Philadelphia has long been renowned for the famous Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (FDR) Park, which has been there for over 100 years. But, the city is now experiencing an uprising in one of its food streets — the Southeast Asian Market. It has become one of the best food markets, especially for travelers and food lovers.
The Beginning
The establishment of the Southeast Asian Market first began with a Laotian couple selling papaya salad from their vehicle. Over time, many Southeast Asian vendors and families started setting up their stalls or shops in the alleys and street corners, covering every park corner. To ensure they were never confiscated by the police, the Cambodian Associate of Philly, the Vending Association of FDR Park, and the FDR Park Leadership faculties all came together and helped by turning their shops and stalls into legal and legitimate businesses. Today, the market’s board offers full support and proper education and training to the vendors that want to obtain a business license, file the taxes, and efficiently grow and invest more in their businesses.
The Best Food Market in the Country
Visiting the Southeast Asian Market will take you to a unique culinary experience. Start your day with refreshing sugarcane juice, or if you’re a caffeine lover, surely try Vietnamese coffee. With so many options to choose from for lunch, their Cambodian chicken wings are a popular choice. End your day with the mouth-watering dessert of mango and sticky rice, which the Southeast Asian Market is actually pretty famous for. You can visit the market throughout the year except for the last two months, and always check the peak hours or the opening times of the market before you visit. Also, make sure to stop by an ATM beforehand, as the local vendors and sellers of the Southeast Asian Market accept cash only.