Hawkers Asian Street Food

A very lovely decorated restaurant addressing Asian street food atmosphere. Had very high expectations towards the food when I saw the high ratings. Overall I think the food itself is in the mid tier. Soup bun was very good. The spiced green beans had a weird tasting coating and was lack of seasoning. The lamb skewers were made from ground lamb, so it’s missing the tender texture of the lamb. The service was ok but very slow. When we first got the soup bun, no spoon or the sauce (vinegar) was brought to us so we had to wait to ask our server to get those for us.

This is a fun and easygoing Asian food place in Arlington with focus on small plates and it’s very good for sharing with friends and/or family! You will find lots of delicious and diverse Asian street food options! I just love their Chili cucumber salad and Hong Kong Sticky Ribs! Crispy tofu bites are also fun! Pair it with Tiger’s tail or Capri-Fun Cooler, and you are in for a treat!✅💯👌🏼 The atmosphere is light and easygoing, service is quick and prices are very reasonable! Totally recommend!

OMG!!! this food was delicious! i am pretty critical on my Asian food but this blew me away. definitely recommend the curry; it was phenomenal! had some friends get the pad thai and duck curry noodles and they loved it. even better was Ian who was an outstanding and enthusiastic server. passed the vibe check for sure

What a beautiful restaurant! We loved the service, especially from our server Ian. The decoration and lighting is phenomenal! They can make dishes vegetarian by replacing the fish, chicken, & beef with tofu— you just need to ask!

We ordered the chicken egg rolls, soup dumplings, pork bao buns, and steak lo mein and everything delicious. Ian was our server and was amazing, would definitely recommend going here!!!

My first time dining here and the food was absolutely amazing! The entire experience was perfect from start to finish. Huge thanks to my husband for always finding the best spots—he never misses!"

Fun multi-cultural Asian menu with plenty of small plate or entree options. The food was decent, and there was plenty of seating options indoors and outdoors. Would recommend the wings and the soup dumplings! They had fun beverage options, both with and without alcohol.

a mix between different Asian food cultures coming together, my favorite were the wings , many of the appetizers felt small but were enough after ordering many many appetizers, Thai ice tea was pretty good and refreshing as well , would come here next time if I was ever in the area

The food was amazing. I'd recommend the LoLo Curry, it has the perfect amount of spice. Also wanna give a shoutout to Gabby for the great service. She always made sure we were good. Overall 4/5, wild visit again.

I really enjoyed the bibimbap. Ian is hilarious and gorgeous. Come enjoy yourself here!

I had been hearing great things about out this Asian cuisine spot and it did not disappoint. It's a pretty cool and lively spot, nice decor, plenty of lighting, and an abundance of outdoor seating to take advantage of the warmer days/nights. It was a Saturday night so definitely super busy but luckily I was able to find some bar seating since the table wait was about 20 mins at that time. The menu has a wide variety of items like chicken dumplings, sticky ribs, Korean fried wings, Pad Thai, curry laska ramen with prices ranging from $10-$20 per item. The service was excellent, the servers were very welcoming and personable. I got to try out the chili crisp cucumbers, soup dumplings, shrimp summer roll, Chinese bbq pork bao buns, and the beef how fun. The food came out quickly appetizers first and the entree followed. -chili crisp cucumbers: really good and as a person who isn't big on spicy food I didn't find them terribly hot or overwhelming -shrimp summer roll: fresh and tasty -Chinese bbq pork bao: solid, I would have liked a little more hoisin sauce on them but no major complaints. -Soup Dumplings: Are a must try, super savory and delicious. -Beef Haw Fun: Great flavor and perfect portions of steak but the dish was a little bit dryer than expected. All in all a terrific dining experience (the drinks were excellent too) highly recommend giving them a try.

This place is located in an alley type of area near the local mall. The interior is flashy, with very cool tiki notes. You do get a feel that you are inside a tiki hall. Lolol Menu is small, but appropriate for its food and beverage offerings. If you are feeling a little peckish, I would recommend the sections on the bao buns, veggie-ish, and skewer offerings from the dim sum and Bao Buns page. Tasty with great flavor profiles. My favorites include the roast duck bao with a great hoisin sauce, the satay chicken street skewers, and Hawker wings. I looks forward to checking out the other page filled with noodles, soups, rice and curries in the near future. I am satisfied by the little bites, but I would like to try the noodles and curries sometime soon. Even with my random uestions, the service is typically helpful, accommodating AND honest.

