 p.m. to midnight); Sundays (6 p.m. to 11 p.m.)
Admission: $2
Firstly, I want to extend a BIG THANK YOU to any and all of you who have joined us on a Vancouver Foodie Tour. Your enthusiasm and love of food is continues to be a driving force in what we do and what we blog! There was so much interest in the Richmond Night Market from my Guilty Pleasures Gourmet Tour group this weekend, so I’ve put together a quick tourist guide to this summer smorgasbord in Richmond.
Now, you might be feeling a little hesitant about this whole “Richmond” idea, and I get it; if you’ve just arrived in the beautiful City of Vancouver, why are we so ready to leave? But luckily, you can save the fretting for later when you’re deciding what to eat at the Night Market, because it’s actually a quick 25-minute ride on the Canada Line train to get there. (Waterfront Station to Brighouse Station.) If you took the Canada Line in from the airport, perhaps you’ll remember seeing the River Rock Casino. The Richmond Night Market is right beside it!
Now that we’ve addressed the “Richmond resistance factor,” here’s a little bit about what’s waiting for you on the other side:
- In a nutshell, the Richmond Night Market is 2 things: Asian trinkets and Asian street food. I love the Richmond Night Market because it showcases a unique and dynamic element of Vancouver cuisine. The food scene is compelling enough by itself, but hey, we all can use an extra cell phone case!
- The food section of the market is laid out in classic Asian Street Food fashion. There are rows and rows of food stalls billowing delicious, sweet and savoury smells. It’s busy and bubbling with life, but I encourage you to enjoy it for all that it is. Crane your neck to see the colourful menu, and drop your jaw at the nimble expertise of the chefs. Dive right in to your piping hot delight and keep your eye out for the next item to try. Walk and eat, walk and eat. There’s something that will get your stomach rumbling!
- Food highlights include:
- Chicken, pork, beef skewers
- Deep fried crab, shrimp, lobster, squid, and oh, chocolate bars…
- Dim sum (shrimp dumplings, pork buns)
- Takoyaki! My personal favourite, featured below. A ball-shaped Japanese snack made of batter, filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion. A drizzle of hot sauce takes it to the next level!
- Fried noodles
- Waffles in fun shapes with fun fillings
- Swirly fried potatoes on a stick
- Shaved ice
- Bubble tea, fresh juices
- And the list goes on! I should mention that there are non-Asian offerings as well, should something like nachos, ribs, cotton candy, or mini donuts tickle your fancy.
- Admission to the market is $2, and food stall items average about $5-$6. With $20 in your pocket, you’ll have a fantastic time. It’s a great place to go with friends so you can share the items!
- My last foodie tip: If you’re there at the very end of the night, vendors often have special “last-call” prices. It will be the best midnight snack you’ll ever have!
If you’re here over a weekend, I encourage you to check it out! It’s a fun adventure and budget-friendly way to experience a different representation of Vancouver street food. If you have any other quick questions about the Richmond Night Market or anything food-related, you can always drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter and we’ll do our best to help!
See.Taste. Laugh. Much love from Vancouver Foodie Tours!
