A new restaurant, boasting ‘unapologetic flavors of true Asian food,’ is now open at University Place Mall in Chapel Hill.

After holding a soft opening through the first week of March, Hawkers Asian Street Fare is welcoming the public to its new location beginning Monday. Offering everything from steamed bao to miso ramen to Shanghai stir fry, the restaurant promises to ‘redefine Asian eating’ in the states.

According to its website, the restaurant’s name comes from street vendors called “hawkers,” who depend on locally grown ingredients to create dishes sold from mobile carts and stands.

The Director of Operations for Hawkers, Jeff Hatsady, said the 4,000 square foot location has been completely refurbished – the dining set-up on the inside modeled to look like traditional street stalls seen in Asia. Decor on the inside is also complete with thousands of posters and neon lights, creating an ample amount of photo opportunities.

Hawkers was founded nine years ago in Downtown Orlando and has since expanded its reach to Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland and North Carolina. Chapel Hill will be the second Hawkers location in North Carolina outside of Charlotte.

A patio area was built for Hawkers at University Place, providing sheltered and open seating.

Hatsady said the restaurant is still actively looking for servers. Those interested can apply on site at the University Place location or online.

Hawkers’ hours of operation will typically be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the restaurant will be open until 11 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays it will be open until midnight.

The outdoor construction was one of the last details of Hawkers built before its opening at University Place.

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