You Can Spend Five Weeks Indulging in Asia's Most-Tantalising Flavours at the Return of QVM's Hawker 88 Night Market for 2025
Head to the Queen Vic this autumn for sizzling street food and vibrant live performances showcasing the best of Manila to Mumbai and beyond.
The Queen Vic Market's massive midweek hawker market is coming back for five weeks this autumn, and it'll be the biggest edition to date. Held every Wednesday from April 9 to May 7, Hawker 88 Night Market will showcase a range of exceptional flavours from across Asia, from Manila to Mumbai and beyond. There'll also be a fascinating collection of live performances, cultural experiences and inventive cocktails bound to cause a stir.
Every week features a different theme, showcasing the incredible diversity of Asian cuisine and culture while ensuring there's always something new to discover. Kicking things off on Wednesday, April 9, Pan-Asian Night highlights an eclectic mix of flavours, alongside dance performances, a K-pop dance crew, lion dancers and an Asian fusion band that ensures the vibe remains at fever pitch for this year's opening.
The following week is Bali to Bangkok Night, where Southeast Asian cuisine is paired with martial arts displays, traditional dancing from Malaysian and Filipino movers and shakers, and beats provided by Indonesian gamelan drummers and a Thai band. Then, on Wednesday, April 23, Rising Sun Night presents a taste of East Asia, with everything from Japanese taiko drumming and roving geishas to Korean costume parades and traditional Chinese performances. Plus, a Filipino band is sure to keep the vibes high.
Bollywood Night on Wednesday, April 30 will see the market become a colourful hub of all things Indian, featuring upbeat dance performances, live dance-offs, henna mural-making and even a curry-eating contest that will see serious spice lovers go head to head. Closing night on May 7 is Yin and Yang Night, which promises an vibrant mix of Chinese and K-pop dancing, a traditional Chinese costume parade and, intriguingly, a Squid Game-inspired DJ set.
Across these five action-packed weeknights, an abundance of fresh-faced traders will join returning favourites serving up sumptuous bites that showcase the best of the continent. There'll be everything from wok-fired noodles and charcoal-cooked pork belly to Cambodian-style skewers, Thai fried chicken and Filipino barbecue. You can also get your hands around a crispy rice sandwich, a Japanese-inspired street food snack loaded with your choice of braised pork, pan-fried beef or sausage and cheese.
This is also your chance to relive — or discover — the cocktails that became the talk of last year's event. As you roam from one hawker stand to the next (or it back to catch a performance), you can sip down a Flaming Mandarin Sunset, a fiery mix of sake, mandarin, grenadine and Bacardi 151 or the bright and refreshing Frozen Watermelon Shochu, featuring shochu with watermelon, lime and mint.
The Hawker 88 Night Market runs 5–10pm every Wednesday from April 9–May 7 at the Queen Victoria Market. Head to the market's website for more information.