Amazing experience. The service was excellent, thanks you, Chad, for being so attentive. The vibe is unique, and the decor makes you feel like you've stepped into an Asian city. Both indoor and outdoor seating areas are beautifully done, especially with the string lights at night, perfect for hanging out or a casual date. The food was absolutely delicious. We tried several dishes, and everything was flavorful and well prepared. Highly recommend starting with the Korean double fried wings, super crispy and tasty. The Margari Thai cocktail was also a hit, slightly spicy and refeshingly different. I ordered the Curry Laska and loved it. The broth was rich and aromatic, with a great mix of proteins. It had a bit of heat, but even for someone who can't handle spicy food, it was totally manageable.

First time back in a bit and still like the vibes and some of the menu updates. I think the biggest thing this place suffers with is being out of stuff every single time we visit. Last time it was some Japanese whiskies on the flight menu- this time it's Sparro(for the sake drops). They were also out of most of their whites. I'm not sure why this is such a chronic thing here. Food wise- duck baos are still fantastic and we really liked the new duck curry noodles. Service is shaky though- no waters unless you ask and bao buns took 30+ mins to come out which if your doing the happy hour deal, may be off putting if you wanted to order a second round. They never offer the spice tray either. I asked about the spiciest wings and was told the sriracha honey- it was literally sauce on the side that tasted like straight honey. They were perfectly crispy but super overwhelming when wanting a spice level.

Let me start off by saying I have the absolute best bestie. He knows how much I love trying new spots so when he said we were going to Hawkers I was excited. The night we visited it was very lively and had a short wait time for a table but eventually ended up grabbing seats at the bar. I hate that I don't remember the bartenders names because they were both great and provided us great service. The menu offers a variety of Asian Street Food and tasty cocktails. For the evening we enjoyed the chili crisp cucumbers which were fresh, crisp and flavorful without being overly spicy. The shrimp summer rolls were refreshing, the Chinese BBQ pork bao buns and Beef Haw Fun from what I heard from bestie were flavorful and good portions but could have used more sauce. All in all we had a great time at Hawkers and hope to get back soon to try some of their other menu options.

I took a colleague for a congratulatory lunch recently and I had a great experience. I haven't been to Hawkers in about 2 years and they definitely have upped their game. Last time I remember going it was blazing hot because the AC was broken but it was cool as a fan in there now. We tried a bunch of their menu item but the curry duck noodles stole the show for me. Best noodles I have had in a very long time.

My wife and I went on Tuesday for date Nite, outdoor seating was nice. Service was just ok, my appetizer and meal came out all before my wife's food. I had to mention it to the server. Different food has different cook times, but food needs to come out at the same time for 1 party. The Hong Kong wonton was delicious and filling. The drinks were good as well.

Our waiter was extremely nice. I love the location in Arlington. It was very clean and the oxtails were delicious.

I got the kimchi steak, kimchi fried rice, pork bao buns, and the capri refresher! Everything tasted 10/10. The steak was extremely soft, but the portion size was a little small. Staff was friendly and the environment was cool inside. I will be coming back!

I honestly forgot what I got (sorry) The aesthetics were cute! I went at the perfect time, it wasn't crowded. The food though wasn't that great- seemed like my noodles were dry and sticky probably sitting out for a while.. I might give it another try

My sister and I were seated quickly near the kitchen. The menus were brought by Simon, who knows his stuff. They have a special drink menu that you have to use a red viewer for, but the place is dim so it didn't really work very well. I ordered the Tiger's tail cocktail since it has passionfruit syrup in it. We ordered the chili, crisp, cucumbers, and the Singapore, fun noodles and the Bibimbap. The drink arrived and the first thing my sister said was, "look at all the ice!" And it's true. A cocktail is typically the menu item with the lowest bill for ingredients of anything on the menu and therefore the most profitable. You have to strike a fine balance between disappointing the customer and not over serving the customer in one go. While the flavor was good, I would say this was a disappointment because the drink didn't really elevate you or uplift you. The food, however, is very good for what it is. Asian street food. The Singapore fun noodles are rice noodles that have been softened and quick fried with egg and shrimp and very good flavor. The Korean Bibimbap was equally as good. The chili crisp cucumbers, make for a nice appetizer. The "crisp" refers to the cucumbers still having some crunch to them as opposed to their being cooked. They are served cold. The sauce they are in does not stick to them very well, but is quite tasty. We came here early on a Saturday evening and the place was already roughly half full. I think they're a little short staffed because there were about four booths in a row that either had not been cleared or they may have been clearing other tables and stacking the dishes on them. I think the former. Next time, I'll probably order a glass of wine. My mother prefers to order beer in a bottle or a can so you know the quantity and quality of what you're getting. All the same, I would still come back. This place is better than most, and the roast duck buns is calling my name.

