Whoa! Looks cool huh? It’s nothing new in Korea, but it’s certainly new to Vancouver this year. Currently you can only find the “IceCane” at the Richmond Night Market, but don’t let this be the only thing to convince you to check it out.
The annual Richmond Night Market (8351 River Rd.) is back every Friday-to-Sunday until Oct. 13.
I’ve been attending it for years now, but not much has really changed. Besides a $2.25 admission fee (free for children 10 years and under and seniors 60-plus), the vendors are more or less the same. That being said, it’s something to do on the weekend and I always enjoy wandering the food stalls. It’s truly a taste of night markets in Hong Kong and there are always a few new vendors to try or old ones worth revisiting.
It’s a great place to explore and sample if going to a Chinese restaurant is too intimidating. The large menus and vague translations can be overwhelming, so the night market is a good way to ease into it. You see what you get before you buy and there is less of a commitment, but keep in mind this is “street food” and not necessarily restaurant quality food. So even if you don’t like something here, don’t let that scare you off from trying it in another context.
It’s not only Chinese food though, there are plenty of ethnic options including Japanese, Korean, and German, and this year there is also a new Filipino stand and halal stand.
I’ve gone a couple times already to scout out the scene, and here are some recommendations.
Sweet & Spicy Chicken Karaage at Mogu. You might have tried this at their food truck in downtown Vancouver already, but you can find them at the Richmond Night Market too. His original boneless karaage is one of my favourite versions of Japanese style deep fried chicken.
Deep Fried Taiwanese Kimchi Stinky Tofu. There is only one stand that sells it, and just follow your nose to find it. Think of it as Chinese “blue cheese,” once you learn to appreciate it, the stench becomes part of the enjoyment. Try the kimchi version.
Slavic Rolls. You might have seen this husband and wife team at the Farmer’s Market, but throughout the summer they’ll be here. This freshly baked sweet pastry is similar to a churro with cinnamon and sugar, but it’s baked and filled with your choice of fruit fillings and spreads.
Dragon’s Beard Candy. It’s the same master dragon bean candy maker who does it every year. It’s an art to make this Chinese style “cotton candy”. The sugar is hand pulled and stretched and filled with crushed peanuts and coconut.
Kimchi & Beef Wrap at Fusion Wrap. There are other kinds as well, but it’s one of the more substantial food items at the night market. It’s a green onion pancake similar to a roti stuffed with kimchi and sliced beef.
PS: If you’re wondering about the IceCane, I tried it and I wasn’t too impressed. I didn’t enjoy the stale corn puff cane, and would rather have a taro coconut smoothie from Virgin Cocktails, deep fried ice cream, mango shaved ice, egg bubble waffles, Dragon’s Beard Candy, or a Slavic roll.
Find Mijune at Masterchef competitor Josh Gale’s pop-up dinner at Longtail Kitchen on June 10. Chef Duncan Ly from Calgary’s RawBar by Duncan Ly and Yellow Door Bistro at Hotel Arts will also be at Blackbird Bistro for a special Visa Infinite dinner on June 17.
Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie
