Downtown Santa Ana has been around for a long time, but no one knew the potential it had to become a popular hotspot … until recently.

The city has definitely attracted more people with its honorable roster of restaurants and bars, and now it is home to a new beer brewery and food concept full of other delicious eateries to fill your stomachs.

Savor Santa Ana is an event that is held in the downtown area that gives the attendees an opportunity to try small bites from a bunch of different participating restaurants.

The DTSA Farmer’s Market that is held every Thursday from 4 p.m.- 8 p.m. also surrounds it.

This was the second Savor Santa Ana event they hosted and a successful one at that. This time around was the event added a few newer restaurants and a preview of the highly anticipated 4th Street Market, which officially opens on Monday, Feb. 16. Some compared the new Market to the Anaheim Packing House, which is a social food court.

Walking through the promenade that held the Farmer’s Market kind of felt like a normal night in Downtown Santa Ana. Not many people strolled through the market because the customers were all indoors busy filling their stomachs. The merchants didn’t seem to have many customers and the main crowd in the promenade was for ticket sales to the Savor event, but they did have a few stations for arts and crafts for the kids.

Since the event included restaurants all around the downtown area, they provided a free trolley that would take people to the different stops throughout. The trolley full of attendees, all seemed very happy (and drunk) to be there. A group of local residents out for ladies night offered some recommendations for KTCHN,“The pulled pork sandwich was delicious, make sure you try that!”

The DTSA 4th Street Market was already a packed house an hour after the event began. It was easy to see the excitement on the attendees and employees faces because the Market was filled with smiles, despite the very crowded environment. There was no denying the delicious smelling aromas from all the different types of food that surrounded the place and many customers were even sipping on their alcoholic drinks as they socialized and waited.

The longest line of the night belonged to Wagyu Chuck, one of the three Lunchbox series by chef and owner of Playground, Jason Quinn. Since his restaurant is only open for dinner, Quinn wanted to design three food concepts that operated as a single restaurant that could provide his customers with food during lunchtime. The other eateries in the Lunchbox series are Noodle Tramp and “PFC” Playground Fried Chicken, which both had consistent lines as well.

A healthy and organic addition to the 4th Street Market is the cold pressed juice bar, Radical Botanicals. The drink they were sampling for the night was a tasty blend of organic juices that included tangerine, orange, lemon with coconut milk, honey, and vanilla.

“Our motto is ‘Libation to enliven your being’,” said Alison Caldwell, marketing coordinator.

Caldwell explained that Radical Botanicals was created by an original mixologist who specializes in using organic ingredients to produce a refreshing drink like you’ve never had before. They’ll be featuring specialty juices, essential oil sodas, Rawktails, and agua frescas like a pistachio rose horchata. If you decide you don’t want a drink, they offer free hugs!

From a basement bar, to a Farmer’s market, to a new food court, to simply walking around and people watching; Savor Santa Ana has it all.

Make sure to stop by the new 4th Street Market that officially opens on Monday, Feb. 16, so you can experience what people are raving about!