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Welcome To Southeast Asian Market
At Southeast Asian Market, located in Philadelphia, culinary culture thrives amidst an array of vibrant flavors and enchanting aromas. This lively outdoor space, open from July to October on weekends, invites you to explore a treasure trove of Southeast Asian delicacies. From fragrant coconut rice balls to enchanting lemongrass cheesesteaks and savory meat skewers, every dish tells a story. Visitors can indulge in fresh juices like sugarcane, while engaging with local vendors offering tasty desserts and essential household goods. With its welcoming atmosphere—complete with dog-friendly outdoor seating—this market is a must-visit for food lovers seeking authentic Southeast Asian cuisine!
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About
Southeast Asian Market
Introducing Southeast Asian Market
Nestled at 1500 Pattison Ave in Philadelphia, the Southeast Asian Market emerges as an enchanting culinary escape that transports you straight into the heart of Southeast Asia. With its vibrant atmosphere, the market operates on weekends from July to October, inviting locals and visitors alike to discover a tapestry of flavors that celebrate the gastronomic traditions of the region.
As you step into this bustling hub, delightful aromas waft in the air, hinting at the savory and sweet treasures awaiting discovery. Customer experiences reveal a myriad of offerings—from refreshing sugarcane juice that quenches your thirst to mouthwatering meat skewers sizzling with flavor. There’s something special about indulging in dishes like lemongrass cheesesteak or the longanisa sausages, each bite reminding you of the rich culture and history behind Southeast Asian cuisine.
A walk through the market presents an exploration beyond just food. Stalls brim with fresh vegetables, colorful trinkets, and household essentials that evoke the charm of an authentic Asian marketplace. Patrons have noted the warmth of the vendors, who share their culinary stories while offering up delicious samples, from coconut rice balls dipped in fish sauce to sticky rice steamed in banana leaves.
- Recommended Highlights:
- Stuffed fried chicken wings bursting with flavor.
- Thai beef jerky that’s remarkably tender and delicious.
- A delightful dessert of coconut, pandan, and jackfruit that features on select vendor stalls.
- Freshly squeezed sugarcane juice that adds to the market's refreshing drink selection.
While the market can get crowded, leaving you with a sense of bustling excitement, it also offers the charm of community dining. Although picnic blankets and portable chairs may enhance your experience due to limited seating, the vibrant energy of sharing space with fellow food enthusiasts becomes part of the joy.
Visitor Tips:
- Look for long queues; they often signify the best and freshest offerings.
- Don’t hesitate to inquire about cooking times if your meal isn’t ready, as patience is key to enjoying authentic dishes.
- Check vendor payment options—most accept digital payments, but some may be cash-only.
The Southeast Asian Market is more than just a place to eat; it’s a community experience brimming with flavor, diversity, and culinary creativity. Whether you're a seasoned food adventurer or a curious newcomer, prepare for a memorable outing that promises to delight your palate and expand your culinary horizons!
