The Los Angeles Times Night Market recently returned to Grand Park as part of the L.A. Times Food Bowl. The Night Market is a bustling outdoor street food market in Downtown LA featuring over 50 of LA’s favorite restaurants and food trucks, plus DJs, themed bars, and experiences.
Entrance to the “Super Market” from Broadway
When I saw the ad for the Night Market, I noticed the event was free and it ran from Wed. May 16 through Sun. May 20. The ad also made mention of a “Super Market” and access to it was only $10. To me, it was a no-brainer to purchase a ticket for my wife and me.
Thanks to the informative ads, parking at Grand Park was a breeze and it was only steps away from Grand Park. Because it was a special event, parking was discounted from the normal lot rate. We arrived minutes before the Night Market opened and I was surprised that we were near the front of the line.
With 50 of L.A.’s favorite restaurants onsite, we agreed to only focus on the restaurants in the Super Market section. This was a group of “curated” vendors that included some of Jonathan Gold’s favorite eateries. Fortunately, the Super Market was confined to the eastmost portion of Grand Park, the section that is referred to as the “Event Lawn”.
Momofuku’s David Chang chatting with Amy Scattergood (LA Times Food Editor)
A line immediately formed in front of Momofuku. Not wanting to miss out, I quickly followed suit and got in line. Glancing at the posted menu, they offered two different wraps, a smoked brisket, and a smoked pork. Their umami-rich Korean chili sauce Ssäm Sauce was there for customers to add to their wraps.
Smoked Beef and Pork Wraps with SSAM Sauce
Of course, I selected both the pork and the brisket wraps. The smoked meats were wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla. Both were smoked until they were flavorful and tender, but the addition of the Ssäm Sauce boosted both with the Korean gochujang-like flavor.
Due to the low cost of entry ($10), I knew that this was not an event with an “all-inclusive” price. Knowing this beforehand, I packed empty containers in a backpack knowing that I wanted the ability to take food home.
Smoked Brisket with housemade pickles
My wife veered towards her comfort zone and picked up a tray of smoked brisket from Bludso’s BBQ. The brisket was tender and the ends were crispy and had a nice smoky flavor. Also included was a side of their housemade tangy pickles.
Other items we tried:
- Dia de la Puercos – Mexicorn or elote served in a cup topped with bits of crispy bacon
- Secret Lasagna – Individually baked sausage lasagna with mozzarella and ricotta
- Broad Street Oyster Co – Baby octopus on a skewer – unfortunately, this was overcooked
- Burritos La Palma – Chicken Tinga burrito
- Dreamy Creations Food Truck – Crème Brûlée cupcake – nice crunchy topping
My only complaint was that they charged quite a bit for adult beverages. A small plastic cup of wine was $11, Chang Beer (from Thailand) was $8 and single Ballast Point Sculpin was the cost of a 6 pack at $11.
Despite my grumbling about the beverage prices, we both had a fun time. I’d definitely do this again.
LA Food Bowl Night Market
lafoodbowl.com