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Always on My List of Food Festivals!! I have been going to Night It Up or as it's known now as NUI for many years. Over the years it has grown from a small grassroots food festival to a major GTA Food event. This place is a haven for all of us Instagram, Yelp and Google posting foodies and should be on anyone's calendar if you are a true foodie. Like I mention to all who attend, go to the website first where you will get info on vendors, stage acts and parking. Parking can be little vexing but it's worth the 10-minute walk. This year the event was split into three main sections in the Markham Civic Centre parking lot. The First section was where the Sports events and the non-food vendors are placed. The middle section is where all the food and the main stage is. The last section right in front of the Civic Center is where you will find some of the sponsors, and many places to sit and eat so you take a break from the crowd. There are many rows of vendors, and always new and exciting foods to try. I can't go into too much detail here as there must be at least 100 vendors there. My highlights this year were the Grilled Donuts from the Grilled Donut Boys, The Los Vietnmita Taqueria, where I had the amazing Fried Chicken Taco, Bao is Life, for...well...Bao!! I also had Lamb Skewers, a Payaya drink from Papayas, a mango smoothy from Fresh 69, and a few other things. I got there an hour before sundown, with friends from Crossfit Markham, and we went to town since we came hungry. It was the first time at NUI for my friends and they loved the food but hated the massive crowds and lineups. if you are a veteran like me of many food festivals then it goes with the event so I'm used to it. Overall a smashing success and I cant wait to see what 2020 holds for this festival.
This year was my 2nd time at Night It Up and, as usual, I was excited to try some food that I've never tried before. There are the usual suspects when it comes to food vendors, such as Chatime. You'll find various food vendors offering the same types of food. For instance, there are tons of bubble tea vendors, oyster pancake vendors, grilled squid and octopus vendors, and stinky tofu vendors. Speaking of stinky tofu, the smell is, well, quite stinky. However, those are the longest lines at the night market. I tried oyster pancake for the first time at Night It Up. All I can say is that it tastes amazing. The eggs are soft and savory. The oysters are so fresh that you can taste the brine of the ocean with each bite. Oyster pancakes are so far my favorite dish at NIU. Thanks to Yelp and Power Unit, I tried gourmet donuts from Grilled Donut Boys. There were many different glazes and toppings. I tried the donut with a taro glaze and red bean topping. The red bean topping was tasty. However, I couldn't really taste the taro glaze. Overall, the donut was good but quite expensive for what you get. Night It Up is extremely busy and it gets hot outside, so expect to bump into other sweaty people. I'm not a huge fan of crowds, but this night market has free entrance and there's available street parking nearby. Besides the food, Power Unit puts on a decent show of performers from the community. There are sometimes celebrities in attendance. For instance, members of Fresh Off the Boat, Wong Fu Productions, Kim's Convenience, Fung Bros, as well as others played a celebrity basketball game.
If you're prepared to be squished in the crowds of people, have your olfactory system bombarded, and paying for overpriced food then this is the place for you. On the facebook event page the organizers put up a photo of where parking that was available. I found this very helpful since I didn't know where to park. Granted these lots do fill up quickly. The pungent odour of the stinky tofu as you get closer confirms that you are walking in the right direction. After assessing the food vendors I made a couple of stops. The wagyu skewer was definitely a good decision. The croquette wasn't anything special and I didn't even notice the beef in it. However, that piece of wagyu was cooked to perfection. It wasn't too rare or too well done. The deep fried rice ball was tasty and a good size. $7 well spent The only other time I've had stinky tofu was in Shanghai. This paled in comparison. It was neither stinky or tasty enough. At $10 I felt like I should've spent it on something else. It would've been nice if there was a smaller portion to choose from instead of just the 1 size.
TLDR; Food 9/10 * Service 7/10 * Value 7/10 I started going to NIU their first year and I go to NIU every year, but it gets crazier and crazier each time. The space is tiny (limited space in a parking lot), the parking is horrendous (never on-site, and nearby parking lots don't allow parking), and the crowds are massive (if you're short like me, you're going to have a tough time without a tall friend with you). But despite all of that, there's always good booths and interesting new foods to try, especially if you want that Instagram aesthetic. Here's a tip - go early. Seriously. Go when they first open (7pm-ish on Friday, 12pm-ish on weekends) and you'll be faced with next-to-no lines and lots of walking space. Smoke from mass-production of skewers are also non-existent and you can actually breathe and see the booths. Prices have gone up over the years (naturally), but here are some of the staples that are there every year: Lamb skewers. Tons of booths that have these. I recommend Meat on a Stick, because their marinade and meat are amazing. Bubble tea. You're looking at about $5 for a large cup (usually $1-2 cheaper than their actual stores). I recommend Chatime, but there's always new booths that sell you the aesthetic. Takoyaki/Okonomiyaki. The prices of these have exponentially gotten higher over the years and because they rush their process, the quality isn't as good anymore. You can always find a huge line for these. Tornado fries/Potatoes on a stick. Fan favourite that's never been disappointing. They also have a variety of giveaway booths like TD Bank or Fujifilm that give you free stuff. The last time I went, they had huge lineups for Laneige and Brita.
This year (2019) was my first year going to NIU, and I actually had so much fun! It is crowded yes, but it's a really neat experience. Basically lots of food vendors selling overpriced items, but it's fun to just walk around for the weekend and try some of the dishes (skewers, fries, milk teas, ice creams, etc). I tried to go for the unique flavours of items (i.e. papaya milk tea, durian ice cream) which are hard to find elsewhere on a regular basis. The event is sponsored by TD and Laneige (they have a line for spin the wheel samples)...and I think also sponsored by Chatime. They have live music and some seating areas too, but basically you'll just be walking around for the entire time. There's also some celebrity events like a celebrity basketball game (with Wongfu Productions) and some others. If you haven't been, I would recommend going to experience it. Only avoid if you really can't handle crowds or if you have an extreme sensitivity to scents (the stinky tofu is really smelly)!
We went to Night It Up! on Saturday evening, knowing it would be the busiest but that's the only time we are available so we braved it. We planned for early afternoon but it poured. Parking was a serious issue, we tried the businesses around the block and it was full we've looked over at nearby malls and it was full of cars waiting. At the No Frills plaza, they hired securities to prevent people from parking there and walk over. When we finally got to the market, it was fully packed and crowded and we're not able to move or see where the line starts to line up to try vendor booths. Due to the lineup, we didn't try as much of the booths as we would like to. As it's smokey and hot we didn't stayed too long tried a few food and we called it a night. In terms of safety since it's hot and all the meat are lying around not sure how 'hygiene' it was. But it did stand up to the name as the market was for Asian Street Food. Hope it can be better organized as it's been going on for a few years already.