People talk
Our Guestbook
“ What an amazing spot!! Open July-Oct, Sat & Sun, this market boasts a variety of savory and sweet goodies representing the SE Asian food sphere. Along with food, they have stalls with fresh veggies, trinkets, pre-made food (think jarred items) and household goods essential to the Asian household (you know the twiggy, colorful-handled broom and backless plastic chairs I'm talking about). My friends had their fave spots for sugarcane juice and skewers (at the intersection where it branches off, about 2/3 of the way walking in). My recommendation is picking a spot that looks good (ideally is cranking out fresh food), and long queues are ideal! We sampled coconut rice balls with fish sauce, meat skewers, longanisa sausages, lemongrass cheesesteak, basil seed pudding, sugar cane juice, and more. Visitor beware, because there's a good chance you'll smell like a skewer after your visit :P Parking is free but can be tough (closest is around the one-way loop), but we usually opt for the lot before the one-way loop starts. ”
“ Wow -- just wow. We spent a few wonderful hours at lunchtime on a Sunday in late September. I don't recall any stall names, but no matter. Just bring your curiosity and a good appetite, and follow your eyes and nose. A couple of food highlights for me were stuffed fried chicken wings, sticky rice with goodies steamed in a banana leaf, and amazingly flavorful Thai beef jerky. Some tips: 1. In situations where the food you want isn't yet ready, ask the vendor for a no-kidding time estimate. One of the stands took a good 40 minutes after we ordered to cook a batch of so-so pad Thai. 2. Seating is scarce, so bring a blanket, chair, or such. 3. Buy extra to take home. ”
“ Love this market- so many options and offerings. It was busy but all of the booths were great. Most places take venmo, card and some take cash only. I will come back! ”
“ I have been here a couple times before, have tried their lemongrass skewers and the noodles from the popular Lort Cha lady. Had a bowl of delicious chicken curry from a Cambodian vendor called "Mom and Pop" at the SEA market recently. It was hot but very flavorful. It is also one of the few stalls that has a seating area and they provide you with silverware, paper napkins, sauces just like in a restaurant. In addition to that, we also got a few amazing desserts from a pop up vendor. One was exceptional and stood out: A coconut, pandan and jackfruit dessert. I forgot to ask for their details but they had a board saying "Thai street food by Apple and her Mom". They will be back again in September so I am definitely going back to try more of their offerings. There is a vendor that offers various smoothies and drinks like sugarcane at the front end of the market. We got a Taro smoothie thinking it would be freshly made but were disappointed that she made the smoothie out of a Taro powder - which we could've easily made at home. I'll be skipping that one for sure. ”
“ A great market with many stalls that sell yummy food & drinks. Can get smoothies, lunch/dinner, and meat on a stick. They have street corn and sugar cane juice that is freshly squeezed. Check their website for location but the site at FRD Park is really nice ”
“ I'm not sure why it took me so long to visit. This weekly food market is open pretty much every weekend in the spring- fall season. It's clean and well organized. I highly recommend finding the longest line and ordering from there as the food there will probably be the best. Some items I loved was the Cambodian stuffed chicken wings, sausages, and sugar cane juice. ”
“ What hasn't already been said?! This is a good place to do some shopping for produce or items for cooking SE Asian dishes. But it's also a great place to eat. Best way to get the most out of it is to bring friends and order lots of things to share. Picnicking is the way to go, I think. I've enjoyed a cheesesteak, SE Asian style. The coffee is always good. Try some skewers. Don't sleep on the stuffed chicken wings. We were skeptical, but the one we got was the surprise hit of our walking buffet. Bring cash! ”
“ We love the SE Asian Market. We've gone a few times and it's always a great time. One time we went in the pouring rain and no one was there except us - no lines anywhere!! Today we went and the weather was perfect. Def a crowd but the lines moved super fast. Top items for me: meat sticks - you have to get these! Stuffed chicken - I've never had anything like this before this market. Sugar cane drink. Deep fried bananas and taro. Chicken hearts. meat pies. And many other good things. The only thing I have ever gotten here that I didn't like was the thai tea. That was actually pretty awful -- but everything else is great. I want to try the sour soup next but will wait for cooler temps. ”
“ This market has grown significantly in size over the years. From a small underground market to being recommended in major Philly publications. I am so excited that it has become such a success. I love visiting here and finding things you don't see in "mainstream" Asian food markets. Southeast Asian food are getting the recognitions they deserve, especially Cambodian food. I always look for the BBQ stalls with the longest lines, don't know how scientific that is, but has worked well thus far :). I love the beef, pork and stuffed wing skewers, especially with some papaya salad on the side. The spring rolls are always delicious as well. Can't forget the drinks of course, get a coconut or sugar cane drink. Parking can be difficult if you get there late, put on your walking shoes and prepare for a mini hike, it's worth it! ”
“ Saturday was a perfect day for a walk in the park (FDR park) and have a lovely lunch while checking out the Asian market. So much food, all kinds of different delicious things to try. Wandering around watching the grilling, frying, baking and steaming. In addition to the shopping. It's a must have experience!! ”