Been here a couple of times with friends. Haven't had a menu item I haven't liked yet.

I had hawkers to go after craving Asian food. I love a good boa bun and Hawkers does a great one! The hot chicken bao is a crispy delight that you don't have to fear having bone-in. The spicy pickle on top completes the dish, and I'm saying this as someone who avoids pickles sometimes . The spring roll was good but the bao stole the show. The hostess was nice when I walked in and the place was crowded for a Wednesday. I definitely want to come dine-in with friends and enjoy this place again!

Overall, the food was delicious! I got the chili cucumbers, and the ramen bowl. Both were delicious. The chili sauce on the cucumbers was to die for and the coconut curry was very tasty. The bartender was super friendly and willing to help answer any questions. Would definitely come back when I'm in town!

My 3rd visit. I am conflicted in my ratings here, lol I absolutely love the decor, ambiance and the overall bustling vibe here. 5 stars Food taste, quality and consistency, 3 stars Creative menu, 5 stars Prices, 2 stars, a bit expensive Overall, 4 stars I guess! For appetizers, we had; - Yi-Yi's Chicken Dumplings, fried crispy on the bottom side, with a soy type dipping sauce. They were ok, nothing special. The dipping sauce was not balanced and had way too much of a vinegar taste to it. There were no chives like the menu shows online. The ground chicken inside was not seasoned very well. Five for $10, a bit pricey in my opinion. - Satay Chicken Skewers - they were ok. Two skewers for $9, a little overpriced. I did not like the taste of the peanut sauce. Entrée we had: C.K.T. Char Kway Teow, a wide, flat rice noodle stir fried with shrimp, bits of scrambled egg, sausage, chicken and light veggies in a very light brown sauce. $15 Beef Haw Fun, flat, wide rice noodles stir fried with tender beef slices, light veggies and very lite brown sauce. $16 I thought both noodle dishes were too much on the a la dente side. I've had the beef haw fun here before and the noodles were perfect between tender and a la dente. This time they were on the chewier, not so tender side. On another visit I had appetizers including the BBQ Pork Bao Buns, which were delish, and sake. I absolutely enjoy dining here because they serve different types of popular Asian and East Asian food in one place, like Chinese, Indian, and Thai in one place and because the atmosphere is bustling. What I did not know is that they bring food out as it's done, not in any particular order. And food is meant to be shared. They give you small plates at the table so you can try things from the main serving dish and put it on to your smaller plate. There are no sauces on the table, so you will need to ask for things like chili oil or soy sauce. Even though I am conflicted in my overall rating, I highly recommend this restaurant. I will definitely return.

I love the food here. All the noodles dishes I've had as been fantastic. Bulgogi, skewers, yum. I've been here several times. Unfortunately my friend & I both agreed that the drinks were not so great here. The cocktails had too much syrup. They were difficult to drink. Was not a good balance in ingredients. I think you have to stick to their beers. Even wine i had once was just meh. But the food is really good. Highly recommend for food. It's a very fun, nonchalant, cool vibes with a firepit & jenga outside. Great outdoor space and i love to sit outside at their bar when the weather is nice. Easy parking at the mall.

I've been before for dinner, but stopped in for a late lunch and was delighted to see that there was happy hour from 3-6 pm and I could sit on the patio! I'll def be back!

LOVE HAWKERS! Went here as a monthly lunch get together and it was one of the best choices we've made. The food was EXCELLENT and the decor was really thought out. We will come again for sure.

Good service. The double fried chicken wings and bibimbap was good. Phad Thai was different from the normal. Taste was new to me.

