I have been to a few of these Asian Night Markets since the Asian Chamber of Commerce started…read morehosting them here in Arizona. For me, I enjoy the chance to engage with culture, eat a variety of foods, and support our local Asian community. These events typically take place in the parking lot of the AZ International Marketplace in Mesa. Several food and retail vendors fill up the parking lot with all sorts of yummy food and cool merchandise. There is also a stage with live entertainment. I recently attended the Kamayan Festival version of the night market which was part of the celebration for Filipino American History Month. I had a VIP pass to the Sapporo beer garden and enjoyed the perks that came with it. As much as I enjoy being a part of these festivals, the lines are usually insanely long. I come to these to try new things, but find myself getting discouraged by the long waits. I have learned the best time to come to Asian Night Markets is when they first open if you want to try a variety of food.

I attended the January 2022 edition of this annual event, occurring at Lunar New Year. Centered on…read morethe Asian Pacific American community, this event celebrates cultural diversity, cuisine, art, and music. Organized by the Asian Chamber of Commerce, I know that in the past this required admission but this year's was free. I would not be surprised if it becomes an admission-only event in the future as it was packed from the entry time of 5:30. Given that the city of Mesa has decided to invest considerable resources to brand the area as an Asian enclave, I suspect it will get bigger and more impressive each year. While there are a ton of food trucks here, my advice would be not to show up hungry. Nearly every stall had long lines (save the poor coffee vendor). I would like to say that lines moved quickly, but most did not. I think it is better to have eaten a little something first and then show up and have a snack or two or come later in the evening when the live music really gets going. But if you plan to make this your sole dinner stop it will be frustrating. One perk of a big festival like this is that many smaller caterers/restaurants/food trucks that you haven't heard of will show up. There was plenty that was new to me and gave me a bucket list of places to try. I got some bao buns from Hot Bamboo which has a brick-and-mortar location in Chandler as well as a food truck that often pops up at festivals across town. They make Instagrammable character buns. It's a bit cheesy but the price was good and they were flavorful and satisfying. They were temporarily out of some fillings and the employees were profusely apologetic. It did inspire me to want to one day visit their actual restaurant. The vibe was great and the 2022 edition was a nice blend of people from all walks of life eager to celebrate our post-pandemic world (yeah, Year of the Tiger!). Besides food trucks, there were a few vendors selling gifts and other items but nothing popped out as too special. You can find the schedule on their website. Besides the night market, they also organize some daytime activities at parks that focus less on food and more on culture.

100% legit The best Birrea tacos in Phoenix, and they're…read morefat! So good we went 2 days in a row. 2nd day I brought the whole damn family! I wish them years of success. I apologize for not stopping sooner, I've driven past this a dozen times.

Outstanding breakfast burritos. I had the egg, cheese and potato. So good. I usually prefer the…read morered sauce but the green was really good. The egg cheese and bacon was loaded with bacon. Both were boardering on gut buster size. Girl taking order was very nice too.

Their smoothies look like art! Very well made with super ingredients. Very nutritious and delicious…read morethis is the best smoothie I've ever had. I have tried many around town and this one is my favorite. It's hard to find this place as they are small and mighty. To spot them, look for a pea green & white colored food trailer. Hours could be longer especially if Shake Up likes money. Saw a cashier leave his shift early. They are always out of super purple

Excellent and filling. I purchased the Blue Smoothie and it was great. Tempe location has a fun…read moreatmosphere and a place where you would want to hang out in the cooler season.

Food was exceptionally flavorful and seasoned well. We ordered the ramen, tacos, and the Phoenix…read moreroll. We went to here as they were one of the late night spots still open. *This along with a hibiscus drink (large) and a cola! Approximately 50$. * Service was simple, kind, order at the register- type of spot. Ambiance wasn't busy for a Sunday night but the vibes were there, and I can imagine they get busy and can handle a lot with the seating options they have.

I've been ordering from El Jefe in Tempe for the last 4 to 5 years as we live fairly close. We love…read morethe tacos especially with doing the family meal for street tacos! The meats are so good. We also use to love the sushi side. During Covid, we tried the sushi for the first time. We were hesitant as it's a Mexican joint, right? Not a Japanese specialty shop. So to my surprise, I couldn't believe the sushi especially the Las Vegas roll and their Nigiri cuts were pretty dang good. My disappointment seems to be this last year with the sushi just hasn't been the best or fresh tasting. The Las Vegas roll was always nice and warm but with an awesome cold center and fried to perfection and the sauce just right. Lately it's been the opposite. Super over fried were all you can taste is old burnt oil and it dried out and the sauce just bland and not helping at all. The other thing that bothers us is the lack of wasabi they give! If you're not going to give us full flavor, at least give more wasabi to help mask. I will say they give you plenty of soy sauce packets (just barely any wasabi).