I went on the Sunday evening around 6 PM (Summer 2022), didn't have any issues with parking, weather was nice, no huge lines, all stalls were open to make this event happen. My family and I had a great time and anyone we came across were very friendly. Many good food and drink options.Reminds me of my time in Taiwan visiting night markets, I highly recommend Night it Up! Night Market.
Last time I attended Night It Up was 2016 and this year I decided to come back and check it out. We decided to go there early and arriving by 6:45pm on the opening Friday then walk over from the neighborhood street where I parked. Remember few years ago, they put a big sign at No frill's plaza and warn NIP attendees not to park there or they will get towed. On my way to NIP, I see few gang of people walk over from the No frills plaza. Not sure if the plaza owner just let it go or the people just park there anyway. The event get packed slowly by 7:30pm, most booth are the same as the ones from Taste of Asia which I attended just 2 weeks ago. I picked up a drink from Chat Time and the grilled donuts. The girls at the Chat Time booth first tried to denies the perks coupon given by Yelp Elite Squad, but then accepted. They have only 4 flavors available and the Mango Geeen Tea is not available, they again try to push me to go to another booth to get it? I said I will just get what they have. At the end I got the Jelly Roast Milk Tea, and it was mehh. It wasn't cold enough and there is no ice in it. Then I walk over to get the Gourmet grilled donut. I picked the sesame flavour and the red bean topping. They are actually delicious and we like it. Places are getting packed and most of the food are seen at Taste of Asia. We left shortly after. In my opinion, it is just another Tasta of Asia but in Markham plus with a volleyball and basketball court. Foods and drinks are somewhat expensive, it will be a fine dine price tag if you are going to eat and full your stomach there. In my opinion, just line up for those you want to eat/ try. Split the line with your friend/partner to shorten the wait time at each line up. It can be somewhere from 10 min to 25 min for a popular booth. There is a Royale Booth at the far corner for freebie. They hide the square with white spray and you use their towel to wipe off the white spray to see what you get This is extremely non environmental friendly to waste the paper towel for that, they should have find a better way to design their freebie game.
Ahhh...Night It Up. The one weekend where you line up an hour for questionably small portions and you see all the people that went to your high school and thought you were a nerd (haha jokes on you, I'm still a nerd). Well if it sounds so bad, why do I keep coming back? Maybe it's the crowded environment that really channels that "I might get pickpocketted at any time" feeling you get in Asia. Or maybe it's that pungent smell of street meat and stinky tofu that seeps into your clothes and never lets go. Whatever it is, I kind of love it. Night It Up, being 15 years old, is definitely one of the better organized night markets among the many that are popping up. Every year, they bring back the classics but add a few new additions to keep you on your toes (and in lines). Over the years, I've learned to go early, avoid the crazy busy booths, and head straight for the ones with minimal people. Sometimes they surprise you! I got a whole Korean seafood pancake ($5), surprisingly abundant and tasty soft shell crab tacos ($10), a bag of Papabubble candy that looks like you can't eat them ($6), and unfortunately un-puffy green tea egg waffles ($5). Between all that and a large bubble tea, I was satisfied and nothing made me regret parting with my cash. It's not all about food of course. The Trojan guys are always a welcome sight among a crowd of tiny Asians (like me). This year, they also got people lining up HOURS for....Aveeno lotion. People and their free handouts. Other activities include things like scavenger hunts, mini prizes, a portable frame to Instagram yourself with, and performances going on all night. Whether you like what's going on on the stage or not, you can't deny that it promotes local young people and gives them opportunities to improve. Sure there are some flaws but they're kinda what makes Night It Up...Night It Up. And despite the issues I might have with it, I do plan on coming back. It's tradition. It's close. And it's got lots of Pokemon nearby. (70/100) - 2016
Night it up is my favourite food/street festival in the GTA. It is an annual tradition for me to attend. This year, I went on a Friday evening and was astonished by how busy it was. There was barely any space to move. Nevertheless, it was a great time! Why attend? Free goodies everywhere. Laneige had a promotional booth this year and was giving out free product in exchange for some social media love. I ended up with a dual tone lipstick and a mini-size sleeping mask (my absolute favourite). You will also find free water bottles, bags, umbrellas, etc. Now, the food. This is a heaven for Asian street food! You can find any type of BBQed dish you can think of. This year, I tried the For Mocha Cream-cheese BBT and some Taiwanese Fried Chicken, which was eaten before I could sneak a picture. Overall, Night It Up is the definition of what summer is meant for!
side note: These reviews are coming in extremely late as I try to catch up on all my check ins, but anyways... I have been to every NIU since it first started happening as an alternative to going to Taste of Asia. The vendors are usually the same people and personally I find there are more unique foods that are exclusive to NIU. Of course, some can be gimmicky and not worth the price. Every year there's something new to discover so you can upload that sweet sweet gram later. Some foods I recommend getting every year are the lamb skewers (the vendor with lots and lots of smoke is the best, don't @ me), oyster pancakes, stinky tofu (Wei's) and for drinks I recommend Nam Wan (drinks with the plastic bag). Always bring cash on you for these night markets. Like usual, as the night goes on, more and more people come in and it gets extremely hectic to know which line is for which vendor. I recommend going super early like when it opens to avoid all the lines and hassle so you can enjoy the food in peace. Parking is also really tight and hard to find. They either need to either expand the space or find a new place to host the event. Overall, even as the popularity grows, it won't stop the tradition for me anytime soon!
I've come to this huge Asian food festival for years but this is my first review. This festival boasts of giving Canadians a taste of the Asian night market life, which is jam packed with screaming vendors and long lines of customers. But that's the whole point! That's the Asian feel. I get that they want to promote young Asian artists so they have a stage set up, but the sound is always either too loud or soft or the music is overwhelming, etc. It's so loud it rips through your rib cage. This year, they have a bigger section of games but I was disappointed in how alcohol oriented it was. Beer pong and picking up a BEER bottle with some hook? This is a family friendly event so I assumed all activities would be rated E for everyone. I didn't try a lot because I wasn't hungry but the food selection is about 80% old stuff, 20% new. Each year, they will have new food concepts introduced, but if you want to play it safe, a lot of the booths are safe regular food, like lamb skewers, takoyaki, bowl noodles, and drinks. I think what brought my rating to a 3 is, aside from music that's too loud (and often just meh performances), is the amount of trash on the ground. I understand that it's a lot of people but it still feels gross stepping on someone's half-eaten waffle. I'd come again but have a plan in mind so you don't spend too much time lining up.
