Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

China Wok
512 Sacramento St., Vallejo
645-2008

One cool thing about being a restaurant critic is the little things that happen to you that wouldn’t happen if you weren’t one. For example, when I stopped in to China Wok to set up a review during a bustling lunch hour, on the way out, someone yelled, ?try the crab!? That denoted friendliness, and when I returned for dinner the next evening, groups of friends, families, and singles poured in and out, each accompanied by a joyous laugh from Jane, the waitress. She sets the tone for the friendly, capable restaurant, that owner, Nee Lau, has cultivated in downtown Vallejo for a little over two years. China Wok is another restaurant to add to Vallejo’s Promise of Diversity.

Returning for my review, unfortunately, crab was not in the Specials. Instead, I selected fresh bass to be prepared at my table, from a monthly special, called ?Swimming Fish.? Large chunks of boneless fillet are dropped into a bowl of hot oil and covered for a minute, and then piled atop a bed of lettuce and celery, which are slightly cooked by association. The fish is then ladled with Szechwan sauce. The entire seafood salad is assembled into a sunny presentation with rings of carrot flowers and fresh slices of zucchini, which also become slightly warm, circled meticulously by rays of half-sliced baby corn around the plate. One thing I appreciated about this dish was that it suited my preference for fried food without the breading. Not only is fried wheat laden with calories, it also often overpowers the flavors beneath. On the other hand, the mild flavor of the uncovered Swimming Fish, confronting the soy and jalape?o in the sauce, was a mouthwatering treat.
I was also treated to two appetizers: Fried Prawn, and Crab Meat Cheese Wan Ton. The former was flattened and breaded and yummy. Don’t get me wrong, I like breading, but not in every course. And, there was enough jumbo shrimp for it not to lose its place in the sun. The Wan Ton was a large fried flower with a tart cream-cheesy flavor within. The allure was too hard to resist, and I gobbled the whole thing. I also had the Hot and Sour soup, which I suggested being made slightly more sour (next time, I will request this).

China Wok offers a large variety of standard Chinese food including Mu Shu, Egg Fu Young, Pork, Poultry, Beef, Seafood, Vegetables/Tofu, Chow Mein, and Fried Rice. Their lunch specials include soup, appetizer, steamed or fried rice, and range in price from $5.25 – $6.25.

All of the food at China Wok is served to taste, and the service is friendly and attentive. They are open 7 days a week, and provide a Banquet Room. I enjoyed looking at the large, pretty Chinese landscape and lovely place mats while dining. I recommend China Wok when you’d like to savor special Chinese food in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere.

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