Another random gem we found in philly! We were going shopping one afternoon and got hungry around 2pm so stopped in since it was on our way and because we're both big fans of noodles. We saw average reviews so were skeptical until we saw the 30% off if you check in on yelp coupon! (Tip: check in) Food: We ordered a large make your own wok order - lo mein noodles with the tropicali sauce (spicy, beware - the bf and I had gone through 4 glasses of water each by the end of this meal) with mushrooms, onions, and peppers. This dish was so delicious - each bite had life and flavor to it and we were so sad to see it finish (definitely NOT sharing next time). The dish is about $10 without the coupon and only $7 when you check in - what a steal. The large is pretty big in size and can be saved for a second meal / snack for later. This place was infinitely better than HoneyGrow which is another noodle bar that I went to but was not impressed with at all. Wokworks is definitely worth checking out! Can't wait to try their other dishes.
(4)
Joanna L.
I took the friendly owner (who reached out to me) up on a free meal due to a recent disappointing experience and gave it another shot last night. Boy am I glad that I did! I enjoyed a delicious wok and a side of brussel sprouts. Much better experience this time! The wok was spicy and full of flavor - and the sprouts were right on point - with just the right amount of salt. I ordered a rice noodle wok with beef, broccoli, mushrooms and snow peas - topped with tropicalia sauce & garlic. YUM! I savored each bite, and have the leftovers for another tasty meal today! I will definitely come back again soon, and truly appreciate when a business owner displays accountability and extends a genuine offer for redemption. Not only is it great customer service, but it says a lot about the type of establishment they run - with care and consideration for customers. Thanks again!
(4)
John K.
A few months back, the GF and I were in the mood for Asian noodles, but not exactly itching for the prototypical mushy noodles that accompany an order of Americanized Chinese takeout. Hearing good things about Wokworks, we decided to hop on DiningIn and see what all the fuss was about. Spicy Asian Pickles [$1.95] Pickles, chili We started off with the spicy pickles. While a pittance of a portion, they were crisp and sweet, with spice that came through on the finish. Jalapeno Brussels Sprouts [$4] Brussels sprouts, gluten-free soy, jalapeno I'm a brussels sprouts fiend so naturally, we had to order these. While I missed the touted heat from the jalapenos, the sprouts had nice bite and were well seasoned. Thankfully, they weren't overly salty from the soy. Crispy Edamame Dumplings [$4.95] Peanut sauce The edamame dumplings were nice - incredibly crispy with a creamy essence within. They were topped with some green onions and sweet black sesame seeds. BBQ Pork Belly Sliders [$5.95] Steamed buns, pork belly, pineapple salsa, cilantro Regular readers know that the pork belly buns were a must order for me. The gluttonous pork was well-braised and had a lightly sweet glaze. The dish itself could have used more texture, with the soft, pliant buns rendering each bite soft on soft. I could have used more pork as well - perhaps double pork a la Momofuku? Still, the accompanying pineapple salsa and cilantro brought some bright balance to the heft of the pork. Build Your Own Tall Wok [$10.95] Lo mein, chicken, snow peas, mushrooms, bok choy, crispy shallots, roasted almonds, Blackgold teriyaki sauce But what is Wokworks really known for? Their stir-fried noodles! We elected to build our own, with chicken, lo mein noodles, and a melange of various veggies. These noodles weren't mushy at all and thankfully had life to each bite. They were well-coated with the requested Blackgold teriyaki sauce and the multitude of accompanying additions helped to create a hearty dish. Overall, Wokworks delivered an experience that was well above the standard Chinese takeout you might order on a random night. Do try their stir-fried noodles. I also wouldn't hesitate to order the pork belly buns again!
(4)
Aria S.
I tried to convince my friends to ditch Sips and come here for happy hour because they have FREE beer on Wednedays 5-10pm + food specials! They all bailed on me so I came here after I went to Lithe (so Rittenhouse of me right??) I got the edamame dumplings with sriracha sauce. I thought they would be like real dumplings but they were actually gyoza and fried which was disappointing because they are usually steamed aka not as fatty! Nonetheless, they were amazing! I scarfed down a little box of them and the sauce was perfect. The woman working was super sweet also. If you check in on Yelp you get 30% off! Making one of the small bowls about $6-7 which is very reasonable for entrees in the area. Also the place wasn't crowded or anything, so I'm definitely dragging my friends here again on a free beer Wednesday.
(4)
Jeff H.
I really, really, really like this place. Wokworks is my new most favorite fast food spot. It is such a cool idea to do fast-food wok cooking with lots of healthy ingredients. When you add in extremely friendly and helpful staff with a nice vibe atmosphere, you have a winner. My very favorite stir fry is the build-your-own with red and white quinoa. Add your protein, veggie, seasoning, and sauce and you have a tasty treat in front of you. All the sauces are great from the golden nut peanut to the pepper spicy Szechuan. But if you like spicy with flavor - order the tropicalia mango sambal. A side of jalapeño brussel sprouts in sesame oil just adds to the combo of flavours here. It is usually busy when I have been there so that it is a great sign this concept is catching on. Now just expand to my hood .... and def let me take a branch of Wokworks with me back to Vienna!
(5)
Tim Y.
I've only discovered this little gem recently, upon my move to Rittenhouse Square. I'm truly a Pei Wei Asian Diner fanatic (not just a fan, mind you) at heart, as I've been going to that chain's restaurants weekly for years and NOBODY makes a better Kung Pao than them, period. But the WokWorks concept is similar: pick your type of meal, pick your carbs, pick your meat, but Wokworks gives you the chance to pick your sauce, veggies and toppings; pretty cool! And WokWorks brings something unique to the table: quinoa, a very healthy, delicious grain that you can choose instead of the standard noodles or rice. I've been here a few times. The people are super-friendly and the variety is great; as long as I perceive good value for my money, I'll return here. Pei Wei finally has a little competition, in my eyes. UPDATE: Wokworks now has a fried chicken option for your protein, and it's a great option! Fried chicken + quinoa...I'm loving this place more and more!
(5)
Gabrielle W.
I ordered delivery tonight and received 1 entree with burnt shallots and a side of brussels sprouts that were burnt to shit (posted picture..notice the other sprouts pics that do not look like what I received). I called the restaurant for a refund because I'm not paying for burnt food and what I was told was that it was impossible to burn the sprouts because they were deep fried. Meanwhile I'm staring at some black sprouts and burnt "crispy shallots" that made my entree inedible. This place is a joke. I know this sounds like rocket science but maybe...just maybe someone left the sprouts in the fryer too long and that's how they got burnt. And maybe that same person burnt the "crispy shallots" too. Mind blown! I would never recommend or go back.
(1)
Sangita S.
This place is awesome! Such a hidden gem. On Wednesday they have free beer. Literally it is FREE. FREEEEE. And it's yeungling. Oh and the food is amazing. Try it all. But the service is the best part and it's so cheap. I can't think of one reason not to come here. Good food for cheap. Free beer on Wednesdays. Great service. Find Stacey she's the best.
(5)
Shane D.
This place is poppin' fresh like pillsbury. I got the wok noodles with the tropicali, jalapenos and hot peppers - their spiciest combination. It was not extremely spicy for the daring out there but it was definitely spicy at an enjoyable level, complementing the flavor. The ingredients are fresh and are prepared by people with experience. Things are done right here as opposed to other stir fry joints that attempt to imitate the craft. Wok Works is a relaxing place with good music, vibes, cleanliness and staff that reflects everything good about a restaurant. Wednesdays, they serve yuenglings 5-10. You know I'll be there. Shoutouts to Stacy(Stacie), Irene, and co!!!
(5)
Taleah J.
I have eaten at Wokworks a bunch of times... its consistently delicious and they have a great menu. I prefer this place over Honeygrow any day!!! My favorites are there Edamame dumplings with the peanut sauce and their wings. Of course the noodles cant be beat either. If you are wasting your time at Honeygrow ordering noodles... please for all our sakes.... go to Wokworks.
(5)
Kelly O.
Long story short - not a fan. The dumplings were okay; crispy noodles would have been good if they weren't absolutely COVERED in salt. Wayyy too much! My bowl was a decent portion for the money, and had a good amount of meat, but was seriously dry. I don't know if the sauce just didn't have enough flavor, or if they didn't put enough on, but I really didn't enjoy my lunch.
(2)
Jt B.
Was here for a dinner party, had a great time, with great friends and great food.
(4)
Kimberly H.
I haven't event gotten my food yet but standing here waiting for my fresh noodles already has me in a great mood. What a refreshingly positive bunch of employees! It's my first time here and they've been so helpful and patient. Every person in the place has a smile on their face and seem to genuinely enjoy the job they're doing. Ok, just took my first bite and this place is also taste-test approved! Delicious and overall wonderful experience... What more can anyone ask for?
(5)
Edward M.
In the mood for a quick Asian-ish lunch? You could do much worse than this place. It's got a Chipotle-like selection process, where you pick your base carb (various noodle options, rice, or quinoa), your protein (beef, chicken, pork, tofu, etc.), veggie, topping, and sauce. I imagine some combinations work better than others, but no guidance is provided on the menu; you're on your own, which might prompt choice paralysis among some people (there are literally thousands of different combinations you could make). It might be helpful for them to list a few popular or suggested combos. You also get to select your dish size - short or tall. The short provided plenty of food for a meal and snacking afterwards. So the tall might be good for two meals, but I don't know that I'll try that. The chicken tasted good; the asparagus, though, kinda lacked character. The noodles were fine, though under-seasoned. Luckily, they have a couple of hot sauces available you can add to your dish, or take with you if you're getting it to go. Service was fairly fast, taking about five minutes to cook up my order. The short bowl was under $10; the tall would be a bit more.
(4)
Jill L.
When I was growing up at the Jersey Shore, there was a Mongolian BBQ place that I absolutely loved. What is Mongolian BBQ, you may ask? So this was an all-you-can-eat stirfry place where you fill up a bowl with everything you want (carb, protein, veggies, sauce) and they cook your meal for you on this giant flat top griddle, as you stand there and watch. It.was.awesome. And let me tell you, a 16 year old Jill could definitely pack in more than a couple bowls of stir fry. Ahh.... to be a teenager again. Anyway, I have been saying for years that a place like this needs to come to Philly. Enter Wokworks. Granted, it's not AYCE, but who really needs to eat more than one bowl of stir fry? On my visit, I got the small sized bowl with bok choy, lo mein, tofu, and the peanut sauce, topped with fried shallots. I thought the dish was really delicious but I definitely needed to add some heat. Luckily they have a variety of hot sauces (sriacha, chili oil) on the table to adjust your dish. For me, I thought it was a good value for $9. And there were signs that they give free beer on Fridays (btw- it is always BYOB). The only changes I would make is for Wokworks to offer a few "predesigned" options to their menu. I am the WORST when it comes to pairing tastes together and I'm sure others do too. Also, the space is pretty small, so I can only imagine how packed it must get during lunch on a workday. Nonetheless, I'll definitely be back to try another stirfry!
(4)
Donte P.
This place is amazing !!! My 2 bs time here grabbing lunch & I'm so impressed with the service .... And the women at the first register, ... She makes ordering so easy !! This place is a must visit
(5)
Allie E.
I am really impressed with this place. The first time I had it was about 2 weeks ago on my birthday. I convinced my coworkers to order with me and have it delivered. Normally they do not cross the river to deliver over by Penn where we work, but they kindly agreed to deliver to us given the size of our order. The delivery was SO fast- within 45 minutes- and everything was correct. We all enjoyed our meals so much. They portions are huge and all the ingredients are so fresh and don't leave you feeling bloated by all the sodium, etc from other asian restaurants. My coworkers loved it so much they all demanded we order again today and the service and delivery was just as good as the last time! Thanks, Wok Works!
(5)
Sarah C.
Went here for the beer menu and had some really delicious edamame dumplings and brussel sprouts! Stacey was really great and the free yeungling was definitely worth the trip!
(4)
Prasath S.
One star is for the delicious spicy shrimp Bao buns and the crispy noodles with duck sauce. The main attraction which is supposed to be the wok noodles was a complete fail. The entire dish tasted burnt and smokey...somebody needs to teach these Cooks to either reduce the heat or add more oil. The entire bowl was so bitter that no sauce could rescue it. What a shame !!!!
(1)
Yikai F.
Bad customer service, very rude and impatient with my order. "Are you gonna order something?!" That's the greeting I got. Food isn't good either. But good for a fast meal/ takeout or if you like messy food. Great atmosphere tho, really an eye catcher
(2)
Lisa D.
We ordered 100 people's worth of catering from these guys, which is intimidating to a lot of restaurants, and they pulled it off with flying colors. You get a very generous amount of food per portion, and it arrived fresh and hot. They also set it all up for us, and the manager came to oversee the process. The food itself is good, especially if you're trying to go lighter. The veggies aren't in sauce, and the chicken we had seemed pretty healthy. You also have the option of brown rice, which not all places offer. Definitely recommend them for catering.
(4)
Lea L.
My boyfriend and I recently stopped by wokwoks on a Sunday afternoon after being told it was similar to one of our favorite NYC spots, Wok to Walk. If I was going to compare the two, I would say the noodles at Wokworks are a half step below Wok to Walk but they were still delicious. You could tell all the ingredients were fresh. They were just missing that addictive quality. I think the noodles needed more sauce. However, we also ordered pork dumplings and pork belly buns because who could resist? And they were phenomenal! The dumplings were made to order and crispy just the way I like them. They came with spicy mayo which is not typical but I enjoyed it. And the flavor combinations in the pork belly buns were great. Since I was there on a Sunday afternoon we didn't have to wait long at all but all the food seemed to be cooked to order so I imagine if there is a crowd it could take some time. The staff was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. I would definitely go back to this place again!
(4)
Stephanie H.
This place is awesome! Stopped by on a Wednesday and they seriously offer FREE BEER! It sounded too good to be true, but the super nice server Stacy brought us up and actually poured us free beer! They had some great specials too, Brussels sprouts for $3, pop corn chickens $4 and more!
(4)
Eunni C.
I really want to like this place. Healthy version of Chinese food? Sounded so good to me. And store looked clean from outside and also liked their name... Got quinoa fried rice with bean sprout and veggies...simply no good... I like healthy food but has to tasty to keep going back. That was my last visit... But I liked their clean container and healthy concept so.. It is two star place.
(2)
Sharee W.
So, I've been here a few times now. I will say that I really like that everything is made fresh to order. The short wok is plenty of food to make 2 meals...at least for me. I suggest getting an extra side of sauce. The flavor is okay, but the extra sauce definitely kicks it up a notch. Now, on to the edamame dumplings....so yummy! I totally suggest getting these. The staff is always very nice.
(4)
Krystal H.
The first time I tried this place I got some combination of noodles & veggies & sauce. It was pretty good, which is why I came back. The 2nd time I got string beans, brussel sprouts & edamame dumplings. Probably wouldn't have gotten the dumplings had I known they were fried, but it wasn't on the menu and I didn't ask. Everything was good except the string beans. They were so salty I couldn't eat them. Another time I tried their smoothie (Mango black tea something or other) and it just tasted like lemonade. I hate lemonade. Most recently I got the orange chicken salad and asked for it without chicken. The guy made a big deal about pulling the chicken off of the pre-made salad. I guess I could have done it but I asked when I ordered it, before it was given to me and he acted like it was some big inconvenience. Also, there were a ton of orange seeds in it that I had to keep spitting out. There has never been a single other person in there when I go and they always act like they're doing you a favor by making your overpriced over salted food. The service was only friendly the first time, gets worse every time I go back. I probably won't go back again. Jane G's is right across the street and for the price, much better in my opinion.
(2)
Lili W.
Wokworks is only okay in my book. I've come here twice and got two different combinations and found both to be mediocre. Growing up with authentic and delicious asian food, maybe I'm biased and prefer the more traditional dishes. Anyhow, to enhance the dining experience, Wokworks should really consider using different take out plates/bowls, instead of the doggy box they currently use. the doggy boxes are really difficult to eat out of.
(3)
Anthony J.
The Stir Fry is always piping hot and full of awesome fresh healthy flavor! Tons of sauces too! Rock on.
(5)
Meredith B.
I've got a thing for asian... so I've got a thing for the new asian lunch spot in town. It's a good little spot, fast ordering, build your own asian lunch spot. We ordered: BBQ pork belly buns - Awesome. Get these. They are what you should expect when ordering BBQ pork belly buns but with a nice addition of pineapple slaw. Tofu soba noodles with tropicali sauce - I really enjoyed this. I like spice but given the menu's description and two peppers next to it I wasn't expecting as much spice as I had. Side of brussels sprouts - I love b.sprouts but there was nothing special to these. Side of maple caramelized squash - GET THIS. I wouldn't have thought to order it but my lunch buddy did and they were awesome. Nicely cooked with bacon-y goodness. Place is a little tight in there so I wouldn't suggest bring a large group in for lunch hour. Great to-go spot. Next time I'd like to try their edamame dumplings This review is dedicated to Rick V.
(4)
SilverfoxAA H.
The Wokworks rocks! I had the most wonderful soba noodles with tofu, string beans (French) mushrooms, bok choi topped with cilantro and a sort of tamari sauce and I was in heaven. All four of us agreed that that this was the most delicious lunch we've had since we were in Bangkok! we'll be back!
(5)
Chandreyi D.
I wouldn't give this place more than 2 stars because their food is bland. I've been twice already. The first time by accident I stumbled upon it and just was curious to try. Both times I've had their wok noodles with the sauces. Today I got wok noodles with the pepper sauce and I told them it was bland and tasteless (hoping they would add more seasoning/spices..nope!) They have a great location for anyone who wants a quick bite but they really need to step up their game competing with Jane G's and Honeygrow. Their prices are not worth $8 for the short wok. I'm really disappointed. If you must go, get the edamame dumplings with the siracha sauce and skip the noodles.
(2)
Thomas V.
I don't know what's up with these guys. I've been here two times. I didn't have a good experience the first but figured I'd try again. The second time, they weren't busy by any stretch (3 other people were there) but it still took them 15 to start cooking my food. When they brought it, they forgot the drink, and forgot to put beef in the main dish, so they had to remake it. When I finally got my food it was terrible! Don't go here.
(1)
Andrea C.
I admit it, I have recently become addicted to the wok. I ordered my first last Friday, seemed so harmless, so simple. No base for me, I am not into the starchy stuff and hides the truth of all those lovely vegetables. Sunday night rolls around and I start thinking about pacing lunch for Monday and I ordered another wok. Split it across two days. Here it is Wednesday and now I am thinking, crap, really am I going a week solid on this for lunch? Yep! It's cold out, the wok, it's good and is a great vehicle for Sambal Olek. Oh yeah, the crispy dumplings are crispy, really crispy. Unlike any other place I have been so far. If only they were wheelchair accessible, that one step in front is my downfall so I am destined for delivery.
(5)
Larissa G.
This place is a solid lunch spot. I went for my first visit today and was really pleased with the Yelp check-in offer (30% off!) and got a large tofu bowl with veggies. All the vegetables were super fresh and you could even see one of the employees chopping up peppers on the counter. It was a late lunch, but the place was not crowded and my friend and I easily got a seat. The hardest choice for me was the kind of noodle and the sauce. I got the wok noodles, but the soba looked great. I also wish that I would have done the pepper sauce because the Begal sauce, while delicious on its own, was a bit lacking in flavor when everything else was mixed in. All the sides looked great too, so I'll definitely be back soon!
(4)
Eddie B.
Wok works has quick, affordable food for both lunch and dinner. The large-portioned combinations blend well together and the sauces are really unique! The wok bowls are evenly distributed with all of your personally chosen ingredients and each individual component is cooked nicely before being combined. Definitely check this place out if you are in the area. The employees were really friendly too! Seems like they have worked out the "kinks" that people have commented on previously.
(5)
Bill M.
I never thought that I'd see wok based Asian inspired foods dished out in a fast food based almost assembly lined variation before. But in a way I'm not surprised at all. And while I am still somewhat perturbed by the results; Wokworks does deliver the concept better than most (Good riddance Pad Thai Shack - yelp.com/user_details_re… !), and does so with a plethora of options. Start off by choosing between 3 kinds of noodles, brown or white rice, or quinoa, then choose a protein (tofu if vegetarian) and vegetable option from their good sized list; and finally top it off with one of their signature sauces. The end result can lead to far from Asian yet tasty options like smokey bacon brussel sprout chow fun, green curry chicken broccoli soba, or spicy Szechuan tofu and quinoa w/ portebello mushrooms. Ultimately if I'm looking for an Asian inspired lunchdeal I'll go just about everywhere else. Especially in the Rittenhouse Square area since Nom Nom Ramen, Su Xing House, Thai Singha, and SO MANY sushi places are nearby. But Wokworks does manage to deliver it the quickest, which can be a trump card when necessary.
(3)
Lia B.
Love that this place is here!!! It's a very simple and fun concept of stir frys and wok specialties. They have tofu options and a veggie friendly atmosphere. The staff here knows what can be made vegan and are happy to execute pretty much anything you could ask for. They also tote a fun BYOB tag at the door - and even though for me wokworks would be more of a lunch spot - i could see myself stopping by here after a spin class for dinner. Note the miso soup has fish in it and I got the pepper sauce which I was told was vegan but I would double check if you're ordering a different one. There are many spice options from mild to very spicy and they can accommodate all ends of the spectrum which is great when going out with friends. The line moves very fast - and everyone is attentive and upbeat. Overall I would like to pop in here more often and take advantage of all the tofu / vegan options. Yelp check in rt now gets you free miso soup btw
(5)
Jeff M.
Think chipotle meets Asian food. Ingredients are superb - organic meats and fresh caught fish - a true find for Philly. An excellent spot for lunch or for dinner. Delivery available through grub hub. Also - free beer on Friday afternoons!
(5)
Temitope K.
Went here because Thai Singha House wasn't taking cards and I was too lazy to walk to TD. Thought I'd try this place and get my Asian fix. I ordered quinoa with shrimp and chicken and the szechuan pepper sauce. Suffice it to say it was lackluster at best. I know this isn't Han Dynasty but for all the gesticulations of cooking I anticipated a MUCH better tasting meal. Ended up picking out the chicken and shrimp eating a few veggies and tossing the rest. Quite a waste for $14.50.
(2)
Katharine E.
I couldn't be more disappointed in Wok Works. My first trip there was OK, I got quinoa and shrimp with the smoke sauce. The shrimp was a good size, there were about 8 pieces. The cabbage was crunchy and a nice addition and there was a TON of quinoa, probably enough for 4 servings but it was drenched in the sauce. There was so much sauce I felt like I was eating a too-sweet quinoa soup. I decided to give it another go and NIGHTMARE. I ordered chow fun, beef, broccoli, with the green curry sauce. I got back to my office and opened the box and it looked like a box of grey mush. I dug around for the meat and instead i found grey tasteless shoe leather. It had obviously had the life steamed out of it and was poor quality to begin with. There was no nice sear from the wok or flavor to speak of. There were a whopping 2 (!!!) pieces of broccoli among the sea of gelatinous chow fun noodles. The noodles were mush and entirely inedible. I'm floored at the poor quality and execution. You can see how depressing it looks...let alone tastes from the pictures. I really wanted to bring my food back because in this situation a manager needed to see it, but it was raining and cold and I'm a wimp. Not one to waste, I tried to pass my food off to self-proclaimed "office garbage disposal." He took one bite said "oh this is awful", covered it in sriracha, took another bite and followed up with "nope still can't do it." The "cheap Chinese" cart at 18th and Market actually puts Wok Works to shame and that's just good for a quick greasy fix.
(1)
Zikang H.
It's a great place to try Asian-American mixed style Chow Fun. I am a huge fan of all kinds of noodles. Absolutely love it!
(5)
Allison B.
For their first-ever lunch shift, I was very impressed with Wokworks. If you have a tight lunch hour, you might want to wait a week or so until the staff really nails down their wok work flow- like any new fast/casual food business, these things take time. It took 25 minutes for me to get my stir-fry, but I did not mind. The place was packed. Pick your carb, your protein, your veggie and sauce. I got brown rice with tofu, broccoli and pepper sauce for $9. Each stir-fry includes cabbage, bean sprouts, egg and carrot. You get a ton of food. The pepper sauce was spicy, with a kick of sweetness I wasn't expecting. The best part? No globs of congealed sauce or uneven distribution of flavor. For stir-fry, it was light and delicious! I'll definitely be back. P.S. Angela S- I was at Honeygrow the day they opened, too. The place was just as crowded, and I waited for my salad there just as long as I waited today. Same goes for HipCityVeg. It's all gonna be okay, lady.
