When it comes to Hawker Fare in Oakland, chef/owner James Syhabout admits he can’t let the idea go. Even when he closed the restaurant earlier this year, he never really made clear what he planned to do with it next, though the San Francisco location remains open. There were hints at bringing it back in the East Bay, but those dissipated as Old Kan Beer & Co. gained traction in West Oakland, Commis’ expansion took shape, his cookbook wrapped up, travel demands increased, etc.

The group that never forgot about Hawker Fare, Syhabout says, were the Oakland residents.

“People ask me that all the time on the street. I definitely miss that little location. It was special to me,” Syhabout says.

The feeling was only exacerbated as the chef finished his recent cookbook and memoir. Months spent writing in the Oakland Hawker Fare space, looking at old photos, digging through recipes that never made it to the menu all pushed him to his next venture: a Hawker Fare pop-up at Old Kan on Aug. 29 from 5- 9 p.m.

“Honestly, I’m doing this for my own enjoyment,” Syhabout says with a laugh.

While plotting the the Hawker Fare iteration, Syhabout is also keeping an eye on C.D.P., the the new bar taking shape at his Michelin-starred restaurant Commis. C.D.P is an acronym for chef de partie, which plays on the fact that Commis in kitchen vernacular means "junior chef."

“I’m doing everything in my power so we can get open sooner than later because we’re paying rent on the space. If everything goes right, we’ll be open by September,” he says.

Long term, Syhabout says he doesn’t want to rule out the potential of Hawker Fare finding new life in the East Bay beyond the upcoming pop up. For now, the one-night event is a way to gauge the market.

And if the right location opens up, who knows?

“No matter what, I want people to know that I’m still thinking of ways to do Hawker Fare in Oakland.,” Syhabout says. “And this gives us a chance to do the cookbook justice as well.”

Old Kan: 95 Linden St.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips