Asian Night Market draws crowds to Annandale
The fourth DMV Asian Night Market in Annandale this summer drew crowds of visitors, some from D.C. and Maryland, to the parking lot at 7200 Columbia Pike on Saturday, June 27.
The dozens of food vendors were the main attraction, but there were also craft vendors, a Thai massage demonstration, and a blind tea tasting contest.
Eight contestants tried six tea samples and had to guess the type of base tea and fruit flavoring for each one. Amber, the winner, was rewarded with $100 and a trophy. Dan received a trophy and $50 for coming in second.
Food vendors offered grilled squid and shrimp, twisted potato, mango and sticky rice, drunken noodles, steamed pork buns, seafood pancakes, papaya salad, and much more.
We also found a few less common items, such as blasted fish (fish balls that blow up when fried), ube sticky rice, and butterfly tea lemonade. One vendor offered a Filipino shave ice dessert called halo-halo that comes with nata jelly, milk, caramelized purple sweet potato, coconut, pandan jelly, ube ice cream, mochi balls, jackfruit, and caramelized plantain.
With so much food, how do you decide what to try? A first-time visitor to the night market suggested seeking out the vendors with the longest lines.
The next DMV Asian Night Market will be July 25 at the same location, 3-9 p.m.