(5)
Rohit K.
I think they are similar to Honeygrow but without touchscreen displays and different sauces. Friendly staff and good food. A little bit difficult to select sauces.
(4)
Julie N.
Ordered lunch from WokWorks during their opening week. They clearly weren't prepared for the lunch rush as we waited almost an extra half hour for our order and "ran out of beef" so I had to settle for chicken. I had the flat rice noodles with black gold sauce and extra veggies. It was alright, but as an Asian person I have some trouble justifying $10 for lackluster "Asian" food. The noodles were overcooked and mushy, and it needed a heck of a lot more sauce. Veggies were really just carrots and onions, I felt a little jipped there. Worth a shot but really wasn't impressed.
(3)
Lawrence S.
WokWorks worked for me! The big idea: food made fast that's not fast food. In other words: In the time it takes to get a BigMac, instead you can have a nice of bowl of freshly stir-fried chaofen (chow fun) noodles with chicken, fresh bean sprouts and plenty of spicy sauce. That was my favorite combo. But your order is highly customizable: you choose the noodle, the protein, the sauce, etc. The cuisine style is Asian fusion -- mostly Japanese & Chinese elements. I'm generally not a fan of this approach for practical reasons (it's hard enough to do one regional cuisine style right let alone a whole bunch of them) & ideological/political (does Asian fusion promote the tendency to treat Asian cultures as interchangeable?). I'm willing to give WokWorks some leeway here: the point isn't to make authentic Asian food in any particular style, but rather to use a great cooking technique (flash wok frying) and good ingredients (whatever the cultural background). It's not a deep cultural experience, but it's pretty tasty. While the focus is on stir-frying, you should also check out the pork belly sandwiches served inside a slightly sweet steamed bun. Yum.
(3)
Brian M.
We can all agree we're comparing this to Honeygrow, right? Good. So it's better than Honeygrow in the number of options you have. More choices of noodles, sauces, veggies, meats, etc. Maybe not more but more in your face. I think the quality of the noodles, veggies, and sauces are equal or higher here. Plus Honeygrow lets you add Sriracha or soy sauce yourself whereas Wokworks has a handful of other options, including hot chili paste. So that's nice. Where it lacks versus Honeygrow, for me, was the quality of the meat. The pork was chunks versus the slices at Honeygrow and I think that led to some pieces being all fat. Gristly. That's never good and always bad. Plus I agree that this place is $1-2 too expensive. Maybe lower the prices for the base noodle/rice/kee-no-ah a touch?
(3)
Debbie A.
I would actually give this about 3.5 stars. It is okay, but nothing memorable. One pro that you get a good amount of food for the price (I live in Rittenhouse and local Thai/Chinese places can be somewhat expensive). I got the soba noodles with chicken (they were out of brocolli) and the green curry sauce. The chicken was chewy and overcooked and the sauce lacked the nice flavor of Thai green curries. However for a quick takeout place it is good in a pinch. I'm willing to go there and try something else because their menu is varied and I really like the idea of being able to choose what I put on there. Maybe I went on an off night.
(3)
Butch S.
Really good food! Fresh stuff from the protein to the veggies. Definitely a go to place for me. Black gold sauce is my recommendation and stick to brown rice.
(5)
Jennifer R.
I went here for the first time to pick up some lunch. I got white rice, beef, broccoli, pineapple and dark smoke (sauce). It was SO bland. I don't know if they forgot to add the sauce, or if the sauce is that bland, but it was not good. There were 2 HUGE pieces of beef. Why not chop it up into bite size pieces? Also - it looked more like roast beef than a stir fry type of beef. Why? Yuck.There wasn't much broccoli in there. There was A LOT of other crap in there that I didn't order (onion things? they were long. celery. carrots, etc). I'm pretty bummed that I wasted $10 on this lunch that wasn't even edible.
(1)
Michele R.
So sad. I was gunning for the concept: fresh, locally sourced meats and produce, a creative menu, a 22 year old owner (no need to speculate on just HOW he arrived at entrepreneurial-ship....he is there working!). Many different starch options for the base of your stir fry are offered including rice noodles and quinoa. I opted for the quinoa, with shrimp add broccoli, in the tropicali sauce, and crispy garlic to finish. Your dish arrives in a chinese take out box. Firstly, I hate eating out of those boxes. The food never really cools down enough to eat, and i had to dig through mounds of quinoa to get to my 4 shrimp and 4 pieces of broccoli. Secondly, after paying for our meal, the man behind the counter handed me the receipt and said a bowl of miso was free next visit. Great! Except when we left, the sign outside the door said, "free bowl of miso with your wok!" so really, he should have offered me the free bowl with the meal I just bought. Unfortunate. The real problem here though is the Taste of the food. All I can surmise is that they don't properly clean the woks. There was a pervasive burnt taste that overpowered the added sauce. It was...gross. I was so hungry I still ate half of it, and smiled sweetly at the fresh-faced owner because I couldn't bear to hurt his feelings and tell him the food sucked. I will say, my husband got a similar dish (with noodles Instead of quinoa), and he couldn't taste what I tasted. I had a bite of his and that same burnt essence was there too. Perhaps I'm more sensitive to it. But truly, if you're looking for this style of cuisine, go to Honeygrow. Unless they work out their kinks here. I give 2 stars not 1 simply for the premise that I appreciate. Hopefully they can do better.
(2)
Delia T.
I love this place. Small, cheerful space with a few tables. The food is prepared to order and is delicious. Today, Brendan really took care of me and I left feeling full and happy.
(5)
Adam B.
This place is phenomenal. The food is quick and so so so delicious. I had the blackgold sauce with shrimp and absolutely loved it!!! The customer service was very friendly and I even got to meet the young owner Brennan (I think that was his name). Anyways, the young entrepreneur seems to be heading in the right direction with a healthy take on a quick lunch. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a nice place to cool down and listen to some hip music this summertime.
(5)
Stefan H.
I expected a lot more flavor. I had the tall wok with shrimp, broccoli, green beans, and szechuan sauce. Tasted really bland when I was finishing it up. Nice vibe to the place though.
(2)
Widd S.
The whole tour of Asia and you get to choose your own ingredients , your own noodles , your own vegetables and your own V meat or tofu and best of all , they have amazing Hot steamed buns with either pork or beef in them ....a real find !
(5)
Aaliyah P.
Quick lunch is the reason places like wok works exsist. I was over Thanksgiving Day leftovers and decided i needed something i could grab quick and in a hurry. Wok Works is less than a 5 min walk from my office so i ran out the door a few min after 12 hoping to beat the crowds. To my suprise i was the only patron here. I decided on the wok noodle bowl with shrimp and the tropicalia sauce. I was a little annoyed that what i have come to know as the standard veggies used in asian cusines are optional and come with a price tag . I kept my bowl with the traditional carrots cabbage bean sprout and egg. Less than 5 min passed and i was out the door on the way back to my cubicle to devour my lunch. The tropicalia sauce has a nice BITE and the spice level is spot on ( at a level 2 on the menu). I will say i thought i got gypped on the shrimp tip but i had to dig all the way down to the bottom of the container to find the protein i paid an extra 3.00 for. The sauce noodles and shrimp all seemed fresh and the portion size was legit. I could have easily made a second meal out of leftovers but decided to eat the rest throughtout the day. The finish sauces all sound great im very intruiged by the green curry sauce so perhaps i will try that next time. I think ill have to add wok works to my rotation.
(4)
DWFMB A.
I'm never even remotely disappointed by this place. Food is excellent, staff is excellent and friendly, prices now that they have the smaller bowl option are great. They always have clever marketing campaigns and specials. This is in my top 5 favorite lunch places in Philly. Try the Soba+Chicken+Brussels Sprouts+Bacon+Peanut Sauce
(5)
Bill L.
Wokworks is a pleasant addition to the Philadelphia food scene. The owner and staff were great and super cool to speak with. The idea of quick, hot, fresh ingredients, cooked on the wok is perfect for the hustle and bustle of downtown Philly. The BBQ pork belly buns had a nice flavor and the edamame dumplings are excellent and a must try. Take my advice and try the Kelvin Citrus tea slush which is a perfect warm weather drink. The owner also recommends bringing in your own alcohol and putting a splash in the slushy. I tried it with vodka and I must say I agree!!
(4)
Jacob T.
Here's what you get from Wok Works: simple, inexpensive, hot, Asian-inspired stir fries. I'll keep this review short, just like my trip to Wok Works. On to the pros/cons: PROS: * Inexpensive * Fast * Lots of options * Tasty food CONS: * $1-2 too expensive? * Non-authentic? * Too spicy? * They label Sriracha "hipster ketchup" Are you can deduce, there just aren't many cons to this place. It's a no frills, quick-stop in Rittenhouse. I'm a fan. You should be too.
(4)
Adrienne T.
Having moved back East from 4+ years in Hawaii, I am constantly trying to quench my Asian food cravings. Wokworks is a great lunchtime alternative. I've tried the Hong Kong and Chow Fun noodles, and need to try the rest. The Tropicalia sauce is just sweet and spicy enough, and the Szechuan Pepper sauce is even hotter-- plenty for you to "feel your food." The portions are great for a hangry day, and I'm looking forward to their free draft beer happy hour on Wednesdays, with some pretty sweet pupu specials.
(4)
Rachel C.
Let me start off by saying I'm a girl who LOVES her stir-fry. It's the perfect combo of veggies, carbs and protein and I could eat it every single day. That's why I was super excited when I heard this place was opening in my neighborhood. It's similar to HoneyGrow, but less pretentious and on the smaller side. There is only one persont to place an order with, however, so I could see this creating a bottleneck problem when getting crowded at busy lunch hours. The base of the stir-fry comes with carrots, cabbage, sprouts, onions and egg which is nice, but adding in extra veggies and proteins can start to get a bit pricey--I ended up paying a little over $10 which is okay, but I'd rather be spending $8. (Yes that $2 difference makes me feel slightly less guilty about buying lunch out every day when I really intend to bring my own from home, but never do, obvi). They jam-pack your take-out box with food, so don't be fooled because it's actually a pretty generous amount of food. I have to deduct one star, however, because I was really excited to try to the 'Pearlmaker' Oyster Sauce (garlic, sesame, scallion, almond joy), but was really taken aback by the almond joy-candy-almost-mint-tasting-flavor the sauce left me with. It sort of ruined the whole dish for me, but I will definitely try a differenct sauce next time. Highly recommend this stir-fry heaven!
(4)
Brad W.
Great food. The Service is Rapid!! I never have to wait. The personal is extremely friendly. I have lunch there 3 to 4 times a week.
(5)
JGVC G.
I had Wok Works delivered (via Dining In) and it was the highlight of my day. The food was fresh, hot and delicious. At first, I didn't think the "little" container was going to fill me up, but to my surprise I had leftovers. The chicken was all white meat, the sauce was sweet and spicy (as described), and all-in-all, it was a very filling, yet light, meal. This will definitely be on my rotation for lunches in the future, especially if I am in the neighborhood. If it was that good delivered, I can only imagine how good it will be on location.
(4)
Vivian N.
Spicy noodles to order! Great service, and the BBQ port belly bun was to die for!
(4)
Rachel R.
Wokworks is amazing! The perfect lunch, healthy and filling, I had a tall wok with chicken and veggies but could have easily had a short wok and still have leftovers. The pork dumplings are also delicious. I can't wait to go back to try the other sauces and the slushies
(5)
Frank S.
Very good. We get to pick our own Base, Meat, Toppings, and Sauce. Of course we went with what we already knew. But the Small Bowl is PLENTY of food. Definitely worth heading out to.
(4)
Libby P.
What a pleasant lunch surprise! I work maybe two blocks away from here, so I avoided trying it out in the first few months it was open, knowing my time would come eventually. After reading earlier reviews of Wokworks and comparing it today's experience, I'm glad I held out to visit until now! The place had maybe a handful of people in it during the hour I was there, and by no means did I ever feel like it was too noisy or crowded. At 1:30 on a weekday, I'm used to Hip City Veg's auditory assault (always SO LOUD in there), so this was a welcome change of pace. I ordered a short wok with soba noodles, tofu, bok choy, and crispy scallions in pepper sauce. After checking in on Yelp, I received a 30% off coupon--yay! A gigantic bowl of food and a medium fountain drink cost me just over eight bucks with the coupon. A more than fair deal, especially for a made-to-order lunch spot in Rittenhouse. While the soba noodles were tasty, as were my mix-ins, my only disappointment was in the pepper sauce. I'm one of those obnoxious people who needs as much heat as you can give me (except if we're at Han Dynasty--I am human, after all), so when I read the pepper sauce description (peppercorns and chili peppers), I was expecting to sweat at least a little. Sadly, I needed to add lots of chili oil and red pepper flakes for ANY heat whatsoever, but that's legitimately my only complaint. If they step up their heat game, I'll become a regular for sure.
(4)
Brad W.
I went here for a quick take order last night. The space is very bright and clean. They did a very nice job cleaning up the gnarly old taco place. I order chicken stir fry with broccoli, bok choy, and spicy sauce (the three pepper one). I also order the pork dumplings. I received shrimp instead of chicken. Thank goodness I am not allergic. It was actually very good, and the shrimp were perfectly cooked, and on the larger size. Sauce was slightly spicy and somewhat tart. I liked it. The dumplings were scantily stuffed, and lacking on flavor. My major gripe is all the above cost $18.50. Pretty expensive for stir-fry and dumplings. BUT it is Rittenhouse, so I digress... Welcome to the neighborhood WW.
(3)
Edison Y.
I am glad that Wokworks adds a great option of quick healthy Chinese food in the neighborhood. They have very good price and the portion size is good. They have a lot of great promotions sent to my phone, which makes the deals even better. I generally find their sauce to be on the sour side and sometimes there is too much sauce in the noodles, which makes the noodles slightly too soggy. I love their option of Hong Kong style noodles. I definitely will go back.
(3)
Brad M.
Seriously fresh Asian fusion food. Great taste, good value and clean, nicely fitted out restaurant. Very satisfying meal.
(5)
Michael A.
Awesome place to grab something fast, tasty, and still very healthy. It was my first time there and the staff was very friendly and informative. It's hard not to eat like crap when you're in a hurry so I'm glad I found this place. I will be going back soon and often.
(5)
Aaron F.
I dined on Monday, November 20 at 11:30 AM. Service (4/5): The staff was friendly and helpful with needs. My wife wanted a courtesy cup of water and the manager was helpful with keeping her hydrated. The counter staff made suggestions while we were trying to choose between sauces for our meal combinations. The staff was obviously working hard and doing their best to be accurate, efficient, and fast. Even during the rush they were still delivering food orders to tables which is unusual for most QSRs. Atmosphere: (2/5): The place is brand new and has a slick decor that is clean and simplistic. Seating in the place is a bit cramped with not much space between the two-tops. The other option is to sit at the bar facing the wall. This is not entirely their fault since they are making due with the space of the building, however with a packed lunch crowd it is close to sitting on top of each other. Menu (4/5): The big display board with the menu is pretty straight forward and easy to follow. Making selections from each column to create your own masterpiece is a lot more clear in writing (compared to say a Qdoba which uses the bain marie more to communicate fillings). Food (3/5): The protein in my dish was under seasoned. My guess is that the sauce is supposed to supplement seasoning, but if this is the intention it is not being executed correctly. The food was still tasty and a fair value for my money. Overall (3/5): The food and value were good and the service was better than par. This is an upgrade from mall food court Chinese, on par with Mexican QSRs like Qdoba and Chipotle, and a down grade from dim sum in Chinatown. It sits somewhere right in the middle and I doubt I will find myself craving food from this particular restaurant, but I can imagine revisiting if I was in the right place at the right time.
(3)
Michael B.
Heard awesome things about this place and my expectations were exceeded. Was semi busy when I walked in, cashier took my order within 2 minutes and had my food within 5. Perfect as a fast casual. Portion size was large enough, ingredients were fresh, and I received exactly what I ordered. Gonna have to make this a regular thing.
(5)
J B.
This was simply the worse noodle joint I have ever tried. I love noodle houses, and was kind of hoping this would be a Wagamama style joint close to my office. I ordered the "wok noodles" with chicken, snow peas, portobello mushrooms and the Asian BBQ sauce. Watching the utterly chaos going on behind the counter was highly discouraging. Lots of people bringing unlabeled containers down to a woman at the end of the counter. She then had to open the container to figure out what it was, match it to a slip she had stuck to a cork strip on the counter. Orders would pile up, and you could see she was getting rather disoriented sorting it all out. First, the noodles were so over cooked, they essentially became a mass of mush. I have never had such terribly over cooked noodles. The other issue was that instead of portobello mushrooms, they were either pale porcini's or dark buttons, I couldn't tell. The sauce was just...ugh. Of course, this was made much worse by the gelatinous goo that had once been my noodles. For this, I paid a premium rate of more than $10. I don't plan on returning, and I strongly discouraged co-workers from heading down. I recommend Tampopo (on 21st), Smile cafe (on 22nd), or even the standard American style Chinese joint called Mandarin (chestnut between 21 & 22). I had high hopes, but they were crushed.
(1)
Nunya B.
Wow. What a total 360 these guys did. The first good sign was the short line of people waiting to take their order and 3-4 calm and collected chefs doing their thing. Our order took literally 2 minutes to put in; we told the cashier what we wanted and sat down. Less than 10 minutes in our food arrived, served to us. Great, full portions: I got chicken and broccoli with brown rice and peanut sauce. Absolutely delicious, way better than Honeygrow (Honeygrow's sauces are so bland...this was not). I'm really proud these guys got their act together. Brennan, the owner, contacted me and offered a meal on him after my shit review- which is awesome PR for the business. However, I didn't take him up on it (I'm not about to take money from a small business, no matter what my experience was). I will be coming back here often if the experience I had today continues.
(4)
F. O.
I wanted to like the place but it's mediocre at best. I ordered a brown rice chicken stir fry with snow peas, cilantro, and Thai basil with the "creamy" peanut sauce. Individually the quality of the ingredients were fine, except the peanut sauce was hardly creamy nor I could I really taste the peanuts. It also could have benefitted from crushed peanuts, but I guess it's not that kind of place. Also the list of ingredients to personalize the stir fry was pretty limited. My food was lukewarm and not favorable despite having sauce. I will say that it was a healthy portion of food, but not quite worth the $10 spent. Service was fine, the place was clean and has a pretty chill vibe. I wouldn't come here on purpose, perhaps if I'm super hungry and am tired of all the options around.
(2)
Stephen S.
I had a great meal here, but until they open one here in Northern NJ I will only get to enjoy this place once a month at best...
(4)
Alex W.
Oh my gosh! I was in Philly last week and I went to Wokworks. It made my life complete! I got the shrimp bao buns, the soba, and tofu bowl and its all because of the cashier, Ricky or Richard or something. It was my first time and he could tell I looked lost so he suggested a few items and I decided to try all of them and everything was great! Not only was the food good but the staff was kind. Thank you Wokworks for a great experience.
(4)
chris d.
Place has gotten even better, don't realize why this place isn't more packed!
(5)
S L.
Tried this place for the first time yesterday, and I'm pretty sure I'll be back. I got the ramen noodles with Tofu and a spicy sauce (2 peppers on the board) and it was really tasty. The spice level was just perfect. The place is new, so I'm assuming they have a few kinks to work out. Service was a bit slow, and there was a minor flood in the place yesterday when I went in (no lie, this actually happened) but the show must go on. 4 stars for Wokworks.
Tried their sesame organge chicken salad. Fresh, well seasoned and portion was good enough to subsitute proper lunch. Fast service. Would love to come back to try their noodles
(4)
Meg B.
I ate at wok works for their free food tasting yesterday. It was delicious! I went with a few friends and we all ordered different things. Everyone was equally pleased. I got quinoa with tofu and bok choy and the peanut sauce. There were great options on the menu - it was difficult to choose. My meal was really flavorful and the portion size was bigger than i expected. I loved the idea of being able to create your own dish. The decor was great as well. Perfect for an easy & healthy lunch or dinner. I am super excited for this place to finally open!
(5)
Varsha R.
Good joint with good food. I loved the concept of choosing my own sauce. They gave me samplers as well to help me decide. Tasted a few and they were all equally good. You should definitely visit if you're around center city and looking for some Asian food !
(4)
Shamit C.
Nice spot to grab a quick bite to eat. I ordered Soba + Chicken + Bok Choy + Bengal. Pros: Portioned well for a late afternoon lunch meant to hold me over for dinner. Spicy and seasoned just right for my taste. Friendly staff. Cons: Pricey. Smaller dining area (great for a few people, but it could get cramped quickly). Hoping: They extend their hours so I can make this my late night place.
(4)
stephen f.
I'd currently place Wok Works somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, but I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt because I'm dismayed by all of the negative reviews that concentrate solely on the time it took to get served during the lunch rush during the first days the place has been open. I'd suggest waiting a few weeks to try a place if your main priority is to get served within a few minutes. The concept is interesting -- it is like Chipotle in that you build your meal, but quite different in that the dish is cooked to order instead of assembled from pre-cooked parts. So it is going to take a bit more time to get your food. The dishes we had were very tasty -- pork in a bbq sauce that I thought was a touch too sweet but quite flavorful. And chicken and veggies in a peanut sauce that had a nice bit of spice without being overwhelming -- the one pepper marking on the menu was very accurate. I agree with some other reviewers that it would be nice to have plates for eat-in. I felt a bit bad about the amount of garbage generated by a couple of lunches. Overall, good food, reasonable prices, and a nice addition to the neighborhood.
(5)
Larry N.
I was expecting great things from this place, but it was mediocre at best. The staff were very friendly. The food was so bland. I had the dumplings (pork). They were greasy and burnt. Cool concept though.
(2)
Worthy Q.
So disappointing. I just ate tough, flavorless beef with a bland practically non-existent green curry sauce topped with a few veggies mixed in over okay noodles for almost $10. It managed to feel greasy despite having little sauce presence. But it did have bits of scrambled egg mixed in. Even though I didn't order any egg. There are so many options for good Asian food nearby. Skip this one. (And it was so hot inside the restaurant I had to take the food to go.)
(1)
John P.
The wait is horrible. I ordered Pork Buns and their typical Wok meal with the noodles. Wow. This place is so bad. The noodles were way over cooked and the buns were just ok. Not going back. Don't waste your time here. It looks like a good idea that they couldn't execute on.
(1)
Holly G.
I loved it here so yummy and quick ! The hot and spicy pickles, edamame dumplings, brussels sprouts, and the mango sauce are all my favorite! :P
(5)
Joe M.
Great food and friendly service. Ordered the Tall Wok: Hong Kong Noodle, chicken, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Jalepeno, Crispy Garlic, Crispy Shallots with the Pepper Sauce. Would definetly go back.
(5)
J. L.
Super friendly and efficient service. Great food. Really nice vibe on a rainy afternoon. Portion size is perfect and the food is fresh. I'll be back!!
(5)
Susan R.
I just happened to stumble into wokworks yesterday, and it ended up being exactly what I was craving. This is my new go-to spot. The ingredients are fresh and tasty, and the options make it really interesting. I ordered brown rice with broccoli shrimp and the peanut sauce. It was healthy and satisfying. All in all I was really impressed by the whole idea! Thanks wokworks!
(5)
Christopher L.
Went to wokworks for their second day of lunch. Line of people waiting to pick up food should have tipped me off that something was amiss, but I ordered anyway. Liked the options and the interesting ingredients, but this place really has to work out its operations (an assembly line concept would seem more efficient) as my food took over 25 minutes to be ready. With respect to the food- First impression - not great presentation. Wish "to stay" orders came in actual dishes and not cardboard takeout containers. Taste-wise my quinoa, chicken, brussle sprout, mushroom dish with the green curry sauce was good but too salty and WAY too much sauce, it was like a soup. Friends I was with thought their dishes were pretty good. Prob should have ordered rice or noodles as they seemed to absorb the sauce much better. Here's to hoping the kinks will be worked out as there is potential here.
(2)
Marna L.
I went here in November, around when Wok Works first opened. The service was awful. My noodles were undercooked and slimey, and this was our second order, following a mix up in the first order. Really not worth the money, which is quite expensive for such a simple restaurant with poor service.
(1)
Erin M.
