Asian-inspired night market with 150-plus vendors pops up at Cal Expo this weekend

At one booth, mochiko chicken skewers will be sizzling on a Los Angeles-based pop-up’s grill. At another, the choice is sweet or savory — want your egg puff waffle cone stuffed with fried chicken or ice cream? At the next, it’s baos decorated to look like Minions, pandas or Captain America’s shield.

FoodieLand Night Market’s smorgasbord will land in Sacramento over Labor Day weekend, popping up at Cal Expo from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday.

Admission times are staggered, and $5 tickets must be purchased in advance via Etix, though children under five are free. Parking is another $10, and pets aren’t allowed aside from service animals.

“Bring your friends together for late-night sounds, tastes, and scents where you can experience a street food festival this summer in the Sacramento area. Enjoy authentic multicultural street foods, and many enticing beverages and desserts to please your palette,” the ticket sales website reads. FoodieLand did not respond to The Sacramento Bee’s request for comment.

The outdoor Asian-inspired market has booked more than 150 vendors, from Sacramento-based home cooks to Southern California food trucks. There’ll also be a bar selling alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, as well as carnival games, live music and art sales.

Not all FoodieLand food is rooted in Asia: catch Ahuevo Foods selling chamoy chicken wings or lomo saltado burritos from their truck on Friday, or Rancho Cordova-based Benji’s Woodfire Pizza to trot out their portable wood-fired oven. Rather, the idea is to mimic the vibrant atmosphere of Taipei or Hanoi night markets in Cal Expo’s expansive parking lot.

FoodieLand began hosting similar pop-ups throughout California earlier this summer. Night markets were held at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium and Berkeley’s Golden Gate Fields in August, and FoodieLand will be at the San Mateo County Event Center the weekend of Sept 10-12.

FoodieLand recommends attendees be vaccinated against COVID-19, and requires nonvaccinated people wear masks while not eating or drinking, though enforcement will likely be minimal.

This story was originally published August 30, 2021 at 7:14 AM.