Sarasota diners may soon have a new place to enjoy dim sum, stir-fried noodles and twice-fried chicken wings.
A sign planted outside the now-closed JPAN Sushi & Grill at University Town Center says Hawkers Asian Street Food is “coming soon.” The restaurant has not confirmed an opening date or whether it will occupy JPAN’s former space.
Hawkers started in Orlando in 2011, stating a goal of bringing the flavors of Asian street food to Central Florida. The eclectic dining concept draws from the Malaysian, Hong Kong and Vietnamese roots of its founders to provide a fusion of traditional dishes with modern twists.
The name refers to the street-food vendors known as hawkers across parts of Asia.
The restaurant's menu features "bold and unapologetic" flavors
of street market selections that blend together numerous cultural cuisines and traditional recipes. Some of Hawkers' signature appetizers and shareable plates include dim sum and roti canai, while entrees span stir-fried noodle dishes, rice bowls and Korean twice-fried wings.
Hawkers also offers beer and wine as well as an assortment of craft cocktails. The concept's signature moody, glowing atmosphere features saturated light and high contrasts, reflecting Southeast and East Asian street markets.
Currently, Hawkers has about 15 locations across the country, according to its website. Hawkers has been named a five-time Inc. 5000 winner, as well as one of Central Florida’s fastest-growing businesses and Central Florida’s Top 100 privately held companies.
The Herald-Tribune attempted several times to reach out to the restaurant but did not receive a response by the time of publication. While the initial UTC website announcement was taken down and replaced with a "404 error" page, the physical sign remains posted outside of JPAN Sushi & Grill, stating that Hawkers is "coming soon" to the Sarasota shopping center.
To learn more about Hawkers Asian Street Food or to keep up with restaurant expansion updates, visit EatHawkers.com.
But what about JPAN Sushi & Grill?
JPAN Sushi & Grill, a restaurant that has been part of University Town Center's dining and drinking scene for a decade, announced in August that it would shut its doors in September, though its other Sarasota location will remain open.
Just after the restaurant hit a decade at the shopping center, management posted on social media that "this chapter at JPAN UTC is coming to an end." Its last day was Sept. 13.
"For the past decade, JPAN UTC has been so much more than a restaurant," the post read. "It became a place where we built a family — with guests who became friends, friends who became family, and an incredible team who stood beside us through the years and became family along the way."
The restaurant has another location at 3800 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota's Shops at Siesta Row that remains open, as do sister restaurants Korê Steakhouse and Kuro Sushi in Lakewood Ranch, according to the post.
However, JPAN UTC resumed online ordering Sept. 21, with its signature offerings available for pickup at Korê Steakhouse, according to a social media post.
JPAN serves sushi and a variety of other Asian dishes, including grilled items such as teriyaki chicken, shrimp, salmon or tofu. It also offers a happy hour with deals on drinks, small bites and sushi rolls.
For more information on the restaurant, visit JPANRestaurant.com.
Kendal Asbury is the real estate and development reporter for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Have an idea, tip or question about development? Send her an email at kasbury@usatodayco.com. Connect with her onLinkedIn or follow her on Instagram @wordsbykendal, and support local journalism by subscribing to the Herald-Tribune.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Popular Florida restaurant chain signals Sarasota debut | Exclusive
