As I approached the rows of food stands, I was hit with tangy fragrances from Korean Fried Chicken, fishy aromas of the oyster bar, and of course, the sweet perfume of cotton candy that instantly transports me back to childhood. Hungry eyes of awaiting customers stare at the pick-up counter as orders are called out one by one, and teeth sink into soup dumplings leading to broth inevitably dripping down chins. People mosey their way over to balloon darts as a means to digest their first course before their next serving of Szechuan Noodles or Fried Cheese. 

All of those whiffs of delight are courtesy of the 626 Night Market — named after the 626 area code in Los Angeles, the market is a culturally enriching food experience that has brought the “open-air nighttime bazaars of Asia” to Californians for 12 years now, according to the event website. The market mainly operates out of Arcadia but started coming to Orange County and the Bay Area once a year in 2014. 

This year, 626 Night Market will remain in Orange County every weekend of October, offering over 250 food stands, merchants and carnival games. 

Want to play ring toss while eating sushi? No problem. I tried the deep-fried sushi rolls on a stick from Sushi On A Stick, which on their own made the $5 entrance fee well worth the price. 

Upon first bite, creamy crab melted into my taste buds, covered in the distinctive greasy crunch that all fried delicacies are known for. The rolls are made so fresh that the sizzling sound still lingered as I grabbed my paper tray, and I desperately tried to hold back the drool.  

Food on a stick doesn't stop there though; I lived out all my TikTok cheese pull fantasies by trying the epic Korean Corn Dogs, all of which have Halloween-themed names at Ghostix. The Casper delivered a satisfying cheese pull and a zesty punch of flavor from the spicy sauce on top. Though, if you’re looking for more texture, I’d recommend The Goblin, which contains a hot dog in the center and is covered in little potato pieces that crisp up when deep fried. 

If you thought I reached my maximum carbohydrate intake, you’re wrong.

The rated R burger is a cheeky beef burger that uses ramen as buns. As my teeth sank through the layers of noodles to the beef patty, the noodles started to unravel in my mouth. I was confused at first by the combination of textures, but then all confusion was clarified as I wondered why I had waited so long to eat ramen and a burger together.

Feeling drunk on sodium, I was surely in need of a drink at this point. I headed over to the Paradise International juice bar to get a refreshing watermelon juice that came with free refills. The warm Southern California night covered me in a thick blanket of warmth, which is great when you're trying to get the last couple of uses out of your shorts for the year, but not great when you’re incessantly sweating on a food journey. An iced buckwheat tea is the perfect drink to take the edge off of the fall heatwave in Orange County, pairing a sweet tea essence with a rare buckwheat taste. 

The hollers of kids being pulled away from the $6 ball toss after losing their fifth game is a guaranteed sound while strolling through the market, which enticed me to go and see what the fuss was about. Large stuffed animals hang from displays in each tent ranging from teddy bears to sushi with faces. Activities consist of classic fair games such as balloon darts, table basketball and coin tosses. 

Sadly, I did not walk home with the giant purple bear I had my eyes on because I didn’t pop any of the balloons with the dull darts I was given. But if you’re like me and are unsuccessful in your mission, don't worry — you can just buy stuffed animals at the variety of merchants' tents. Other souvenirs include Disneyland-esque, light-up bubble balloons and playful jewelry like rings, necklaces and bracelets. 

The key to the night market is to not walk to the car empty-handed. In my case, I bought a bubble waffle from Waffle Pops on my way out. They're light and airy, making them the perfect midnight snack to eat on the way home. Just make sure to grab some napkins so the Nutella (which I’d argue is a mandatory topping) does not get all over your car like it did in mine. 

After washing my sticky hazelnut-covered fingers and reminiscing on my night at the 626 Night Market, I can definitely recommend it for foodies and Orange locals alike; scouring through 250 stands to find the perfect treat is an adrenaline rush, to say the least . Make sure you head straight for the Ghostix stand, since there is constantly a line there. Perhaps stay away from the dull-darted balloon darts game, unless you don’t mind spending $6 to walk away empty-handed.