Markham's "Night It Up!" night market festival is one of the best, if not THE best, Asian food festivals to happen in GTA. Many different vendors will sell all kinds of cultural-related street foods such as Chinese stinky tofu, Korean spicy kimchi, Japanese okonomiyaki, Filipino BBQ skewers, Vietnamese spring rolls, and much more! Bring upwards of $30 to have a GOOD sample of different vendors. Some menu items cost $10, some $5, but overall for $30 you can get to try a good portion (3-4 different food items) of the festival without spending too much. Prizes and promotions are also present in this pleasant party-palooza! Do some surveys and get something nice like sunglasses or a fan to protect against the hot day! Yes, Night It Up happens in the middle of July and it is hot, hoT, HOT outside! So wear sunsreen~ Overall, I recommend going to this festival as a small form of keeping in touch with your Asian culture.
When I came to Toronto, friends brought me to different food festivals, and Night It Up! was the largest. They've hosted at Markham Civic Centre every year, but this time was at the newly constructed downtown Markham plaza. Loud music and a campground of tents attracted the crowd as I turned on the corner of the street. But what made it memorable was that strong irresistibly-overwhelming smell - a passionate love or a vehemently hate for stinky tofu. I bought it from the Smelly Tofu food truck - the only Hong Kong-style among the three vendors. I sat front stage watching live performances as I enjoyed this guilty pleasure of nauseating messy snack. Young singers from @thesingingschool showcased their remarkable skills - from "Love The Way You Lie" and "Hold My Hand" to even their original songs. A group of children as little as a few years old were dancing. I roamed the area finding carnival games like fish catching, spin-the-wheel, jumbo Jenga and more. And before leaving, I hunted for my last bite - there was corn on the cob, skewers, flatbreads, takoyaki, seafood pancakes, leek pie and more - I opted in for the beef pie instead. What an amazing night! read more
Location This event is now hosted on Enterprise, in the same plaza as Good Catch, Goodlife and the VIP cinemas. Parking (including underground) is quite limited there - so best to come carpooling or explore nearby parking. One good thing is that the organizer does have a designated parking area setup for people coming in. Setup There are multiple vendors - from food, drinks to small gifts, organizations and even non-profits to promote anything! There are also festivities and live performances based on a schedule - so make sure to grab a seat if you want to watch any of them. I usually come for the food - to see what's new and exciting and what is not out there in restaurants. Inflation over the years have risen a lot of prices - so it could range anywhere from $10 for a drink to $15-$20 for food. Quantity wise - depending on where you look - can vary. You may have to spend at least 1-2 dishes to feel full. It's a staple yearly event that happens in Markham - definitely do check it out - and you may little hidden surprises ! read more
It's been almost a decade since I've frequented NIU. Is there a more iconic, summer asian food festival tbh? I can't think of one. NIU's always been synonymous with funky smell, gimmicky lights, a packed crowd and overpriced food. Yet the reason, I suppose ppl go is the camaraderie with friends and for a night out w/ significant others? The annual event always happens in the markham VIP theater parking lot and you'll probably need to park near the AVIVA building. Parking fills up quick so you might need to end up parking far and walking over. As soon you get near you'll notice the pungent smell of stinky tofu wafting through the entire lot and permeating your nostrils. My first year back this year w/ my gf and everything started at $10+. I think I must've spent close to $150 by the end of the night. Gf was happy. My wallet? Not so much LOOLL. They had dance, band and singer performances on a main stage throughout the night (basically like an outdoor concert). If you get lost from your group of friends good luck trying to find them cuz chances are you're not gonna have good cell signal either. You'll see a lot of gimmicky food vendors at NIU so pick and choose wisely! Cool experience for a first time if you've never been. If you've already been, you can hard skip a couple years before revisiting. It's always the same thing so you won't ever feel the FOMO. read more
Always on My List of Food Festivals!! I have been going to Night It Up or as it's known now as NUI for many years. Over the years it has grown from a small grassroots food festival to a major GTA Food event. This place is a haven for all of us Instagram, Yelp and Google posting foodies and should be on anyone's calendar if you are a true foodie. Like I mention to all who attend, go to the website first where you will get info on vendors, stage acts and parking. Parking can be little vexing but it's worth the 10-minute walk. This year the event was split into three main sections in the Markham Civic Centre parking lot. The First section was where the Sports events and the non-food vendors are placed. The middle section is where all the food and the main stage is. The last section right in front of the Civic Center is where you will find some of the sponsors, and many places to sit and eat so you take a break from the crowd. There are many rows of vendors, and always new and exciting foods to try. I can't go into too much detail here as there must be at least 100 vendors there. My highlights this year were the Grilled Donuts from the Grilled Donut Boys, The Los Vietnmita Taqueria, where I had the amazing Fried Chicken Taco, Bao is Life, for...well...Bao!! I also had Lamb Skewers, a Payaya drink from Papayas, a mango smoothy from Fresh 69, and a few other things. I got there an hour before sundown, with friends from Crossfit Markham, and we went to town since we came hungry. It was the first time at NUI for my friends and they loved the food but hated the massive crowds and lineups. if you are a veteran like me of many food festivals then it goes with the event so I'm used to it. Overall a smashing success and I cant wait to see what 2020 holds for this festival. read more
This year was my 2nd time at Night It Up and, as usual, I was excited to try some food that I've never tried before. There are the usual suspects when it comes to food vendors, such as Chatime. You'll find various food vendors offering the same types of food. For instance, there are tons of bubble tea vendors, oyster pancake vendors, grilled squid and octopus vendors, and stinky tofu vendors. Speaking of stinky tofu, the smell is, well, quite stinky. However, those are the longest lines at the night market. I tried oyster pancake for the first time at Night It Up. All I can say is that it tastes amazing. The eggs are soft and savory. The oysters are so fresh that you can taste the brine of the ocean with each bite. Oyster pancakes are so far my favorite dish at NIU. Thanks to Yelp and Power Unit, I tried gourmet donuts from Grilled Donut Boys. There were many different glazes and toppings. I tried the donut with a taro glaze and red bean topping. The red bean topping was tasty. However, I couldn't really taste the taro glaze. Overall, the donut was good but quite expensive for what you get. Night It Up is extremely busy and it gets hot outside, so expect to bump into other sweaty people. I'm not a huge fan of crowds, but this night market has free entrance and there's available street parking nearby. Besides the food, Power Unit puts on a decent show of performers from the community. There are sometimes celebrities in attendance. For instance, members of Fresh Off the Boat, Wong Fu Productions, Kim's Convenience, Fung Bros, as well as others played a celebrity basketball game. read more
