Squid Games, durian and K-pop headline five weeks of Asian street food and culture — free entry
Melbourne’s midweek plans are about to get a whole lot more flavourful, with the return of the Hawker 88 Night Market at Queen Victoria Market this April — a five-week celebration of Asian street food, culture and lively autumn nights.
Running every Wednesday from 8 April to 6 May, the Market’s open-air sheds will transform into a bustling hawker-style precinct inspired by the street markets of Asia. Beneath rows of glowing lanterns and playful lucky cat installations, visitors can feast on authentic dishes, sip from the Lucky Horse Bar and enjoy a dynamic mix of traditional and contemporary entertainment.
Free to enter, Hawker 88 invites Melburnians and visitors alike to drop in, gather and graze — whether it’s a midweek dinner with friends, a family outing during the Easter school holidays or a spontaneous city night out.
8 April – Pan-Asian Night: A vibrant opening celebration featuring lion dances, cultural performances and modern dance.
15 April – Southeast Asia Night: Showcasing flavours and traditions from across Malaysia, Indonesia and beyond.
22 April – Rising Sun Night: A Japanese-inspired evening with taiko drumming, martial arts and cultural showcases.
29 April – Islands of Asia: Celebrating island cultures from the Philippines to Sri Lanka.
6 May – Yin and Yang Finale: A high-energy closing night blending traditional and contemporary performances.
Each week, the Market comes alive with entertainment, workshops and interactive games — from lion dances and taiko drumming to martial arts and K-pop. Expect Squid Games-style challenges, beer pong competitions, K-pop Demon Hunters performances, Bollywood dance workshops, Okinawan showcases and a closing-night cosplay parade.
HIGHLIGHT TRADERS
This year’s line-up features more than 25 new and returning traders, spanning bold street food flavours and cult-favourite dishes from across the region.
- Miss Wonton — crispy wonton tacos loaded with BBQ chicken, pork and soft-shell crab, alongside Chinese popcorn chicken with salted egg.
- Sate Kampong — fragrant chicken and beef satay sets served with coconut rice, herb rice salads and traditional Southeast Asian sweets.
- Min Min Gyoza — handmade pork and vegan gyoza paired with classic yakisoba noodles.
- Durian King — premium durian offerings including Musang King, Red Prawn and Black Thorn for adventurous food lovers.
- MeowMeow Matcha — playful matcha creations from matchamisu and matcha affogato to strawberry cloud matcha and hojicha lattes.
- Singa’s Seafood Boil — loaded seafood boils, cheesy grilled scallops and XO oysters.
- Dragon Joe’s Laksa Bowls — rich, aromatic laksa with prawn, pork belly, chicken, duck and vegan options.
- Lui Boss — Korean street food favourites including popcorn fried chicken, tteok-bokki and kimchi mandu.
- Shallot Thai — crowd-pleasing classics from pad Thai and pad see ew to roti rolls and chicken satay.
THE LUCKY HORSE BAR MENU
- Pineapple SakeRita — a tropical twist on a classic, blending sake, tequila, pineapple, lime and agave.
- Iced Watermelon Shochu — a refreshing mix of shochu, watermelon, lime and mint.
- Tokyo Tea — a bright, citrus-forward cocktail with vodka, Midori and lemonade.
- Lychee Soju Spritz — a vibrant blend of soju, gin, lychee and lemonade with a hint of blue curaçao.
- Milo Dinosaur — a nostalgic, crowd-favourite chocolatey mocktail.
- Watermelon Slushie — an icy, refreshing option for warm autumn nights.
- Lychee Lemonade — a light and fragrant non-alcoholic option.
Beyond the food and drink, a curated line-up of retail and interactive traders rounds out the night. Visitors can step into a premium Korean-style photobooth, browse vintage Japanese kimonos and textiles, create custom keychains and bags or shop locally made 3D printed toys and souvenirs.
Adding to the weekly program, CARDCORE will host a weekly pop-up celebrating trading card culture with sealed products, graded cards, rare singles and collectables. From weeks two to five, the activation will expand to include a rotating display of Japanese-style cars.
With its limited five-week run, Hawker 88 Night Market offers a timely and accessible way to experience the breadth of Asian culture in Melbourne — all in one place and all for free.
FAST FACTS
- WHAT: Hawker 88 Night Market
- WHERE: Queen Victoria Market
- WHEN: Wednesdays, 8 April – 6 May 2025
- TIME: 5pm – 10pm
- COST: Free entry
- MORE INFO: thenightmarket.com.au