What started as supper clubs turned into a restaurant full of immaculate vibes serving delectable modern Asian cuisine. Recently, I dined at Hawkerboi and here is how the evening went.
Upon entering the restaurant’s vibrant colours luminate the path to your table as one of their warm staff members also guide you. The red hues add a certain flare to the dining experience all whilst maintaining an overall sophisticated aesthetic. I immediately knew I was in for a fun dining experience.
When I visited Hawkerboi I was catching up with a friend whom I hadn’t seen in months, naturally we had a lot to talk about and ignored the incredibly inviting menu as we proceeded to do so. When the waiter came over to take our order we laughed in slight embarrassment as we had been so wrapped up in conversation, we had nothing to give him. However, instead of displaying any signs of frustration he smiled knowingly and said, “don’t worry you have the whole evening.” Immediately we were made to feel even more relaxed able to appreciate the gorgeous space further. We were sat on the terrace enjoying the delightful weather however, the interiors were nothing short of hospitable if that’s where you are placed as well.
Our waiter politely waited for us to peruse the menu and settle on a few dishes. A difficult task to do as everything sounded mouthwateringly good. Unfortunately, our stomachs will only allow so much so we settled on: Ducky Gyoza’s, Prawn wrapped in crispy noodles, Special Fried Rice and their Pad Thai.
The Food
Duck Gyoza’s
The presentation of the dish whilst simple is very practical. At times, you find yourself having to work to get to a dish however, the gyoza’s were easy to pick up – a huge plus as when you tasted one it’s hard to stop! The duck flavour bursts in your month complimented with a subtle sweetness of ponzu and a hint of fiery ginger. Flavours that blend together beautifully and leave your palate dancing. To this day I dream of the Gyoza’s and need to go back ASAP for them.
Prawns Wrapped In Crispy Noodles:
I can’t remember the exact name of this dish but it was one of their small plates and should be on your radar! As you bite into the succulent prawn you have a lovely crunch provided by the crispy noodles. To add a refreshing tartness to the dish is the sauce on the side and lime where you can add as much as you desire.
(Sadly I did not get a photo of them)
Special Fried Rice:
Now I am not a fan of rice as I am someone who finds it a bit too bland and filling. However, the special fried rice was a lovely surprise as it was anything but bland. There is a slight kick to it so for those timid of spice do be warned but personally, the extra fire was welcomed. The XO sauce the rice is cooked in salted the dish up perfectly leaving you wanting forkful after forful.
Pad Thai:
I leave this dish to write about last as it was the piece des resistance of the meal. Pad Thai noodles are my favourite as a result, I’m a tough critic to please when it comes to this specific dish. Nevertheless, Hawkerboi did them incredibly well and I think instead of sharing I ate the majority of it to myself and have zero regrets about it! The spice, the nuttiness, the sourness courtesy of lime were all tossed together to make a memorable Pad Thai.
