Detroit — Sugar-glazed fruit on a stick, savory bánh mi sandwiches, saucy noodle bowls, and a bevy of other Asian cuisine are what draws people to Little Asian Bites night markets.
A new season of the pop-up market kicked off last month, bringing hundreds of hungry food fans to Eastern Market on a clear evening in late May. Enthusiastic folks lined up to get cuisine from food trucks, pop-up vendors and local restaurants that gathered in Shed 5.
Little Asian Bites founder and organizer Amanda Lee says the attendance at the May night market was well beyond her expectations, and she’s aware that the audience for her events is growing rapidly.
“After every market there’s lessons learned, there’s things that I want to change or do better, or do differently,” she said. Part of the success has been because word is spreading on social media. There is a core group of supporters who have gone to Little Asian Bites events way back when they started in 2023.
One of her early supporters is Detroit-area food content creator Talking Doll, who posted a video from the last Little Asian Bites event of the season last year, and attracted quite a few interested eyeballs.
“She posted a video recapping the event, unbeknownst to me … it went viral,” said Lee. “It’s very awesome and unexpected.”
Lee was inspired to start her Asian night market events a few years ago to foster a sense of community. Her parents are from Taiwan and she still has a lot of extended family there that she visits often.
“Night market culture is huge in Taiwan as it is across many other Asian countries … it’s just such a beautiful, community-based meeting point,” she said. Also, as an only child, Lee is comfortable finding friendships and connections with others who share her interests.
“I love merging different friend groups. I love making new friends. I just love getting to know people,” she said. “So in my personal life, I was throwing these pretty fun, elaborately themed parties, and that’s where my creativity shines. That’s what fills my cup.”
The next Little Asian Bites event will be a mini market at the Dequindre Cut, so it won’t have as big a footprint as the Eastern Market event had last month. Lee said she likes the Dequindre Cut Fright Yard location because the market feels integrated into the environment.
“There’s not going to be as many vendors … but we’re figuring out a new layout to spread the food vendors out,” she said. “Other than it being smaller scale, the vibes are going to continue to be great. It’s an outdoor event, but fingers crossed, we’ve always had really good weather with it.”
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
Little Asian Bites upcoming events
Mini Night Market 8, 5-9 p.m. June 27. Dequindre Cut Fright Yard, 3019 Orleans, Detroit
Night Market 9, Aug. 7. Valade Park, 2670 Atwater, Detroit
Night Market 10, Aug. 30. Location TBA
Admission is free
instagram.com/little.asian.bites
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit’s Little Asian Bites night market pop-up is gaining steam
Reporting by Melody Baetens, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Melody Baetens, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