Went on Sunday no line, no waiting so I assume my order was correct. Overall I just didn't really enjoy it. I ordered rice noodles with veggies, the tropicalia sauce, and crispy garlic. Maybe my order didn't get the right sauce because I didn't taste anything sweet or spicy. It tasted like generic savory stir fry sauce. I liked the consistency of the noodles. I like the variety of veggies. I did not taste the crispy garlic so I would not waste the extra money on this. Lastly, I did not realize eggs come on everything. I'll take responsibility here as it is mentioned on the menu (in very small lettering). I hate eggs. I even got some egg shells. I'll be sticking with Honeygrow Pros: Good Variety of Vegetables Noodles Fast Cons: Expensive Blah tropicalia sauce Eggs come with everything Egg shell
(2)
Gia Y.
I enjoyed this place the first 2 times I went, but this time was a bit of a miss. My dish was like 80% sprouts! My coworker said the same thing. Hoping this was just an off day. (Went for lunch today around 1:30)
(3)
Jon B.
Holly smokes!!! This was an absolutely amazing lunch. I got the quinoa with wild caught shrimp, portobello mushrooms, and bengal sauce. Extremely fresh ingredients, bright flavors with perfectly light and healthy feel. A+++++
(5)
Justin W.
We tried this place again hoping that they had worked out the kinks after 4 months. Nope. They still take forever, it tasted like there wasn't even any sauce in the stir fry, and on top of that they forgot to put the pork bun we ordered in our bag. Overpriced, slow, and not tasty. This place should be closed soon.
(1)
Paul D.
Solid fast food. I've had the chicken with both brown rice and egg noodles. I have also tried the spicy BBQ sauce as well as the spicy pepper sauce. Personally I like the BBQ better. Good quick lunch spot and they also deliver.
(4)
Lindsey M.
I was very disappointed with my meal. I got the noodles, chicken, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and the green curry sauce. The result was a $10 container of mush. I may try this again with a different sauce or less sauce -- but I will certainly check out similar places in the area first.
(2)
Laura G.
I'm so glad I finally stopped in, I've been trying to go and take advantage of their Wednesday specials with Aria S. but never got around to it. I ordered a short wok with chow fun noodles, shrimp, bok choy, crispy garlic, and pepper szechuan sauce. The bowl itself was very fresh and full of wonderful ingredients BUT the sauce is extremelyyyyyyy spicy. Dont get me wrong, I handled myself pretty well in Thailand, but this was a little too intense. I definitely would switch the sauce for next time. I also order the brussels sprouts and the spicy asian pickles. Brussels sprouts were wonderful, similar to Sampan's. The pickles were incredible, definitely on the spicy side, but not overwhelmingly so. My concern after ordering was the amount of time I waited. I have no problem waiting, but its labeled as fast food and I'd say we waited about 20 minutes. It seemed like they could have used one more person to help cook. TIP: check in on yelp and get 30% off!!
(4)
Samantha E.
I had the chance to try Wokworks again, and my service was much more prompt. I ordered online through their website on a Friday afternoon and my order was to be done in 20 minutes. This left me plenty of time to run an errand on the way, or so I thought. Within 10 minutes, I was texted that my order was ready for pickup. I still look 20 minutes to arrive, after completing my errand. I was able to walk in past the line of 7 or 8 people gazing up at the menu to pick up my prepaid order. On this occasion, there were more employees working and the restaurant was buzzing. I am impressed how the service improved. I will be returning for lunches and have plans to check out the Wednesday Happy Hour in the next few weeks. I'd like to thank the owner, Brennan, for reaching out and encouraging me to give WokWorks another try. I always appreciate owns/ management that go above and beyond for customer service. I have already recommended WokWorks to several co- workers looking to change up their usual take- out routine.
(4)
Laura R.
Amazing customer service ! I forgot to get the girls name who took my pick up order for dumplings but I didn't want fried at all.. She went out of her way to steam them herself !! Apparently they only steam them On Wednesdays And they were amazing!! Best dumplings I've had in a while ! She's always so friendly and helpful. And it Doesn't hurt that the noodle chips are to die for.. Lol
(5)
Andrea F.
Ordered delivery through Try Caviar and it came promptly. I'd liken the food here to that of Honeygrow, but perhaps a little cheaper since my custom small bowl didn't charge me an arm and leg for each topping. I opted for the "Hong Kong" stir-fry noodle base, shrimp protein (for only $0.50 extra), mushroom vegetable, and cilantro topping in a soy/garlic/ginger sauce (seriously, there's so many sauces to choose from, I became overwhelmed!). My whole dish came to about $9.50, which isn't bad compared to the $12 or more I always spend at Honeygrow. My coworkers ordered their bowls with brown rice, chicken, and broccoli. We also got those fried, crispy noodle chips with sea salt and pork dumplings for sides. My stir-fry was much better than the brown rice option. There was just enough sauce and shrimp and a nicely cooked stir-fry noodle with crunchy carrots and purple cabbage. I couldn't really taste my cilantro under the sauce, but the mushrooms were good. Next time I'd opt for the crispy noodle chips or shallots as a topping to give it some more texture. For some reason, though, the sauce was undetectable on the brown rice dishes. And paired with quite a large amount of chicken, it made the whole meal pretty dry. Honestly, though, some packets of soy sauce on the side would do the trick. This is one thing that Honeygrow has that I like which is picking if you want light, medium or heavy sauce. Perhaps if I visited Wokworks in person, it would be different. The pork dumplings were actually fried, but still very tasty and the spicy mayo dipping sauce was delicious and reminded me of the kind you get for the Bloomin' Onion at Outback. The chips, however, were soooo salty. The only way to cut through the taste was to dip it in the tangy, creamy sauce. The consensus: Cheaper than Honeygrow, but just as filling and with wayyyy more options to choose from for sauces and toppings. I'd definitely order from here again.
(4)
Laura G.
I'm so glad I finally stopped in, I've been trying to go and take advantage of their Wednesday specials with Aria S. but never got around to it. I ordered a short wok with chow fun noodles, shrimp, bok choy, crispy garlic, and pepper szechuan sauce. The bowl itself was very fresh and full of wonderful ingredients BUT the sauce is extremelyyyyyyy spicy. Dont get me wrong, I handled myself pretty well in Thailand, but this was a little too intense. I definitely would switch the sauce for next time. I also order the brussels sprouts and the spicy asian pickles. Brussels sprouts were wonderful, similar to Sampan's. The pickles were incredible, definitely on the spicy side, but not overwhelmingly so. My concern after ordering was the amount of time I waited. I have no problem waiting, but its labeled as fast food and I'd say we waited about 20 minutes. It seemed like they could have used one more person to help cook. TIP: check in on yelp and get 30% off!!
(4)
Samantha E.
I had the chance to try Wokworks again, and my service was much more prompt. I ordered online through their website on a Friday afternoon and my order was to be done in 20 minutes. This left me plenty of time to run an errand on the way, or so I thought. Within 10 minutes, I was texted that my order was ready for pickup. I still look 20 minutes to arrive, after completing my errand. I was able to walk in past the line of 7 or 8 people gazing up at the menu to pick up my prepaid order. On this occasion, there were more employees working and the restaurant was buzzing. I am impressed how the service improved. I will be returning for lunches and have plans to check out the Wednesday Happy Hour in the next few weeks. I'd like to thank the owner, Brennan, for reaching out and encouraging me to give WokWorks another try. I always appreciate owns/ management that go above and beyond for customer service. I have already recommended WokWorks to several co- workers looking to change up their usual take- out routine.
(4)
Laura R.
Amazing customer service ! I forgot to get the girls name who took my pick up order for dumplings but I didn't want fried at all.. She went out of her way to steam them herself !! Apparently they only steam them On Wednesdays And they were amazing!! Best dumplings I've had in a while ! She's always so friendly and helpful. And it Doesn't hurt that the noodle chips are to die for.. Lol
(5)
Andrea F.
Ordered delivery through Try Caviar and it came promptly. I'd liken the food here to that of Honeygrow, but perhaps a little cheaper since my custom small bowl didn't charge me an arm and leg for each topping. I opted for the "Hong Kong" stir-fry noodle base, shrimp protein (for only $0.50 extra), mushroom vegetable, and cilantro topping in a soy/garlic/ginger sauce (seriously, there's so many sauces to choose from, I became overwhelmed!). My whole dish came to about $9.50, which isn't bad compared to the $12 or more I always spend at Honeygrow. My coworkers ordered their bowls with brown rice, chicken, and broccoli. We also got those fried, crispy noodle chips with sea salt and pork dumplings for sides. My stir-fry was much better than the brown rice option. There was just enough sauce and shrimp and a nicely cooked stir-fry noodle with crunchy carrots and purple cabbage. I couldn't really taste my cilantro under the sauce, but the mushrooms were good. Next time I'd opt for the crispy noodle chips or shallots as a topping to give it some more texture. For some reason, though, the sauce was undetectable on the brown rice dishes. And paired with quite a large amount of chicken, it made the whole meal pretty dry. Honestly, though, some packets of soy sauce on the side would do the trick. This is one thing that Honeygrow has that I like which is picking if you want light, medium or heavy sauce. Perhaps if I visited Wokworks in person, it would be different. The pork dumplings were actually fried, but still very tasty and the spicy mayo dipping sauce was delicious and reminded me of the kind you get for the Bloomin' Onion at Outback. The chips, however, were soooo salty. The only way to cut through the taste was to dip it in the tangy, creamy sauce. The consensus: Cheaper than Honeygrow, but just as filling and with wayyyy more options to choose from for sauces and toppings. I'd definitely order from here again.
(4)
Anu P.
Another random gem we found in philly! We were going shopping one afternoon and got hungry around 2pm so stopped in since it was on our way and because we're both big fans of noodles. We saw average reviews so were skeptical until we saw the 30% off if you check in on yelp coupon! (Tip: check in) Food: We ordered a large make your own wok order - lo mein noodles with the tropicali sauce (spicy, beware - the bf and I had gone through 4 glasses of water each by the end of this meal) with mushrooms, onions, and peppers. This dish was so delicious - each bite had life and flavor to it and we were so sad to see it finish (definitely NOT sharing next time). The dish is about $10 without the coupon and only $7 when you check in - what a steal. The large is pretty big in size and can be saved for a second meal / snack for later. This place was infinitely better than HoneyGrow which is another noodle bar that I went to but was not impressed with at all. Wokworks is definitely worth checking out! Can't wait to try their other dishes.
(4)
Joanna L.
I took the friendly owner (who reached out to me) up on a free meal due to a recent disappointing experience and gave it another shot last night. Boy am I glad that I did! I enjoyed a delicious wok and a side of brussel sprouts. Much better experience this time! The wok was spicy and full of flavor - and the sprouts were right on point - with just the right amount of salt. I ordered a rice noodle wok with beef, broccoli, mushrooms and snow peas - topped with tropicalia sauce & garlic. YUM! I savored each bite, and have the leftovers for another tasty meal today! I will definitely come back again soon, and truly appreciate when a business owner displays accountability and extends a genuine offer for redemption. Not only is it great customer service, but it says a lot about the type of establishment they run - with care and consideration for customers. Thanks again!
(4)
Shane D.
This place is poppin' fresh like pillsbury. I got the wok noodles with the tropicali, jalapenos and hot peppers - their spiciest combination. It was not extremely spicy for the daring out there but it was definitely spicy at an enjoyable level, complementing the flavor. The ingredients are fresh and are prepared by people with experience. Things are done right here as opposed to other stir fry joints that attempt to imitate the craft. Wok Works is a relaxing place with good music, vibes, cleanliness and staff that reflects everything good about a restaurant. Wednesdays, they serve yuenglings 5-10. You know I'll be there. Shoutouts to Stacy(Stacie), Irene, and co!!!
(5)
Taleah J.
I have eaten at Wokworks a bunch of times... its consistently delicious and they have a great menu. I prefer this place over Honeygrow any day!!! My favorites are there Edamame dumplings with the peanut sauce and their wings. Of course the noodles cant be beat either. If you are wasting your time at Honeygrow ordering noodles... please for all our sakes.... go to Wokworks.
(5)
Sharee W.
So, I've been here a few times now. I will say that I really like that everything is made fresh to order. The short wok is plenty of food to make 2 meals...at least for me. I suggest getting an extra side of sauce. The flavor is okay, but the extra sauce definitely kicks it up a notch. Now, on to the edamame dumplings....so yummy! I totally suggest getting these. The staff is always very nice.
(4)
John K.
A few months back, the GF and I were in the mood for Asian noodles, but not exactly itching for the prototypical mushy noodles that accompany an order of Americanized Chinese takeout. Hearing good things about Wokworks, we decided to hop on DiningIn and see what all the fuss was about. Spicy Asian Pickles [$1.95] Pickles, chili We started off with the spicy pickles. While a pittance of a portion, they were crisp and sweet, with spice that came through on the finish. Jalapeno Brussels Sprouts [$4] Brussels sprouts, gluten-free soy, jalapeno I'm a brussels sprouts fiend so naturally, we had to order these. While I missed the touted heat from the jalapenos, the sprouts had nice bite and were well seasoned. Thankfully, they weren't overly salty from the soy. Crispy Edamame Dumplings [$4.95] Peanut sauce The edamame dumplings were nice - incredibly crispy with a creamy essence within. They were topped with some green onions and sweet black sesame seeds. BBQ Pork Belly Sliders [$5.95] Steamed buns, pork belly, pineapple salsa, cilantro Regular readers know that the pork belly buns were a must order for me. The gluttonous pork was well-braised and had a lightly sweet glaze. The dish itself could have used more texture, with the soft, pliant buns rendering each bite soft on soft. I could have used more pork as well - perhaps double pork a la Momofuku? Still, the accompanying pineapple salsa and cilantro brought some bright balance to the heft of the pork. Build Your Own Tall Wok [$10.95] Lo mein, chicken, snow peas, mushrooms, bok choy, crispy shallots, roasted almonds, Blackgold teriyaki sauce But what is Wokworks really known for? Their stir-fried noodles! We elected to build our own, with chicken, lo mein noodles, and a melange of various veggies. These noodles weren't mushy at all and thankfully had life to each bite. They were well-coated with the requested Blackgold teriyaki sauce and the multitude of accompanying additions helped to create a hearty dish. Overall, Wokworks delivered an experience that was well above the standard Chinese takeout you might order on a random night. Do try their stir-fried noodles. I also wouldn't hesitate to order the pork belly buns again!
(4)
Aria S.
I tried to convince my friends to ditch Sips and come here for happy hour because they have FREE beer on Wednedays 5-10pm + food specials! They all bailed on me so I came here after I went to Lithe (so Rittenhouse of me right??) I got the edamame dumplings with sriracha sauce. I thought they would be like real dumplings but they were actually gyoza and fried which was disappointing because they are usually steamed aka not as fatty! Nonetheless, they were amazing! I scarfed down a little box of them and the sauce was perfect. The woman working was super sweet also. If you check in on Yelp you get 30% off! Making one of the small bowls about $6-7 which is very reasonable for entrees in the area. Also the place wasn't crowded or anything, so I'm definitely dragging my friends here again on a free beer Wednesday.
(4)
Jeff H.
I really, really, really like this place. Wokworks is my new most favorite fast food spot. It is such a cool idea to do fast-food wok cooking with lots of healthy ingredients. When you add in extremely friendly and helpful staff with a nice vibe atmosphere, you have a winner. My very favorite stir fry is the build-your-own with red and white quinoa. Add your protein, veggie, seasoning, and sauce and you have a tasty treat in front of you. All the sauces are great from the golden nut peanut to the pepper spicy Szechuan. But if you like spicy with flavor - order the tropicalia mango sambal. A side of jalapeño brussel sprouts in sesame oil just adds to the combo of flavours here. It is usually busy when I have been there so that it is a great sign this concept is catching on. Now just expand to my hood .... and def let me take a branch of Wokworks with me back to Vienna!
(5)
Tim Y.
I've only discovered this little gem recently, upon my move to Rittenhouse Square. I'm truly a Pei Wei Asian Diner fanatic (not just a fan, mind you) at heart, as I've been going to that chain's restaurants weekly for years and NOBODY makes a better Kung Pao than them, period. But the WokWorks concept is similar: pick your type of meal, pick your carbs, pick your meat, but Wokworks gives you the chance to pick your sauce, veggies and toppings; pretty cool! And WokWorks brings something unique to the table: quinoa, a very healthy, delicious grain that you can choose instead of the standard noodles or rice. I've been here a few times. The people are super-friendly and the variety is great; as long as I perceive good value for my money, I'll return here. Pei Wei finally has a little competition, in my eyes. UPDATE: Wokworks now has a fried chicken option for your protein, and it's a great option! Fried chicken + quinoa...I'm loving this place more and more!
(5)
Gabrielle W.
I ordered delivery tonight and received 1 entree with burnt shallots and a side of brussels sprouts that were burnt to shit (posted picture..notice the other sprouts pics that do not look like what I received). I called the restaurant for a refund because I'm not paying for burnt food and what I was told was that it was impossible to burn the sprouts because they were deep fried. Meanwhile I'm staring at some black sprouts and burnt "crispy shallots" that made my entree inedible. This place is a joke. I know this sounds like rocket science but maybe...just maybe someone left the sprouts in the fryer too long and that's how they got burnt. And maybe that same person burnt the "crispy shallots" too. Mind blown! I would never recommend or go back.
(1)
Sangita S.
This place is awesome! Such a hidden gem. On Wednesday they have free beer. Literally it is FREE. FREEEEE. And it's yeungling. Oh and the food is amazing. Try it all. But the service is the best part and it's so cheap. I can't think of one reason not to come here. Good food for cheap. Free beer on Wednesdays. Great service. Find Stacey she's the best.
(5)
Edward M.
In the mood for a quick Asian-ish lunch? You could do much worse than this place. It's got a Chipotle-like selection process, where you pick your base carb (various noodle options, rice, or quinoa), your protein (beef, chicken, pork, tofu, etc.), veggie, topping, and sauce. I imagine some combinations work better than others, but no guidance is provided on the menu; you're on your own, which might prompt choice paralysis among some people (there are literally thousands of different combinations you could make). It might be helpful for them to list a few popular or suggested combos. You also get to select your dish size - short or tall. The short provided plenty of food for a meal and snacking afterwards. So the tall might be good for two meals, but I don't know that I'll try that. The chicken tasted good; the asparagus, though, kinda lacked character. The noodles were fine, though under-seasoned. Luckily, they have a couple of hot sauces available you can add to your dish, or take with you if you're getting it to go. Service was fairly fast, taking about five minutes to cook up my order. The short bowl was under $10; the tall would be a bit more.
(4)
Jill L.
When I was growing up at the Jersey Shore, there was a Mongolian BBQ place that I absolutely loved. What is Mongolian BBQ, you may ask? So this was an all-you-can-eat stirfry place where you fill up a bowl with everything you want (carb, protein, veggies, sauce) and they cook your meal for you on this giant flat top griddle, as you stand there and watch. It.was.awesome. And let me tell you, a 16 year old Jill could definitely pack in more than a couple bowls of stir fry. Ahh.... to be a teenager again. Anyway, I have been saying for years that a place like this needs to come to Philly. Enter Wokworks. Granted, it's not AYCE, but who really needs to eat more than one bowl of stir fry? On my visit, I got the small sized bowl with bok choy, lo mein, tofu, and the peanut sauce, topped with fried shallots. I thought the dish was really delicious but I definitely needed to add some heat. Luckily they have a variety of hot sauces (sriacha, chili oil) on the table to adjust your dish. For me, I thought it was a good value for $9. And there were signs that they give free beer on Fridays (btw- it is always BYOB). The only changes I would make is for Wokworks to offer a few "predesigned" options to their menu. I am the WORST when it comes to pairing tastes together and I'm sure others do too. Also, the space is pretty small, so I can only imagine how packed it must get during lunch on a workday. Nonetheless, I'll definitely be back to try another stirfry!
(4)
Kimberly H.
I haven't event gotten my food yet but standing here waiting for my fresh noodles already has me in a great mood. What a refreshingly positive bunch of employees! It's my first time here and they've been so helpful and patient. Every person in the place has a smile on their face and seem to genuinely enjoy the job they're doing. Ok, just took my first bite and this place is also taste-test approved! Delicious and overall wonderful experience... What more can anyone ask for?
(5)
Kelly O.
Long story short - not a fan. The dumplings were okay; crispy noodles would have been good if they weren't absolutely COVERED in salt. Wayyy too much! My bowl was a decent portion for the money, and had a good amount of meat, but was seriously dry. I don't know if the sauce just didn't have enough flavor, or if they didn't put enough on, but I really didn't enjoy my lunch.
(2)
Donte P.
This place is amazing !!! My 2 bs time here grabbing lunch & I'm so impressed with the service .... And the women at the first register, ... She makes ordering so easy !! This place is a must visit
(5)
Allie E.
I am really impressed with this place. The first time I had it was about 2 weeks ago on my birthday. I convinced my coworkers to order with me and have it delivered. Normally they do not cross the river to deliver over by Penn where we work, but they kindly agreed to deliver to us given the size of our order. The delivery was SO fast- within 45 minutes- and everything was correct. We all enjoyed our meals so much. They portions are huge and all the ingredients are so fresh and don't leave you feeling bloated by all the sodium, etc from other asian restaurants. My coworkers loved it so much they all demanded we order again today and the service and delivery was just as good as the last time! Thanks, Wok Works!
(5)
Prasath S.
One star is for the delicious spicy shrimp Bao buns and the crispy noodles with duck sauce. The main attraction which is supposed to be the wok noodles was a complete fail. The entire dish tasted burnt and smokey...somebody needs to teach these Cooks to either reduce the heat or add more oil. The entire bowl was so bitter that no sauce could rescue it. What a shame !!!!
(1)
Sarah C.
Went here for the beer menu and had some really delicious edamame dumplings and brussel sprouts! Stacey was really great and the free yeungling was definitely worth the trip!
(4)
Jt B.
Was here for a dinner party, had a great time, with great friends and great food.
(4)
Yikai F.
Bad customer service, very rude and impatient with my order. "Are you gonna order something?!" That's the greeting I got. Food isn't good either. But good for a fast meal/ takeout or if you like messy food. Great atmosphere tho, really an eye catcher
(2)
Lisa D.
We ordered 100 people's worth of catering from these guys, which is intimidating to a lot of restaurants, and they pulled it off with flying colors. You get a very generous amount of food per portion, and it arrived fresh and hot. They also set it all up for us, and the manager came to oversee the process. The food itself is good, especially if you're trying to go lighter. The veggies aren't in sauce, and the chicken we had seemed pretty healthy. You also have the option of brown rice, which not all places offer. Definitely recommend them for catering.
(4)
Anthony J.
The Stir Fry is always piping hot and full of awesome fresh healthy flavor! Tons of sauces too! Rock on.
(5)
Lea L.
My boyfriend and I recently stopped by wokwoks on a Sunday afternoon after being told it was similar to one of our favorite NYC spots, Wok to Walk. If I was going to compare the two, I would say the noodles at Wokworks are a half step below Wok to Walk but they were still delicious. You could tell all the ingredients were fresh. They were just missing that addictive quality. I think the noodles needed more sauce. However, we also ordered pork dumplings and pork belly buns because who could resist? And they were phenomenal! The dumplings were made to order and crispy just the way I like them. They came with spicy mayo which is not typical but I enjoyed it. And the flavor combinations in the pork belly buns were great. Since I was there on a Sunday afternoon we didn't have to wait long at all but all the food seemed to be cooked to order so I imagine if there is a crowd it could take some time. The staff was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. I would definitely go back to this place again!
(4)
Eunni C.
I really want to like this place. Healthy version of Chinese food? Sounded so good to me. And store looked clean from outside and also liked their name... Got quinoa fried rice with bean sprout and veggies...simply no good... I like healthy food but has to tasty to keep going back. That was my last visit... But I liked their clean container and healthy concept so.. It is two star place.
(2)
Krystal H.
The first time I tried this place I got some combination of noodles & veggies & sauce. It was pretty good, which is why I came back. The 2nd time I got string beans, brussel sprouts & edamame dumplings. Probably wouldn't have gotten the dumplings had I known they were fried, but it wasn't on the menu and I didn't ask. Everything was good except the string beans. They were so salty I couldn't eat them. Another time I tried their smoothie (Mango black tea something or other) and it just tasted like lemonade. I hate lemonade. Most recently I got the orange chicken salad and asked for it without chicken. The guy made a big deal about pulling the chicken off of the pre-made salad. I guess I could have done it but I asked when I ordered it, before it was given to me and he acted like it was some big inconvenience. Also, there were a ton of orange seeds in it that I had to keep spitting out. There has never been a single other person in there when I go and they always act like they're doing you a favor by making your overpriced over salted food. The service was only friendly the first time, gets worse every time I go back. I probably won't go back again. Jane G's is right across the street and for the price, much better in my opinion.
