Hawkers Asian Street Food Restaurant Coming to Ballston With Malyasian Roti Canai, Dim Dum | Eater DC

"I'm looking forward to Hawkers Street Asian Fare opening next spring in the 4,380-square-foot corner at the Ballston Exchange complex (4201 Wilson Boulevard). The Florida-based, fast-growing chain will bring a hawker-stall–inspired menu of dim sum, curries and tiki drinks geared toward a millennial crowd; signature items called out include the roti canai (Malaysian flatbread with curry sauce) — which co-owner Kaleb Harrell says people “can’t get enough of” and pour on anything they can find at home — plus pad Thai, twice-fried Korean wings, miso pork belly ramen, skewers grilled over 1,000-degree heat, and a Singapore “chili” crab (soft-shell crab with chile garlic sauce on a fried bao bun). Ballston will be the first test site for an expanded dumplings and dim sum menu stuffed with everything from soup to pork to Impossible “faux meat” (Harrell admits he’s “always been a carnivore at heart but that product is amazing” and he “can’t tell the difference”). The space will feature a large patio, an indoor/outdoor bar pouring cocktails like a fiery Margari-Thai and to-go boozy pouches, a neon-lit walk-up takeout window, and the brand’s industrial vibe with neon lighting; the team also plans to integrate local ingredients, beers and spirits as part of an “anti-chain chain” approach." - Tierney Plumb