DELICIOUS food! Like wow. I was in love with my curry bowl. I ordered the Curry Laksa and I cannot recommend it enough. Really cool blend of multiple proteins and just a delicious broth. Has a bit of spice to it, but as a girl who can't finish a bag of Takis, it was manageable. Beautiful atmosphere with the coolest decorations. I absolutely love the way they chose to decorate this place. It is the coolest vibe inside feeling like the streets of an Asian downtown city. Great vibes to get a drink and hang out. The outdoor seating is so cute and vibrant with string lights at night. Plenty of seating everywhere so you won't have to wait long when you come. Pretty fast service overall. Food was made quickly.

Food is quite good as was the service. The interior music, however, was so loud tonight as to be irritating. You could not hear people you are dining with unless people yell. The loud music must drive the staff nuts. It's excessive and needs to be reduced in volume as it makes for a terrible dinky experience.

Their roast duck bao is puffy and delicious; coconut shrimp crunchy but a bit stingy (only 5), yaki udon is great (though due to trapped heat inside container it all stuck together; if they poke holes to let the container vent it'll be better). Ordered on UberEats for self pick up. Had to wait quite a bit at the restaurant (they were not busy at all). But of course nice decors as always.

Good roast duck bao bun, and slightly overly fatty pork bun bao. The bao bun was a bit dry, but the white bao is very firm yet fluffy. I think the topping to bread ratio was a bit low. Spring rolls are pretty small--even for an appetizer--for the price point. The restaurant/brand definitely gives a more elevated street food type vibe. It's a bit more expensive (about 33% more in my opinion) than they should be but it is a good twist on Asian street food. Service was fine but it was a bit slow.

Came here on a Saturday night after a workout, was jam packed but def had the space to accommodate. The food is STUPID good, I had the nepali lamb curry ramen, singapore noodles, the sticky short ribs, bao buns, and Chinese noodles that were to die for. If you want a medley of bussin Asian food, come to this joint

We had a wonderful meal. Great food, awesome staff, and a great place to eat! Take the time and have a wonderful dinner!

I've become obsessed! I love this place! I am determined to try every item on the menu! The pad Thai is delicious, the chow fan is amazing as well! My only issue is when ordering online, if they are out of stock on something, they don't offer a refund or a substitute item. That's pretty unfair and the reason for the star reduction. Other than that, no complaints!

This place redeemed itself! Although the service was slow the food was soooo good. Tried the chili crisp chicken dumplings, the lo mein with chicken, the green beans and the bulgogi beef. Everything was so yummy! I would definitely come back.

This place had a cool trendy vibe to it. Lots of art and lights that make you feel like you're really there having street food delights. Food had authentic flavor. The waiter recommended ordering food to share with the whole table and said food gets delivered as they are finished cooking, not necessarily all at same time. The only small issue I had was the soup dumplings didn't actually have much soup at all. I also noticed a few of them already had some slits in them which the soup probably drained out of.

Wow this place is great for a quick bite! The aesthetic is awesome and I really felt the street food atmosphere. Me and the wife ordered the following: - Roti canai 4/5 (love the roti with curry, definitely a must try!) - Chinese BBQ pork bao 3/5 (a little sweet just wasn't my jam) - Sichuan wontons 4/5 - Pad Thai (4/5) great pad thai and authentic very flavorful! Overall, a great place to try and definitely will try other menu items next time I'm in the area

I've only gone during lunch and sat at the bar. The service is attentive but allowed me to also do some work uninterrupted. I'm interested in going back to sit at a table and experience full service because the food I've tried is delicious. I will say the space at Ballston Commons is a little small. Other than that, no complaints.

Came to Hawkers my first day in DC and the experience started off AMAZING! The hostesses were super friendly, lively, and were super enthusiastic. That was quickly replaced by subpar service... We ordered a Saparo (Japanese Beer) and Flight to Tokyo (Sakẽ) needless to say the drinks got here after we finished our first rounds of waters... That stayed empty until after the drinks came... The wait staff did not make any recommendations for 4 kids and 3 adults who have never been here before (yes we travel to Asia regularly but still). Needless to say we guessed on our food and were offered another tables food (awkward because they say it and tried to convince us that it was our food (it was not but it looked good). The food for the kids was good but the lack of napkins left some wet tables and annoyed adults... overall give it a try the food was good drinks were average and service at table side was subpar. Do not come here for a fabulous table side experience or attentive wait staff. The food was good until my sister got her food and it was cold (out the fridge cold) and they had to remake her food. Kimchi fried rice was good and only got better when the brought the spice trays! P.s. Our server did not care about the party of 7 who had meals, alcohol, and thought about desserts... in case your wondering about the dessert menu it was meh like nothing amazing! The final nail in the review was the fact that the server took our order and we had a food runner bring dinner, bartender bring drinks, and a head chief from corporate bring spice trays... yes it's Saturday but not near as busy as it could be if the service was better... awkward af that the waiter took orders and brought the bill and that was the total interaction..