If you're prepared to be squished in the crowds of people, have your olfactory system bombarded, and paying for overpriced food then this is the place for you. On the facebook event page the organizers put up a photo of where parking that was available. I found this very helpful since I didn't know where to park. Granted these lots do fill up quickly. The pungent odour of the stinky tofu as you get closer confirms that you are walking in the right direction. After assessing the food vendors I made a couple of stops. The wagyu skewer was definitely a good decision. The croquette wasn't anything special and I didn't even notice the beef in it. However, that piece of wagyu was cooked to perfection. It wasn't too rare or too well done. The deep fried rice ball was tasty and a good size. $7 well spent The only other time I've had stinky tofu was in Shanghai. This paled in comparison. It was neither stinky or tasty enough. At $10 I felt like I should've spent it on something else. It would've been nice if there was a smaller portion to choose from instead of just the 1 size. read more
TLDR; Food 9/10 * Service 7/10 * Value 7/10 I started going to NIU their first year and I go to NIU every year, but it gets crazier and crazier each time. The space is tiny (limited space in a parking lot), the parking is horrendous (never on-site, and nearby parking lots don't allow parking), and the crowds are massive (if you're short like me, you're going to have a tough time without a tall friend with you). But despite all of that, there's always good booths and interesting new foods to try, especially if you want that Instagram aesthetic. Here's a tip - go early. Seriously. Go when they first open (7pm-ish on Friday, 12pm-ish on weekends) and you'll be faced with next-to-no lines and lots of walking space. Smoke from mass-production of skewers are also non-existent and you can actually breathe and see the booths. Prices have gone up over the years (naturally), but here are some of the staples that are there every year: Lamb skewers. Tons of booths that have these. I recommend Meat on a Stick, because their marinade and meat are amazing. Bubble tea. You're looking at about $5 for a large cup (usually $1-2 cheaper than their actual stores). I recommend Chatime, but there's always new booths that sell you the aesthetic. Takoyaki/Okonomiyaki. The prices of these have exponentially gotten higher over the years and because they rush their process, the quality isn't as good anymore. You can always find a huge line for these. Tornado fries/Potatoes on a stick. Fan favourite that's never been disappointing. They also have a variety of giveaway booths like TD Bank or Fujifilm that give you free stuff. The last time I went, they had huge lineups for Laneige and Brita. read more
This year (2019) was my first year going to NIU, and I actually had so much fun! It is crowded yes, but it's a really neat experience. Basically lots of food vendors selling overpriced items, but it's fun to just walk around for the weekend and try some of the dishes (skewers, fries, milk teas, ice creams, etc). I tried to go for the unique flavours of items (i.e. papaya milk tea, durian ice cream) which are hard to find elsewhere on a regular basis. The event is sponsored by TD and Laneige (they have a line for spin the wheel samples)...and I think also sponsored by Chatime. They have live music and some seating areas too, but basically you'll just be walking around for the entire time. There's also some celebrity events like a celebrity basketball game (with Wongfu Productions) and some others. If you haven't been, I would recommend going to experience it. Only avoid if you really can't handle crowds or if you have an extreme sensitivity to scents (the stinky tofu is really smelly)! read more
We went to Night It Up! on Saturday evening, knowing it would be the busiest but that's the only time we are available so we braved it. We planned for early afternoon but it poured. Parking was a serious issue, we tried the businesses around the block and it was full we've looked over at nearby malls and it was full of cars waiting. At the No Frills plaza, they hired securities to prevent people from parking there and walk over. When we finally got to the market, it was fully packed and crowded and we're not able to move or see where the line starts to line up to try vendor booths. Due to the lineup, we didn't try as much of the booths as we would like to. As it's smokey and hot we didn't stayed too long tried a few food and we called it a night. In terms of safety since it's hot and all the meat are lying around not sure how 'hygiene' it was. But it did stand up to the name as the market was for Asian Street Food. Hope it can be better organized as it's been going on for a few years already. read more
4 years ago
I went on the Sunday evening around 6 PM (Summer 2022), didn't have any issues with parking, weather was nice, no huge lines, all stalls were open to make this event happen. My family and I had a great time and anyone we came across were very friendly. Many good food and drink options.Reminds me of my time in Taiwan visiting night markets, I highly recommend Night it Up! Night Market. read more
Last time I attended Night It Up was 2016 and this year I decided to come back and check it out. We decided to go there early and arriving by 6:45pm on the opening Friday then walk over from the neighborhood street where I parked. Remember few years ago, they put a big sign at No frill's plaza and warn NIP attendees not to park there or they will get towed. On my way to NIP, I see few gang of people walk over from the No frills plaza. Not sure if the plaza owner just let it go or the people just park there anyway. The event get packed slowly by 7:30pm, most booth are the same as the ones from Taste of Asia which I attended just 2 weeks ago. I picked up a drink from Chat Time and the grilled donuts. The girls at the Chat Time booth first tried to denies the perks coupon given by Yelp Elite Squad, but then accepted. They have only 4 flavors available and the Mango Geeen Tea is not available, they again try to push me to go to another booth to get it? I said I will just get what they have. At the end I got the Jelly Roast Milk Tea, and it was mehh. It wasn't cold enough and there is no ice in it. Then I walk over to get the Gourmet grilled donut. I picked the sesame flavour and the red bean topping. They are actually delicious and we like it. Places are getting packed and most of the food are seen at Taste of Asia. We left shortly after. In my opinion, it is just another Tasta of Asia but in Markham plus with a volleyball and basketball court. Foods and drinks are somewhat expensive, it will be a fine dine price tag if you are going to eat and full your stomach there. In my opinion, just line up for those you want to eat/ try. Split the line with your friend/partner to shorten the wait time at each line up. It can be somewhere from 10 min to 25 min for a popular booth. There is a Royale Booth at the far corner for freebie. They hide the square with white spray and you use their towel to wipe off the white spray to see what you get This is extremely non environmental friendly to waste the paper towel for that, they should have find a better way to design their freebie game. read more
Ahhh...Night It Up. The one weekend where you line up an hour for questionably small portions and you see all the people that went to your high school and thought you were a nerd (haha jokes on you, I'm still a nerd). Well if it sounds so bad, why do I keep coming back? Maybe it's the crowded environment that really channels that "I might get pickpocketted at any time" feeling you get in Asia. Or maybe it's that pungent smell of street meat and stinky tofu that seeps into your clothes and never lets go. Whatever it is, I kind of love it. Night It Up, being 15 years old, is definitely one of the better organized night markets among the many that are popping up. Every year, they bring back the classics but add a few new additions to keep you on your toes (and in lines). Over the years, I've learned to go early, avoid the crazy busy booths, and head straight for the ones with minimal people. Sometimes they surprise you! I got a whole Korean seafood pancake ($5), surprisingly abundant and tasty soft shell crab tacos ($10), a bag of Papabubble candy that looks like you can't eat them ($6), and unfortunately un-puffy green tea egg waffles ($5). Between all that and a large bubble tea, I was satisfied and nothing made me regret parting with my cash. It's not all about food of course. The Trojan guys are always a welcome sight among a crowd of tiny Asians (like me). This year, they also got people lining up HOURS for....Aveeno lotion. People and their free handouts. Other activities include things like scavenger hunts, mini prizes, a portable frame to Instagram yourself with, and performances going on all night. Whether you like what's going on on the stage or not, you can't deny that it promotes local young people and gives them opportunities to improve. Sure there are some flaws but they're kinda what makes Night It Up...Night It Up. And despite the issues I might have with it, I do plan on coming back. It's tradition. It's close. And it's got lots of Pokemon nearby. (70/100) - 2016 read more