I've been a loyal customer of Island Boyz for the past 7 years!! The food and the vibes here keep…read moreme coming back every single time. ​The owner Chris is so down to earth and friendly. I feel incredibly welcomed every time I visit and honestly I'd happily drive an hour just to get my hands on some of their Jerk Chicken. ​My absolute favorites are: ​Jerk Fries (so addictive!) ​Jerk Chicken with Rice & Peas and Cabbage ​The food is always incredibly flavorful and authentic. If you're looking for a spot with great energy and even better food, I definitely recommend giving them a try!

This food is GREAT!! One of THE BEST food trucks in the valley! I first had their meals a few years…read moreago and was hook. Unfortunately It had been a while since I last had the chance to eat their food until today. I was delighted to see them at our site today and jumped at the chance to grab some Jerk Chicken, rice and plantains. Nirvana for your mouth. I highly recommend! You won't be disappointed.

This food truck showed up to my community for an event and the food was well worth the wait. As I…read morerecall, the food menu items ranges up to $20. Their portions were worth the price in my opinion. My husband ordered the kalbi plate and he finished EVERYTHING. Their macaroni salad was so delicious and was so different from ones I have had before. I ordered the Hawaiian plate and loved everything. The food does make you feel like you're literally in Hawaii. I'll need to check out their store front but I will hands down recommend this food truck!

Average food but it makes up for it by being expensive. Unfortunately the high prices didn't go…read moretoward the atmosphere or service.

Pricey for the atmosphere of the location but the food was on point. I did have to go find the lady…read moreat the door to assist with getting my drinks I ordered. The presentation was beautiful. Food was well seasoned. Found biz thru TikTok. I will be back but only order to go. lol

Over priced and you can't order appetizers, they bring it, then order your meal. They close you out…read moreevery order so order together or be over charged! Not worth it go to Lo Lo's instead. One drink and 3 MINI tacos $35 at Freestyllez no thank you

We have had them before but had tried other ones. The empanadas are fantastic with great flavor…read morewith a very full empanada just the right sauce for each flavor. Package for each empanada well marked with right sauce next to it in nice carry box. Friendly service Nothing but good to say.

I was so hungry that I forgot to take a picture . The food truck was here in Maricopa on Friday…read morenight so my family & I decided to give them a try. My partner had a beef, & cubano empanada with rice & beans. He loves empanadas & he was so happy with them both. Now he will be hoping that they come out to Maricopa every Friday night. I had the p/z/c empanada with rice & beans & a lemon blueberry cheesecake for dessert. The empanada was so filling. It was packed to the max with potatoes, zucchini, & cheese. I got it with the works- onions, cilantro, & avocado on the top. Soooo good. The rice & beans were very impressive. I love Puerto Rican beans & these were seasoned just right. We also ordered the apple caramel & lemon blueberry empanada. More please The best food truck that I've been to since moving to AZ almost 3 years ago. The owner was great, very personable & professional. We will definitely be back to Holy empanada.

I first had the chance to experience this food truck when my work had them cater for staff…read moreappreciation. I was hooked! Since then, I keep an eye on when they will be scheduled for locations near me. Recently, I had them cater a holiday party. It was pretty easy arranging the details and Carlo offered several options to fit our price point. On the day of the event, they were so amazing serving all the guests for the few hours of the event. All the partygoers loved the food. Such a big hit. The portions of one box of food are enough for me to have for two meals. The flavors of all the dishes are phenomenal. I can't give enough praise to this brand. Absolutely delish!

I see Flippin' Rice once a month. I order one thing item, the Yang Chow Fried Rice. I get the…read moreorder, I eat voraciously and I fill my stomach. It's probably the best Food Truck Fried Rice out there. Yes, they use Chinese sausage instead of BBQ pork on their fried rice, but that just adds to its flavor. Chicken, corn and green beans amongst other ingredients in the fried rice. It's done wok fresh and you can taste the wok flavor in the fried rice. It's very well done. Also the quantity is large so the fried rice can last a lunch and a breakfast. Haven't tried any other items, but whenever I see Flipping Rice and I don't leave without ordering a Yang Chow Fried Rice.

Been coming here for over a year and this spot never misses! Great portion sizes with the burritos,…read moreespecially love the à la jalisco burrito with grilled jalapeños in it. Their plates are also huge, i've gotten the breakfast steak and eggs before and it comes with hot, generous portions. They make great tacos as well, the shrimp tacos are a must try. Workers are always friendly, it's got a super cute interior with the painted mural, and it's always clean and fresh. Highly recommend for a quick bite!

First authentic mexican we tried since we moved to AZ and it didn't disappoint! Big portions and…read moreaffordable We got steak burrito, jalisco burrito and cheese quesadilla. Burrito was huge but it got a little dry at the end. Cheese quesadilla was okay, might be better if we got not just plain cheese. I enjoyed it with the pico de gallo and the green sauce. Wish there was more pico de gallo though. They also have sauce station and pickled onions which my husband really liked. Service was quick! There was a line when we got there but the food came so fast a little after we got a table. They have drive thru too. Ambiance was great. Seats are limited and they have outdoor options. They played Mexican music which adds to the authenticity. Saw reviews that parking is limited but we got lucky, they're were still a few open spots when we came. Overall, would recommend and will come back