The Tiger Fork Team Opens a Cantonese Barbecue Counter in a Tysons Mall

The latest entrant to the D.C. area’s casual counter scene will sell the type of Cantonese barbecue that’s typically found hanging in a display case as the centerpiece of customizable bowls full of white rice, congee, or noodle soup.

The owners of Tiger Fork have expanded on elements of their Hong Kong-style restaurant and cocktail bar in Shaw to open Hei Hei Tiger tomorrow at A Taste of Urbanspace, the year-old food hall inside Tysons Galleria. Washington City Paper published menu details about the project, described in an announcement as “fine-fast casual,” earlier today.

At the luxury mall in Tysons Corner, Hei Hei Tiger is offering five different proteins as the base for bowls, ranging from $13 for five spice smoked tofu, char siu (barbecue pork shoulder), or soy chicken to $15 for crispy pork belly and $16 for roast duck. Those all come with the aforementioned rice, rice porridge, or noodles as well as a choice of three vegetables (bok choy, Chinese broccoli, Chinese pickles).

Scott Suchman/For Hei Hei Tiger

In addition to the bowls, there are also appetizers like smashed cucumber salad, with dill, radish, and sesame oil, or shrimp wontons in XO sauce. A section of “classics” ($13 to $14) includes two noodle soups, Singapore rice noodles made with turmeric, shrimp, and dried scallops, and a char siu fried rice. There are two unconventional flavors for soft serve: taro and milk tea.

Scott Suchman/For Hei Hei Tiger

Scott Suchman/For Hei Hei Tiger

The owners plan to add a separate dining room for private parties and dim sum brunches down the road.

Tiger Fork co-owner Will Fung, chef Nathan Beauchamp, and partner Greg Algie collaborated on the menu at Hei Hei Tiger. Beverage director Ian Fletcher is bringing over a few familiar cocktails with a handful of medicinal ingredients over to the new space, where Hei Hei Tiger will oversee a central, octagonal-shaped bar.

Scott Suchman/For Hei Hei Tiger

Run by a management group based in New York, A Taste of Urbanspace opened in late 2018 and reaped the benefits of the kitchen infrastructure left behind by beleaguered chef Mike Isabella’s ambitious food hall. An admirable cast of D.C. and Virginia vendors includes Sen Khao (an offshoot of Thip Khao), Donburi, and Andy’s Pizza.

Stomping Ground, the biscuit based kitchen from Del Ray, and Ice Cream Jubilee have already come and gone. Local company District Equities sued Urbanspace for terminating their working relationship and allegedly trying to enforce noncompetes after the two worked together to secure vendors.

• Food Hall Replacement for Isabella Eatery Opens Today at Tysons Galleria
• Tiger Fork Is Up and Running [EDC]