8 years ago
Night it up is my favourite food/street festival in the GTA. It is an annual tradition for me to attend. This year, I went on a Friday evening and was astonished by how busy it was. There was barely any space to move. Nevertheless, it was a great time! Why attend? Free goodies everywhere. Laneige had a promotional booth this year and was giving out free product in exchange for some social media love. I ended up with a dual tone lipstick and a mini-size sleeping mask (my absolute favourite). You will also find free water bottles, bags, umbrellas, etc. Now, the food. This is a heaven for Asian street food! You can find any type of BBQed dish you can think of. This year, I tried the For Mocha Cream-cheese BBT and some Taiwanese Fried Chicken, which was eaten before I could sneak a picture. Overall, Night It Up is the definition of what summer is meant for! read more
side note: These reviews are coming in extremely late as I try to catch up on all my check ins, but anyways... I have been to every NIU since it first started happening as an alternative to going to Taste of Asia. The vendors are usually the same people and personally I find there are more unique foods that are exclusive to NIU. Of course, some can be gimmicky and not worth the price. Every year there's something new to discover so you can upload that sweet sweet gram later. Some foods I recommend getting every year are the lamb skewers (the vendor with lots and lots of smoke is the best, don't @ me), oyster pancakes, stinky tofu (Wei's) and for drinks I recommend Nam Wan (drinks with the plastic bag). Always bring cash on you for these night markets. Like usual, as the night goes on, more and more people come in and it gets extremely hectic to know which line is for which vendor. I recommend going super early like when it opens to avoid all the lines and hassle so you can enjoy the food in peace. Parking is also really tight and hard to find. They either need to either expand the space or find a new place to host the event. Overall, even as the popularity grows, it won't stop the tradition for me anytime soon! read more
9 years ago
I've come to this huge Asian food festival for years but this is my first review. This festival boasts of giving Canadians a taste of the Asian night market life, which is jam packed with screaming vendors and long lines of customers. But that's the whole point! That's the Asian feel. I get that they want to promote young Asian artists so they have a stage set up, but the sound is always either too loud or soft or the music is overwhelming, etc. It's so loud it rips through your rib cage. This year, they have a bigger section of games but I was disappointed in how alcohol oriented it was. Beer pong and picking up a BEER bottle with some hook? This is a family friendly event so I assumed all activities would be rated E for everyone. I didn't try a lot because I wasn't hungry but the food selection is about 80% old stuff, 20% new. Each year, they will have new food concepts introduced, but if you want to play it safe, a lot of the booths are safe regular food, like lamb skewers, takoyaki, bowl noodles, and drinks. I think what brought my rating to a 3 is, aside from music that's too loud (and often just meh performances), is the amount of trash on the ground. I understand that it's a lot of people but it still feels gross stepping on someone's half-eaten waffle. I'd come again but have a plan in mind so you don't spend too much time lining up. read more
Markham's "Night It Up!" night market festival is one of the best, if not THE best, Asian food festivals to happen in GTA. Many different vendors will sell all kinds of cultural-related street foods such as Chinese stinky tofu, Korean spicy kimchi, Japanese okonomiyaki, Filipino BBQ skewers, Vietnamese spring rolls, and much more! Bring upwards of $30 to have a GOOD sample of different vendors. Some menu items cost $10, some $5, but overall for $30 you can get to try a good portion (3-4 different food items) of the festival without spending too much. Prizes and promotions are also present in this pleasant party-palooza! Do some surveys and get something nice like sunglasses or a fan to protect against the hot day! Yes, Night It Up happens in the middle of July and it is hot, hoT, HOT outside! So wear sunsreen~ Overall, I recommend going to this festival as a small form of keeping in touch with your Asian culture. read more
10 years ago
This is the first and ever time I attended Night it Up! I had been avoiding this event as I never good with crowds and lineups. Until now. Coming here early on a Saturday afternoon before 2:30 seems to be a good time. Plenty of parking in all the designated lots. Most of the food stalls hardly have any lines. The air was fresh with just a hint of smoke and stinky tofu. Maybe it was not as festivity as one might want to experience as a night market, but I think I would rather be here when it is not as busy. And if you do come during the day with the sun still out, your food photo would turned out so much better!! There are so many food to try! Of course there are always the usual bbt, skewers, pineapple drinks, stinky tofu. There are also some newer and unique offerings. I would suggest plan a little using their website and see which vendors worth visit before you even arrive! I would suggest just skip the ones that have an actual store/restaurant. I still don't understand why people would line up for Wei's and Mama Bear for stinky tofu when now you can get them whenever! Night it Up! is one of the better organized food festival in the area and definitely worth visiting. Come with an open mind and a lot of cash if you do want to sample everything they offers. read more
Previous years I came at night and the line ups were long, it was dark, crowded and dirty garbage everywhere. This year I came during the afternoon on Saturday and parking was easy to find, barely any line ups except at the popular places such as smelly tofu, lamb skewers and oysters. I find that this year there was a lot of duplicate vendors and not a lot of variety or anything unique that I can not find anywhere else in the city already. What I tried... Takoyaki $5 each - I get this every year and this year it was burnt!! Thought the black other shell was just the sauce, I was wrong! I didn't know it was possible to burn it! So disappointed. The booth I usually buy from every year (with the longest line ups) did not open this year so this replacement was disappointing. Tacos $2.50 - it was small but flavorful. Homemade drink from same booth $1.50 not cold enough but unique taste. BBQ smelly tofu $5 - instead of the deep fried one, we decided to try the BBQ kind, 3 huge blocks on a stick (2 sticks) the portion is good and it's much better because of the sauce! And you can add more spicy sauce etc. it isn't really smelly, but the taste is definitely there. Whole BBQ squid $8 or 2 for $15 - it was a whole squid on a stick! At first it wasn't cooked, so we had to go back and get it re-cooked, but after it was ok, could need a bit longer cooking. And it's a bit too big, I want to try other stuff also. Shaved ice snow cone $4 - this vender had mango, strawberry or honeydew, tried honeydew and it was pretty good, came with poppin' Bobba on top. Watermelon juice in whole watermelon $7 - it's a good concept and cute little watermelon, but little juice and finished quickly and the shell is useless, paying more for the watermelon peel? Oysters 7 for $10 - they shucked it on the spot and I saw them bring in the shipment fresh, so I was ok with it. Not the best value, but not expensive either, worth it cause it was pretty good. Lamb skewers 3 for $5 - it was pretty good, but can totally skip it and just get it from pacific mall (more variety and bigger portion) What is missed from previous years (please come back) Tornado dog - it was a hot dog wrapped with thinly slices of potato and deep fried, yummy, chewy and crunchy! Takoyaki - the original takoyaki please that cooked them perfectly Dried BBQ squid - the same takoyaki place has this dried BBQ squid that was heated up perfectly with soy sauce seasoning read more
