On the menu at the Richmond Night Market
It was always going to be a bit of a walk on the wild side, but when I saw the woman who took my order fire up a blowtorch and sear slices of pork that were about to be dropped into my ramen soup, I knew it was On at the Richmond Night Market at Magical Duck Island.
That’s Richmond, B.C., suburb of Vancouver. The Night Market on Duck Island is one of the places you just have to experience.
Located near the Bridgeport station on Vancouver’s nearly new public transit Canada Line, it’s an easy get-to destination.
Once off the train, you exit and walk over a stretch of brownland toward the market, which you can see twinkling in the near distance. You really can’t get lost — just follow the horde headed to what might be one of the kitschiest, coolest food fairs I’ve been to.
You will be greeted by giant rubber duckies (yep, they are yellow) as you approach and by the sound of performers crooning away to an audience of six-year-olds who are waiting in line to get into the giant see-through balls that roll around atop the water.
Once you see your first booth selling Hello Kitty iPhone covers, you know you are in the right place. You can also buy Chinese trinkets; I picked up a year-of-the-horse (my sign) charm.
Laid out in long lines, the booths sell all manner of kitsch, and the people just lap it up.
It is basically a country fair, Asianstyle, with games and food and cool junk drawing the crowds.
This summer was the 13th night market. Last year, organizers say that about 800,000 people crammed into the grounds. This year, if the night I was there is any measure, will likely top that attendance.
The Duck Island site is about seven hectares and just about every inch seemed full of parking spaces and booths, in the hundreds.
It’s hard not to want to eat at every booth around the site. I can’t recommend any of the ones I tried except to say the spicy ramen soup was OK. I did sample a deep-fried full potato spiral created by a power drill and it was pretty good. And for the first time, I had a drink of Bubble Tea, which probably kicked my blood sugar into the danger zone.
But, hey, you really aren’t going for gourmet. You’re going for the experience, the ambience, the hot sauce and the loud bad music.
If you go, get there early. Gates open at 7 p.m. weekdays, 6 p.m. weekends; it’s probably wise to get there at that time.
There is an entry fee, but it’s a minimal $2. Seniors older than 60 and children under 10 get in free.
The season runs from May to midOctober, so if you head to Vancouver in the next four weeks, you can check it out. Want to know more: www.richmondnightmarket.com.