(2)
Lili W.
Wokworks is only okay in my book. I've come here twice and got two different combinations and found both to be mediocre. Growing up with authentic and delicious asian food, maybe I'm biased and prefer the more traditional dishes. Anyhow, to enhance the dining experience, Wokworks should really consider using different take out plates/bowls, instead of the doggy box they currently use. the doggy boxes are really difficult to eat out of.
(3)
Stephanie H.
This place is awesome! Stopped by on a Wednesday and they seriously offer FREE BEER! It sounded too good to be true, but the super nice server Stacy brought us up and actually poured us free beer! They had some great specials too, Brussels sprouts for $3, pop corn chickens $4 and more!
(4)
Meredith B.
I've got a thing for asian... so I've got a thing for the new asian lunch spot in town. It's a good little spot, fast ordering, build your own asian lunch spot. We ordered: BBQ pork belly buns - Awesome. Get these. They are what you should expect when ordering BBQ pork belly buns but with a nice addition of pineapple slaw. Tofu soba noodles with tropicali sauce - I really enjoyed this. I like spice but given the menu's description and two peppers next to it I wasn't expecting as much spice as I had. Side of brussels sprouts - I love b.sprouts but there was nothing special to these. Side of maple caramelized squash - GET THIS. I wouldn't have thought to order it but my lunch buddy did and they were awesome. Nicely cooked with bacon-y goodness. Place is a little tight in there so I wouldn't suggest bring a large group in for lunch hour. Great to-go spot. Next time I'd like to try their edamame dumplings This review is dedicated to Rick V.
(4)
SilverfoxAA H.
The Wokworks rocks! I had the most wonderful soba noodles with tofu, string beans (French) mushrooms, bok choi topped with cilantro and a sort of tamari sauce and I was in heaven. All four of us agreed that that this was the most delicious lunch we've had since we were in Bangkok! we'll be back!
(5)
Chandreyi D.
I wouldn't give this place more than 2 stars because their food is bland. I've been twice already. The first time by accident I stumbled upon it and just was curious to try. Both times I've had their wok noodles with the sauces. Today I got wok noodles with the pepper sauce and I told them it was bland and tasteless (hoping they would add more seasoning/spices..nope!) They have a great location for anyone who wants a quick bite but they really need to step up their game competing with Jane G's and Honeygrow. Their prices are not worth $8 for the short wok. I'm really disappointed. If you must go, get the edamame dumplings with the siracha sauce and skip the noodles.
(2)
Thomas V.
I don't know what's up with these guys. I've been here two times. I didn't have a good experience the first but figured I'd try again. The second time, they weren't busy by any stretch (3 other people were there) but it still took them 15 to start cooking my food. When they brought it, they forgot the drink, and forgot to put beef in the main dish, so they had to remake it. When I finally got my food it was terrible! Don't go here.
(1)
Andrea C.
I admit it, I have recently become addicted to the wok. I ordered my first last Friday, seemed so harmless, so simple. No base for me, I am not into the starchy stuff and hides the truth of all those lovely vegetables. Sunday night rolls around and I start thinking about pacing lunch for Monday and I ordered another wok. Split it across two days. Here it is Wednesday and now I am thinking, crap, really am I going a week solid on this for lunch? Yep! It's cold out, the wok, it's good and is a great vehicle for Sambal Olek. Oh yeah, the crispy dumplings are crispy, really crispy. Unlike any other place I have been so far. If only they were wheelchair accessible, that one step in front is my downfall so I am destined for delivery.
(5)
Larissa G.
This place is a solid lunch spot. I went for my first visit today and was really pleased with the Yelp check-in offer (30% off!) and got a large tofu bowl with veggies. All the vegetables were super fresh and you could even see one of the employees chopping up peppers on the counter. It was a late lunch, but the place was not crowded and my friend and I easily got a seat. The hardest choice for me was the kind of noodle and the sauce. I got the wok noodles, but the soba looked great. I also wish that I would have done the pepper sauce because the Begal sauce, while delicious on its own, was a bit lacking in flavor when everything else was mixed in. All the sides looked great too, so I'll definitely be back soon!
(4)
Bill M.
I never thought that I'd see wok based Asian inspired foods dished out in a fast food based almost assembly lined variation before. But in a way I'm not surprised at all. And while I am still somewhat perturbed by the results; Wokworks does deliver the concept better than most (Good riddance Pad Thai Shack - yelp.com/user_details_re… !), and does so with a plethora of options. Start off by choosing between 3 kinds of noodles, brown or white rice, or quinoa, then choose a protein (tofu if vegetarian) and vegetable option from their good sized list; and finally top it off with one of their signature sauces. The end result can lead to far from Asian yet tasty options like smokey bacon brussel sprout chow fun, green curry chicken broccoli soba, or spicy Szechuan tofu and quinoa w/ portebello mushrooms. Ultimately if I'm looking for an Asian inspired lunchdeal I'll go just about everywhere else. Especially in the Rittenhouse Square area since Nom Nom Ramen, Su Xing House, Thai Singha, and SO MANY sushi places are nearby. But Wokworks does manage to deliver it the quickest, which can be a trump card when necessary.
(3)
Lia B.
Love that this place is here!!! It's a very simple and fun concept of stir frys and wok specialties. They have tofu options and a veggie friendly atmosphere. The staff here knows what can be made vegan and are happy to execute pretty much anything you could ask for. They also tote a fun BYOB tag at the door - and even though for me wokworks would be more of a lunch spot - i could see myself stopping by here after a spin class for dinner. Note the miso soup has fish in it and I got the pepper sauce which I was told was vegan but I would double check if you're ordering a different one. There are many spice options from mild to very spicy and they can accommodate all ends of the spectrum which is great when going out with friends. The line moves very fast - and everyone is attentive and upbeat. Overall I would like to pop in here more often and take advantage of all the tofu / vegan options. Yelp check in rt now gets you free miso soup btw
(5)
Jeff M.
Think chipotle meets Asian food. Ingredients are superb - organic meats and fresh caught fish - a true find for Philly. An excellent spot for lunch or for dinner. Delivery available through grub hub. Also - free beer on Friday afternoons!
(5)
Katharine E.
I couldn't be more disappointed in Wok Works. My first trip there was OK, I got quinoa and shrimp with the smoke sauce. The shrimp was a good size, there were about 8 pieces. The cabbage was crunchy and a nice addition and there was a TON of quinoa, probably enough for 4 servings but it was drenched in the sauce. There was so much sauce I felt like I was eating a too-sweet quinoa soup. I decided to give it another go and NIGHTMARE. I ordered chow fun, beef, broccoli, with the green curry sauce. I got back to my office and opened the box and it looked like a box of grey mush. I dug around for the meat and instead i found grey tasteless shoe leather. It had obviously had the life steamed out of it and was poor quality to begin with. There was no nice sear from the wok or flavor to speak of. There were a whopping 2 (!!!) pieces of broccoli among the sea of gelatinous chow fun noodles. The noodles were mush and entirely inedible. I'm floored at the poor quality and execution. You can see how depressing it looks...let alone tastes from the pictures. I really wanted to bring my food back because in this situation a manager needed to see it, but it was raining and cold and I'm a wimp. Not one to waste, I tried to pass my food off to self-proclaimed "office garbage disposal." He took one bite said "oh this is awful", covered it in sriracha, took another bite and followed up with "nope still can't do it." The "cheap Chinese" cart at 18th and Market actually puts Wok Works to shame and that's just good for a quick greasy fix.
(1)
Zikang H.
It's a great place to try Asian-American mixed style Chow Fun. I am a huge fan of all kinds of noodles. Absolutely love it!
(5)
Allison B.
For their first-ever lunch shift, I was very impressed with Wokworks. If you have a tight lunch hour, you might want to wait a week or so until the staff really nails down their wok work flow- like any new fast/casual food business, these things take time. It took 25 minutes for me to get my stir-fry, but I did not mind. The place was packed. Pick your carb, your protein, your veggie and sauce. I got brown rice with tofu, broccoli and pepper sauce for $9. Each stir-fry includes cabbage, bean sprouts, egg and carrot. You get a ton of food. The pepper sauce was spicy, with a kick of sweetness I wasn't expecting. The best part? No globs of congealed sauce or uneven distribution of flavor. For stir-fry, it was light and delicious! I'll definitely be back. P.S. Angela S- I was at Honeygrow the day they opened, too. The place was just as crowded, and I waited for my salad there just as long as I waited today. Same goes for HipCityVeg. It's all gonna be okay, lady.
(5)
Rohit K.
I think they are similar to Honeygrow but without touchscreen displays and different sauces. Friendly staff and good food. A little bit difficult to select sauces.
(4)
Julie N.
Ordered lunch from WokWorks during their opening week. They clearly weren't prepared for the lunch rush as we waited almost an extra half hour for our order and "ran out of beef" so I had to settle for chicken. I had the flat rice noodles with black gold sauce and extra veggies. It was alright, but as an Asian person I have some trouble justifying $10 for lackluster "Asian" food. The noodles were overcooked and mushy, and it needed a heck of a lot more sauce. Veggies were really just carrots and onions, I felt a little jipped there. Worth a shot but really wasn't impressed.
(3)
Lawrence S.
WokWorks worked for me! The big idea: food made fast that's not fast food. In other words: In the time it takes to get a BigMac, instead you can have a nice of bowl of freshly stir-fried chaofen (chow fun) noodles with chicken, fresh bean sprouts and plenty of spicy sauce. That was my favorite combo. But your order is highly customizable: you choose the noodle, the protein, the sauce, etc. The cuisine style is Asian fusion -- mostly Japanese & Chinese elements. I'm generally not a fan of this approach for practical reasons (it's hard enough to do one regional cuisine style right let alone a whole bunch of them) & ideological/political (does Asian fusion promote the tendency to treat Asian cultures as interchangeable?). I'm willing to give WokWorks some leeway here: the point isn't to make authentic Asian food in any particular style, but rather to use a great cooking technique (flash wok frying) and good ingredients (whatever the cultural background). It's not a deep cultural experience, but it's pretty tasty. While the focus is on stir-frying, you should also check out the pork belly sandwiches served inside a slightly sweet steamed bun. Yum.
(3)
Brian M.
We can all agree we're comparing this to Honeygrow, right? Good. So it's better than Honeygrow in the number of options you have. More choices of noodles, sauces, veggies, meats, etc. Maybe not more but more in your face. I think the quality of the noodles, veggies, and sauces are equal or higher here. Plus Honeygrow lets you add Sriracha or soy sauce yourself whereas Wokworks has a handful of other options, including hot chili paste. So that's nice. Where it lacks versus Honeygrow, for me, was the quality of the meat. The pork was chunks versus the slices at Honeygrow and I think that led to some pieces being all fat. Gristly. That's never good and always bad. Plus I agree that this place is $1-2 too expensive. Maybe lower the prices for the base noodle/rice/kee-no-ah a touch?
(3)
Debbie A.
I would actually give this about 3.5 stars. It is okay, but nothing memorable. One pro that you get a good amount of food for the price (I live in Rittenhouse and local Thai/Chinese places can be somewhat expensive). I got the soba noodles with chicken (they were out of brocolli) and the green curry sauce. The chicken was chewy and overcooked and the sauce lacked the nice flavor of Thai green curries. However for a quick takeout place it is good in a pinch. I'm willing to go there and try something else because their menu is varied and I really like the idea of being able to choose what I put on there. Maybe I went on an off night.
(3)
Jennifer R.
I went here for the first time to pick up some lunch. I got white rice, beef, broccoli, pineapple and dark smoke (sauce). It was SO bland. I don't know if they forgot to add the sauce, or if the sauce is that bland, but it was not good. There were 2 HUGE pieces of beef. Why not chop it up into bite size pieces? Also - it looked more like roast beef than a stir fry type of beef. Why? Yuck.There wasn't much broccoli in there. There was A LOT of other crap in there that I didn't order (onion things? they were long. celery. carrots, etc). I'm pretty bummed that I wasted $10 on this lunch that wasn't even edible.
(1)
Butch S.
Really good food! Fresh stuff from the protein to the veggies. Definitely a go to place for me. Black gold sauce is my recommendation and stick to brown rice.
(5)
Temitope K.
Went here because Thai Singha House wasn't taking cards and I was too lazy to walk to TD. Thought I'd try this place and get my Asian fix. I ordered quinoa with shrimp and chicken and the szechuan pepper sauce. Suffice it to say it was lackluster at best. I know this isn't Han Dynasty but for all the gesticulations of cooking I anticipated a MUCH better tasting meal. Ended up picking out the chicken and shrimp eating a few veggies and tossing the rest. Quite a waste for $14.50.
(2)
Delia T.
I love this place. Small, cheerful space with a few tables. The food is prepared to order and is delicious. Today, Brendan really took care of me and I left feeling full and happy.
(5)
Michele R.
So sad. I was gunning for the concept: fresh, locally sourced meats and produce, a creative menu, a 22 year old owner (no need to speculate on just HOW he arrived at entrepreneurial-ship....he is there working!). Many different starch options for the base of your stir fry are offered including rice noodles and quinoa. I opted for the quinoa, with shrimp add broccoli, in the tropicali sauce, and crispy garlic to finish. Your dish arrives in a chinese take out box. Firstly, I hate eating out of those boxes. The food never really cools down enough to eat, and i had to dig through mounds of quinoa to get to my 4 shrimp and 4 pieces of broccoli. Secondly, after paying for our meal, the man behind the counter handed me the receipt and said a bowl of miso was free next visit. Great! Except when we left, the sign outside the door said, "free bowl of miso with your wok!" so really, he should have offered me the free bowl with the meal I just bought. Unfortunate. The real problem here though is the Taste of the food. All I can surmise is that they don't properly clean the woks. There was a pervasive burnt taste that overpowered the added sauce. It was...gross. I was so hungry I still ate half of it, and smiled sweetly at the fresh-faced owner because I couldn't bear to hurt his feelings and tell him the food sucked. I will say, my husband got a similar dish (with noodles Instead of quinoa), and he couldn't taste what I tasted. I had a bite of his and that same burnt essence was there too. Perhaps I'm more sensitive to it. But truly, if you're looking for this style of cuisine, go to Honeygrow. Unless they work out their kinks here. I give 2 stars not 1 simply for the premise that I appreciate. Hopefully they can do better.
(2)
Adam B.
This place is phenomenal. The food is quick and so so so delicious. I had the blackgold sauce with shrimp and absolutely loved it!!! The customer service was very friendly and I even got to meet the young owner Brennan (I think that was his name). Anyways, the young entrepreneur seems to be heading in the right direction with a healthy take on a quick lunch. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a nice place to cool down and listen to some hip music this summertime.
(5)
Stefan H.
I expected a lot more flavor. I had the tall wok with shrimp, broccoli, green beans, and szechuan sauce. Tasted really bland when I was finishing it up. Nice vibe to the place though.
(2)
Widd S.
The whole tour of Asia and you get to choose your own ingredients , your own noodles , your own vegetables and your own V meat or tofu and best of all , they have amazing Hot steamed buns with either pork or beef in them ....a real find !
(5)
Michael A.
Awesome place to grab something fast, tasty, and still very healthy. It was my first time there and the staff was very friendly and informative. It's hard not to eat like crap when you're in a hurry so I'm glad I found this place. I will be going back soon and often.
(5)
Aaliyah P.
Quick lunch is the reason places like wok works exsist. I was over Thanksgiving Day leftovers and decided i needed something i could grab quick and in a hurry. Wok Works is less than a 5 min walk from my office so i ran out the door a few min after 12 hoping to beat the crowds. To my suprise i was the only patron here. I decided on the wok noodle bowl with shrimp and the tropicalia sauce. I was a little annoyed that what i have come to know as the standard veggies used in asian cusines are optional and come with a price tag . I kept my bowl with the traditional carrots cabbage bean sprout and egg. Less than 5 min passed and i was out the door on the way back to my cubicle to devour my lunch. The tropicalia sauce has a nice BITE and the spice level is spot on ( at a level 2 on the menu). I will say i thought i got gypped on the shrimp tip but i had to dig all the way down to the bottom of the container to find the protein i paid an extra 3.00 for. The sauce noodles and shrimp all seemed fresh and the portion size was legit. I could have easily made a second meal out of leftovers but decided to eat the rest throughtout the day. The finish sauces all sound great im very intruiged by the green curry sauce so perhaps i will try that next time. I think ill have to add wok works to my rotation.
(4)
DWFMB A.
I'm never even remotely disappointed by this place. Food is excellent, staff is excellent and friendly, prices now that they have the smaller bowl option are great. They always have clever marketing campaigns and specials. This is in my top 5 favorite lunch places in Philly. Try the Soba+Chicken+Brussels Sprouts+Bacon+Peanut Sauce
(5)
Bill L.
Wokworks is a pleasant addition to the Philadelphia food scene. The owner and staff were great and super cool to speak with. The idea of quick, hot, fresh ingredients, cooked on the wok is perfect for the hustle and bustle of downtown Philly. The BBQ pork belly buns had a nice flavor and the edamame dumplings are excellent and a must try. Take my advice and try the Kelvin Citrus tea slush which is a perfect warm weather drink. The owner also recommends bringing in your own alcohol and putting a splash in the slushy. I tried it with vodka and I must say I agree!!
(4)
Jacob T.
Here's what you get from Wok Works: simple, inexpensive, hot, Asian-inspired stir fries. I'll keep this review short, just like my trip to Wok Works. On to the pros/cons: PROS: * Inexpensive * Fast * Lots of options * Tasty food CONS: * $1-2 too expensive? * Non-authentic? * Too spicy? * They label Sriracha "hipster ketchup" Are you can deduce, there just aren't many cons to this place. It's a no frills, quick-stop in Rittenhouse. I'm a fan. You should be too.
(4)
Adrienne T.
Having moved back East from 4+ years in Hawaii, I am constantly trying to quench my Asian food cravings. Wokworks is a great lunchtime alternative. I've tried the Hong Kong and Chow Fun noodles, and need to try the rest. The Tropicalia sauce is just sweet and spicy enough, and the Szechuan Pepper sauce is even hotter-- plenty for you to "feel your food." The portions are great for a hangry day, and I'm looking forward to their free draft beer happy hour on Wednesdays, with some pretty sweet pupu specials.
(4)
Rachel C.
Let me start off by saying I'm a girl who LOVES her stir-fry. It's the perfect combo of veggies, carbs and protein and I could eat it every single day. That's why I was super excited when I heard this place was opening in my neighborhood. It's similar to HoneyGrow, but less pretentious and on the smaller side. There is only one persont to place an order with, however, so I could see this creating a bottleneck problem when getting crowded at busy lunch hours. The base of the stir-fry comes with carrots, cabbage, sprouts, onions and egg which is nice, but adding in extra veggies and proteins can start to get a bit pricey--I ended up paying a little over $10 which is okay, but I'd rather be spending $8. (Yes that $2 difference makes me feel slightly less guilty about buying lunch out every day when I really intend to bring my own from home, but never do, obvi). They jam-pack your take-out box with food, so don't be fooled because it's actually a pretty generous amount of food. I have to deduct one star, however, because I was really excited to try to the 'Pearlmaker' Oyster Sauce (garlic, sesame, scallion, almond joy), but was really taken aback by the almond joy-candy-almost-mint-tasting-flavor the sauce left me with. It sort of ruined the whole dish for me, but I will definitely try a differenct sauce next time. Highly recommend this stir-fry heaven!
(4)
Brad W.
Great food. The Service is Rapid!! I never have to wait. The personal is extremely friendly. I have lunch there 3 to 4 times a week.
(5)
JGVC G.
I had Wok Works delivered (via Dining In) and it was the highlight of my day. The food was fresh, hot and delicious. At first, I didn't think the "little" container was going to fill me up, but to my surprise I had leftovers. The chicken was all white meat, the sauce was sweet and spicy (as described), and all-in-all, it was a very filling, yet light, meal. This will definitely be on my rotation for lunches in the future, especially if I am in the neighborhood. If it was that good delivered, I can only imagine how good it will be on location.
(4)
Vivian N.
Spicy noodles to order! Great service, and the BBQ port belly bun was to die for!
(4)
Rachel R.
Wokworks is amazing! The perfect lunch, healthy and filling, I had a tall wok with chicken and veggies but could have easily had a short wok and still have leftovers. The pork dumplings are also delicious. I can't wait to go back to try the other sauces and the slushies
(5)
Frank S.
Very good. We get to pick our own Base, Meat, Toppings, and Sauce. Of course we went with what we already knew. But the Small Bowl is PLENTY of food. Definitely worth heading out to.
(4)
Libby P.
What a pleasant lunch surprise! I work maybe two blocks away from here, so I avoided trying it out in the first few months it was open, knowing my time would come eventually. After reading earlier reviews of Wokworks and comparing it today's experience, I'm glad I held out to visit until now! The place had maybe a handful of people in it during the hour I was there, and by no means did I ever feel like it was too noisy or crowded. At 1:30 on a weekday, I'm used to Hip City Veg's auditory assault (always SO LOUD in there), so this was a welcome change of pace. I ordered a short wok with soba noodles, tofu, bok choy, and crispy scallions in pepper sauce. After checking in on Yelp, I received a 30% off coupon--yay! A gigantic bowl of food and a medium fountain drink cost me just over eight bucks with the coupon. A more than fair deal, especially for a made-to-order lunch spot in Rittenhouse. While the soba noodles were tasty, as were my mix-ins, my only disappointment was in the pepper sauce. I'm one of those obnoxious people who needs as much heat as you can give me (except if we're at Han Dynasty--I am human, after all), so when I read the pepper sauce description (peppercorns and chili peppers), I was expecting to sweat at least a little. Sadly, I needed to add lots of chili oil and red pepper flakes for ANY heat whatsoever, but that's legitimately my only complaint. If they step up their heat game, I'll become a regular for sure.
(4)
Brad W.
I went here for a quick take order last night. The space is very bright and clean. They did a very nice job cleaning up the gnarly old taco place. I order chicken stir fry with broccoli, bok choy, and spicy sauce (the three pepper one). I also order the pork dumplings. I received shrimp instead of chicken. Thank goodness I am not allergic. It was actually very good, and the shrimp were perfectly cooked, and on the larger size. Sauce was slightly spicy and somewhat tart. I liked it. The dumplings were scantily stuffed, and lacking on flavor. My major gripe is all the above cost $18.50. Pretty expensive for stir-fry and dumplings. BUT it is Rittenhouse, so I digress... Welcome to the neighborhood WW.
(3)
Edison Y.
I am glad that Wokworks adds a great option of quick healthy Chinese food in the neighborhood. They have very good price and the portion size is good. They have a lot of great promotions sent to my phone, which makes the deals even better. I generally find their sauce to be on the sour side and sometimes there is too much sauce in the noodles, which makes the noodles slightly too soggy. I love their option of Hong Kong style noodles. I definitely will go back.
(3)
Brad M.
Seriously fresh Asian fusion food. Great taste, good value and clean, nicely fitted out restaurant. Very satisfying meal.
(5)
Eddie B.
Wok works has quick, affordable food for both lunch and dinner. The large-portioned combinations blend well together and the sauces are really unique! The wok bowls are evenly distributed with all of your personally chosen ingredients and each individual component is cooked nicely before being combined. Definitely check this place out if you are in the area. The employees were really friendly too! Seems like they have worked out the "kinks" that people have commented on previously.
(5)
Aaron F.
I dined on Monday, November 20 at 11:30 AM. Service (4/5): The staff was friendly and helpful with needs. My wife wanted a courtesy cup of water and the manager was helpful with keeping her hydrated. The counter staff made suggestions while we were trying to choose between sauces for our meal combinations. The staff was obviously working hard and doing their best to be accurate, efficient, and fast. Even during the rush they were still delivering food orders to tables which is unusual for most QSRs. Atmosphere: (2/5): The place is brand new and has a slick decor that is clean and simplistic. Seating in the place is a bit cramped with not much space between the two-tops. The other option is to sit at the bar facing the wall. This is not entirely their fault since they are making due with the space of the building, however with a packed lunch crowd it is close to sitting on top of each other. Menu (4/5): The big display board with the menu is pretty straight forward and easy to follow. Making selections from each column to create your own masterpiece is a lot more clear in writing (compared to say a Qdoba which uses the bain marie more to communicate fillings). Food (3/5): The protein in my dish was under seasoned. My guess is that the sauce is supposed to supplement seasoning, but if this is the intention it is not being executed correctly. The food was still tasty and a fair value for my money. Overall (3/5): The food and value were good and the service was better than par. This is an upgrade from mall food court Chinese, on par with Mexican QSRs like Qdoba and Chipotle, and a down grade from dim sum in Chinatown. It sits somewhere right in the middle and I doubt I will find myself craving food from this particular restaurant, but I can imagine revisiting if I was in the right place at the right time.