4 years ago
An annual night market in Markham. It's an event that I can't miss. A great selection of Asian food. There's also live music and other sport activities going on. It started tonight and will end on Sunday. It's very crowded if you go after 9pm but this is the time when it actually starts to have the right Asian night market atmosphere which makes it more authentic. The event seems to get better and better each year. The event this year is definitely more organized! We actually didn't get a chance to try too much tonight since we came here after dinner. We scouted out what we will want to try and will be back tomorrow with an empty stomach. There are lots of food selection which includes the usual items such as lamb skewers, oyster omelette, takoyaki, teriyaki squid, Taiwanese popcorn chicken and my favourite smelly tofu. My husband and daughter hate the smelly tofu but if you are feeling adventurous, you should give it a try. The Poke Wrap looks new which I will give it a try tomorrow. read more
July 13, 2018 - I really had a good time at Night It Up. I bought Takoyaki squid balls, I got free skin care products from Laneige, tried a Ice cream + Rose bubbling drink from (One Two Sno). I tried (Wei's smelly Tofu) it's not for me. I ordered lamb skewers from two different vendors, they both tasted good. We also tried a waffle with popcorn chicken it was very good. I wanted to try Golden Bubbles "Mochi" flavour but there were two lines one to order and the other for pick up. So I went to the guy who I always talk to at the Golden Bubbles location at midland and asked if they had the Mochi flavour at the event (he said yes), then I asked if they had it at the store (he said yes). So I told him "Bye I'm going to the store" lol, his face was so sad when I said that. But what can I say. All the workers looked at me like I was going to buy it from a different vendor. But these guys from Golden Bubbles are very nice and have funny personalities! read more
What more do I need to say about this, definitely a must go event every year! It's often very packed, so it's better to get there early evening or tea time to avoid the crowd. There are some shows on the stage, it is quite sad that not much people are paying attention to them. I often find audiences are sitting in that area to finish their food and may be take a break from queueing up. There are also some stalls with games and freebies, I saw free frisbees handing out from the Yelp stall. But I suppose the main purpose of going to Night It Up is for the food. Must try food are always stinky tofu, oyster pancake, whole watermelon drink and lamb skewers, you can't go wrong with these. read more
This was my first time coming to Night It Up and I think it's okay. I didnt wanna bother going there during the night cause you know the ginormous crowd of people ain't my thing. But yeah. Comparing it to Taste of Asia, I think I would much prefer it over Night It Up. I feel like it was pretty small? Like I feel like there weren't as many booths as Taste of Asia. But this location IS better for other things (games, stage, resting, etc). There's more places you can wander off to imo. Food wise, I didn't really eat too much. (My dumbass finished one large sized 3 Guys + 1/2 of a large sized 3 Guys from Coco, so...I WAS PRETTY FULL ON LIQUIDs LOL) But anyways, I WENT STRAIGHT TO MY FAV LAMB SKEWER PLACE (it's the one near the art takeover section). The lamb skewers this time were meh, but the cold jelly noodle thing they give for free (with purchase of skewers) is still bomb af. Other things I tried: 1. Okonomiyaki ($7) - claims to be authentic; and it probably is bc the workers there were speaking japanese - it's decent - too heavy on the sauce 2. Monga Fried Chicken ($5) - i actually got this free voucher from the Yelp booth and i was told i would get free food from here but ... the woman at Monga was like no, only $5 off the original price which i'm just like ..?!? but I got it anyways - don't like it - tastes weird - had a sweet taste which i hate - the chicken was very juicy and not dry which is nice (but taste destroys it) - would not recommend sry not sry 3. Shaved Ice ($8) - i got the milk tea flavour and it's not bad - i love the bean jellies and coconut jelly things - shaved ice part was a bit weird cause it had like a slimey texture-ish (is that normal? bc i don't eat shaved ice often) - nice workers but wouldn't come back I think that is all I got. I didn't go to other areas but I did visit the Art Takeover section (bc MY ART IS THERE GUYS!! I went to check up on it) and not gonna lie, it's pretty disappointing bc it's like the least crowded place (there was literally like no one around there) (it's funny bc they asked me to leave some sort of way to contact me or wuteva, in which i left my insta, and they took it off like ok no wonder i didn't even get one follower from the event...)To be honest, I kinda wish there was a sign/banner saying Art Takeover or Gallery. Also, sturdier and much more durable tents with like side covers would be awesome because not just speaking from my own stuff, but all the art there is precious and it needs to be kept safe and in tip-top condition...:/. But what can you do. I'm coming back on Sunday, mostly just to pick up my art, and also try to find the Pan Pan Noodle booth!!!! (cause I heard it's bomb) (will update this review if I find it) Also gonna find the peking duck poutine too!! Update: I didn't end up trying the peking duck poutine (bc they were sold out -__-), so I got the Chicken Poutine instead. It was alright. The fries were bomb. They taste like the fries from Costco. The fried chicken was meh. I didn't really like it because again like the Monga, it tasted sort of sweet? They drizzled some mayo (perhaps the kewpie thing) and personally, I don't like it. It's tastes too heavy. Overall, decent. I'm not gonna get it again though. read more
The best night market I've been in Toronto/Markham! 1. Shuttle buses are available every 30mins on the border of Toronto and Markham. It is very convenient for people like me who only travels on TTC and don't have to pay additional fare ($4 cash) for the York Region Transit to go there. 2. Lots of freebies! This year, we received Haagen-dazs ice cream, skittles, YELP frisbee, lipbalm, bandana, and Chatime plastic hand-fan. 3. Delicious asian foods! Including smelly tofu, large fried chicken, thai iced tea (tho it's served in plastic and some people might not find it hygienic), skewers, bubble teas, and weird combination of food like ramen burger o.o 4. Conveniently located at the Markham Civic Centre, whenever we're tired of walking back and forth along the street vendors, we can find a quiet and beautiful place with a pond behind the civic centre. People playing Pokemon Go can also catch pokemons there! 5. I just realized how it is convenient for patrons and vendors to have the event happening on a street/parking lot. It is a lot cleaner and safer this way. I went to the T&T Night market yesterday; the venue was beside an old closed-down factory and railway track. We were walking on uneven paths, covered with dust and rocks. My friends' black shoes/sneakers became pale black, and I could feel my hair being dirty too whenever I brushed my hand. I will definitely go back to NIU next year! :) read more
