Tiger Fork sister restaurant a playful, fast-casual spin-off
Hei Hei Tiger, the sister restaurant and spin-off of Blagden Alley’s Tiger Fork, opened today in the Urbanspace Food Hall at Tysons Galleria, McLean, Va. Hei Hei is a more playful take on Cantonese cuisine, offering Chinese BBQ, HK-style noodle bowls, and soon, boba milk tea in a unique fine-fast casual service style. Co-owner Will Fung heads the culinary program for Hei Hei Tiger and Blagden Group Hospitality, which is also the parent of Tiger Fork..
Fung has a wealth of experience around restaurants, as we reported earlier. Customizable Chinese BBQ bowls, ranging from $13 to $16, make Hei Hei Tiger cuisine fun and personalized for guests. There’s a variety of roasted proteins, ranging from char siu, crispy pork belly, roast duck, soya chicken, and five-spiced smoked tofu. After guests pick their proteins, they can select the accompaniment: rice, noodle soup or congee; and a choice of vegetables like garlic bok choy, preserved cabbage, and gailan, which is a Chinese broccoli.
“After seeing the success and positive response to Tiger Fork, and with Will at the helm, we’re excited to make our first expansion outside of D.C.,” said owner Greg Algie.
Hei Hei Tiger Hong Kong-style Noodle Soups and entrees menu
- Beef Noodle Soup ($14) features dry-aged beef shank, bok choy, wide-cut egg noodle and gyu-dashi
- HK Wonton Noodle Soup ($13) combines shrimp, flowering chives, egg noodle and ichiban-dashi.
- Yang Chow Fried Rice ($14) delivers a hearty bounty of char siu roast pork shoulder, shrimp, English pea, omelette and crispy garlic
- XO Singapore Noodles ($14) are tossed with shrimp, dried scallop, turmeric and XO sauce
To download the full food menu, navigate here.
Beverages from near, afar
The main octagon-shaped bar at Urbanspace comes alive again with TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) cocktails from Ian Fletcher, Blagden Group’s beverage director. Expect a noteworthy assortment of libations prepared with teas, tonics, sake, beer, wine, and much more.
Hei Hei signature cocktail faves from Tiger Fork included in drink menu
Tiger Fork customers will recognize three of its signature cocktails imported to Hei Hei. Here’s the list of cocktails that we were provided (and that Tiger Fork guests are sure to recognize), priced from $14 to $15:
- immunity-boosting Bird Market (Gin, Yellow Chartreuse, Bergamot Orange, Peychaud’s Bitters, Bai Zhu, Fang Feng, Astragalus, Stevia)
- the detoxifying Nathan Road (Bourbon, Plum Wine, Lemon, Hibiscus, Calendula, Mullein, Lavender, Echinacea, Stevia)
- energizing 8 O’Clock Light Show (Rum, Mandarin, Yuzu, Cacao, Kola Nut, Guarana, Ginseng, Cinnamon
Classic cocktails presented as new arrivals ($8-$14)
These are additional libations to be enjoyed and savored. Here is how the restaurant group described them:
- Drunken Master, an Old Fashioned made with bourbon or rye, ginger-infused honey and bitters
- savory Manhattan-inspired Rumble in the Bronx with Legent Whiskey, reishi-infused vermouth, amaro and bitters
- a kaffir lime-infused Fallen Angels gimlet
- Ume Spritzer
Guests can also enjoy the zero-proof house Mandarin Honey Tonic in true Mocktail fashion, or spike it with a spirit of their choice. Download the full drink menu here.
Hei Hei Tiger hours of operation
More tasty surprises are coming: The restaurant announced that a private dining room will follow, eventually serving dim sum brunches and hosting private events. For now, Hei Hei Tiger hours of operation are as follows: Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m.to 9 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.
Hei Hei Tiger, Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Drive, McLean, Va.
Photo credit: Blagden Group Hospitality
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