FIVE GREAT BIG STARS for this wonderful neighborhood experience in the Jade District of Portland. I know, I know... Jade District is a fancy name for an area that sometimes gets a bad rap. A lot of unsavory things happen on 82nd Avenue, but it truly is improving in recent years. And it's one of the best areas in Portland to get a wide variety of foods and goods from an array of cultures worldwide. Some of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants, Asian bakeries, and gift shops are in this area. The Jade District Market brings together all of the best vendors, restaurants and entertainers in the area, representing an inpressive number of Asian cultures. Located at the Southeast Portland Community College Campus, there was abundant parking in several lots, as well as direct access to the bus line. This event really was a family affair! There were so many vendors selling everything you could think of, as well as community services handing out goodies to the folks in the neighborhood. I bought a bundle of lucky bamboo, some chrysanthemum tea, and some cute locally made pottery. We decided to have Filipino food, prepared by a sweet grandmotherly figure fanning smoke from the grill with bundled banana leaves. The line moved quickly, and I thoroughly enjoyed my Pancit bihon and Lumpia. The entertainment schedule is action-packed, featuring local bands, student choral groups, dancers and more! I loved every minute of the market, and can't wait to visit next year as well! A great big thank you to the sponsors and community members who make this event happen... you are very much appreciated. read more

Jade District Night Market - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Neat event held on the grounds of a local college. Very well attended, so much so that parking was an issue. But once I got that out of the way, really enjoyed the aromas of the food and wandering through the booths. Heavy crowd attendance. Will come earlier next year read more

Awesome!!! I love the performances, vendors, info booths, resources and community feel of this event. I ended up going alone but still chatted with a fair few number of folx. Had some new foods. Watched some dances I had never seen before from cultures far away in SE Asia. I did end up crossing paths with a couple friends too. I look forward to the next event! I love the Jade District Night Market! read more

Its TST (Two Star Tuesday) again!!! I went to Richmond Night Market in Vancouver last year, so I thought I would try another Night Market in the Pacific Northwest. Jade District Night Market is located in the Fubonn Shopping Center at SE 82nd & Woodward in SE Portland. If you don't have a car like us, take the 9 Bus to Powell & SE 82nd, and walk 0.3 miles North. It will take you 30 min from DTP. The public transportation system in PDX is inexpensive and safe. We hit four of the six booths (yes, you heard me correctly). The boba from the Little Boba Truck was pretty bad. It didn't have good texture. I don't know how the local Azns put up with this crap: 2 Stars. I tried the palabok (a version of pancit w/ shrimp sauce on top), and it was OK. However, it was a bit salty: 3 Stars. My cousin tried the dumplings from the Nepalese stand, and they were $hit (not pictured). We had to throw the remainder away: 2 Stars. Lastly, we tried the fried kabocha & fried potatoes from the Oban booth. Not only were they slow as molasses, the food was horrible. We also had to throw the food away: 1 Star. The space was a portion of the parking lot that was smaller than the lot of my house - and I live near DTHB where space is tight. Luckily, they didn't charge or I would have rated 1 Star. If you are in the area when the Night District is running, word: STAY AWAY!!! This was the lamest Night Market I have been to, and the food was hooooorible!!!!! read more

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Obviously in this town there are farmers markets and the Saturday Market and holiday markets of which I have been to. But I had never been to the Jade District Night Market. Asian food, vendors, music and dance? Sounds good, right? There was all of that, but I didn't know that Native American dancing or break dancing fit in with the area? Where was representation from the two biggest grocery stores in the area in Fubonn and Hung Phat? Where was King's Bakery, one of the best Chinese bakeries in town, even though they are right across the street from the college campus? The Asian tacos I had were great and a line for skewers was pretty long. The "beer garden" was across the street from the campus at the APANO building and it was small. There was a stage set up there where some singing was going on and an ice cream vendor along with a couple other booths. I will admit, I was underwhelmed. I expected more. There are Russian grocery stores in the Jade district and there was no representation from them either other than some blueprint ideas at the APANO stand for different ethic facilities to be built for the different cultures that thread the Jade district together. I'm sure I'll venture down here again next year when they do it again, but I hope there's more to see, do, and eat. read more

I didn't go last year, but this year's festivities are very good. They have back to back performances on stage from 5-9pm. Tons of foods vendors, local organizations and beer garden too! Would definitely recommend checking it out. read more

There was a performer who appeared to be in a skin-tight cat suit. She was doing stream-of-consciousness provocative poetry interspersed with cat dancing. I believe her name was "Sexbutts?" I tried to find a website. She said, "this would be way creepier if I was a guy." and I almost chocked on my food. That kind of confidence and energy is what this country is in dire want of. An Open Letter to Sexbutts, Dear Sexbutts, Are you a poem from the gods? I don't know what you do, but whatever it is, you definitely do it. Your drive, innovation, sense of fair play, and determination to pull yourself up by your...your...your...whatever it is you have in lieu of bootstraps...is emblematic of truth, justice, and the American way. Oh say can you meow, at the the cat suit last night what so proudly we meow her freak flag was still high Through skin tight PVC too fascinating to flee In her own naughty world More a cat than a girl She did prove to us all That approval is a rare pearl and the and the people did care like a reckless care bear gave toots through the night and Sexbutts was still there. Oh say can that Sexbutts find us meow freedom from the land of legal weed to the home of California dreamin. indeed, a guy doing what you did would creepy, and therefore I shall swear an oath never to do that. Not even during a manic episode, because I'm usually too busy attempting to climb into zoo animal enclosures during those times anyway. I don't know if you are for real. Are you? Did you arrive here via interstellar egg from planet kitty cat? Who or what energy source birthed you? Whatever happened, it was epic. Just remember, we each have our own song, and some of us march to the beard of a different drummer or lute. I think a lute's fine. Facial hair optional. Pain is temporary, pvc is forever. In summary, I congratulate you, and I hope you get knighted during the New Year's Honors. Let's both let the Queen know first. THE END Also the Thai chicken was great, and so was directing traffic, although no one asked me to do it, and some asked that I didn't. read more

We went over to the Fubon Shopping Center for the first night of the new Jade District Night Market. It was getting a lot of hype and now that I live on 82nd, I felt I should participate in a neighborhood activity. The market itself was ok. They had a few food vendors and a handful of crafty vendors. I was expecting it to be bigger, but for a first night, it wasn't too bad. I was surprised at the crowd. There must have been upwards of 400 people there when we arrived. I have no idea why so many people insisted on parking in the Fubon lot...the line down 82nd was crazy long. We just parked on the street a couple blocks away and walked. The weirdest thing about the Asian Night Market was the music. There was an old folksy lady singing...I kind of expected traditional Asian music at an Asian Market. read more

BIG growth from last year-- it's at PCC campus now with a lot more room and a lot more vendors. Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, African, Mexican, Transylvanian, Japanese food all represented and more! The whole neighborhood was out in force, and it was fun despite the crowd. read more