7 years ago
This is the one Asian night market festival that I go to every year, mostly because I just don't have the energy to put up with another one after going to this. Why Night It Up? Mostly just convenient timing and habit. My first time attending was in 2018. I spent a lot of time walking around trying to decide what to eat, then spent a lot of time lining up to get food, and finally spent a lot of money on said food. I got a little wiser this year. This year, I planned to get there early. Despite being the first one on the bus, there were already lineups for food. Tummies grumbling, my group quickly lined up for the Taste of Xinjiang lamb skewers, which as far as I know are exclusive to the event. We shelled out $20 for 4 skewers of juicy, delicious lamb that was cut into big chunks and bursting with flavor. We then got Okonomiyaki and Chatime. Bellies full, we walked around and found that there were more giveaways in 2018. There weren't a lot of new, groundbreaking businesses. Unlike how street food is supposed to be, the food was overpriced in general. Tips for first time goers: -Bring cash, lots of it -Be ready to line up -Be ready for huge crowds -Bring a friend or two to join another line while you're in line -Mentally prepare yourself for the smell of stinky tofu and for crowds that you literally have to push through, as well as people walking around with giant, sharp skewers and an ever-increasing number of people taking pictures and/or videos. -Unless you're willing to carry your dog around, leave your dog at home read more
One of the most amazing things about my experience in Asia is the night life. I don't just meam the club scene, but life in general as you will find the streets still bustling late at night, and people still going to restaurants to eat. So it was refreshing to be at this Night It Up event where the atmosphere was lively and cheerful. Love the free Hagen Daz ice cream sampling. The line up moved fairly quickly. Also tried stinky tofu for the first time.... i guess that is definitely an acquired taste. It tasted just how it smelled. But other than that, this event isn't much different from Taste of Asia. And i was disappointed by how pricey the foods were for such portions. In the end, even though this event is about food, my take away was to just enjoy the festive vibe. read more
Went late Saturday night. Line ups weren't too long. Most of the choices seemed the same so it wasn't too overwhelming with food options. Found a stand with super cute drink floaties and got myself and my cousin a crab and unicorn. Hehehe. The lemon ice tea that came with it was super sweet though. Didn't really taste like much lemon even though there were lemon slices in it. The only disappointing parts were that we had to park a bit of a walk away and that there were no more milk tea freezies. But all in all, a fun event with volleyball and balloon lights read more
Night it up is the prime time for a teenager to get with their friends, stay out late (for a high school kid.. man, I thought I was so cool) and stuff themselves with delicious Asian food after begging their parents for money. It was my favourite time of the year. However, as a fully grown semi-mature adult, it is just.... meh. The only reason I'd wanna go is to keep my tradition of going every year, even if I don't really have a craving or want of anything they offer. The worst part of NIU is always the performers and music- free entertainment but 90% of the performers seem to have never touched an instrument in their life or so tone deaf to the point where it seems like i, myself is going deaf. I cannot stress the amount of times I had to bite down my tongue to resist screaming "SHUT UP" at the stage... NIU, can you please evaluate if anyone actually CAN perform before hiring them?! My biggest piece of advice is going on the last day. Loads of parking (no frills, how many times have you threatened to tow my car away? yeah, yeah. BYE), tons of space to walk compared to Friday (on Friday, all I can smell is smelly tofu, bbq and BO) and most of the food is on clearance and almost 50% cheaper than the selling price on Friday. My favourite booth every year is always the Osaka authentic takoyaki. DON'T GET ANY OTHER TAKOYAKI! My boyfriend made a mistake of buying from another vendor due to a short line and UGH, it doesn't even compare to osaka's crispy and soft texture that's packed with flavour. I also enjoy the roasted corn and the squid. On Friday, I got one stick of 1 piece of tentacles for $5, and Sunday I got 2 sticks of 4 pieces for $6. It really makes a big difference in price. I don't really venture out into any of the overpriced vendors because half the places have stores and the other half is ridiculously overpriced. (Drink a fruit from the fruit booth is $10 per juice from a watermelon/pineapple..... are you kidding me?) Of course I always end up going again and again every year, but now I know... Sundays are the day to go- less annoying kids (who brings a baby or strollers to this?!), cheaper food and less chance of seeing every single person from Markham that you know. read more
Great annual event for all things Asian particularly Asian street food, but there's also sports tourneys, music, games, corporate sponsored booths including Yelp! with freebies, and more. Got the Takoyaki balls (6 for $10) which were piping hot. They tend to make them pseudo "cooked to order" in batches so even though I was third in line, it took over 10 minutes from getting in line to getting the food as the first person in line got the last order of the last batch. The positive thing was they were super freshly made, piping hot, with a decent amount of squid in each ball. The sweet Oyster-like sauce is really what makes this dish so maybe ask for extra. The dough of the balls was a little mushy and undercooked to my liking, but still great dish overall and recommended. Also got the oyster pancake for $10 from another vendor. This is also made to order but the lack of a line should have warned me. There was a decent amount of oysters, around 4 or 5, in the pancake, but the taste was very bland. I doubt they added any salt. It was easier to eat with the sweet chili sauce but still bland. If you don't like crowds, it's best to go as soon as they open but not all the vendors may be running yet. Remember to bring cash. Limited parking can be the biggest issue with this event. Most people park in the lots of the commercial plazas around Whitehall Drive. You'll then have to walk a few minutes to the event. Overall, great event and you'll be supporting a pretty cool youth development organization (Power Unit) at the same time! Rating: 4 free pens you don't really need out of 5 read more
I have been an annual visitor to Night It Up for the last 3-4 years. I have really come to look forward to this free festive, nighttime event where dozens of mainly Asian food stalls are set up in the parking lot of the Markham Civic Centre. This year the event raises funds that go towards Raising the Roof, a charity that raises awareness about homelessness issues and working towards preventing it through their Upstream campaign. There are many of the regular vendors from years past (your 4 main bubble tea chains, takoyaki vendors, okonomiyaki stands, squid and meat skewer stands, shaved ice, drink from the fruit stands, Taiwanese food stalls, bao stalls, and stinky tofu). There were long lines to try Thai-inspired rolled ice cream this year, as well as Poke wraps. This year's highlights for me are: 1) Pokito - a collaboration between Chatime, Menu food truck, and Bake Code. The "420 Queen Street West" features sashimi grade tuna and salmon with pickled cucumber, green papaya, pineapple, fried onions and garlic, green onions, taro chips and a sweet/sour/spicy sauce on seasoned rice. This was a taste and texture sensation in my mouth. I enjoyed it enough that I went home to tell hubby about it and brought him to NIU to try it himself. Unfortunately by the time we returned, they were sold out of the 420 Queen St West, but he tried the classic salmon poke which was also very tasty. 2) Thirstea ($3 lemonade or limeade or 2/$5, with $2 refills) My strategies for surviving NIU include: 1) go earlier in the afternoon or evening when it is less packed and you can actually move through the various lanes 2) wear clothes you won't mind washing as you WILL reek of smoke and stinky tofu 3) if you go at night, exercise patience as there will be long lines and crowds. read more