(3)
Michael B.
Heard awesome things about this place and my expectations were exceeded. Was semi busy when I walked in, cashier took my order within 2 minutes and had my food within 5. Perfect as a fast casual. Portion size was large enough, ingredients were fresh, and I received exactly what I ordered. Gonna have to make this a regular thing.
(5)
J B.
This was simply the worse noodle joint I have ever tried. I love noodle houses, and was kind of hoping this would be a Wagamama style joint close to my office. I ordered the "wok noodles" with chicken, snow peas, portobello mushrooms and the Asian BBQ sauce. Watching the utterly chaos going on behind the counter was highly discouraging. Lots of people bringing unlabeled containers down to a woman at the end of the counter. She then had to open the container to figure out what it was, match it to a slip she had stuck to a cork strip on the counter. Orders would pile up, and you could see she was getting rather disoriented sorting it all out. First, the noodles were so over cooked, they essentially became a mass of mush. I have never had such terribly over cooked noodles. The other issue was that instead of portobello mushrooms, they were either pale porcini's or dark buttons, I couldn't tell. The sauce was just...ugh. Of course, this was made much worse by the gelatinous goo that had once been my noodles. For this, I paid a premium rate of more than $10. I don't plan on returning, and I strongly discouraged co-workers from heading down. I recommend Tampopo (on 21st), Smile cafe (on 22nd), or even the standard American style Chinese joint called Mandarin (chestnut between 21 & 22). I had high hopes, but they were crushed.
(1)
Nunya B.
Wow. What a total 360 these guys did. The first good sign was the short line of people waiting to take their order and 3-4 calm and collected chefs doing their thing. Our order took literally 2 minutes to put in; we told the cashier what we wanted and sat down. Less than 10 minutes in our food arrived, served to us. Great, full portions: I got chicken and broccoli with brown rice and peanut sauce. Absolutely delicious, way better than Honeygrow (Honeygrow's sauces are so bland...this was not). I'm really proud these guys got their act together. Brennan, the owner, contacted me and offered a meal on him after my shit review- which is awesome PR for the business. However, I didn't take him up on it (I'm not about to take money from a small business, no matter what my experience was). I will be coming back here often if the experience I had today continues.
(4)
F. O.
I wanted to like the place but it's mediocre at best. I ordered a brown rice chicken stir fry with snow peas, cilantro, and Thai basil with the "creamy" peanut sauce. Individually the quality of the ingredients were fine, except the peanut sauce was hardly creamy nor I could I really taste the peanuts. It also could have benefitted from crushed peanuts, but I guess it's not that kind of place. Also the list of ingredients to personalize the stir fry was pretty limited. My food was lukewarm and not favorable despite having sauce. I will say that it was a healthy portion of food, but not quite worth the $10 spent. Service was fine, the place was clean and has a pretty chill vibe. I wouldn't come here on purpose, perhaps if I'm super hungry and am tired of all the options around.
(2)
Stephen S.
I had a great meal here, but until they open one here in Northern NJ I will only get to enjoy this place once a month at best...
(4)
Alex W.
Oh my gosh! I was in Philly last week and I went to Wokworks. It made my life complete! I got the shrimp bao buns, the soba, and tofu bowl and its all because of the cashier, Ricky or Richard or something. It was my first time and he could tell I looked lost so he suggested a few items and I decided to try all of them and everything was great! Not only was the food good but the staff was kind. Thank you Wokworks for a great experience.
(4)
chris d.
Place has gotten even better, don't realize why this place isn't more packed!
(5)
S L.
Tried this place for the first time yesterday, and I'm pretty sure I'll be back. I got the ramen noodles with Tofu and a spicy sauce (2 peppers on the board) and it was really tasty. The spice level was just perfect. The place is new, so I'm assuming they have a few kinks to work out. Service was a bit slow, and there was a minor flood in the place yesterday when I went in (no lie, this actually happened) but the show must go on. 4 stars for Wokworks.
I ate at wok works for their free food tasting yesterday. It was delicious! I went with a few friends and we all ordered different things. Everyone was equally pleased. I got quinoa with tofu and bok choy and the peanut sauce. There were great options on the menu - it was difficult to choose. My meal was really flavorful and the portion size was bigger than i expected. I loved the idea of being able to create your own dish. The decor was great as well. Perfect for an easy & healthy lunch or dinner. I am super excited for this place to finally open!
(5)
HM K.
Tried their sesame organge chicken salad. Fresh, well seasoned and portion was good enough to subsitute proper lunch. Fast service. Would love to come back to try their noodles
(4)
Varsha R.
Good joint with good food. I loved the concept of choosing my own sauce. They gave me samplers as well to help me decide. Tasted a few and they were all equally good. You should definitely visit if you're around center city and looking for some Asian food !
(4)
Shamit C.
Nice spot to grab a quick bite to eat. I ordered Soba + Chicken + Bok Choy + Bengal. Pros: Portioned well for a late afternoon lunch meant to hold me over for dinner. Spicy and seasoned just right for my taste. Friendly staff. Cons: Pricey. Smaller dining area (great for a few people, but it could get cramped quickly). Hoping: They extend their hours so I can make this my late night place.
(4)
stephen f.
I'd currently place Wok Works somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, but I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt because I'm dismayed by all of the negative reviews that concentrate solely on the time it took to get served during the lunch rush during the first days the place has been open. I'd suggest waiting a few weeks to try a place if your main priority is to get served within a few minutes. The concept is interesting -- it is like Chipotle in that you build your meal, but quite different in that the dish is cooked to order instead of assembled from pre-cooked parts. So it is going to take a bit more time to get your food. The dishes we had were very tasty -- pork in a bbq sauce that I thought was a touch too sweet but quite flavorful. And chicken and veggies in a peanut sauce that had a nice bit of spice without being overwhelming -- the one pepper marking on the menu was very accurate. I agree with some other reviewers that it would be nice to have plates for eat-in. I felt a bit bad about the amount of garbage generated by a couple of lunches. Overall, good food, reasonable prices, and a nice addition to the neighborhood.
(5)
Larry N.
I was expecting great things from this place, but it was mediocre at best. The staff were very friendly. The food was so bland. I had the dumplings (pork). They were greasy and burnt. Cool concept though.
(2)
Holly G.
I loved it here so yummy and quick ! The hot and spicy pickles, edamame dumplings, brussels sprouts, and the mango sauce are all my favorite! :P
(5)
Worthy Q.
So disappointing. I just ate tough, flavorless beef with a bland practically non-existent green curry sauce topped with a few veggies mixed in over okay noodles for almost $10. It managed to feel greasy despite having little sauce presence. But it did have bits of scrambled egg mixed in. Even though I didn't order any egg. There are so many options for good Asian food nearby. Skip this one. (And it was so hot inside the restaurant I had to take the food to go.)
(1)
John P.
The wait is horrible. I ordered Pork Buns and their typical Wok meal with the noodles. Wow. This place is so bad. The noodles were way over cooked and the buns were just ok. Not going back. Don't waste your time here. It looks like a good idea that they couldn't execute on.
(1)
Joe M.
Great food and friendly service. Ordered the Tall Wok: Hong Kong Noodle, chicken, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Jalepeno, Crispy Garlic, Crispy Shallots with the Pepper Sauce. Would definetly go back.
(5)
Susan R.
I just happened to stumble into wokworks yesterday, and it ended up being exactly what I was craving. This is my new go-to spot. The ingredients are fresh and tasty, and the options make it really interesting. I ordered brown rice with broccoli shrimp and the peanut sauce. It was healthy and satisfying. All in all I was really impressed by the whole idea! Thanks wokworks!
(5)
J. L.
Super friendly and efficient service. Great food. Really nice vibe on a rainy afternoon. Portion size is perfect and the food is fresh. I'll be back!!
(5)
Christopher L.
Went to wokworks for their second day of lunch. Line of people waiting to pick up food should have tipped me off that something was amiss, but I ordered anyway. Liked the options and the interesting ingredients, but this place really has to work out its operations (an assembly line concept would seem more efficient) as my food took over 25 minutes to be ready. With respect to the food- First impression - not great presentation. Wish "to stay" orders came in actual dishes and not cardboard takeout containers. Taste-wise my quinoa, chicken, brussle sprout, mushroom dish with the green curry sauce was good but too salty and WAY too much sauce, it was like a soup. Friends I was with thought their dishes were pretty good. Prob should have ordered rice or noodles as they seemed to absorb the sauce much better. Here's to hoping the kinks will be worked out as there is potential here.
(2)
Marna L.
I went here in November, around when Wok Works first opened. The service was awful. My noodles were undercooked and slimey, and this was our second order, following a mix up in the first order. Really not worth the money, which is quite expensive for such a simple restaurant with poor service.
(1)
Erin M.
Went on Sunday no line, no waiting so I assume my order was correct. Overall I just didn't really enjoy it. I ordered rice noodles with veggies, the tropicalia sauce, and crispy garlic. Maybe my order didn't get the right sauce because I didn't taste anything sweet or spicy. It tasted like generic savory stir fry sauce. I liked the consistency of the noodles. I like the variety of veggies. I did not taste the crispy garlic so I would not waste the extra money on this. Lastly, I did not realize eggs come on everything. I'll take responsibility here as it is mentioned on the menu (in very small lettering). I hate eggs. I even got some egg shells. I'll be sticking with Honeygrow Pros: Good Variety of Vegetables Noodles Fast Cons: Expensive Blah tropicalia sauce Eggs come with everything Egg shell
(2)
Gia Y.
I enjoyed this place the first 2 times I went, but this time was a bit of a miss. My dish was like 80% sprouts! My coworker said the same thing. Hoping this was just an off day. (Went for lunch today around 1:30)
(3)
Jon B.
Holly smokes!!! This was an absolutely amazing lunch. I got the quinoa with wild caught shrimp, portobello mushrooms, and bengal sauce. Extremely fresh ingredients, bright flavors with perfectly light and healthy feel. A+++++
(5)
Justin W.
We tried this place again hoping that they had worked out the kinks after 4 months. Nope. They still take forever, it tasted like there wasn't even any sauce in the stir fry, and on top of that they forgot to put the pork bun we ordered in our bag. Overpriced, slow, and not tasty. This place should be closed soon.
(1)
Paul D.
Solid fast food. I've had the chicken with both brown rice and egg noodles. I have also tried the spicy BBQ sauce as well as the spicy pepper sauce. Personally I like the BBQ better. Good quick lunch spot and they also deliver.
(4)
Lindsey M.
I was very disappointed with my meal. I got the noodles, chicken, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and the green curry sauce. The result was a $10 container of mush. I may try this again with a different sauce or less sauce -- but I will certainly check out similar places in the area first.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : No Caters : Yes
Anu P.
Another random gem we found in philly! We were going shopping one afternoon and got hungry around 2pm so stopped in since it was on our way and because we're both big fans of noodles. We saw average reviews so were skeptical until we saw the 30% off if you check in on yelp coupon! (Tip: check in) Food: We ordered a large make your own wok order - lo mein noodles with the tropicali sauce (spicy, beware - the bf and I had gone through 4 glasses of water each by the end of this meal) with mushrooms, onions, and peppers. This dish was so delicious - each bite had life and flavor to it and we were so sad to see it finish (definitely NOT sharing next time). The dish is about $10 without the coupon and only $7 when you check in - what a steal. The large is pretty big in size and can be saved for a second meal / snack for later. This place was infinitely better than HoneyGrow which is another noodle bar that I went to but was not impressed with at all. Wokworks is definitely worth checking out! Can't wait to try their other dishes.
(4)Joanna L.
I took the friendly owner (who reached out to me) up on a free meal due to a recent disappointing experience and gave it another shot last night. Boy am I glad that I did! I enjoyed a delicious wok and a side of brussel sprouts. Much better experience this time! The wok was spicy and full of flavor - and the sprouts were right on point - with just the right amount of salt. I ordered a rice noodle wok with beef, broccoli, mushrooms and snow peas - topped with tropicalia sauce & garlic. YUM! I savored each bite, and have the leftovers for another tasty meal today! I will definitely come back again soon, and truly appreciate when a business owner displays accountability and extends a genuine offer for redemption. Not only is it great customer service, but it says a lot about the type of establishment they run - with care and consideration for customers. Thanks again!
(4)John K.
A few months back, the GF and I were in the mood for Asian noodles, but not exactly itching for the prototypical mushy noodles that accompany an order of Americanized Chinese takeout. Hearing good things about Wokworks, we decided to hop on DiningIn and see what all the fuss was about. Spicy Asian Pickles [$1.95] Pickles, chili We started off with the spicy pickles. While a pittance of a portion, they were crisp and sweet, with spice that came through on the finish. Jalapeno Brussels Sprouts [$4] Brussels sprouts, gluten-free soy, jalapeno I'm a brussels sprouts fiend so naturally, we had to order these. While I missed the touted heat from the jalapenos, the sprouts had nice bite and were well seasoned. Thankfully, they weren't overly salty from the soy. Crispy Edamame Dumplings [$4.95] Peanut sauce The edamame dumplings were nice - incredibly crispy with a creamy essence within. They were topped with some green onions and sweet black sesame seeds. BBQ Pork Belly Sliders [$5.95] Steamed buns, pork belly, pineapple salsa, cilantro Regular readers know that the pork belly buns were a must order for me. The gluttonous pork was well-braised and had a lightly sweet glaze. The dish itself could have used more texture, with the soft, pliant buns rendering each bite soft on soft. I could have used more pork as well - perhaps double pork a la Momofuku? Still, the accompanying pineapple salsa and cilantro brought some bright balance to the heft of the pork. Build Your Own Tall Wok [$10.95] Lo mein, chicken, snow peas, mushrooms, bok choy, crispy shallots, roasted almonds, Blackgold teriyaki sauce But what is Wokworks really known for? Their stir-fried noodles! We elected to build our own, with chicken, lo mein noodles, and a melange of various veggies. These noodles weren't mushy at all and thankfully had life to each bite. They were well-coated with the requested Blackgold teriyaki sauce and the multitude of accompanying additions helped to create a hearty dish. Overall, Wokworks delivered an experience that was well above the standard Chinese takeout you might order on a random night. Do try their stir-fried noodles. I also wouldn't hesitate to order the pork belly buns again!
(4)Aria S.
I tried to convince my friends to ditch Sips and come here for happy hour because they have FREE beer on Wednedays 5-10pm + food specials! They all bailed on me so I came here after I went to Lithe (so Rittenhouse of me right??) I got the edamame dumplings with sriracha sauce. I thought they would be like real dumplings but they were actually gyoza and fried which was disappointing because they are usually steamed aka not as fatty! Nonetheless, they were amazing! I scarfed down a little box of them and the sauce was perfect. The woman working was super sweet also. If you check in on Yelp you get 30% off! Making one of the small bowls about $6-7 which is very reasonable for entrees in the area. Also the place wasn't crowded or anything, so I'm definitely dragging my friends here again on a free beer Wednesday.
(4)Jeff H.
I really, really, really like this place. Wokworks is my new most favorite fast food spot. It is such a cool idea to do fast-food wok cooking with lots of healthy ingredients. When you add in extremely friendly and helpful staff with a nice vibe atmosphere, you have a winner. My very favorite stir fry is the build-your-own with red and white quinoa. Add your protein, veggie, seasoning, and sauce and you have a tasty treat in front of you. All the sauces are great from the golden nut peanut to the pepper spicy Szechuan. But if you like spicy with flavor - order the tropicalia mango sambal. A side of jalapeño brussel sprouts in sesame oil just adds to the combo of flavours here. It is usually busy when I have been there so that it is a great sign this concept is catching on. Now just expand to my hood .... and def let me take a branch of Wokworks with me back to Vienna!
(5)Tim Y.
I've only discovered this little gem recently, upon my move to Rittenhouse Square. I'm truly a Pei Wei Asian Diner fanatic (not just a fan, mind you) at heart, as I've been going to that chain's restaurants weekly for years and NOBODY makes a better Kung Pao than them, period. But the WokWorks concept is similar: pick your type of meal, pick your carbs, pick your meat, but Wokworks gives you the chance to pick your sauce, veggies and toppings; pretty cool! And WokWorks brings something unique to the table: quinoa, a very healthy, delicious grain that you can choose instead of the standard noodles or rice. I've been here a few times. The people are super-friendly and the variety is great; as long as I perceive good value for my money, I'll return here. Pei Wei finally has a little competition, in my eyes. UPDATE: Wokworks now has a fried chicken option for your protein, and it's a great option! Fried chicken + quinoa...I'm loving this place more and more!
(5)Gabrielle W.
I ordered delivery tonight and received 1 entree with burnt shallots and a side of brussels sprouts that were burnt to shit (posted picture..notice the other sprouts pics that do not look like what I received). I called the restaurant for a refund because I'm not paying for burnt food and what I was told was that it was impossible to burn the sprouts because they were deep fried. Meanwhile I'm staring at some black sprouts and burnt "crispy shallots" that made my entree inedible. This place is a joke. I know this sounds like rocket science but maybe...just maybe someone left the sprouts in the fryer too long and that's how they got burnt. And maybe that same person burnt the "crispy shallots" too. Mind blown! I would never recommend or go back.
(1)Sangita S.
This place is awesome! Such a hidden gem. On Wednesday they have free beer. Literally it is FREE. FREEEEE. And it's yeungling. Oh and the food is amazing. Try it all. But the service is the best part and it's so cheap. I can't think of one reason not to come here. Good food for cheap. Free beer on Wednesdays. Great service. Find Stacey she's the best.
(5)Shane D.
This place is poppin' fresh like pillsbury. I got the wok noodles with the tropicali, jalapenos and hot peppers - their spiciest combination. It was not extremely spicy for the daring out there but it was definitely spicy at an enjoyable level, complementing the flavor. The ingredients are fresh and are prepared by people with experience. Things are done right here as opposed to other stir fry joints that attempt to imitate the craft. Wok Works is a relaxing place with good music, vibes, cleanliness and staff that reflects everything good about a restaurant. Wednesdays, they serve yuenglings 5-10. You know I'll be there. Shoutouts to Stacy(Stacie), Irene, and co!!!
(5)Taleah J.
I have eaten at Wokworks a bunch of times... its consistently delicious and they have a great menu. I prefer this place over Honeygrow any day!!! My favorites are there Edamame dumplings with the peanut sauce and their wings. Of course the noodles cant be beat either. If you are wasting your time at Honeygrow ordering noodles... please for all our sakes.... go to Wokworks.
(5)Kelly O.
Long story short - not a fan. The dumplings were okay; crispy noodles would have been good if they weren't absolutely COVERED in salt. Wayyy too much! My bowl was a decent portion for the money, and had a good amount of meat, but was seriously dry. I don't know if the sauce just didn't have enough flavor, or if they didn't put enough on, but I really didn't enjoy my lunch.
(2)Jt B.
Was here for a dinner party, had a great time, with great friends and great food.
(4)Kimberly H.
I haven't event gotten my food yet but standing here waiting for my fresh noodles already has me in a great mood. What a refreshingly positive bunch of employees! It's my first time here and they've been so helpful and patient. Every person in the place has a smile on their face and seem to genuinely enjoy the job they're doing. Ok, just took my first bite and this place is also taste-test approved! Delicious and overall wonderful experience... What more can anyone ask for?
(5)Edward M.
In the mood for a quick Asian-ish lunch? You could do much worse than this place. It's got a Chipotle-like selection process, where you pick your base carb (various noodle options, rice, or quinoa), your protein (beef, chicken, pork, tofu, etc.), veggie, topping, and sauce. I imagine some combinations work better than others, but no guidance is provided on the menu; you're on your own, which might prompt choice paralysis among some people (there are literally thousands of different combinations you could make). It might be helpful for them to list a few popular or suggested combos. You also get to select your dish size - short or tall. The short provided plenty of food for a meal and snacking afterwards. So the tall might be good for two meals, but I don't know that I'll try that. The chicken tasted good; the asparagus, though, kinda lacked character. The noodles were fine, though under-seasoned. Luckily, they have a couple of hot sauces available you can add to your dish, or take with you if you're getting it to go. Service was fairly fast, taking about five minutes to cook up my order. The short bowl was under $10; the tall would be a bit more.
(4)Jill L.
When I was growing up at the Jersey Shore, there was a Mongolian BBQ place that I absolutely loved. What is Mongolian BBQ, you may ask? So this was an all-you-can-eat stirfry place where you fill up a bowl with everything you want (carb, protein, veggies, sauce) and they cook your meal for you on this giant flat top griddle, as you stand there and watch. It.was.awesome. And let me tell you, a 16 year old Jill could definitely pack in more than a couple bowls of stir fry. Ahh.... to be a teenager again. Anyway, I have been saying for years that a place like this needs to come to Philly. Enter Wokworks. Granted, it's not AYCE, but who really needs to eat more than one bowl of stir fry? On my visit, I got the small sized bowl with bok choy, lo mein, tofu, and the peanut sauce, topped with fried shallots. I thought the dish was really delicious but I definitely needed to add some heat. Luckily they have a variety of hot sauces (sriacha, chili oil) on the table to adjust your dish. For me, I thought it was a good value for $9. And there were signs that they give free beer on Fridays (btw- it is always BYOB). The only changes I would make is for Wokworks to offer a few "predesigned" options to their menu. I am the WORST when it comes to pairing tastes together and I'm sure others do too. Also, the space is pretty small, so I can only imagine how packed it must get during lunch on a workday. Nonetheless, I'll definitely be back to try another stirfry!
(4)Donte P.
This place is amazing !!! My 2 bs time here grabbing lunch & I'm so impressed with the service .... And the women at the first register, ... She makes ordering so easy !! This place is a must visit
(5)Allie E.
I am really impressed with this place. The first time I had it was about 2 weeks ago on my birthday. I convinced my coworkers to order with me and have it delivered. Normally they do not cross the river to deliver over by Penn where we work, but they kindly agreed to deliver to us given the size of our order. The delivery was SO fast- within 45 minutes- and everything was correct. We all enjoyed our meals so much. They portions are huge and all the ingredients are so fresh and don't leave you feeling bloated by all the sodium, etc from other asian restaurants. My coworkers loved it so much they all demanded we order again today and the service and delivery was just as good as the last time! Thanks, Wok Works!
(5)Sarah C.
Went here for the beer menu and had some really delicious edamame dumplings and brussel sprouts! Stacey was really great and the free yeungling was definitely worth the trip!
(4)Prasath S.
One star is for the delicious spicy shrimp Bao buns and the crispy noodles with duck sauce. The main attraction which is supposed to be the wok noodles was a complete fail. The entire dish tasted burnt and smokey...somebody needs to teach these Cooks to either reduce the heat or add more oil. The entire bowl was so bitter that no sauce could rescue it. What a shame !!!!
(1)Yikai F.
Bad customer service, very rude and impatient with my order. "Are you gonna order something?!" That's the greeting I got. Food isn't good either. But good for a fast meal/ takeout or if you like messy food. Great atmosphere tho, really an eye catcher
(2)Lisa D.
We ordered 100 people's worth of catering from these guys, which is intimidating to a lot of restaurants, and they pulled it off with flying colors. You get a very generous amount of food per portion, and it arrived fresh and hot. They also set it all up for us, and the manager came to oversee the process. The food itself is good, especially if you're trying to go lighter. The veggies aren't in sauce, and the chicken we had seemed pretty healthy. You also have the option of brown rice, which not all places offer. Definitely recommend them for catering.
(4)Lea L.
My boyfriend and I recently stopped by wokwoks on a Sunday afternoon after being told it was similar to one of our favorite NYC spots, Wok to Walk. If I was going to compare the two, I would say the noodles at Wokworks are a half step below Wok to Walk but they were still delicious. You could tell all the ingredients were fresh. They were just missing that addictive quality. I think the noodles needed more sauce. However, we also ordered pork dumplings and pork belly buns because who could resist? And they were phenomenal! The dumplings were made to order and crispy just the way I like them. They came with spicy mayo which is not typical but I enjoyed it. And the flavor combinations in the pork belly buns were great. Since I was there on a Sunday afternoon we didn't have to wait long at all but all the food seemed to be cooked to order so I imagine if there is a crowd it could take some time. The staff was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. I would definitely go back to this place again!
