Sunset Night Market returns Friday with more food options
The Sunset Night Market makes its grand return Friday night on Irving Street with the promise from organizers that this year’s festival will be bigger with more food options available for festival goers.
Supervisor Joel Engardio, who represents the Sunset District and event organizers, said this year’s night market will be much larger on Irving Street stretching from 19th to 26th avenues. Last year’s festival was between 20th and 23rd avenues. The festival starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. featuring several Asian food vendors.
The Sunset Mercantile, one of the organizers of this year’s night market, has already featured some of the food vendors appearing at the night market on its Instagram account — Basil the Bold, Foam Tea House, Chadwick’s, and Ube Bee Pies. The public can also expect restaurants on Irving Street to stay open later. Smokin’ D’s, which was at last year’s night market and known for its brisky baos, now has a brick-and-mortar store located at 2181 Irving St. and will be open during the night market.
While the main focus will be on the food, the night market will have a stinky tofu eating contest with San Francisco Standard politics reporter Han Li and ABC7 anchor Kristen Sze, live music at multiple stages and local artisans. Celebrity chef Martin Yan will be back this year for a cooking demonstration.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said there will be street closures starting Friday from 10 a.m. to midnight at the following intersections on Irving Street:
- 21st Avenue
- 23rd Avenue
- 24th Avenue
- 25th Avenue
There will be a minor reroute on the 7-Haight/Noriega bus route, but it will still be available for the public to take Muni to the night market. Other Muni options to get to the night market include taking the N-Judah and 28–19th Avenue.
There are probably better ways to get to the event than driving to the night market but the Sunset Mercantile said that Jefferson Elementary School will provide space for parking for $30 per car from 4:30 pm. to 10:30 p.m. The entrance to the lot is on 18th Avenue between Judah and Irving streets.
A second Sunset Night Market is planned for Sept. 27 on Irving Street and a Taraval Night Market by the Beach will take place Sept. 21 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Great Highway and Taraval Street. The beach night market will be produced by Artyhood, which holds block parties and street fairs featuring artists and performers.