I've ordered takeout from here before but finally got to dine in at Hawkers. We were a group of 4 and shared the roti canai and crispy tofu bites. I thought both were good, the tofu bites had a nice spice to it and the roti came with a good sauce. I ordered the Yaki udon for my main. It was good and the chicken was well cooked. Overall it's a nice spot, a little loud inside but still a fun vibe.

Food is ok and the portion is quite small compare to the price. Service is horrible! We wait more than an hour while there are so many tables inside and host was inflexible in term of seating people. And finally we are seated, the chair is wet! Disappointed!

Just returned from a trip to Asia (Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand) and was eager to try Hawkers Ballston for a taste of familiar flavors. While the restaurant offers dishes from several Asian countries, they didn't quite capture the authenticity I experienced on my travels. Here's My Take: Slightly Off the Mark: It's understandable that flavors might vary, but the dishes I tried felt a bit inauthentic compared to what I had in Asia. Price vs. Value: The portion sizes seemed a little small for the price. If you're looking for a filling meal, you might leave feeling hungry. Service is also pretty good and easy to get a reservation. Casual & Diverse: Hawkers offers a casual atmosphere and a good variety of dishes from various Asian regions. This could be a fun introduction for those who haven't explored Asian cuisine before. Overall. having recently had the real deal in Asia, Hawkers Ballston wasn't quite what I was hoping for. However, it could be a decent option for someone new to Asian flavors or looking for a quick and casual meal. Recommendation: If you're craving truly authentic Asian food and have high expectations based on recent travels, this might not be the best choice. But, for a casual exploration of Asian flavors, it's worth a try.

Awful food. I tried the happy hour menu (baos, and fried chicken - Korean and Japanese) and I have no words to describe how terrible it was. How can one possibly go wrong with fried chicken, but it was dry and probably stale. The Japanese fried chicken was a joke - please call it something else!!). Ambience and service OK, but most importantly the food was terrible. I would not go again!

Hawkers is an Asian fusion restaurant with "tapas" style dishes. Best to come here with a group and order a bunch of dishes to share. Been here several times and everything I've ever tried has been solid and delicious. The atmosphere is great for a date night or night out with friends. Service is great and usually the food comes out pretty quickly.

I had never visited one of these chains but my friend had so that's how I ended up here. It was a short walk from my hotel and I was flying out that day so I wanted something quick. We ordered a to-go order. I am not sure if it was because the system was down, they had a lot of online orders or what, but it took at least 30 minutes for us to get our two orders of lo mein. The food was good, but I don't believe it should have taken that long. I was in a hurry to do some things before I left and it definitely put a time crunch on things. Although the food was good, I would say the portion size is a bit on the small side for the price.

This was my first time and the food was OUTSTANDING! Everything we had was absolutely delicious but the dumplings and curry mash were the stand outs. We also had PHENOMENAL service from Jackie. From the moment we sat down, we wanted for nothing. We will ask for her again!!!

Not sure how I had not heard of this place before. It has amazing food! Met a friend here for dinner over the weekend and I'm so glad she chose this location. I ordered their version of an espresso martini and it was scrumptious. We then ordered a combination of small plates and everything was good. My favorite was the chicken bao buns! I'll definitely be returning!