(4)Stephanie H.
This place is awesome! Stopped by on a Wednesday and they seriously offer FREE BEER! It sounded too good to be true, but the super nice server Stacy brought us up and actually poured us free beer! They had some great specials too, Brussels sprouts for $3, pop corn chickens $4 and more!
(4)Eunni C.
I really want to like this place. Healthy version of Chinese food? Sounded so good to me. And store looked clean from outside and also liked their name... Got quinoa fried rice with bean sprout and veggies...simply no good... I like healthy food but has to tasty to keep going back. That was my last visit... But I liked their clean container and healthy concept so.. It is two star place.
(2)Sharee W.
So, I've been here a few times now. I will say that I really like that everything is made fresh to order. The short wok is plenty of food to make 2 meals...at least for me. I suggest getting an extra side of sauce. The flavor is okay, but the extra sauce definitely kicks it up a notch. Now, on to the edamame dumplings....so yummy! I totally suggest getting these. The staff is always very nice.
(4)Krystal H.
The first time I tried this place I got some combination of noodles & veggies & sauce. It was pretty good, which is why I came back. The 2nd time I got string beans, brussel sprouts & edamame dumplings. Probably wouldn't have gotten the dumplings had I known they were fried, but it wasn't on the menu and I didn't ask. Everything was good except the string beans. They were so salty I couldn't eat them. Another time I tried their smoothie (Mango black tea something or other) and it just tasted like lemonade. I hate lemonade. Most recently I got the orange chicken salad and asked for it without chicken. The guy made a big deal about pulling the chicken off of the pre-made salad. I guess I could have done it but I asked when I ordered it, before it was given to me and he acted like it was some big inconvenience. Also, there were a ton of orange seeds in it that I had to keep spitting out. There has never been a single other person in there when I go and they always act like they're doing you a favor by making your overpriced over salted food. The service was only friendly the first time, gets worse every time I go back. I probably won't go back again. Jane G's is right across the street and for the price, much better in my opinion.
(2)Lili W.
Wokworks is only okay in my book. I've come here twice and got two different combinations and found both to be mediocre. Growing up with authentic and delicious asian food, maybe I'm biased and prefer the more traditional dishes. Anyhow, to enhance the dining experience, Wokworks should really consider using different take out plates/bowls, instead of the doggy box they currently use. the doggy boxes are really difficult to eat out of.
(3)Anthony J.
The Stir Fry is always piping hot and full of awesome fresh healthy flavor! Tons of sauces too! Rock on.
(5)Meredith B.
I've got a thing for asian... so I've got a thing for the new asian lunch spot in town. It's a good little spot, fast ordering, build your own asian lunch spot. We ordered: BBQ pork belly buns - Awesome. Get these. They are what you should expect when ordering BBQ pork belly buns but with a nice addition of pineapple slaw. Tofu soba noodles with tropicali sauce - I really enjoyed this. I like spice but given the menu's description and two peppers next to it I wasn't expecting as much spice as I had. Side of brussels sprouts - I love b.sprouts but there was nothing special to these. Side of maple caramelized squash - GET THIS. I wouldn't have thought to order it but my lunch buddy did and they were awesome. Nicely cooked with bacon-y goodness. Place is a little tight in there so I wouldn't suggest bring a large group in for lunch hour. Great to-go spot. Next time I'd like to try their edamame dumplings This review is dedicated to Rick V.
(4)SilverfoxAA H.
The Wokworks rocks! I had the most wonderful soba noodles with tofu, string beans (French) mushrooms, bok choi topped with cilantro and a sort of tamari sauce and I was in heaven. All four of us agreed that that this was the most delicious lunch we've had since we were in Bangkok! we'll be back!
(5)Chandreyi D.
I wouldn't give this place more than 2 stars because their food is bland. I've been twice already. The first time by accident I stumbled upon it and just was curious to try. Both times I've had their wok noodles with the sauces. Today I got wok noodles with the pepper sauce and I told them it was bland and tasteless (hoping they would add more seasoning/spices..nope!) They have a great location for anyone who wants a quick bite but they really need to step up their game competing with Jane G's and Honeygrow. Their prices are not worth $8 for the short wok. I'm really disappointed. If you must go, get the edamame dumplings with the siracha sauce and skip the noodles.
(2)Thomas V.
I don't know what's up with these guys. I've been here two times. I didn't have a good experience the first but figured I'd try again. The second time, they weren't busy by any stretch (3 other people were there) but it still took them 15 to start cooking my food. When they brought it, they forgot the drink, and forgot to put beef in the main dish, so they had to remake it. When I finally got my food it was terrible! Don't go here.
(1)Andrea C.
I admit it, I have recently become addicted to the wok. I ordered my first last Friday, seemed so harmless, so simple. No base for me, I am not into the starchy stuff and hides the truth of all those lovely vegetables. Sunday night rolls around and I start thinking about pacing lunch for Monday and I ordered another wok. Split it across two days. Here it is Wednesday and now I am thinking, crap, really am I going a week solid on this for lunch? Yep! It's cold out, the wok, it's good and is a great vehicle for Sambal Olek. Oh yeah, the crispy dumplings are crispy, really crispy. Unlike any other place I have been so far. If only they were wheelchair accessible, that one step in front is my downfall so I am destined for delivery.
(5)Larissa G.
This place is a solid lunch spot. I went for my first visit today and was really pleased with the Yelp check-in offer (30% off!) and got a large tofu bowl with veggies. All the vegetables were super fresh and you could even see one of the employees chopping up peppers on the counter. It was a late lunch, but the place was not crowded and my friend and I easily got a seat. The hardest choice for me was the kind of noodle and the sauce. I got the wok noodles, but the soba looked great. I also wish that I would have done the pepper sauce because the Begal sauce, while delicious on its own, was a bit lacking in flavor when everything else was mixed in. All the sides looked great too, so I'll definitely be back soon!
(4)Eddie B.
Wok works has quick, affordable food for both lunch and dinner. The large-portioned combinations blend well together and the sauces are really unique! The wok bowls are evenly distributed with all of your personally chosen ingredients and each individual component is cooked nicely before being combined. Definitely check this place out if you are in the area. The employees were really friendly too! Seems like they have worked out the "kinks" that people have commented on previously.
(5)Bill M.
I never thought that I'd see wok based Asian inspired foods dished out in a fast food based almost assembly lined variation before. But in a way I'm not surprised at all. And while I am still somewhat perturbed by the results; Wokworks does deliver the concept better than most (Good riddance Pad Thai Shack - yelp.com/user_details_re… !), and does so with a plethora of options. Start off by choosing between 3 kinds of noodles, brown or white rice, or quinoa, then choose a protein (tofu if vegetarian) and vegetable option from their good sized list; and finally top it off with one of their signature sauces. The end result can lead to far from Asian yet tasty options like smokey bacon brussel sprout chow fun, green curry chicken broccoli soba, or spicy Szechuan tofu and quinoa w/ portebello mushrooms. Ultimately if I'm looking for an Asian inspired lunchdeal I'll go just about everywhere else. Especially in the Rittenhouse Square area since Nom Nom Ramen, Su Xing House, Thai Singha, and SO MANY sushi places are nearby. But Wokworks does manage to deliver it the quickest, which can be a trump card when necessary.
(3)Lia B.
Love that this place is here!!! It's a very simple and fun concept of stir frys and wok specialties. They have tofu options and a veggie friendly atmosphere. The staff here knows what can be made vegan and are happy to execute pretty much anything you could ask for. They also tote a fun BYOB tag at the door - and even though for me wokworks would be more of a lunch spot - i could see myself stopping by here after a spin class for dinner. Note the miso soup has fish in it and I got the pepper sauce which I was told was vegan but I would double check if you're ordering a different one. There are many spice options from mild to very spicy and they can accommodate all ends of the spectrum which is great when going out with friends. The line moves very fast - and everyone is attentive and upbeat. Overall I would like to pop in here more often and take advantage of all the tofu / vegan options. Yelp check in rt now gets you free miso soup btw
(5)Jeff M.
Think chipotle meets Asian food. Ingredients are superb - organic meats and fresh caught fish - a true find for Philly. An excellent spot for lunch or for dinner. Delivery available through grub hub. Also - free beer on Friday afternoons!
(5)Temitope K.
Went here because Thai Singha House wasn't taking cards and I was too lazy to walk to TD. Thought I'd try this place and get my Asian fix. I ordered quinoa with shrimp and chicken and the szechuan pepper sauce. Suffice it to say it was lackluster at best. I know this isn't Han Dynasty but for all the gesticulations of cooking I anticipated a MUCH better tasting meal. Ended up picking out the chicken and shrimp eating a few veggies and tossing the rest. Quite a waste for $14.50.
(2)Katharine E.
I couldn't be more disappointed in Wok Works. My first trip there was OK, I got quinoa and shrimp with the smoke sauce. The shrimp was a good size, there were about 8 pieces. The cabbage was crunchy and a nice addition and there was a TON of quinoa, probably enough for 4 servings but it was drenched in the sauce. There was so much sauce I felt like I was eating a too-sweet quinoa soup. I decided to give it another go and NIGHTMARE. I ordered chow fun, beef, broccoli, with the green curry sauce. I got back to my office and opened the box and it looked like a box of grey mush. I dug around for the meat and instead i found grey tasteless shoe leather. It had obviously had the life steamed out of it and was poor quality to begin with. There was no nice sear from the wok or flavor to speak of. There were a whopping 2 (!!!) pieces of broccoli among the sea of gelatinous chow fun noodles. The noodles were mush and entirely inedible. I'm floored at the poor quality and execution. You can see how depressing it looks...let alone tastes from the pictures. I really wanted to bring my food back because in this situation a manager needed to see it, but it was raining and cold and I'm a wimp. Not one to waste, I tried to pass my food off to self-proclaimed "office garbage disposal." He took one bite said "oh this is awful", covered it in sriracha, took another bite and followed up with "nope still can't do it." The "cheap Chinese" cart at 18th and Market actually puts Wok Works to shame and that's just good for a quick greasy fix.
(1)Zikang H.
It's a great place to try Asian-American mixed style Chow Fun. I am a huge fan of all kinds of noodles. Absolutely love it!
(5)Allison B.
For their first-ever lunch shift, I was very impressed with Wokworks. If you have a tight lunch hour, you might want to wait a week or so until the staff really nails down their wok work flow- like any new fast/casual food business, these things take time. It took 25 minutes for me to get my stir-fry, but I did not mind. The place was packed. Pick your carb, your protein, your veggie and sauce. I got brown rice with tofu, broccoli and pepper sauce for $9. Each stir-fry includes cabbage, bean sprouts, egg and carrot. You get a ton of food. The pepper sauce was spicy, with a kick of sweetness I wasn't expecting. The best part? No globs of congealed sauce or uneven distribution of flavor. For stir-fry, it was light and delicious! I'll definitely be back. P.S. Angela S- I was at Honeygrow the day they opened, too. The place was just as crowded, and I waited for my salad there just as long as I waited today. Same goes for HipCityVeg. It's all gonna be okay, lady.
(5)Rohit K.
I think they are similar to Honeygrow but without touchscreen displays and different sauces. Friendly staff and good food. A little bit difficult to select sauces.
(4)Julie N.
Ordered lunch from WokWorks during their opening week. They clearly weren't prepared for the lunch rush as we waited almost an extra half hour for our order and "ran out of beef" so I had to settle for chicken. I had the flat rice noodles with black gold sauce and extra veggies. It was alright, but as an Asian person I have some trouble justifying $10 for lackluster "Asian" food. The noodles were overcooked and mushy, and it needed a heck of a lot more sauce. Veggies were really just carrots and onions, I felt a little jipped there. Worth a shot but really wasn't impressed.
(3)Lawrence S.
WokWorks worked for me! The big idea: food made fast that's not fast food. In other words: In the time it takes to get a BigMac, instead you can have a nice of bowl of freshly stir-fried chaofen (chow fun) noodles with chicken, fresh bean sprouts and plenty of spicy sauce. That was my favorite combo. But your order is highly customizable: you choose the noodle, the protein, the sauce, etc. The cuisine style is Asian fusion -- mostly Japanese & Chinese elements. I'm generally not a fan of this approach for practical reasons (it's hard enough to do one regional cuisine style right let alone a whole bunch of them) & ideological/political (does Asian fusion promote the tendency to treat Asian cultures as interchangeable?). I'm willing to give WokWorks some leeway here: the point isn't to make authentic Asian food in any particular style, but rather to use a great cooking technique (flash wok frying) and good ingredients (whatever the cultural background). It's not a deep cultural experience, but it's pretty tasty. While the focus is on stir-frying, you should also check out the pork belly sandwiches served inside a slightly sweet steamed bun. Yum.
(3)Brian M.
We can all agree we're comparing this to Honeygrow, right? Good. So it's better than Honeygrow in the number of options you have. More choices of noodles, sauces, veggies, meats, etc. Maybe not more but more in your face. I think the quality of the noodles, veggies, and sauces are equal or higher here. Plus Honeygrow lets you add Sriracha or soy sauce yourself whereas Wokworks has a handful of other options, including hot chili paste. So that's nice. Where it lacks versus Honeygrow, for me, was the quality of the meat. The pork was chunks versus the slices at Honeygrow and I think that led to some pieces being all fat. Gristly. That's never good and always bad. Plus I agree that this place is $1-2 too expensive. Maybe lower the prices for the base noodle/rice/kee-no-ah a touch?
(3)Debbie A.
I would actually give this about 3.5 stars. It is okay, but nothing memorable. One pro that you get a good amount of food for the price (I live in Rittenhouse and local Thai/Chinese places can be somewhat expensive). I got the soba noodles with chicken (they were out of brocolli) and the green curry sauce. The chicken was chewy and overcooked and the sauce lacked the nice flavor of Thai green curries. However for a quick takeout place it is good in a pinch. I'm willing to go there and try something else because their menu is varied and I really like the idea of being able to choose what I put on there. Maybe I went on an off night.
(3)Butch S.
Really good food! Fresh stuff from the protein to the veggies. Definitely a go to place for me. Black gold sauce is my recommendation and stick to brown rice.
(5)Jennifer R.
I went here for the first time to pick up some lunch. I got white rice, beef, broccoli, pineapple and dark smoke (sauce). It was SO bland. I don't know if they forgot to add the sauce, or if the sauce is that bland, but it was not good. There were 2 HUGE pieces of beef. Why not chop it up into bite size pieces? Also - it looked more like roast beef than a stir fry type of beef. Why? Yuck.There wasn't much broccoli in there. There was A LOT of other crap in there that I didn't order (onion things? they were long. celery. carrots, etc). I'm pretty bummed that I wasted $10 on this lunch that wasn't even edible.
(1)Michele R.
So sad. I was gunning for the concept: fresh, locally sourced meats and produce, a creative menu, a 22 year old owner (no need to speculate on just HOW he arrived at entrepreneurial-ship....he is there working!). Many different starch options for the base of your stir fry are offered including rice noodles and quinoa. I opted for the quinoa, with shrimp add broccoli, in the tropicali sauce, and crispy garlic to finish. Your dish arrives in a chinese take out box. Firstly, I hate eating out of those boxes. The food never really cools down enough to eat, and i had to dig through mounds of quinoa to get to my 4 shrimp and 4 pieces of broccoli. Secondly, after paying for our meal, the man behind the counter handed me the receipt and said a bowl of miso was free next visit. Great! Except when we left, the sign outside the door said, "free bowl of miso with your wok!" so really, he should have offered me the free bowl with the meal I just bought. Unfortunate. The real problem here though is the Taste of the food. All I can surmise is that they don't properly clean the woks. There was a pervasive burnt taste that overpowered the added sauce. It was...gross. I was so hungry I still ate half of it, and smiled sweetly at the fresh-faced owner because I couldn't bear to hurt his feelings and tell him the food sucked. I will say, my husband got a similar dish (with noodles Instead of quinoa), and he couldn't taste what I tasted. I had a bite of his and that same burnt essence was there too. Perhaps I'm more sensitive to it. But truly, if you're looking for this style of cuisine, go to Honeygrow. Unless they work out their kinks here. I give 2 stars not 1 simply for the premise that I appreciate. Hopefully they can do better.
(2)Delia T.
I love this place. Small, cheerful space with a few tables. The food is prepared to order and is delicious. Today, Brendan really took care of me and I left feeling full and happy.
(5)Adam B.
This place is phenomenal. The food is quick and so so so delicious. I had the blackgold sauce with shrimp and absolutely loved it!!! The customer service was very friendly and I even got to meet the young owner Brennan (I think that was his name). Anyways, the young entrepreneur seems to be heading in the right direction with a healthy take on a quick lunch. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a nice place to cool down and listen to some hip music this summertime.
(5)Stefan H.
I expected a lot more flavor. I had the tall wok with shrimp, broccoli, green beans, and szechuan sauce. Tasted really bland when I was finishing it up. Nice vibe to the place though.
(2)Widd S.
The whole tour of Asia and you get to choose your own ingredients , your own noodles , your own vegetables and your own V meat or tofu and best of all , they have amazing Hot steamed buns with either pork or beef in them ....a real find !
(5)Aaliyah P.
Quick lunch is the reason places like wok works exsist. I was over Thanksgiving Day leftovers and decided i needed something i could grab quick and in a hurry. Wok Works is less than a 5 min walk from my office so i ran out the door a few min after 12 hoping to beat the crowds. To my suprise i was the only patron here. I decided on the wok noodle bowl with shrimp and the tropicalia sauce. I was a little annoyed that what i have come to know as the standard veggies used in asian cusines are optional and come with a price tag . I kept my bowl with the traditional carrots cabbage bean sprout and egg. Less than 5 min passed and i was out the door on the way back to my cubicle to devour my lunch. The tropicalia sauce has a nice BITE and the spice level is spot on ( at a level 2 on the menu). I will say i thought i got gypped on the shrimp tip but i had to dig all the way down to the bottom of the container to find the protein i paid an extra 3.00 for. The sauce noodles and shrimp all seemed fresh and the portion size was legit. I could have easily made a second meal out of leftovers but decided to eat the rest throughtout the day. The finish sauces all sound great im very intruiged by the green curry sauce so perhaps i will try that next time. I think ill have to add wok works to my rotation.
(4)DWFMB A.
I'm never even remotely disappointed by this place. Food is excellent, staff is excellent and friendly, prices now that they have the smaller bowl option are great. They always have clever marketing campaigns and specials. This is in my top 5 favorite lunch places in Philly. Try the Soba+Chicken+Brussels Sprouts+Bacon+Peanut Sauce
(5)Bill L.
Wokworks is a pleasant addition to the Philadelphia food scene. The owner and staff were great and super cool to speak with. The idea of quick, hot, fresh ingredients, cooked on the wok is perfect for the hustle and bustle of downtown Philly. The BBQ pork belly buns had a nice flavor and the edamame dumplings are excellent and a must try. Take my advice and try the Kelvin Citrus tea slush which is a perfect warm weather drink. The owner also recommends bringing in your own alcohol and putting a splash in the slushy. I tried it with vodka and I must say I agree!!
(4)Jacob T.
Here's what you get from Wok Works: simple, inexpensive, hot, Asian-inspired stir fries. I'll keep this review short, just like my trip to Wok Works. On to the pros/cons: PROS: * Inexpensive * Fast * Lots of options * Tasty food CONS: * $1-2 too expensive? * Non-authentic? * Too spicy? * They label Sriracha "hipster ketchup" Are you can deduce, there just aren't many cons to this place. It's a no frills, quick-stop in Rittenhouse. I'm a fan. You should be too.
(4)Adrienne T.
Having moved back East from 4+ years in Hawaii, I am constantly trying to quench my Asian food cravings. Wokworks is a great lunchtime alternative. I've tried the Hong Kong and Chow Fun noodles, and need to try the rest. The Tropicalia sauce is just sweet and spicy enough, and the Szechuan Pepper sauce is even hotter-- plenty for you to "feel your food." The portions are great for a hangry day, and I'm looking forward to their free draft beer happy hour on Wednesdays, with some pretty sweet pupu specials.
(4)Rachel C.
Let me start off by saying I'm a girl who LOVES her stir-fry. It's the perfect combo of veggies, carbs and protein and I could eat it every single day. That's why I was super excited when I heard this place was opening in my neighborhood. It's similar to HoneyGrow, but less pretentious and on the smaller side. There is only one persont to place an order with, however, so I could see this creating a bottleneck problem when getting crowded at busy lunch hours. The base of the stir-fry comes with carrots, cabbage, sprouts, onions and egg which is nice, but adding in extra veggies and proteins can start to get a bit pricey--I ended up paying a little over $10 which is okay, but I'd rather be spending $8. (Yes that $2 difference makes me feel slightly less guilty about buying lunch out every day when I really intend to bring my own from home, but never do, obvi). They jam-pack your take-out box with food, so don't be fooled because it's actually a pretty generous amount of food. I have to deduct one star, however, because I was really excited to try to the 'Pearlmaker' Oyster Sauce (garlic, sesame, scallion, almond joy), but was really taken aback by the almond joy-candy-almost-mint-tasting-flavor the sauce left me with. It sort of ruined the whole dish for me, but I will definitely try a differenct sauce next time. Highly recommend this stir-fry heaven!
(4)Brad W.
Great food. The Service is Rapid!! I never have to wait. The personal is extremely friendly. I have lunch there 3 to 4 times a week.
(5)JGVC G.
I had Wok Works delivered (via Dining In) and it was the highlight of my day. The food was fresh, hot and delicious. At first, I didn't think the "little" container was going to fill me up, but to my surprise I had leftovers. The chicken was all white meat, the sauce was sweet and spicy (as described), and all-in-all, it was a very filling, yet light, meal. This will definitely be on my rotation for lunches in the future, especially if I am in the neighborhood. If it was that good delivered, I can only imagine how good it will be on location.
(4)Vivian N.
Spicy noodles to order! Great service, and the BBQ port belly bun was to die for!
(4)Rachel R.
Wokworks is amazing! The perfect lunch, healthy and filling, I had a tall wok with chicken and veggies but could have easily had a short wok and still have leftovers. The pork dumplings are also delicious. I can't wait to go back to try the other sauces and the slushies
(5)Frank S.
Very good. We get to pick our own Base, Meat, Toppings, and Sauce. Of course we went with what we already knew. But the Small Bowl is PLENTY of food. Definitely worth heading out to.
(4)Libby P.
What a pleasant lunch surprise! I work maybe two blocks away from here, so I avoided trying it out in the first few months it was open, knowing my time would come eventually. After reading earlier reviews of Wokworks and comparing it today's experience, I'm glad I held out to visit until now! The place had maybe a handful of people in it during the hour I was there, and by no means did I ever feel like it was too noisy or crowded. At 1:30 on a weekday, I'm used to Hip City Veg's auditory assault (always SO LOUD in there), so this was a welcome change of pace. I ordered a short wok with soba noodles, tofu, bok choy, and crispy scallions in pepper sauce. After checking in on Yelp, I received a 30% off coupon--yay! A gigantic bowl of food and a medium fountain drink cost me just over eight bucks with the coupon. A more than fair deal, especially for a made-to-order lunch spot in Rittenhouse. While the soba noodles were tasty, as were my mix-ins, my only disappointment was in the pepper sauce. I'm one of those obnoxious people who needs as much heat as you can give me (except if we're at Han Dynasty--I am human, after all), so when I read the pepper sauce description (peppercorns and chili peppers), I was expecting to sweat at least a little. Sadly, I needed to add lots of chili oil and red pepper flakes for ANY heat whatsoever, but that's legitimately my only complaint. If they step up their heat game, I'll become a regular for sure.
(4)Brad W.
I went here for a quick take order last night. The space is very bright and clean. They did a very nice job cleaning up the gnarly old taco place. I order chicken stir fry with broccoli, bok choy, and spicy sauce (the three pepper one). I also order the pork dumplings. I received shrimp instead of chicken. Thank goodness I am not allergic. It was actually very good, and the shrimp were perfectly cooked, and on the larger size. Sauce was slightly spicy and somewhat tart. I liked it. The dumplings were scantily stuffed, and lacking on flavor. My major gripe is all the above cost $18.50. Pretty expensive for stir-fry and dumplings. BUT it is Rittenhouse, so I digress... Welcome to the neighborhood WW.
