Hawkers, a growing Asian street food restaurant chain, is looking to start serving in Ballston this summer.
First announced in July 2020, Hawkers had hoped to open its first Arlington location by the spring of 2021. But equipment and supply chain challenges delayed that goal by nearly an entire year, a Hawkers spokesperson tells ARLnow. The eatery is now targeting a June 2022 opening.
The restaurant, which applied for a Virginia ABC permit earlier this month, is located at 4201 Wilson Blvd — on the ground floor of the Ballston Exchange office complex, across from Philz and next to the new El Rey taqueria, which just started slinging tacos in December.
There will also be a walk-up takeout window, a first for Hawkers.
“We think it will be a fun and engaging option that caters to the heavy foot traffic within the Ballston neighborhood,” said the spokesperson.
Orlando-based Hawkers has nearly a dozen open locations, a majority of which are concentrated in Florida. There are also locations in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and — nearby — in Bethesda. That location opened in late 2020, marking the first in the D.C. region.
The menu highlights Asian street food, including dim sum, baos, pad Thai, noodle dishes, fried rice, and crispy pork belly.
Hawkers in Ballston is also currently hiring, particularly for management positions.