The much anticipated The Canberra Times Night Noodle Markets has released the sizzling menus of this year’s event, with a feast of signature dishes and creative tastes from Canberra and Australia-wide favourites. Returning to Reconciliation Place for an extended stint of eleven nights due to popular demand, from 28 February until 9 March, the air will be filled with spicy, salty and sweet aromas as Reconciliation Place is transformed into a bustling Asian street food festival.
The Night Noodle Markets will once again bring together the best combination of Australia’s multicultural flavours, celebrating and fusing cuisines as locals embark on a vibrant flavour journey from across Asia.
Tasting new creations, dynamic flavours and signature dishes from twenty-five delicious hawker-style stalls from around the country with a range of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options available; locals are sure to be left satisfied as they enjoy live music, DJs and lion dancing. The markets are also cash-free (all major cards welcome) so guests can spend less time queuing and more time enjoying the night.
Local-picks Korbq, Donburi Station and Superbao will be joined by crowd-favourites Hoy Pinoy, Gelato Messina and Flying Noodles along with exciting newcomers Demochi Donuts, Grill & Spice, Superbao, The Pham Sisters, Chinese Dim Sum King and Raijin Noodles & Dumplings.
Canberrans can explore the markets, ticking destinations off their culinary bucket list, and indulge in must-try, Insta-worthy dishes including (but certainly not limited to):
New Stallholders
● Demochi Donuts: Original Glaze Mochi Donut – Donut with signature honey infused gloss glaze
● Grill & Spice: Samosa Chaat – Indian street food
● Superbao (Canberra local): Sichuan Fried Chicken Bao-ger - 24-hour cooked chicken thigh, marinated in sticky sauce, infused with Sichuan peppercorn and chilli oil and served with mixed leaves, dressed with signature Sichuan peppercorn mayo
● The Pham Sisters: Vegan Peking Duck Pancake – Crispy pancake stuffed with vegan roast duck and veggies, topped with homemade BBQ sauce
● Chinese Dim Sum King: Dumplings – Prawn, chives with prawn, mushroom and vegetarian options
● Raijin Noodles & Dumplings: Gyoza Dumplings – Japanese style dumplings (gyoza) steamed and served with garnish salads, original gyoza sauce with optional chilli Local Canberra Stallholders
● Korbq: Chicken Waffle – Korean fried chicken in a waffle with melted cheese topped with parsley
● Donburi Station: Tokyo Taco – Fusion beef taco served with salsa and toppings on Japanese rice
National Stallholders
● Hoy Pinoy: Lechon – Boneless Hoy Pinoy style pig roasted over charcoal served on steamed rice with atchara & sawsawan
● Gelato Messina: Bangkok Banana – Deep fried banana fritters, caramelised palm sugar, banana gelato, coconut and lime chantilly, peanut crumble; Phuket Bucket - Condensed milk pudding, condensed milk crumble, lychee and sala shaved ice, lychee gelato, rainbow jellies
● May’s Malaysian Hawker: Singapore Noodles - Stir fried rice vermicelli seasoned with curry powder, bean sprouts, veggies and special soy sauce
● Wonderbao: Char Sui Bao - Traditional BBQ pork bun with soy based sauce
● Bangkok Street Food: Chicken and vegetarian tom yum noodles
● Calabang: Crispy Calamari and Foot-Long Potato Fries
● Twistto: Original Korean Twist Potato
● Flying Noodles: Fist of Fury - Mix of chicken and pork with flying noodles
● Teppanyaki Noodles: Yakisoba - Japanese style fried noodles
● Shallot Thai: Crackling Pork Noodles – Roasted pork belly in caramelised sauce with boiled egg noodles
● Satay Brothers: Teriyaki Beef Ribs - BBQ beef ribs basted in teriyaki sauce, served with Asian slaw and choice of coconut rice or chips; Thai Loaded Fries - seasoned fries topped with chicken bites, tom yum mayo, Thai herbs & chilli
● Waffleland: Lucky Fortune – Freshly baked waffle stick drizzled with caramel syrup and lychee, dusted with icing sugar with optional strawberries and ice cream; Cheeky Monkey – Freshly baked waffle stick with peanut butter, ice cream, bananas, pretzels, caramel syrup and wafer sticks with optional strawberries, warm nutella or melted chocolate
● Poklol x Puffle: Chichi Fries - Crunchy beer battered fries topped with your choice of bulgogi beef, Korean fried chicken or chilli chicken with melted cheese, smashed kimchi, fresh and fried shallots, topped with Japanese mayo and special Korean spicy sauce; KFC Puffle - Sweet and spicy Korean fried chicken stuffed inside a signature cheese Puffle, topped with Japanese mayo and shallots; Cheeseburger Puffle - Chopped bulgogi beef patty mixed with melted cheese, drizzled with Japanese mayo, mustard, sweet and spicy ketchup in a cheese Puffle
● Chur Burger: NOTORIOUS P.I.G - Crispy pork belly Asian slaw, pickled carrot, chilli caramel and aioli
● Wok Master: Roasted Duck – Stir fried hokkien noodles with roasted duck in XO sauce
● Bao Brothers: Bao Easy 3 - Set of pork, chicken and tofu bao
Enlighten Festival
Eat, see and explore as Canberra transforms for the annual Enlighten Festival from 28 February to 14 March. The autumn festival kicks off with The Canberra Times Night Noodle Markets alongside the Enlighten Illuminations, as architectural projections light up Parliament House, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, the National Library of Australia and Questacon (until 9 March).
Prepare to have your mornings brightened as the Canberra Balloon Spectacular returns from 7 to 15 March with hot air balloons filling the sky with a flurry of colour, sound and movement. Celebrate local creativity as Lights! Canberra! Action! (6 March) shines a light on local film-makers and Symphony in the Park (8 March) provides the perfect soundtrack to your sunset picnic.
Top off the festival by celebrating the city’s birthday at Canberra Day (9 March) and enjoy a flourish of fireworks at Hit 104.7 Skyfire (14 March). Visit enlightencanberra.com for the full Enlighten Festival program.