Inside Potluck Hawker Eatery before it opens (PHOTOS)
Cambie Village’s highly anticipated Potluck Hawker Eatery is finally gearing up to open its doors this month.
The 3424 Cambie Street counter-service restaurant will offer Chef Justin Cheung’s take on Southeast Asian street food, and trust us when we tell you you’re going to need to try this grub and please come hungry because they aren’t messing around with portions.
Cheung, a longtime chef of Longtail Kitchen, grew up with his mother’s Malaysian cooking, an influence that shows on the menu at Potluck.
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The food centres around the ritual of potlucks, a time for loved ones to gather together and contribute to a meaningful meal.
So here, you’ll find two options for family-style potluck feasts, which will serve up to six people, or three very hungry people.
Hanna McLean/Daily Hive
There’s the show-stopping Crispy Pata Potluck which includes a whole braised and fried pork hock, potluck condiments, and the diner’s choices of one snack, main, and order of wings, all for just $60. The pork hock will definitely put you into a crispy-fried heavenly state.
The other potluck option you can find up for order will be a ​Whole Chili Crab variety, which will run for market price and features a Dungeness crab in house-made tomato chili sauce.
Hanna McLean/Daily Hive
While navigating opening a restaurant during the current state of the world has been no cakewalk, Cheung says he and his partners are excited to finally welcome guests into Potluck.
“It has definitely been an interesting journey during COVID-19 times, but we’ve learned a lot. All health and safety precautions will be taken, and of course, we’ll be doing take-out,” says Cheung.
“In fact, we’ve added new items to our menu that will work incredibly well for those who want to take their meals to go.”
Hanna McLean/Daily Hive
One of those good-to-go offerings is a limited-time sandwich, featuring salted egg yolk fried chicken, tamarind chili jam, and green mango slaw in a grilled milk bread by much-loved local spot, Fife Bakery.
There’s really not much more to say other than run don’t walk once this is available guys — the Salted Egg Yolk Fried Chicken Sando is where it’s at.
Salted Egg Yolk Fried Chicken Sando (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)
But let’s continue with the soul-warming deliciousness and highlight something Vancouver can never get enough of — warm, hearty noodle soup dishes.
Mama Cheung’s Laksa is your new BFF if you’re one of these Vancouverites. Named after Cheung’s mom, this coconut curry noodle soup is made with fish cake, prawns, chicken, puff tofu, a boiled egg, and mixed noodles.
This dish is our new must-have when it comes to making any rainy day bearable.
Mama Cheung’s Laksa (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)
Mama Cheung’s Laksa (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)
Other menu highlights include the Potluck Fried Chicken (P.F.C.), which comes in two flavours: Salted Duck Egg Yolk and Fish Sauce Caramel. The latter is the perfect sweet-savoury combo.
The P.F.C. also comes in a cauliflower variety. Yes, don’t worry veggie-lovers, we got you. There is a delightful Beet Carpaccio on the menu, along with a Sambal Eggplant that looks drool-worthy, although we didn’t get a chance to try this visit.
Fish Sauce Caramel P.F.C Wings (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)
Beet Carpaccio (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)
Nasi Goreng (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)
In addition to the snacks, mains, and potluck meals, Potluck will offer fresh coconut water (like, out of a branded coconut), and it is also waiting on its liquor license too, so beer, etc. are to come.
Overall, the menu here is sweet, and we’re not just talking about the dessert roti.
It’s an exciting addition to Cambie Village and the decor and space itself is a bright, breath-of-fresh-air sight that will surely be delightful to those venturing out for meals for the first time in a while.
Sweet Roti (Hanna McLean/Daily Hive)
The interior of the restaurant mirrors the vibrant, lively theme seen in dishes here.
Elisa Leung and Nathalie Koo of Vancouver’s Cutler have completely transformed the 993 sq ft, 35-seat space, which was formerly occupied by 3G Vegetarian Restaurant.
Expect bright colours, picture-perfect wallpaper (don’t forget to peep the bathrooms here when you visit), tropical plants, and natural wood.
Hanna McLean/Daily Hive
Once it officially opens, this eatery will operate Tuesday to Friday from 3 to 9 pm and
Saturday to Sunday from 11:30 am to 9 pm for both dine-in and takeout.
Potluck Hawker Eatery officially opens its doors on July 15, although if you stroll by next weekend you might happen to find it operating.
If you do see the doors open, do not sleep on this concept, it’s a verified must-try.
Hanna McLean/Daily Hive
Potluck Hawker Eatery
Address:Â 3424 Cambie Street, Vancouver
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