12 years ago
I've been going to Night It Up before they were even called Night It Up! It's one of my favourite summer events. Tons of vendors selling delicious food. It really reminds me of the night markets back in Asia. One noticeable problem was that the sinks were out of water WAY before the event was over which is a huge deal especially when serving and eating food! Other than that, thanks for another great year Night It Up! !!TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS!! - NOT A FAN OF HUGE CROWDS? Afternoons are your best bet! No lines, and no hot sweaty crowds to maneuver around either - BRING YOUR OWN WATER..unless you want to pay for a bottle, and trust me you'll need it. - HAVE YOUR CASH READY UPON ORDERING. Nothing causes slow line ups or disgruntled patrons more than people fumbling for cash and looking for exact change - LONG LINE UPS DO NOT MEAN BEST FOOD.. Indeed, long line ups usually mean fan favourite vendors who come every year (there's no avoiding the lines for Wei's Stinky Tofu or Takoyaki) but there are TONS of new vendors every year who have really unique food and short lines! - WANT TO GET FOOD FOR CHEAP? Wait until the last half hour of the night. Around 11:30, most people will have left NIU and most vendors will want to clear out their food or else it will go bad. That's good news for us attendees! I've gotten skewers for $1 and bubble tea for $0.75 before because vendors just want to finish selling their food. read more
15 years ago
Since When Does The Word Stinky Attract People To Food? Well, at the Night It Up event in Markham, it was probably the single most effective marketing strategy they employed. I could not walk 2 steps without someone passing by and saying the words "stinky tofu." What is stinky tofu? Well, it is tofu that is, well, stinky. Clearly, we all need to rethink the way we market ourselves, because "this was Gold Jerry, Gold!" This event like the Food Truck Festival demonstrates that Torontonians and under serviced when it comes to cool food events. Though the food was amazing and so diverse, the coolest part for me was watching, front row and center how food is made. Some restaurants use glass windows to show off the kitchen and their staff, here it is in your face. The stinky tofu frying away. It is fermented and has a pungent fish sauce odor. We had to park far away and was bombarded with the aroma from the get go. Not even the smoke from the grills which filled the air could tame the tofu. Though the odor is strong, not bad per se as I love fish sauce in dishes, the tofu was really good. It tasted like other fried tofu but salty and earthy. There were so many food vendors, it was unbelievable. I just could not get all them on camera. Partially because of the amount of vendors but more so because there was so many people. The rows of vendors were about 10 feet wide and that area was compact. It was worse then leaving a Raptor game. There were tons of omelet makers serving everything from traditional to a really good oyster omelet. Curry Chicken Balls Lamb, beef, pork, chicken, heart, kidney, fish ball skewers were everywhere. The oyster omelet The oyster omelet almost completed These suckers caused the largest line ups tying with stinky tofu. They were shrimp, hot dogs and other things tempura'd with the batter wrapped in a tornado style Malaysian Muburak BBQ and Chinese Sausage Stinky Tofu as it is served with some onions and sambal olek. These were great. Fried tofu skins stuffed with glass noodles, shrimp and pork topped with a sweet and sour sauce. Pork belly on siopao that was more belly then pork read more
9 years ago
My first time attending this night market and it is likely my last. Everything is overpriced for its value. I tried the squid on the stick ($10 each). Around 50 people in line for it. Once you lineup, someone will ask you to pay first and give you a ticket. Waited around 45 minutes. I'm not sure what people like about it. The sauce tasted terrible. I'm not sure what it was but I couldn't stand it. The texture of the squid wasn't bad. I also tried the deep fried sweet potato chips on a stick ($9). Not fresh at all. The chips were cold and not even crunchy! There were also lots of kids and strollers in the night market. Personally, I don't think it is very suitable to bring kids as they could get trampled on as there are lots and lots of people. I also don't like getting rolled on by the strollers. The only thing that I liked about this night market was that there were lots of freebies! Free Haagen Dazs ice cream bar, free skittles, free chatime fan, free sunglasses, etc. Also, all the proceeds of Night it Up! go to a beneficiary, this year, ALS double play. I guess that's better than going to the owners. I might come back for the freebies, but not so much the food. read more
9 years ago
Just like the 3 star rating says. I would say the Night it Up Festival was "ok" and "alright" This was my first time attending this festival and as I expected, the festival gathered a huge crowd. My group and I went during the day and parked near a company building past the adjacent neighborhood from where the festival was taking place, sure it was a walk but free parking. Even though there were a lot of people, It didn't take too too long to get my food. Reason being is either the line moved pretty fast or depending on what you ordered, you could get the food right away. Some booths used the token system where a person would come around and take your orders in line and give you a token corresponding to your order. An example of this is when I waited in line for the Teriyaki Squid on a stick, the lady gave me a white token to go around another barbecue with Squids on sticks that were ready. Also, at the same line, I ordered some fried Onigiri and was given right away (was still fresh). There was even a Hagendaaz line that was giving away free Hagendaaz but the line went quick Overall I thought the experience was fun and food was great. It was more of tasting different foods since I wanted to be a little more adventurous. I for sure got some Takoyaki($7), Teriyaki Squid($10), Fried Onigiri($7), Mango Slushy($10), Pork Belly Bao($9), Curry Fish Balls($6). Basically bring cash and stick to your budget since I would say that the food is pretty overpriced. Quick Note: I learned later that there were $1 lamb kebobs which I would say is definitely worth If I had to give a tip to anyone who goes, I would say (especially for the Takoyaki) to scope out the different foods out there and gage the prices of each booth. With the Takoyaki, there were many booths that were selling it, some looked really good, some didn't, also there were different price ranges for them with different amounts. Like I saw a booth selling Takoyaki for $10 but only for 5 pieces, I got 6 for $7 but I saw another that looked really good which was like 8 for $7. Other than the food, there were different vendors selling their goods and promoting their brands, a place to catch some fish and bring home, couple of booths with carnival like games, concert stage and they also had a basketball/volleyball tournament for viewing pleasures. All in all, I thought it was an okay experience, We spent 3 hours total at the festival, taking our time and scoping out the eats. I would reccommend people to go and check it out if they never have. Food is overpriced depending where you go so keep an eye out. I personally would come back next year if I have nothing to do read more
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179 Enterprise Boulevard
Markham, ON L6G 1B3
Canada
Unionville
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Review Highlights - Night It Up!
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Night It Up! - streetvendors - Updated August 2026
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