Smiles and Slurps: San Francisco's Sunset Neighborhood Night Market Kicks Off

Organizers of San Francisco’s newest night market say they want the evening street festival to become a monthly event.

That’s after the inaugural night market on Friday drew thousands of revelers to the more than 70 vendors pumping delicious smells and sounds through the Sunset neighborhood, on Irving Street between 20th and 23rd avenues.

Sunset resident Jones Wong went to the market after work with his wife for dinner.

“I think it’s a great concept,” he said. “It’s amazing to see how many people are out here!”

Beef noodle soup, mochi donuts, handcrafted kombucha and boba tea were just a few of the bites and bubbly beverages available. The event hosted more than 20 different food sellers including Smokin D’ BBQ SF, SF Hole in the Wall Pizza, Ube Bee Pies and Nadine’s Sweet Treats.

Justin Lam, co-owner of the Asian-inspired sandwich shop the Wooly Pig, ran a booth which had a line trailing down the block.

“I think it’s a great way to bring people together and to this neighborhood because we typically don’t have these types of gatherings over in the Sunset,” said Lam, a Sunset native. “It’s been fantastic so far.”

Celebrity chef Martin Yan was prominently featured at the event, dazzling visitors with food demos.

Local artisans and boutiques also setting up shop included Thrift Dealer, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Double Down Zine, West Flowers and Pipeline Cannabis.

Between food and shopping stalls, musical performances and dance demonstrations kept the energy high all night, from 5 p.m. through 10 p.m.

City Supervisor Joel Engardio, whose district includes the Sunset, began championing the night market idea last year after visiting one in Taiwan with his husband.

“The Sunset Night Market is about creating joy,” said Engardio. “We are not destined to the ‘doom loop’ that we hear about on the news. We can overcome it and it starts tonight on Irving Street.”

The initial event is funded through a $50,000 grant from the San Francisco nonprofit Avenue Greenlight. Other groups such as the San Francisco Parks Alliance also signed on to kick-start the market.

With many local businesses struggling to recover from pandemic-related economic hardship, market organizer and head of Sunset Mercantile Angie Petitt-Taylor previously told KQED that the timing felt right to bring the community out for a fun time and to reconnect with some of their favorite shops and restaurants in a new way.

Friday’s event was a “pilot” market, and Supervisor Engardio’s office is asking for feedback from the public about the event.

“Our goal is to see what works, what doesn’t before expanding the event or making it a regular occurrence,” he said.

Local enthusiasm was clear in the size of the crowd and the long lines at food booths.

“I’m really surprised that it’s so packed,” said Sunset resident Mikaela Bognot Verador. “I smell some good food. It’s just so crowded that I can’t really see what’s really going on.”

If it continues, the Sunset night market would add to the city’s existing farmers markets and food-truck events, like the food-truck fair Off the Grid and Bhangra & Beats, a night market celebrating Punjabi food, dance and music. There’s also Undiscovered Block Party, a recurring night market focused on Filipino culture in the SoMa neighborhood.

Vibrant night markets could become even more common in San Francisco and other parts of the state under a state bill proposed by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), AB 441, which attempts to streamline the permitting process for farmers markets and night markets.