(3)Edison Y.
I am glad that Wokworks adds a great option of quick healthy Chinese food in the neighborhood. They have very good price and the portion size is good. They have a lot of great promotions sent to my phone, which makes the deals even better. I generally find their sauce to be on the sour side and sometimes there is too much sauce in the noodles, which makes the noodles slightly too soggy. I love their option of Hong Kong style noodles. I definitely will go back.
(3)Brad M.
Seriously fresh Asian fusion food. Great taste, good value and clean, nicely fitted out restaurant. Very satisfying meal.
(5)Michael A.
Awesome place to grab something fast, tasty, and still very healthy. It was my first time there and the staff was very friendly and informative. It's hard not to eat like crap when you're in a hurry so I'm glad I found this place. I will be going back soon and often.
(5)Aaron F.
I dined on Monday, November 20 at 11:30 AM. Service (4/5): The staff was friendly and helpful with needs. My wife wanted a courtesy cup of water and the manager was helpful with keeping her hydrated. The counter staff made suggestions while we were trying to choose between sauces for our meal combinations. The staff was obviously working hard and doing their best to be accurate, efficient, and fast. Even during the rush they were still delivering food orders to tables which is unusual for most QSRs. Atmosphere: (2/5): The place is brand new and has a slick decor that is clean and simplistic. Seating in the place is a bit cramped with not much space between the two-tops. The other option is to sit at the bar facing the wall. This is not entirely their fault since they are making due with the space of the building, however with a packed lunch crowd it is close to sitting on top of each other. Menu (4/5): The big display board with the menu is pretty straight forward and easy to follow. Making selections from each column to create your own masterpiece is a lot more clear in writing (compared to say a Qdoba which uses the bain marie more to communicate fillings). Food (3/5): The protein in my dish was under seasoned. My guess is that the sauce is supposed to supplement seasoning, but if this is the intention it is not being executed correctly. The food was still tasty and a fair value for my money. Overall (3/5): The food and value were good and the service was better than par. This is an upgrade from mall food court Chinese, on par with Mexican QSRs like Qdoba and Chipotle, and a down grade from dim sum in Chinatown. It sits somewhere right in the middle and I doubt I will find myself craving food from this particular restaurant, but I can imagine revisiting if I was in the right place at the right time.
(3)Michael B.
Heard awesome things about this place and my expectations were exceeded. Was semi busy when I walked in, cashier took my order within 2 minutes and had my food within 5. Perfect as a fast casual. Portion size was large enough, ingredients were fresh, and I received exactly what I ordered. Gonna have to make this a regular thing.
(5)J B.
This was simply the worse noodle joint I have ever tried. I love noodle houses, and was kind of hoping this would be a Wagamama style joint close to my office. I ordered the "wok noodles" with chicken, snow peas, portobello mushrooms and the Asian BBQ sauce. Watching the utterly chaos going on behind the counter was highly discouraging. Lots of people bringing unlabeled containers down to a woman at the end of the counter. She then had to open the container to figure out what it was, match it to a slip she had stuck to a cork strip on the counter. Orders would pile up, and you could see she was getting rather disoriented sorting it all out. First, the noodles were so over cooked, they essentially became a mass of mush. I have never had such terribly over cooked noodles. The other issue was that instead of portobello mushrooms, they were either pale porcini's or dark buttons, I couldn't tell. The sauce was just...ugh. Of course, this was made much worse by the gelatinous goo that had once been my noodles. For this, I paid a premium rate of more than $10. I don't plan on returning, and I strongly discouraged co-workers from heading down. I recommend Tampopo (on 21st), Smile cafe (on 22nd), or even the standard American style Chinese joint called Mandarin (chestnut between 21 & 22). I had high hopes, but they were crushed.
(1)Nunya B.
Wow. What a total 360 these guys did. The first good sign was the short line of people waiting to take their order and 3-4 calm and collected chefs doing their thing. Our order took literally 2 minutes to put in; we told the cashier what we wanted and sat down. Less than 10 minutes in our food arrived, served to us. Great, full portions: I got chicken and broccoli with brown rice and peanut sauce. Absolutely delicious, way better than Honeygrow (Honeygrow's sauces are so bland...this was not). I'm really proud these guys got their act together. Brennan, the owner, contacted me and offered a meal on him after my shit review- which is awesome PR for the business. However, I didn't take him up on it (I'm not about to take money from a small business, no matter what my experience was). I will be coming back here often if the experience I had today continues.
(4)F. O.
I wanted to like the place but it's mediocre at best. I ordered a brown rice chicken stir fry with snow peas, cilantro, and Thai basil with the "creamy" peanut sauce. Individually the quality of the ingredients were fine, except the peanut sauce was hardly creamy nor I could I really taste the peanuts. It also could have benefitted from crushed peanuts, but I guess it's not that kind of place. Also the list of ingredients to personalize the stir fry was pretty limited. My food was lukewarm and not favorable despite having sauce. I will say that it was a healthy portion of food, but not quite worth the $10 spent. Service was fine, the place was clean and has a pretty chill vibe. I wouldn't come here on purpose, perhaps if I'm super hungry and am tired of all the options around.
(2)Stephen S.
I had a great meal here, but until they open one here in Northern NJ I will only get to enjoy this place once a month at best...
(4)Alex W.
Oh my gosh! I was in Philly last week and I went to Wokworks. It made my life complete! I got the shrimp bao buns, the soba, and tofu bowl and its all because of the cashier, Ricky or Richard or something. It was my first time and he could tell I looked lost so he suggested a few items and I decided to try all of them and everything was great! Not only was the food good but the staff was kind. Thank you Wokworks for a great experience.
(4)chris d.
Place has gotten even better, don't realize why this place isn't more packed!
(5)S L.
Tried this place for the first time yesterday, and I'm pretty sure I'll be back. I got the ramen noodles with Tofu and a spicy sauce (2 peppers on the board) and it was really tasty. The spice level was just perfect. The place is new, so I'm assuming they have a few kinks to work out. Service was a bit slow, and there was a minor flood in the place yesterday when I went in (no lie, this actually happened) but the show must go on. 4 stars for Wokworks.
(4)Clare D.
Asian stir fry using top shelf ingredients could never be bad. In fact, it can be frickin' delicious! Oh, my God, there are FLAMES shooting straight up and around the wok, just like how my mother used to cook! Whoever taught these guys how to use a wok truly deserves a pat on the back. My wok noodles (fresh lo mein) with angus beef and creamy nut sauce was one of the tastiest meals I've ever had. The beef was brimming with flavor. The mixed veggies (carrots, cabbage, bean sprouts, onions, and egg) gave nice texture contrasts to the soft lo mein. Oh, and that delicious peanut sauce! Is it massaman curry? I find myself nodding my head with every satisfying bite. This is good stuff. I don't want it to end. That's how you know a curry sauce is really good. Besides lo mein, there are four other noodle or rice options, including chow fun, soba, steamed rice, and quinoa. There are six protein options, including farm-raised chicken, my wonderfully tender Angus beef, thick-cut and smoked bacon, roasted pork, wild-caught shrimp, and tofu. There are seven veggie options, but I'd suggest skipping those unless you're a vegetarian because mixed veggies already come with your entrée. There are eight different sauces from green curry to oyster sauce. To top it all off, there are also a variety of side dishes, such as pork belly buns and edamame dumplings. *** VISIT #2 *** I got the same thing and it was just as good as the first time so all you peeps ordering soba noodles or some other weird thing like quinoa... just stick to the wok noodles with beef. You'll be glad you did.
(4)HM K.
Tried their sesame organge chicken salad. Fresh, well seasoned and portion was good enough to subsitute proper lunch. Fast service. Would love to come back to try their noodles
(4)Meg B.
I ate at wok works for their free food tasting yesterday. It was delicious! I went with a few friends and we all ordered different things. Everyone was equally pleased. I got quinoa with tofu and bok choy and the peanut sauce. There were great options on the menu - it was difficult to choose. My meal was really flavorful and the portion size was bigger than i expected. I loved the idea of being able to create your own dish. The decor was great as well. Perfect for an easy & healthy lunch or dinner. I am super excited for this place to finally open!
(5)Varsha R.
Good joint with good food. I loved the concept of choosing my own sauce. They gave me samplers as well to help me decide. Tasted a few and they were all equally good. You should definitely visit if you're around center city and looking for some Asian food !
(4)Shamit C.
Nice spot to grab a quick bite to eat. I ordered Soba + Chicken + Bok Choy + Bengal. Pros: Portioned well for a late afternoon lunch meant to hold me over for dinner. Spicy and seasoned just right for my taste. Friendly staff. Cons: Pricey. Smaller dining area (great for a few people, but it could get cramped quickly). Hoping: They extend their hours so I can make this my late night place.
(4)stephen f.
I'd currently place Wok Works somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, but I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt because I'm dismayed by all of the negative reviews that concentrate solely on the time it took to get served during the lunch rush during the first days the place has been open. I'd suggest waiting a few weeks to try a place if your main priority is to get served within a few minutes. The concept is interesting -- it is like Chipotle in that you build your meal, but quite different in that the dish is cooked to order instead of assembled from pre-cooked parts. So it is going to take a bit more time to get your food. The dishes we had were very tasty -- pork in a bbq sauce that I thought was a touch too sweet but quite flavorful. And chicken and veggies in a peanut sauce that had a nice bit of spice without being overwhelming -- the one pepper marking on the menu was very accurate. I agree with some other reviewers that it would be nice to have plates for eat-in. I felt a bit bad about the amount of garbage generated by a couple of lunches. Overall, good food, reasonable prices, and a nice addition to the neighborhood.
(5)Larry N.
I was expecting great things from this place, but it was mediocre at best. The staff were very friendly. The food was so bland. I had the dumplings (pork). They were greasy and burnt. Cool concept though.
(2)Worthy Q.
So disappointing. I just ate tough, flavorless beef with a bland practically non-existent green curry sauce topped with a few veggies mixed in over okay noodles for almost $10. It managed to feel greasy despite having little sauce presence. But it did have bits of scrambled egg mixed in. Even though I didn't order any egg. There are so many options for good Asian food nearby. Skip this one. (And it was so hot inside the restaurant I had to take the food to go.)
(1)John P.
The wait is horrible. I ordered Pork Buns and their typical Wok meal with the noodles. Wow. This place is so bad. The noodles were way over cooked and the buns were just ok. Not going back. Don't waste your time here. It looks like a good idea that they couldn't execute on.
(1)Holly G.
I loved it here so yummy and quick ! The hot and spicy pickles, edamame dumplings, brussels sprouts, and the mango sauce are all my favorite! :P
(5)Joe M.
Great food and friendly service. Ordered the Tall Wok: Hong Kong Noodle, chicken, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Jalepeno, Crispy Garlic, Crispy Shallots with the Pepper Sauce. Would definetly go back.
(5)J. L.
Super friendly and efficient service. Great food. Really nice vibe on a rainy afternoon. Portion size is perfect and the food is fresh. I'll be back!!
(5)Susan R.
I just happened to stumble into wokworks yesterday, and it ended up being exactly what I was craving. This is my new go-to spot. The ingredients are fresh and tasty, and the options make it really interesting. I ordered brown rice with broccoli shrimp and the peanut sauce. It was healthy and satisfying. All in all I was really impressed by the whole idea! Thanks wokworks!
(5)Christopher L.
Went to wokworks for their second day of lunch. Line of people waiting to pick up food should have tipped me off that something was amiss, but I ordered anyway. Liked the options and the interesting ingredients, but this place really has to work out its operations (an assembly line concept would seem more efficient) as my food took over 25 minutes to be ready. With respect to the food- First impression - not great presentation. Wish "to stay" orders came in actual dishes and not cardboard takeout containers. Taste-wise my quinoa, chicken, brussle sprout, mushroom dish with the green curry sauce was good but too salty and WAY too much sauce, it was like a soup. Friends I was with thought their dishes were pretty good. Prob should have ordered rice or noodles as they seemed to absorb the sauce much better. Here's to hoping the kinks will be worked out as there is potential here.
(2)Marna L.
I went here in November, around when Wok Works first opened. The service was awful. My noodles were undercooked and slimey, and this was our second order, following a mix up in the first order. Really not worth the money, which is quite expensive for such a simple restaurant with poor service.
(1)Erin M.
Went on Sunday no line, no waiting so I assume my order was correct. Overall I just didn't really enjoy it. I ordered rice noodles with veggies, the tropicalia sauce, and crispy garlic. Maybe my order didn't get the right sauce because I didn't taste anything sweet or spicy. It tasted like generic savory stir fry sauce. I liked the consistency of the noodles. I like the variety of veggies. I did not taste the crispy garlic so I would not waste the extra money on this. Lastly, I did not realize eggs come on everything. I'll take responsibility here as it is mentioned on the menu (in very small lettering). I hate eggs. I even got some egg shells. I'll be sticking with Honeygrow Pros: Good Variety of Vegetables Noodles Fast Cons: Expensive Blah tropicalia sauce Eggs come with everything Egg shell
(2)Gia Y.
I enjoyed this place the first 2 times I went, but this time was a bit of a miss. My dish was like 80% sprouts! My coworker said the same thing. Hoping this was just an off day. (Went for lunch today around 1:30)
(3)Jon B.
Holly smokes!!! This was an absolutely amazing lunch. I got the quinoa with wild caught shrimp, portobello mushrooms, and bengal sauce. Extremely fresh ingredients, bright flavors with perfectly light and healthy feel. A+++++
(5)Justin W.
We tried this place again hoping that they had worked out the kinks after 4 months. Nope. They still take forever, it tasted like there wasn't even any sauce in the stir fry, and on top of that they forgot to put the pork bun we ordered in our bag. Overpriced, slow, and not tasty. This place should be closed soon.
(1)Paul D.
Solid fast food. I've had the chicken with both brown rice and egg noodles. I have also tried the spicy BBQ sauce as well as the spicy pepper sauce. Personally I like the BBQ better. Good quick lunch spot and they also deliver.
(4)Lindsey M.
I was very disappointed with my meal. I got the noodles, chicken, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and the green curry sauce. The result was a $10 container of mush. I may try this again with a different sauce or less sauce -- but I will certainly check out similar places in the area first.
(2)Laura G.
I'm so glad I finally stopped in, I've been trying to go and take advantage of their Wednesday specials with Aria S. but never got around to it. I ordered a short wok with chow fun noodles, shrimp, bok choy, crispy garlic, and pepper szechuan sauce. The bowl itself was very fresh and full of wonderful ingredients BUT the sauce is extremelyyyyyyy spicy. Dont get me wrong, I handled myself pretty well in Thailand, but this was a little too intense. I definitely would switch the sauce for next time. I also order the brussels sprouts and the spicy asian pickles. Brussels sprouts were wonderful, similar to Sampan's. The pickles were incredible, definitely on the spicy side, but not overwhelmingly so. My concern after ordering was the amount of time I waited. I have no problem waiting, but its labeled as fast food and I'd say we waited about 20 minutes. It seemed like they could have used one more person to help cook. TIP: check in on yelp and get 30% off!!
(4)Samantha E.
I had the chance to try Wokworks again, and my service was much more prompt. I ordered online through their website on a Friday afternoon and my order was to be done in 20 minutes. This left me plenty of time to run an errand on the way, or so I thought. Within 10 minutes, I was texted that my order was ready for pickup. I still look 20 minutes to arrive, after completing my errand. I was able to walk in past the line of 7 or 8 people gazing up at the menu to pick up my prepaid order. On this occasion, there were more employees working and the restaurant was buzzing. I am impressed how the service improved. I will be returning for lunches and have plans to check out the Wednesday Happy Hour in the next few weeks. I'd like to thank the owner, Brennan, for reaching out and encouraging me to give WokWorks another try. I always appreciate owns/ management that go above and beyond for customer service. I have already recommended WokWorks to several co- workers looking to change up their usual take- out routine.
(4)Laura R.
Amazing customer service ! I forgot to get the girls name who took my pick up order for dumplings but I didn't want fried at all.. She went out of her way to steam them herself !! Apparently they only steam them On Wednesdays And they were amazing!! Best dumplings I've had in a while ! She's always so friendly and helpful. And it Doesn't hurt that the noodle chips are to die for.. Lol
(5)Andrea F.
Ordered delivery through Try Caviar and it came promptly. I'd liken the food here to that of Honeygrow, but perhaps a little cheaper since my custom small bowl didn't charge me an arm and leg for each topping. I opted for the "Hong Kong" stir-fry noodle base, shrimp protein (for only $0.50 extra), mushroom vegetable, and cilantro topping in a soy/garlic/ginger sauce (seriously, there's so many sauces to choose from, I became overwhelmed!). My whole dish came to about $9.50, which isn't bad compared to the $12 or more I always spend at Honeygrow. My coworkers ordered their bowls with brown rice, chicken, and broccoli. We also got those fried, crispy noodle chips with sea salt and pork dumplings for sides. My stir-fry was much better than the brown rice option. There was just enough sauce and shrimp and a nicely cooked stir-fry noodle with crunchy carrots and purple cabbage. I couldn't really taste my cilantro under the sauce, but the mushrooms were good. Next time I'd opt for the crispy noodle chips or shallots as a topping to give it some more texture. For some reason, though, the sauce was undetectable on the brown rice dishes. And paired with quite a large amount of chicken, it made the whole meal pretty dry. Honestly, though, some packets of soy sauce on the side would do the trick. This is one thing that Honeygrow has that I like which is picking if you want light, medium or heavy sauce. Perhaps if I visited Wokworks in person, it would be different. The pork dumplings were actually fried, but still very tasty and the spicy mayo dipping sauce was delicious and reminded me of the kind you get for the Bloomin' Onion at Outback. The chips, however, were soooo salty. The only way to cut through the taste was to dip it in the tangy, creamy sauce. The consensus: Cheaper than Honeygrow, but just as filling and with wayyyy more options to choose from for sauces and toppings. I'd definitely order from here again.
(4)Laura G.
I'm so glad I finally stopped in, I've been trying to go and take advantage of their Wednesday specials with Aria S. but never got around to it. I ordered a short wok with chow fun noodles, shrimp, bok choy, crispy garlic, and pepper szechuan sauce. The bowl itself was very fresh and full of wonderful ingredients BUT the sauce is extremelyyyyyyy spicy. Dont get me wrong, I handled myself pretty well in Thailand, but this was a little too intense. I definitely would switch the sauce for next time. I also order the brussels sprouts and the spicy asian pickles. Brussels sprouts were wonderful, similar to Sampan's. The pickles were incredible, definitely on the spicy side, but not overwhelmingly so. My concern after ordering was the amount of time I waited. I have no problem waiting, but its labeled as fast food and I'd say we waited about 20 minutes. It seemed like they could have used one more person to help cook. TIP: check in on yelp and get 30% off!!
(4)Samantha E.
I had the chance to try Wokworks again, and my service was much more prompt. I ordered online through their website on a Friday afternoon and my order was to be done in 20 minutes. This left me plenty of time to run an errand on the way, or so I thought. Within 10 minutes, I was texted that my order was ready for pickup. I still look 20 minutes to arrive, after completing my errand. I was able to walk in past the line of 7 or 8 people gazing up at the menu to pick up my prepaid order. On this occasion, there were more employees working and the restaurant was buzzing. I am impressed how the service improved. I will be returning for lunches and have plans to check out the Wednesday Happy Hour in the next few weeks. I'd like to thank the owner, Brennan, for reaching out and encouraging me to give WokWorks another try. I always appreciate owns/ management that go above and beyond for customer service. I have already recommended WokWorks to several co- workers looking to change up their usual take- out routine.
(4)Laura R.
Amazing customer service ! I forgot to get the girls name who took my pick up order for dumplings but I didn't want fried at all.. She went out of her way to steam them herself !! Apparently they only steam them On Wednesdays And they were amazing!! Best dumplings I've had in a while ! She's always so friendly and helpful. And it Doesn't hurt that the noodle chips are to die for.. Lol
(5)Andrea F.
Ordered delivery through Try Caviar and it came promptly. I'd liken the food here to that of Honeygrow, but perhaps a little cheaper since my custom small bowl didn't charge me an arm and leg for each topping. I opted for the "Hong Kong" stir-fry noodle base, shrimp protein (for only $0.50 extra), mushroom vegetable, and cilantro topping in a soy/garlic/ginger sauce (seriously, there's so many sauces to choose from, I became overwhelmed!). My whole dish came to about $9.50, which isn't bad compared to the $12 or more I always spend at Honeygrow. My coworkers ordered their bowls with brown rice, chicken, and broccoli. We also got those fried, crispy noodle chips with sea salt and pork dumplings for sides. My stir-fry was much better than the brown rice option. There was just enough sauce and shrimp and a nicely cooked stir-fry noodle with crunchy carrots and purple cabbage. I couldn't really taste my cilantro under the sauce, but the mushrooms were good. Next time I'd opt for the crispy noodle chips or shallots as a topping to give it some more texture. For some reason, though, the sauce was undetectable on the brown rice dishes. And paired with quite a large amount of chicken, it made the whole meal pretty dry. Honestly, though, some packets of soy sauce on the side would do the trick. This is one thing that Honeygrow has that I like which is picking if you want light, medium or heavy sauce. Perhaps if I visited Wokworks in person, it would be different. The pork dumplings were actually fried, but still very tasty and the spicy mayo dipping sauce was delicious and reminded me of the kind you get for the Bloomin' Onion at Outback. The chips, however, were soooo salty. The only way to cut through the taste was to dip it in the tangy, creamy sauce. The consensus: Cheaper than Honeygrow, but just as filling and with wayyyy more options to choose from for sauces and toppings. I'd definitely order from here again.
(4)Anu P.
Another random gem we found in philly! We were going shopping one afternoon and got hungry around 2pm so stopped in since it was on our way and because we're both big fans of noodles. We saw average reviews so were skeptical until we saw the 30% off if you check in on yelp coupon! (Tip: check in) Food: We ordered a large make your own wok order - lo mein noodles with the tropicali sauce (spicy, beware - the bf and I had gone through 4 glasses of water each by the end of this meal) with mushrooms, onions, and peppers. This dish was so delicious - each bite had life and flavor to it and we were so sad to see it finish (definitely NOT sharing next time). The dish is about $10 without the coupon and only $7 when you check in - what a steal. The large is pretty big in size and can be saved for a second meal / snack for later. This place was infinitely better than HoneyGrow which is another noodle bar that I went to but was not impressed with at all. Wokworks is definitely worth checking out! Can't wait to try their other dishes.
(4)Joanna L.
I took the friendly owner (who reached out to me) up on a free meal due to a recent disappointing experience and gave it another shot last night. Boy am I glad that I did! I enjoyed a delicious wok and a side of brussel sprouts. Much better experience this time! The wok was spicy and full of flavor - and the sprouts were right on point - with just the right amount of salt. I ordered a rice noodle wok with beef, broccoli, mushrooms and snow peas - topped with tropicalia sauce & garlic. YUM! I savored each bite, and have the leftovers for another tasty meal today! I will definitely come back again soon, and truly appreciate when a business owner displays accountability and extends a genuine offer for redemption. Not only is it great customer service, but it says a lot about the type of establishment they run - with care and consideration for customers. Thanks again!
(4)Shane D.
This place is poppin' fresh like pillsbury. I got the wok noodles with the tropicali, jalapenos and hot peppers - their spiciest combination. It was not extremely spicy for the daring out there but it was definitely spicy at an enjoyable level, complementing the flavor. The ingredients are fresh and are prepared by people with experience. Things are done right here as opposed to other stir fry joints that attempt to imitate the craft. Wok Works is a relaxing place with good music, vibes, cleanliness and staff that reflects everything good about a restaurant. Wednesdays, they serve yuenglings 5-10. You know I'll be there. Shoutouts to Stacy(Stacie), Irene, and co!!!
(5)Taleah J.
I have eaten at Wokworks a bunch of times... its consistently delicious and they have a great menu. I prefer this place over Honeygrow any day!!! My favorites are there Edamame dumplings with the peanut sauce and their wings. Of course the noodles cant be beat either. If you are wasting your time at Honeygrow ordering noodles... please for all our sakes.... go to Wokworks.
(5)Sharee W.
So, I've been here a few times now. I will say that I really like that everything is made fresh to order. The short wok is plenty of food to make 2 meals...at least for me. I suggest getting an extra side of sauce. The flavor is okay, but the extra sauce definitely kicks it up a notch. Now, on to the edamame dumplings....so yummy! I totally suggest getting these. The staff is always very nice.
