A wonderful open air market located at Angel Cruz Park offering eats and produce from the Thai,…read moreLao, Cambodian and Hmong community...along with a few non-Asian food stands such as BBQ with loaded baked potato, another with Southern fried fish, and Mexican food vendor offering birria tacos and their specialty 5lb super burrito for $20
Approximately 30 stands:
:: Homegrown produce, plants
:: Prepared foods - variety of meat skewers, lao sausage, papaya salad, stuffed wings, egg rolls, wrapped shrimp, Laotian nam khao (crispy rice salad), larb (salad with ground meat and herbs), pad thai....etc
SWEETS
Hmong - Naab Vaam - sweetened coconut dessert with tapioca, sweetened rice cakes, coconut-sticky rice with banana, fried banana, taro, and sweet potato, various Asian fruit (lychee, mango, taro, ube, dragonfruit, sugar cane) juices, milk teas and boba
FAVORITES:
:: SOPHIA'S SAUSAGE (located on the corner) - Cambodian-style chicken skewers and (ready made) nam khao - one of the bigger stands with plenty of dishes. Chicken wasn't glazed in sweet sauce while being grilled. Lots of caramelization from the sugars in the marinade. With hints of lemongrass, fish sauce, garlic.
:: K.S. ASIAN FOODS - only stand that makes food "made-to-order" so you'll get a fresh, hot item! Pad Thai was delicious! I wish I found this stand first as they offered larb, nam khao, noodles hot!
:: BBQ STAND - 9Tailz Smokehouse - nice smoked ribs with loaded baked potato and jalapeño mac and cheese - great smoked meats without sauce! Chef super friendly and offers samples
:: KHAO POON stand - only one selling Lao rice noodle soup with chicken, coconut milk with depths of flavor! So delicious.
Once you go, you'll find your favorites and remember for next time. One stand selling Lao sausages (pic provided) was good but too sweet for my liking...
All stands are mom and pops so don't have signage with a name and most likely not permitted. This is truly Southeast Asian street food. So if you're squeamish about people using gloves and cooking from an inspected kitchen this place isn't for you. I had one friend who wasn't eating much....and yeah, you're taking your chances with ANY street vendor.
TIPS if visiting from out of town:
:: NO RESTROOMS. Closed due to an unhoused torching it - find one after exiting freeway before heading to the park
:: CASH only - mom and pop vendors. Most Southeast Asian items $12 and under. Skewers $2
:: UTENSILS, paper towels, storage containers :) Bring your own. Some provide but most do not
:: COOLER or INSULATOR bag - plenty of good food to take home!
:: Hand wipes or sanitizers for before/after you eat
No tables so you end up eating in your car unless you bring chairs.
SATURDAY VISIT 11:30am
Plenty of street parking along the perimeter of the park but by 130pm started to get busy. With all the wonderful smells of grilled meats, lemongrass and pungent smell of fish sauce and shrimp paste you may get a bit overzealous and try everything. NOTE: fried items (most pre-made) much better when re-heated at home
Would return but definitely not in the summer where it gets hot and food sitting would make me question buying.
Open 7-days a week but more food vendors on the weekend! K.S. Asian Foods is there 7 days a week...wonderful older couple working there and will be my go to...