No, the opening date isn’t a joke. Hawkers Asian Street Food will finally reopen on April 1 along the Eastside BeltLine trail in Old Fourth Ward after a grease fire shut down the restaurant for over two years.
In the summer of 2021, a grease fire sparked by a poorly engineered exhaust set-up to vent smoke and fumes from the kitchen forced Hawkers to close. The mechanics of the original exhaust system would often lead to temperatures rising in the restaurant and filling the dining room and kitchen with smoke.
To deal with the problem, ownership took the opportunity during the closure to rebuild and customize the exhaust system, make the restaurant more ADA-compatible, and refresh the interiors. They also added a noodle bar near the kitchen where people can watch the chefs in action and expanded the patio, which now includes games and ping pong tables.
In addition to a new exhaust system and the revamped space, look for some fresh dishes exclusive to the BeltLine restaurant like Singapore chili crab bao, Penang poutine, and sections dedicated to Hong Kong barbecue and soft serve ice cream.
Partners Kaleb Harrell, Allen Lo, Wayne Yung, and Kin Ho opened the first Hawkers Asian Street Food location over a decade ago in Orlando. They based the concept behind the restaurant on the hawker street food stalls found in countries throughout Asia.
Hawkers Asian Street Food now includes 15 locations around the Southeast and in Texas, including two restaurants in Georgia. The Eastside BeltLine location originally opened at SPX Alley in 2019, followed by a Dunwoody location last spring at Ashford Lane.
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