This is a new addition to Hardware Lane, bringing in some much-needed competition to Roll'd. Situated at the far northern end of the laneway, Hawker Boys offers banh mi sandwiches, rice bowls, and vermicelli noodle bowls that are easy to customise, with a lot of different ingredients available (I had the tofu rice bowl).
The space is bright and friendly, with a giant cartoony mural on one wall, retro sea-green tiles, and industrial-style seating that looks cool but isn't very comfy. (Although this is a quick lunch spot, so it doesn't matter too much.) Take-out is also fast and easy.
Staff is efficient and knows what "vegan" means. The banh mi bread itself is not vegan, unfortunately -- it contains egg wash and butter. But vegans can get a tofu rice bowl or noodle bowl, as long as they specify soy sauce only and no sriracha mayo. (In theory, I think the vegetarian rice bowl or noodle bowl would also be vegan without the mayo, but I didn't confirm this.)
The food was tasty. I'm one of those vegans who actually doesn't care much for tofu (shocker!) but this tofu was crispy-fried and yummy. It came in a medium-sized bowl with rice, carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, coriander, and soy sauce. It wasn't drowning in soy sauce, which I appreciated.
For $11, it wasn't exactly a steal, but it filled me up enough for a lunchtime meal.
The banh mi sandwiches are priced in the $8-10 range, and the bowls in the $11-12 range. (Soft shell crab more expensive.)
All in all, a good lunchtime spot, and because of the vegan options I'll go here over Roll'd every time. read more