Walk into downtown St. Pete's soon-to-open Hawkers Asian Street Fare and you'll find textures like dark wood mixed with brick, light fixtures shielded by upside-down baskets in the dining room, and an open kitchen. Asian-language newspaper clippings decorate tabletops, while "Gan Bei," whose meaning is close to "bottoms up," is painted on a wall opposite the entrance. There's an indoor-outdoor bar as well as a patio with more seating.
A friends and family event for Hawkers at 1235 Central Ave., where Taps & Tequila used to be, helped introduce the restaurant space's stylish transformation (and food) on Saturday night. St. Pete's EDGE District marks the third location for the small plates concept, with the others based in Orlando and Jacksonville.
Throughout the invite-only preview, the restaurant featured a limited menu divided into drinks, the signature roti canai (Malaysian flatbread that was this editor's flaky favorite) as a starter, small plates, noodles and rice, and desserts.
Guests chose from items like a kimchi Bloody Mary, green papaya and shrimp salad, chicken curry and rice, Beef Haw Fun (Chinese stir-fried wide rice noodles, sliced steak, scallions, onions, bean sprouts, soy sauce), and miso ramen (miso broth, ramen noodles, pickled mustard greens, braised pork belly, narutomaki, poached egg).
Here's a taste of the dishes and drinks CL noshed on ahead of Hawkers' March 15 grand opening.