Mixed experience overall, but no denying that the service was awesome. Dinner with my older mother on a Sunday evening, and she requires A LOT of patience: indecisive about what she wants, lots of dietary issues and questions, says she's ready but then asks for more time...and Ashley was so good with her. Truly couldn't have asked for a more lovely server to show grace with my mom. Thanks, Ashley. Mixed feelings about ambience. Pros: Cool concrete block dividers remind me of the building materials you'll actually see in Asia. Tables covered in Asian newspapers with glass tops. Chinese tea boxes serve as container for chopsticks. Cons: The music is too loud, and they know it...but they wait until a customer requests it to be turned down rather than take the feedback they've received from customers (in person and online). Lighting is a bit dark; warm red hue is a cool vibe for date nights, but a little lantern on each table or slight increase of overall brightness would make the menu easier to read / presentation of food possible to appreciate. Most seating is hard but some cushioned booths are available; just ask hostess. And the food... Roti was solid. Chicken dumplings were basic and boring for the price. CKT was too salty, though textures of everything were perfect... just heavy handed with some kind of smoky seasoning sauce. And the Riesling was way too cold - clearly came from a fridge rather than a wine cooler. Might return but not in a rush. Kudos to the previous reviewer who provided hot tip about parking in Ballston Quarter ($1 for 3 hours)!

Went to finally try hawkers last night for dinner! Food was amazing, I enjoyed pretty much everything on their menu. I recommend yi-yi's dumplings, the Chinese bbq pork buns , Korean fried wings, crispy pork belly and definitely the Dan dan noodles. We also tried the lamb skewers, CKT noodles and kimchi fried rice--these were all just ok for me. For alcoholic beverages, the OG painkiller is pretty good (very pineapple based) and the tiger beverage (light and refreshing). The viet-spresso is good for coffee lovers and the spritz is similar to the tiger beverage just slightly heavier. Service could have been better. Our waitress did mess up and give us soup dumplings instead of the yi-yi dumplings but it was a quick fix. I do also understand as it was busy. The environment is very street feel. Great music, good vibes and lots of laughs. They do not take reservations so the earlier you show up the better for dinner!

Me and my fiancé love coming here ! Ian did a great job making sure our food was hot & the drinks were flowing . The vibe is aesthetically pleasing and street style. 10/10 recommend!!!

Found this place on Yelp and was excited to try. The atmosphere is very nice and we enjoyed the outside dinning. The wonton mee was not bad. Very good wontons, broth flavorful but the noodles were way overcooked. This is after telling the waiter ahead of time to tell them not to overcook the noodles. The laksa was not good at all nor was the char kway teow. The roti with curry was the best part but I don't think that the roti is homemade. Having lived in Asia eating numerous dishes in Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, I am a bit critical. Nice concept overall and for those whom have never tried some of these dishes, you might find it interesting. There are too many good authentic places around for me add this to my regular stops, but in a pinch I wouldn't turn it down.

This was our first visit to Hawkers, for a casual Friday lunch. We sat in their outside area and service was very good. We thought everything we ordered was pretty good. The buns of Chinese BBQ Pork Baos were light and fluffy, but unfortunately they were stuck to the paper they were served on and it was hard to remove them without all of the pork filling falling out. Also, we felt like the pork filling needed a little more spice. (BTW, you can ask for a little tray of their three spices, which were really good). The Yaki Udon noodles had a really nice texture and taste, but the dish was a little skimpy on chicken. The chicken dumplings were just okay, nothing really special.

Came here on a Monday during lunch and ordered the Duck Bao Bun($13)and curry Duck noodle($16). The duck bao bun had really crispy duck skin. Bun was sweet and fluffy. Not to much hoisin sauce which made it a little dry but allowed the duck to shine. Noodles had a small spice kick to it which I liked, however it was oily and over salted. Service was terrible, wait staff didn't come around to refill drinks or checkup on us. Overall solid food just bad service. Food: 7.8 Staff/service: 3.0 Value: 4.0 Overall: 5.6/10

Amazing experience! We had the best service -- thank you Chad (: The vibe is great. The decor makes you feel like you've been transported to another country. The food is also delicious. We tried several dishes and everything we had was equally tasty. Definitely order the Korean double fried wings to get started. So yummy!! Also highly recommend the Margari-Thai. It had a little kick, which made it extra perfect for me. Next time I'm ordering two!

To any one reading this, when in Ballston Arlington you must visit Hawkers!! They don't disappoint. The food is always cooked perfect, their attention to details is on point the chef even comes out to greet the tables (love it when they care) she was so nice. Props to chef Rosalia. The staff looks happy to be working here. And that is what I like about this place. Super friendly staff... Thank you Hawkers for your excellent service.