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After five years of success in Minnesota, organizers Ka Vang and John B. Yang are bringing the Asian Street Food Night Market to Milwaukee for the first time.
The free, family-friendly festival will take place Saturday, Aug. 22 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Coast Guard Shelter in Veterans Park, 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr.
About 50 vendors will serve street food, desserts, drinks and snacks representing cuisines from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Korea, China, Japan, the Hmong community and more. While some vendors are based in Wisconsin, others are traveling from Minnesota and several neighboring states, making the event a regional celebration of Asian food and culture.
Festivalgoers can expect everything from Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Hmong sausage with sticky rice, Lao-style papaya salad and bánh mì burgers to Korean corn dogs, teppanyaki, crispy fried catfish, mango sticky rice, bubble waffle ice cream and Tanghulu, the colorful fruit skewers coated in a crisp sugar shell that have become a popular street snack.
One of the festival's signature attractions will be a thatched village, where rows of tables shaded by thatched umbrellas will evoke the open-air markets of Pattaya, Thailand, giving guests a place to relax, dine and snap photos.
More than just food
In addition to food, visitors can browse vendors selling jewelry, clothing, toys, blind-box collectibles and other merchandise.
Organizers say the festival is also designed to showcase the diversity of Asian cultures through entertainment like cultural dance, live DJs and potentially even a K-pop dance competition. Activities for kids including games and face-painting are part of the plan as well.
"We focus on creating an authentic Asian street market experience where families can explore different foods, cultures and traditions all in one place," says Vang. "Our goal is to bring the entire community together—not just one culture, but all of Asia under one event. We welcome people from every background, making this a celebration that's inclusive and open to everyone."
Why Milwaukee?
Vang, who grew up in Wisconsin, says bringing the festival to Milwaukee has been a longtime goal.
"I always felt our community was missing a large event that brings together all Asian cultures in one place," he says. "Milwaukee deserves an event where everyone can experience Asian street food, celebrate different cultures and build stronger connections within the community."
Because planning for this year's inaugural Milwaukee event came together on a short timeline, Vang says some vendors were unable to participate. She expects the festival to grow in future years with more vendors, performances and cultural representation.
Know before you go
- Admission is free.
- Free parking is available in the surrounding area, but parking closer to the event in the park is available for $15 per vehicle.
- ADA parking will be located near the festival entrance for $15.
- Leashed pets are welcome. Owners are responsible for supervising and cleaning up after them.
- Get more information and updates at asianstreetfood.org or by following Asian Night Market Festival on Facebook.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
