TThe night market in the Pearlridge parking lot in front of TJ Maxx begins at 5 p.m. as the day begins to cool down. Live music acts interact with the crowd, fairy lights hanging from tents and the smell of delicious food create a lively atmosphere. A tip in advance: bring a few friends with you. Why? The number of seats is limited. This way one of you can grab a spot at one of the tables while someone grabs something to eat. How did our $60 foodie date go?

Market: Village night market
When: Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m
Where: 98-1005 Moanalua Rd
Info: @village.events.hawaii

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My favorite dish of the evening is the one we start with. Pelmeshki is a supplier that specializes in Russian dumplings or pelmeni. At Pelmeshki, $16 gets you 16 bite-sized pierogies filled with a beef and pork mixture that are served either steamed or stir-fried, but for the order we’re splitting, my friend has the great idea of ​​choosing both. I eat it with sour cream, the traditional condiment, and it provides a slight contrast to the meaty dumplings. I also urge you to try the shoyu chili, the most popular option.

My personal favorite food is dumplings like gyoza and rice. While I enjoy the crispy pan dumplings, my girlfriend prefers the softer, steamed ones. It’s interesting to see how the different textures offer different experiences, making it an excellent option as a side dish or main course.

As the night gets cooler, we warm up with a shared bowl of Miso Butter Corn Ramen from Ramen Spot Beach for $15.50. The hearty, rich miso broth feels comforting. The ramen is topped with tender chashu, bright green onions and an expertly marinated egg. The sweet corn is a nice touch and balances out the butteriness. We saved some of Pelmeski’s pierogies and eat them with the ramen, almost like gyoza, making a delicious and almost conventional combination!

Our culinary adventure continued with a clam chowder bread bowl from Moore 4Uparticularly irresistible since I’ve never seen a bread bowl at a night market. For $16 you can get a hearty clam chowder or noodles in a bread bowl. The clam chowder is thick, creamy and flavorful. While my bowl doesn’t contain any clams, a generous amount of potatoes and crispy bacon add texture and depth. The soft, fluffy sourdough bowl is perfect for dipping and soaking up every last drop of chowder. I’m a big bread fan and would buy this again.

To end our evening on a sweet note, we come over Da mochi guys for their Cookie Butter Crunch, a four-pack of pink mochi generously filled with cookie butter, for $10. The chewy mochi with its sweet and slightly salty cookie butter filling is the perfect dessert to end our meal.

Our pre-tax total tonight is $57.50 for a shared four-course meal for two. The satiety factor is 10 out of 10 for both of us. All in all, this night market offers an excellent mix at good prices. The market says it will continue every Saturday evening during the holiday season without interruption. So bring friends, check out the vendors, and plan your own foodie date night at the market!

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SEE ALSO: Date Night Market: A Sunset Date for $60 at ‘Ono Grindz & Mākeke

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