Kanata Night Market opens with beef skewers, fresh smoothies, and vendors from out of town
The Asian-inspired summer street food festival returned Thursday with more than 20 vendors. A Hamilton-based BBQ team drove a U-Haul full of equipment just to be there.
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The smell of beef skewers hit you before you walked into the Kanata Night Market on Thursday afternoon — smoky, savoury, impossible to ignore.
The Asian-inspired summer street food festival is back, and it opened around 2 p.m. under a blazing sun and 27 C heat. (The "night" part was generous, but the ambiance was prime.) The market ran until 10 p.m., and Kanata showed up.
Beel skewers dominated one section of the market, with vendors like Panda-licious and Lamb Skewer stationed toward the back. But Grill King stood out: Bill Zhang and his team literally transported their entire setup from Hamilton in a U-Haul just to work the event. Zhang heard about the festival from a friend in Ottawa and decided it was worth the drive. Beef skewers went for $15 for two or $20 for three, spiced to your tolerance.
If you wanted a full meal, the market didn't disappoint. General Tao's chicken, grilled noodles, and crispy meat pies were all solid options. The potstickers from Kimmy Goa's stall came sprinkled with dried chives — eight pieces for $15, though Goa snuck in two extras. This was her second year at the market, and the warmth came through in every interaction. It was her second year working the Kanata Night Market.
The real crowd favourite, though, was the fresh smoothie station near the market entrance. The mango smoothies were genuinely everything — fresh, sweet but not cloying, cold, and absolutely perfect for a hot July afternoon. Nearly everyone walking past had one in hand.
More than 20 food and craft vendors filled the market, running through July 26.
At a glance
Where is the Kanata Night Market?
The Kanata Night Market is located at 1442 Baseline Rd, Ottawa, ON K2C 0B2, Canada.
When is the Kanata Night Market open?
The Kanata Night Market runs through July 26, 2026, opening around 2 p.m. and closing at 10 p.m.
What kind of food is served at the Kanata Night Market?
The Asian-inspired market features beef skewers, lamb skewers, General Tao's chicken, grilled noodles, crispy meat pies, potstickers, and fresh smoothies, with more than 20 food and craft vendors participating.
