Laura C.
Yelp
Hawker's rocks! I can honestly say that I haven't chosen to navigate the Deep Ellum night scene in quite awhile. Everything is just easier in the daytime when you're nearing 70; driving, parking and walking, but we had been up to Baylor and to leave the area without dining out - well that's just not right!
I've been wanting to come here for awhile. Let me tell you, the Hawker's Asian Street Food menu is formidable, so good luck making a first time decision. We lost our minds and ordered too much, most of it from the front half of the menu.
Dim Sum : Roti Canai; two Malaysian flatbreads, served with a side of curry sauce ($9). Fried Spring Rolls; crisp wrap, shredded veggies with a Vietnamese vinaigrette dipping sauce ($7).
Meats: Korean Twice Fried Wings; sauced in garlic gochujang and topped with peanuts, sesame and cilantro ($13).
Street Skewers: Grilled Shrimp Street Skewers; wild-caught grilled shrimp spiced with chuan jerk rub, served with pickled fresno peppers and fresh lime ($11). Spiced Lamb Street Skewers; savory ground lamb spiced with cumin, coriander, fennel, and Sichuan peppercorns, served with spring onion ginger aioli and chuan jerk rub ($11).
Most of the ordering was my husband going crazy and yet I still wanted noodles, so from the back half where the soups, curries, rice and noodle dishes live; I ordered the C.K.T., Wok-fired shrimp, chicken, lap cheong, egg, veggies and fresh wide rice noodles in a simple soy and pork sauce ($15).
I have to tell you, we had so much fun knoshing on everything. Our wait staff were fun people, too, who we enjoyed and they made sure we had a good time. We like most Asian food spicy and Hawker's has a Signature Spice tray they will bring you on request to bring additional heat to your food instead of spicing up things individually. The nam jim, a Thai chili dipping sauce, was my favorite of the trio on the tray. There was also a chili oil and some kind of sweet heat condiment similar to gochujang in texture.
My favorite bite was the lamb skewer. Tender but charred, the flavor was unbeatable combined with the aoili or even with the roti and curry sauce or dipped in the nam jim. The Korean chicken wings were so very crisp; they were some of the best I've ever had. The garlic and gochujang were perfect.
The C.K.T. came to me on a nearly full stomach! My husband had some on a small plate. I tried a few bites and thought it phenomenal. It needed some heat for me; but it's a veritable buffet of major flavors that I could only taste and then pack up to take home. It is a bowl that certainly could be shared.
Also, don't ignore the chuan jerk rub that comes with the Street Skewers. That seasoning can go on anything. I put some on the Curry sauce and had it with my roti. Scrumptious!
Hawker's is an energizing place to eat. Brightly colored yet dimly lit; there was a familiar bouncy music list. Not so in the neon lit gender neutral bathrooms where Asian music set the tone. Very cool mood in there for a bathroom.
There's high booths, low banquettes, tables and chairs, a beautiful bar and a terrific patio for warmer weather. I loved the colors, the chaotic wallpaper, neon signs and paper umbrellas. It's perfect decor for street food.
I noticed the table has no condiments, although I'm sure if you wanted fish sauce, Sriracha, Hoisin, soy or S&P; they would bring it. I realize it's more authentic; but there were also no utensils other than chopsticks. A small spoon came on the "spice" tray; but my husband never really picked up the use of chopsticks over the years. He muddled through for his noodles; but the option of a knife or a fork for the Skewers would have been nice. I used my hands readily enough.
We'll be back. Probably in the daytime. There's more menu to conquer.
