Tacoma’s newest block party has under-$7 food specials, vintage, live music and more

Kristine Sherred

At the inaugural Lincoln District Food Walk, nosh on banh mi, Mexican conchas filled with ice cream, and a vegan chopped cheese while sipping micheladas in a beer garden to the tune of live music from a diverse set of local performers.

The block party-style event — or “street food party!” as organizers at the Lincoln District Business Association have coined it — starts at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 15 on Yakima Avenue between 38th and 39th streets. There is no entry fee.

In addition to pop-up food vendors, several restaurants in the neighborhood will feature select dishes and drinks, such as the fresh-pressed sugarcane juice at M&K Deli or $4.95 spring rolls at VK Viet Kitchen.

Freshly chopped peanuts add texture to the sauce accompanying these shrimp spring rolls at VK Viet Kitchen in Tacoma’s Lincoln District.
Freshly chopped peanuts add texture to the sauce accompanying these shrimp spring rolls at VK Viet Kitchen in Tacoma’s Lincoln District.

“The goal of Lincoln District Food Walk is to shine a light on the diverse restaurants, businesses and cultures that make up the district,” said Deserie Nicole, president of the neighborhood business association and owner of All Star Vintage at 766 S. 38th St. “Street food is a big part of many cultures — we’re excited to bring that energy and experience to Tacoma.”

It’s the second big festival for the district, which celebrated Tacoma’s Lunar New Year in February with traditional lion dancers, firecrackers, red envelopes and, of course, plenty of food and drink. Following a 2021 hiatus, it was well-attended, with food vendors selling out and restaurants teeming with customers eager to try newcomers including Lunar’s Pho and neighborhood mainstays, from the pho at Vien Dong to the tortas at El Zocalo.

During the food walk, Zocalo will feature vampiro jugo, a refreshing beetroot and carrot juice with citrus and celery, for $4.99. Vien Dong will have banh mi for $4.50 and cafe sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee) for $3.

At Hong Kong Market, the locally owned grocer on the corner of Yakima and 39th, grab a bubble tea for $3.50. Dragon’s Crawfish will offer cheesy garlic fries for $6.99, while Jubilee will sling $4 cheeseburgers and Burger Ranch $1.99 ice cream cones.

Vegan’s Alley serves New York-style vegan comfort food such as this chopped cheese sandwich at pop-up events around Tacoma.
Vegan’s Alley serves New York-style vegan comfort food such as this chopped cheese sandwich at pop-up events around Tacoma.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen vendors will set up on Yakima. They include Jan Parker Cookery and her vibrant Filipino food, Big Island Poke, Dawg Eat Dogs and Infinite Goodness Juices. Erik’s Seafood will be there, hopefully with its crawfish roll and shrimp fried rice, as well as Conchaliscious and Vegan’s Alley, a new outfit gaining popularity for its chopped cheese and other plant-based comfort foods.

Memoranda Kitchen, often found at farmers markets, will join the food pop-ups, along with Bliss Ice Cream, Pink Gorilla Espresso, Ate’s Filipino Kitchen and Ka’lalo with Mexican and Honduran bites.

“We are excited to bring a new food-focused experience to Tacoma, and we are most proud to do it with intention,” said Deserie Nicole, who also operates Tacoma Sunday Market in the Lincoln High School parking lot weekly throughout the summer. That includes “celebrating Lincoln District elders, businesses and community members who have been here for decades.”

Promotional materials including social media posts have been translated into Vietnamese and Spanish, for instance.

The music, curated by local artist Josiah French, reflects that mission. Performers include Jusmoni, a Cambodian and African American singer and songwriter based in Seattle, and Generational Wealth, a young Tacoma band whose members are African American and Filipino.

Visitors can enjoy all of the above from the beer garden, replete with spicy micheladas. Proceeds from drink sales here benefit the nonprofit Lincoln District Business Association. For the kids, FabLab will host hands-on activities at 324 S. 38th St.

When not eating or drinking or playing, fan through the arts and crafts vendors also on-deck. Outside All Star Vintage, look for a sidewalk sale with apparel from a few sellers.

LINCOLN DISTRICT FOOD WALK

▪ July 15, 4-9 p.m. on Yakima Avenue between 38th and 39th streets, lincolndistricttacoma.square.site/events

▪ Details: free block party and street food celebration (pay as you go) with live music, beer garden, vintage and kids activities

▪ Follow facebook.com/LincolnDistrictTacoma and Instagram for updates

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