Hey Hey Canteen
“From the eggplant fries, to the popcorn chicken, and even the spicy BBQ ribs, all were flavorful and delicious.”
“Owners are still the same, but sort of a new look – fun, casual & modern!”
“Came with a friend and got the sesame peanut noodle dish, substituting zucchini noodles for the regular noodles – it was divine.”
Hey Hey Canteen
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
5 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
If OJ Simpson has taught us anything, it's that life is full of second chances. A year ago, this space was occupied by 2 Duck Goose, which tried to bring fancy Chinese food to Gowanus. Admittedly, I wasn't a fan and I guess the concept didn't work out because they temporarily closed down to revamp their business.
What resulted was Hey Hey Canteen, which is more of a fast-casual type of Asian fusion, with counter service, more affordable prices, and tons of options for people with dietary restrictions (whether vegetarian, gluten-free, or in my case, the fried chicken only diet).
They did a great job re-working the space. It's light and feels like spring (with shades of green accenting white walls and wooden tables). They have a big chalkboard with their menu at the back where you order, but they also have laminated versions on the tables. Don't forget about drinks, because they have a separate cocktail/beer list!
Anyway, I was coming from the gym so was particularly ravenous. My friend and I ordered the spicy matcha soba noodles, the Hong Kong Fried Chicken sandwich, and a side of the eggplant fries and the lemongrass chicken wings (because why wouldn't you get a side of chicken to go with your chicken?).
The noodles came out first. They were served cold and was super crisp, perfect for summer. Loaded with tons of veggies and a tart lime dressing.
The eggplant fries were next. I didn't know you could deep fry eggplant, but HHC managed to do it. The aioli was a great complement, and it was definitely worth trying.
The lemongrass chicken wings were okay. Ours were overly done, but loved the tamarind chili sauce.
Last, but certainly not least, was the HK Fried Chicken sandwich. This alone was worth the price of admission, and sets HHC apart from everybody else. The chicken was breaded in ramen(!!!) for extra crisp, and served on a Cantonese bun (if you know what a man tao is, it's one of those basically). Topped with pickled veggies, mango and what was just listed as an "umami aioli". Holy crap, it was wonderful.
We had a few of their cocktails, which were also noteworthy for their uniqueness. Asian fusion cocktails, basically. We tried the Galangal Refresher (vodka, hibiscus chai, and pineapple) and the Mezmeric (mezcal, tumeric/ginger/cayenne tea, egg white and spicy mango). Both were refreshing summer cocktails (and very reasonably priced at $10 apiece). They also have beers (including one of my all-time favorites Hitachino), wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and coffee. So they've got all their bases covered!
So yeah. Seems like this place has found its groove, and it fits much better with the Gowanus/Park Slope (don't say Parkwanus… just don't) crowd. The lower price point, casual atmosphere and the chicken sandwich will keep me coming back for sure!
P.S. They're also giving Royal Palms a run for their money with best bathroom wallpaper.
P.P.S. They really need a "Push" sign on their door. We watched waaay too many people try to pull.
Edit: Liked it so much I brought my family back. Get the roast pork lo mein and the sesame noodles. Those are actually my new favorite dishes (along with the fried chicken sandwich, of course).
Grabbed takeout tonight – roast pork lo mein and their famous Hong Kong chicken sandwich to try it out. The food is VERY solid and tasty. The noodles are a-plenty, flavorful and loaded with good greens and luscious pork, and this sandwich is unreal. Crispy as hell and addictive! The sauce is divine.
Highly recommended to eat in and not take out, as this sandwich does not travel well (the tender steamed bun really falls apart as soon as you leave the joint).
Takeout cons – I was timed 10 minutes but it took an entire 30. That was A LOT for a completely empty restaurant during off-peak hours, and for a small, simple takeout order. Everyone who came after me got fed before I got my to-go. They were very busy filling called-in and Caviar orders, so perhaps that's the way to go.
This charming cafe is back and better than ever in Gowanus. What I most loved about it was the passion and friendliness of the owner and the staff. They were lovely, and their love for the food came across in their description.
The space is small and casual, but clean and charming. The cocktail menu is interesting with a few house specialties that you won't find elsewhere. I chose the Chai mocha cocktail with rye whiskey (if memory serves me correctly). It was small but very tasty if you like chai.
I chose the very healthy red rice salad which was lite and featured a variety of flavors, and the Korean fried chicken sandwich. The chicken is fried, but not greasy or in heavy batter. It sits atop an Asian noodle inspired bun. It is not only a delight for the taste buds but for the eyes.
If you're looking for a reasonable meal that is healthy, tasty and served with love, this is the place to be.
This innovated hipster food! Oh how it looks good on Pinterest! A few things. The ideas, the dishes, the presentation, the menu itself. It's something you would want to explore and try! Hence why I'm here! Why the 3 stars!? I shouldn't be forking out $60 for 2. As innovative as it goes. It's missing certain flares and with that kind of price. I felt like it didn't match up to it's value.
The Ramen chicken burger was a bit on the dull side. It didn't have much of a kick or a wow factor. Except that it's fried with ramen flour. But it was very tender. with a bit of crunch.
The matcha spicy green tea soba noodles with shrimp. Hmmm…Where was the noodles? Where was the soup!? Did i order the wrong thing? I was a bit confuzzled with this dish. The shrimp was over cooked. There were more veg then any green tea soba noodles. If anything it was more of a pickled salad that I tasted.
As nice as they were. I wish their food was at that same level.
Still going strong! Got the Hong Kong chicken sandwich and the spicy matcha soba tonight. Super quick and easy take-out; called ahead and they told me it'd be 10-15 minutes but it ended up taking less.
Chicken sandwich ($10.99) was amazing. The intense saltiness and crunchiness of the ramen-encrusted chicken is fabulously complimented by the sweet, tangy pickled vegetables and creamy mayo-based sauce, and the light, fluffy bao bun goes perfectly with it. Would definitely eat again.
The cold spicy matcha soba ($9.99) didn't blow my mind as much, but it was definitely a well put-together dish, with a good balance of chewy noodles and crunch from the string beans and carrot and zucchini noodles. The Panko crunch was subtle, and there was also a sprinkling of black (sesame v. Nigella?) seeds on top. My main issue with it was that the fish sauce element of the dressing overpowered some of the more delicate other flavors. I basically only tasted fish sauce and chili, and I swear my nose isn't stuffed up at all. Maybe my dish just got too much dressing? It seems like this would be eaten at its best when picnicking in the park, accompanied by a cold beer.