Hawkers Asian Street Fare – exciting, aromatic, and value on a plate
Hawkers Asian Street Fare at 1103 N Mills Ave, Orlando, is one remarkable restaurant offering guests an array of Asian street food from Malaysia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Korea. Of course I have heard so many accolades from friends; it was time for me to check the place out for myself. When my dinner guest and I arrived, I tweeted a question asking for suggestions. I received many responses within the 15 minute wait time; I thought I was perhaps the last person in Orlando to try this restaurant. Obviously I was not, as I asked a few people in the lobby what I should try as well — quite a few said it was their first time visiting, but had heard from other friends to try the restaurant. I was not to be disappointed.
An important note about Hawkers, it is not uncommon for servers to explain to the guest how the restaurant serves their food. Hawkers is a little different from some restaurants I have visited in that our server said all the food is cooked fresh so it will take some time for the food to come to our table, and it might not be at the exact same time. The service is small plate, meaning the portions are smaller; his is reflective in the menu pricing. Our server offered up some very good selections and pointed these out on the menu. [singlepic id=197 w=270 h=190 float=left] We began our Hawkers experience with some Deep Fried Green beans ($5), lightly battered fresh green beans quickly fried with their “signature” 5 spice seasoning sprinkled on top. While we waited, we chatted with some people next to us who suggested the Summer Rolls “Goi Cuon” ($3.50). These little pouches made from rice flour (all hand-made to order) are filled with mint, basil, lettuce, carrots, bean sprouts, and cilantro, and you can dip them in a delicious smooth peanut sauce. The beauty of Hawkers is you will be sitting close enough to other guest so to ask what they are eating and how it tastes. •
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Along with our fried green beans, we ordered a Roti Canai ($3.50) which is Malaysian flat bread served with an aromatic curry dipping sauce… this was my favorite item thus far. I really like the spices found in curry sauce, typically coriander, cumin and turmeric with the requisite garlic and ginger. I suggest you get 2 orders since it comes with one piece of flat bread.•
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My guests ordered Pad Thai ($7.50) and Singapore Mei Fun ($6.50). The Pad Thai, made from rice noodles came with shrimp, chicken, egg, and an assortment of crunchy fresh vegetables then topped with crushed roasted peanuts and red chili pepper. The Singapore Mai Fun was similar to the Pad Thai but had vermicelli rice noodles with scallions, bell peppers, and bean sprouts. Both dishes were exquisitely fragrant and mouth-watering. My order of Curry Laksa soup ($7.50) came out after my guest’s food had arrived which they were already enjoying, and was not an issue since our server explained this to us, plus, Hawkers is truly offering dishes that would be made to order on the streets of Asia. If you were to ask me to choose one dish I would order every time I frequented Hawkers, it would be this dish. An amazing array of color, texture, and flavors in one bowl of soup; [singlepic id=196 w=270 h=190 float=left] Curry Laksa has a stewed curry broth as its foundation, then add chicken, shrimp, fried bean curds, boiled egg, and garnished with fried shallots and Yow Choy which is simply the edible leaves of Rape, somewhat bitter leaf, but goes well in Curry Laksa. The soup is appropriately spicy with a mélange of distinctive aromas of cumin.
On subsequent visits, I found the service and food to be as consistent with my first visit. More to the point, Hawkers Asian Street Fare offers value on every plate. This is a quality I can be excited about in a restaurant. Don’t forget to order a couple of items to take home or to the office for another meal,
I promise you will thank me…
Stay cool and enjoy educating your palate!
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Scott Richardson
The Educated Palate
Food and Wine Critic
Follow Scott on twitter @1educatedpalate