(4)John K.
A few months back, the GF and I were in the mood for Asian noodles, but not exactly itching for the prototypical mushy noodles that accompany an order of Americanized Chinese takeout. Hearing good things about Wokworks, we decided to hop on DiningIn and see what all the fuss was about. Spicy Asian Pickles [$1.95] Pickles, chili We started off with the spicy pickles. While a pittance of a portion, they were crisp and sweet, with spice that came through on the finish. Jalapeno Brussels Sprouts [$4] Brussels sprouts, gluten-free soy, jalapeno I'm a brussels sprouts fiend so naturally, we had to order these. While I missed the touted heat from the jalapenos, the sprouts had nice bite and were well seasoned. Thankfully, they weren't overly salty from the soy. Crispy Edamame Dumplings [$4.95] Peanut sauce The edamame dumplings were nice - incredibly crispy with a creamy essence within. They were topped with some green onions and sweet black sesame seeds. BBQ Pork Belly Sliders [$5.95] Steamed buns, pork belly, pineapple salsa, cilantro Regular readers know that the pork belly buns were a must order for me. The gluttonous pork was well-braised and had a lightly sweet glaze. The dish itself could have used more texture, with the soft, pliant buns rendering each bite soft on soft. I could have used more pork as well - perhaps double pork a la Momofuku? Still, the accompanying pineapple salsa and cilantro brought some bright balance to the heft of the pork. Build Your Own Tall Wok [$10.95] Lo mein, chicken, snow peas, mushrooms, bok choy, crispy shallots, roasted almonds, Blackgold teriyaki sauce But what is Wokworks really known for? Their stir-fried noodles! We elected to build our own, with chicken, lo mein noodles, and a melange of various veggies. These noodles weren't mushy at all and thankfully had life to each bite. They were well-coated with the requested Blackgold teriyaki sauce and the multitude of accompanying additions helped to create a hearty dish. Overall, Wokworks delivered an experience that was well above the standard Chinese takeout you might order on a random night. Do try their stir-fried noodles. I also wouldn't hesitate to order the pork belly buns again!
(4)Aria S.
I tried to convince my friends to ditch Sips and come here for happy hour because they have FREE beer on Wednedays 5-10pm + food specials! They all bailed on me so I came here after I went to Lithe (so Rittenhouse of me right??) I got the edamame dumplings with sriracha sauce. I thought they would be like real dumplings but they were actually gyoza and fried which was disappointing because they are usually steamed aka not as fatty! Nonetheless, they were amazing! I scarfed down a little box of them and the sauce was perfect. The woman working was super sweet also. If you check in on Yelp you get 30% off! Making one of the small bowls about $6-7 which is very reasonable for entrees in the area. Also the place wasn't crowded or anything, so I'm definitely dragging my friends here again on a free beer Wednesday.
(4)Jeff H.
I really, really, really like this place. Wokworks is my new most favorite fast food spot. It is such a cool idea to do fast-food wok cooking with lots of healthy ingredients. When you add in extremely friendly and helpful staff with a nice vibe atmosphere, you have a winner. My very favorite stir fry is the build-your-own with red and white quinoa. Add your protein, veggie, seasoning, and sauce and you have a tasty treat in front of you. All the sauces are great from the golden nut peanut to the pepper spicy Szechuan. But if you like spicy with flavor - order the tropicalia mango sambal. A side of jalapeño brussel sprouts in sesame oil just adds to the combo of flavours here. It is usually busy when I have been there so that it is a great sign this concept is catching on. Now just expand to my hood .... and def let me take a branch of Wokworks with me back to Vienna!
(5)Tim Y.
I've only discovered this little gem recently, upon my move to Rittenhouse Square. I'm truly a Pei Wei Asian Diner fanatic (not just a fan, mind you) at heart, as I've been going to that chain's restaurants weekly for years and NOBODY makes a better Kung Pao than them, period. But the WokWorks concept is similar: pick your type of meal, pick your carbs, pick your meat, but Wokworks gives you the chance to pick your sauce, veggies and toppings; pretty cool! And WokWorks brings something unique to the table: quinoa, a very healthy, delicious grain that you can choose instead of the standard noodles or rice. I've been here a few times. The people are super-friendly and the variety is great; as long as I perceive good value for my money, I'll return here. Pei Wei finally has a little competition, in my eyes. UPDATE: Wokworks now has a fried chicken option for your protein, and it's a great option! Fried chicken + quinoa...I'm loving this place more and more!
(5)Gabrielle W.
I ordered delivery tonight and received 1 entree with burnt shallots and a side of brussels sprouts that were burnt to shit (posted picture..notice the other sprouts pics that do not look like what I received). I called the restaurant for a refund because I'm not paying for burnt food and what I was told was that it was impossible to burn the sprouts because they were deep fried. Meanwhile I'm staring at some black sprouts and burnt "crispy shallots" that made my entree inedible. This place is a joke. I know this sounds like rocket science but maybe...just maybe someone left the sprouts in the fryer too long and that's how they got burnt. And maybe that same person burnt the "crispy shallots" too. Mind blown! I would never recommend or go back.
(1)Sangita S.
This place is awesome! Such a hidden gem. On Wednesday they have free beer. Literally it is FREE. FREEEEE. And it's yeungling. Oh and the food is amazing. Try it all. But the service is the best part and it's so cheap. I can't think of one reason not to come here. Good food for cheap. Free beer on Wednesdays. Great service. Find Stacey she's the best.
(5)Edward M.
In the mood for a quick Asian-ish lunch? You could do much worse than this place. It's got a Chipotle-like selection process, where you pick your base carb (various noodle options, rice, or quinoa), your protein (beef, chicken, pork, tofu, etc.), veggie, topping, and sauce. I imagine some combinations work better than others, but no guidance is provided on the menu; you're on your own, which might prompt choice paralysis among some people (there are literally thousands of different combinations you could make). It might be helpful for them to list a few popular or suggested combos. You also get to select your dish size - short or tall. The short provided plenty of food for a meal and snacking afterwards. So the tall might be good for two meals, but I don't know that I'll try that. The chicken tasted good; the asparagus, though, kinda lacked character. The noodles were fine, though under-seasoned. Luckily, they have a couple of hot sauces available you can add to your dish, or take with you if you're getting it to go. Service was fairly fast, taking about five minutes to cook up my order. The short bowl was under $10; the tall would be a bit more.
(4)Jill L.
When I was growing up at the Jersey Shore, there was a Mongolian BBQ place that I absolutely loved. What is Mongolian BBQ, you may ask? So this was an all-you-can-eat stirfry place where you fill up a bowl with everything you want (carb, protein, veggies, sauce) and they cook your meal for you on this giant flat top griddle, as you stand there and watch. It.was.awesome. And let me tell you, a 16 year old Jill could definitely pack in more than a couple bowls of stir fry. Ahh.... to be a teenager again. Anyway, I have been saying for years that a place like this needs to come to Philly. Enter Wokworks. Granted, it's not AYCE, but who really needs to eat more than one bowl of stir fry? On my visit, I got the small sized bowl with bok choy, lo mein, tofu, and the peanut sauce, topped with fried shallots. I thought the dish was really delicious but I definitely needed to add some heat. Luckily they have a variety of hot sauces (sriacha, chili oil) on the table to adjust your dish. For me, I thought it was a good value for $9. And there were signs that they give free beer on Fridays (btw- it is always BYOB). The only changes I would make is for Wokworks to offer a few "predesigned" options to their menu. I am the WORST when it comes to pairing tastes together and I'm sure others do too. Also, the space is pretty small, so I can only imagine how packed it must get during lunch on a workday. Nonetheless, I'll definitely be back to try another stirfry!
(4)Kimberly H.
I haven't event gotten my food yet but standing here waiting for my fresh noodles already has me in a great mood. What a refreshingly positive bunch of employees! It's my first time here and they've been so helpful and patient. Every person in the place has a smile on their face and seem to genuinely enjoy the job they're doing. Ok, just took my first bite and this place is also taste-test approved! Delicious and overall wonderful experience... What more can anyone ask for?
(5)Kelly O.
Long story short - not a fan. The dumplings were okay; crispy noodles would have been good if they weren't absolutely COVERED in salt. Wayyy too much! My bowl was a decent portion for the money, and had a good amount of meat, but was seriously dry. I don't know if the sauce just didn't have enough flavor, or if they didn't put enough on, but I really didn't enjoy my lunch.
(2)Donte P.
This place is amazing !!! My 2 bs time here grabbing lunch & I'm so impressed with the service .... And the women at the first register, ... She makes ordering so easy !! This place is a must visit
(5)Allie E.
I am really impressed with this place. The first time I had it was about 2 weeks ago on my birthday. I convinced my coworkers to order with me and have it delivered. Normally they do not cross the river to deliver over by Penn where we work, but they kindly agreed to deliver to us given the size of our order. The delivery was SO fast- within 45 minutes- and everything was correct. We all enjoyed our meals so much. They portions are huge and all the ingredients are so fresh and don't leave you feeling bloated by all the sodium, etc from other asian restaurants. My coworkers loved it so much they all demanded we order again today and the service and delivery was just as good as the last time! Thanks, Wok Works!
(5)Prasath S.
One star is for the delicious spicy shrimp Bao buns and the crispy noodles with duck sauce. The main attraction which is supposed to be the wok noodles was a complete fail. The entire dish tasted burnt and smokey...somebody needs to teach these Cooks to either reduce the heat or add more oil. The entire bowl was so bitter that no sauce could rescue it. What a shame !!!!
(1)Sarah C.
Went here for the beer menu and had some really delicious edamame dumplings and brussel sprouts! Stacey was really great and the free yeungling was definitely worth the trip!
(4)Jt B.
Was here for a dinner party, had a great time, with great friends and great food.
(4)Yikai F.
Bad customer service, very rude and impatient with my order. "Are you gonna order something?!" That's the greeting I got. Food isn't good either. But good for a fast meal/ takeout or if you like messy food. Great atmosphere tho, really an eye catcher
(2)Lisa D.
We ordered 100 people's worth of catering from these guys, which is intimidating to a lot of restaurants, and they pulled it off with flying colors. You get a very generous amount of food per portion, and it arrived fresh and hot. They also set it all up for us, and the manager came to oversee the process. The food itself is good, especially if you're trying to go lighter. The veggies aren't in sauce, and the chicken we had seemed pretty healthy. You also have the option of brown rice, which not all places offer. Definitely recommend them for catering.
(4)Anthony J.
The Stir Fry is always piping hot and full of awesome fresh healthy flavor! Tons of sauces too! Rock on.
(5)Lea L.
My boyfriend and I recently stopped by wokwoks on a Sunday afternoon after being told it was similar to one of our favorite NYC spots, Wok to Walk. If I was going to compare the two, I would say the noodles at Wokworks are a half step below Wok to Walk but they were still delicious. You could tell all the ingredients were fresh. They were just missing that addictive quality. I think the noodles needed more sauce. However, we also ordered pork dumplings and pork belly buns because who could resist? And they were phenomenal! The dumplings were made to order and crispy just the way I like them. They came with spicy mayo which is not typical but I enjoyed it. And the flavor combinations in the pork belly buns were great. Since I was there on a Sunday afternoon we didn't have to wait long at all but all the food seemed to be cooked to order so I imagine if there is a crowd it could take some time. The staff was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. I would definitely go back to this place again!
(4)Eunni C.
I really want to like this place. Healthy version of Chinese food? Sounded so good to me. And store looked clean from outside and also liked their name... Got quinoa fried rice with bean sprout and veggies...simply no good... I like healthy food but has to tasty to keep going back. That was my last visit... But I liked their clean container and healthy concept so.. It is two star place.
(2)Krystal H.
The first time I tried this place I got some combination of noodles & veggies & sauce. It was pretty good, which is why I came back. The 2nd time I got string beans, brussel sprouts & edamame dumplings. Probably wouldn't have gotten the dumplings had I known they were fried, but it wasn't on the menu and I didn't ask. Everything was good except the string beans. They were so salty I couldn't eat them. Another time I tried their smoothie (Mango black tea something or other) and it just tasted like lemonade. I hate lemonade. Most recently I got the orange chicken salad and asked for it without chicken. The guy made a big deal about pulling the chicken off of the pre-made salad. I guess I could have done it but I asked when I ordered it, before it was given to me and he acted like it was some big inconvenience. Also, there were a ton of orange seeds in it that I had to keep spitting out. There has never been a single other person in there when I go and they always act like they're doing you a favor by making your overpriced over salted food. The service was only friendly the first time, gets worse every time I go back. I probably won't go back again. Jane G's is right across the street and for the price, much better in my opinion.
(2)Lili W.
Wokworks is only okay in my book. I've come here twice and got two different combinations and found both to be mediocre. Growing up with authentic and delicious asian food, maybe I'm biased and prefer the more traditional dishes. Anyhow, to enhance the dining experience, Wokworks should really consider using different take out plates/bowls, instead of the doggy box they currently use. the doggy boxes are really difficult to eat out of.
(3)Stephanie H.
This place is awesome! Stopped by on a Wednesday and they seriously offer FREE BEER! It sounded too good to be true, but the super nice server Stacy brought us up and actually poured us free beer! They had some great specials too, Brussels sprouts for $3, pop corn chickens $4 and more!
(4)Meredith B.
I've got a thing for asian... so I've got a thing for the new asian lunch spot in town. It's a good little spot, fast ordering, build your own asian lunch spot. We ordered: BBQ pork belly buns - Awesome. Get these. They are what you should expect when ordering BBQ pork belly buns but with a nice addition of pineapple slaw. Tofu soba noodles with tropicali sauce - I really enjoyed this. I like spice but given the menu's description and two peppers next to it I wasn't expecting as much spice as I had. Side of brussels sprouts - I love b.sprouts but there was nothing special to these. Side of maple caramelized squash - GET THIS. I wouldn't have thought to order it but my lunch buddy did and they were awesome. Nicely cooked with bacon-y goodness. Place is a little tight in there so I wouldn't suggest bring a large group in for lunch hour. Great to-go spot. Next time I'd like to try their edamame dumplings This review is dedicated to Rick V.
(4)SilverfoxAA H.
The Wokworks rocks! I had the most wonderful soba noodles with tofu, string beans (French) mushrooms, bok choi topped with cilantro and a sort of tamari sauce and I was in heaven. All four of us agreed that that this was the most delicious lunch we've had since we were in Bangkok! we'll be back!
(5)Chandreyi D.
I wouldn't give this place more than 2 stars because their food is bland. I've been twice already. The first time by accident I stumbled upon it and just was curious to try. Both times I've had their wok noodles with the sauces. Today I got wok noodles with the pepper sauce and I told them it was bland and tasteless (hoping they would add more seasoning/spices..nope!) They have a great location for anyone who wants a quick bite but they really need to step up their game competing with Jane G's and Honeygrow. Their prices are not worth $8 for the short wok. I'm really disappointed. If you must go, get the edamame dumplings with the siracha sauce and skip the noodles.
(2)Thomas V.
I don't know what's up with these guys. I've been here two times. I didn't have a good experience the first but figured I'd try again. The second time, they weren't busy by any stretch (3 other people were there) but it still took them 15 to start cooking my food. When they brought it, they forgot the drink, and forgot to put beef in the main dish, so they had to remake it. When I finally got my food it was terrible! Don't go here.
(1)Andrea C.
I admit it, I have recently become addicted to the wok. I ordered my first last Friday, seemed so harmless, so simple. No base for me, I am not into the starchy stuff and hides the truth of all those lovely vegetables. Sunday night rolls around and I start thinking about pacing lunch for Monday and I ordered another wok. Split it across two days. Here it is Wednesday and now I am thinking, crap, really am I going a week solid on this for lunch? Yep! It's cold out, the wok, it's good and is a great vehicle for Sambal Olek. Oh yeah, the crispy dumplings are crispy, really crispy. Unlike any other place I have been so far. If only they were wheelchair accessible, that one step in front is my downfall so I am destined for delivery.
(5)Larissa G.
This place is a solid lunch spot. I went for my first visit today and was really pleased with the Yelp check-in offer (30% off!) and got a large tofu bowl with veggies. All the vegetables were super fresh and you could even see one of the employees chopping up peppers on the counter. It was a late lunch, but the place was not crowded and my friend and I easily got a seat. The hardest choice for me was the kind of noodle and the sauce. I got the wok noodles, but the soba looked great. I also wish that I would have done the pepper sauce because the Begal sauce, while delicious on its own, was a bit lacking in flavor when everything else was mixed in. All the sides looked great too, so I'll definitely be back soon!
(4)Bill M.
I never thought that I'd see wok based Asian inspired foods dished out in a fast food based almost assembly lined variation before. But in a way I'm not surprised at all. And while I am still somewhat perturbed by the results; Wokworks does deliver the concept better than most (Good riddance Pad Thai Shack - yelp.com/user_details_re… !), and does so with a plethora of options. Start off by choosing between 3 kinds of noodles, brown or white rice, or quinoa, then choose a protein (tofu if vegetarian) and vegetable option from their good sized list; and finally top it off with one of their signature sauces. The end result can lead to far from Asian yet tasty options like smokey bacon brussel sprout chow fun, green curry chicken broccoli soba, or spicy Szechuan tofu and quinoa w/ portebello mushrooms. Ultimately if I'm looking for an Asian inspired lunchdeal I'll go just about everywhere else. Especially in the Rittenhouse Square area since Nom Nom Ramen, Su Xing House, Thai Singha, and SO MANY sushi places are nearby. But Wokworks does manage to deliver it the quickest, which can be a trump card when necessary.
(3)Lia B.
Love that this place is here!!! It's a very simple and fun concept of stir frys and wok specialties. They have tofu options and a veggie friendly atmosphere. The staff here knows what can be made vegan and are happy to execute pretty much anything you could ask for. They also tote a fun BYOB tag at the door - and even though for me wokworks would be more of a lunch spot - i could see myself stopping by here after a spin class for dinner. Note the miso soup has fish in it and I got the pepper sauce which I was told was vegan but I would double check if you're ordering a different one. There are many spice options from mild to very spicy and they can accommodate all ends of the spectrum which is great when going out with friends. The line moves very fast - and everyone is attentive and upbeat. Overall I would like to pop in here more often and take advantage of all the tofu / vegan options. Yelp check in rt now gets you free miso soup btw
(5)Jeff M.
Think chipotle meets Asian food. Ingredients are superb - organic meats and fresh caught fish - a true find for Philly. An excellent spot for lunch or for dinner. Delivery available through grub hub. Also - free beer on Friday afternoons!
(5)Katharine E.
I couldn't be more disappointed in Wok Works. My first trip there was OK, I got quinoa and shrimp with the smoke sauce. The shrimp was a good size, there were about 8 pieces. The cabbage was crunchy and a nice addition and there was a TON of quinoa, probably enough for 4 servings but it was drenched in the sauce. There was so much sauce I felt like I was eating a too-sweet quinoa soup. I decided to give it another go and NIGHTMARE. I ordered chow fun, beef, broccoli, with the green curry sauce. I got back to my office and opened the box and it looked like a box of grey mush. I dug around for the meat and instead i found grey tasteless shoe leather. It had obviously had the life steamed out of it and was poor quality to begin with. There was no nice sear from the wok or flavor to speak of. There were a whopping 2 (!!!) pieces of broccoli among the sea of gelatinous chow fun noodles. The noodles were mush and entirely inedible. I'm floored at the poor quality and execution. You can see how depressing it looks...let alone tastes from the pictures. I really wanted to bring my food back because in this situation a manager needed to see it, but it was raining and cold and I'm a wimp. Not one to waste, I tried to pass my food off to self-proclaimed "office garbage disposal." He took one bite said "oh this is awful", covered it in sriracha, took another bite and followed up with "nope still can't do it." The "cheap Chinese" cart at 18th and Market actually puts Wok Works to shame and that's just good for a quick greasy fix.
(1)Zikang H.
It's a great place to try Asian-American mixed style Chow Fun. I am a huge fan of all kinds of noodles. Absolutely love it!
(5)Allison B.
For their first-ever lunch shift, I was very impressed with Wokworks. If you have a tight lunch hour, you might want to wait a week or so until the staff really nails down their wok work flow- like any new fast/casual food business, these things take time. It took 25 minutes for me to get my stir-fry, but I did not mind. The place was packed. Pick your carb, your protein, your veggie and sauce. I got brown rice with tofu, broccoli and pepper sauce for $9. Each stir-fry includes cabbage, bean sprouts, egg and carrot. You get a ton of food. The pepper sauce was spicy, with a kick of sweetness I wasn't expecting. The best part? No globs of congealed sauce or uneven distribution of flavor. For stir-fry, it was light and delicious! I'll definitely be back. P.S. Angela S- I was at Honeygrow the day they opened, too. The place was just as crowded, and I waited for my salad there just as long as I waited today. Same goes for HipCityVeg. It's all gonna be okay, lady.
(5)Rohit K.
I think they are similar to Honeygrow but without touchscreen displays and different sauces. Friendly staff and good food. A little bit difficult to select sauces.
(4)Julie N.
Ordered lunch from WokWorks during their opening week. They clearly weren't prepared for the lunch rush as we waited almost an extra half hour for our order and "ran out of beef" so I had to settle for chicken. I had the flat rice noodles with black gold sauce and extra veggies. It was alright, but as an Asian person I have some trouble justifying $10 for lackluster "Asian" food. The noodles were overcooked and mushy, and it needed a heck of a lot more sauce. Veggies were really just carrots and onions, I felt a little jipped there. Worth a shot but really wasn't impressed.
(3)Lawrence S.
WokWorks worked for me! The big idea: food made fast that's not fast food. In other words: In the time it takes to get a BigMac, instead you can have a nice of bowl of freshly stir-fried chaofen (chow fun) noodles with chicken, fresh bean sprouts and plenty of spicy sauce. That was my favorite combo. But your order is highly customizable: you choose the noodle, the protein, the sauce, etc. The cuisine style is Asian fusion -- mostly Japanese & Chinese elements. I'm generally not a fan of this approach for practical reasons (it's hard enough to do one regional cuisine style right let alone a whole bunch of them) & ideological/political (does Asian fusion promote the tendency to treat Asian cultures as interchangeable?). I'm willing to give WokWorks some leeway here: the point isn't to make authentic Asian food in any particular style, but rather to use a great cooking technique (flash wok frying) and good ingredients (whatever the cultural background). It's not a deep cultural experience, but it's pretty tasty. While the focus is on stir-frying, you should also check out the pork belly sandwiches served inside a slightly sweet steamed bun. Yum.
(3)Brian M.
We can all agree we're comparing this to Honeygrow, right? Good. So it's better than Honeygrow in the number of options you have. More choices of noodles, sauces, veggies, meats, etc. Maybe not more but more in your face. I think the quality of the noodles, veggies, and sauces are equal or higher here. Plus Honeygrow lets you add Sriracha or soy sauce yourself whereas Wokworks has a handful of other options, including hot chili paste. So that's nice. Where it lacks versus Honeygrow, for me, was the quality of the meat. The pork was chunks versus the slices at Honeygrow and I think that led to some pieces being all fat. Gristly. That's never good and always bad. Plus I agree that this place is $1-2 too expensive. Maybe lower the prices for the base noodle/rice/kee-no-ah a touch?
(3)Debbie A.
I would actually give this about 3.5 stars. It is okay, but nothing memorable. One pro that you get a good amount of food for the price (I live in Rittenhouse and local Thai/Chinese places can be somewhat expensive). I got the soba noodles with chicken (they were out of brocolli) and the green curry sauce. The chicken was chewy and overcooked and the sauce lacked the nice flavor of Thai green curries. However for a quick takeout place it is good in a pinch. I'm willing to go there and try something else because their menu is varied and I really like the idea of being able to choose what I put on there. Maybe I went on an off night.
(3)Jennifer R.
I went here for the first time to pick up some lunch. I got white rice, beef, broccoli, pineapple and dark smoke (sauce). It was SO bland. I don't know if they forgot to add the sauce, or if the sauce is that bland, but it was not good. There were 2 HUGE pieces of beef. Why not chop it up into bite size pieces? Also - it looked more like roast beef than a stir fry type of beef. Why? Yuck.There wasn't much broccoli in there. There was A LOT of other crap in there that I didn't order (onion things? they were long. celery. carrots, etc). I'm pretty bummed that I wasted $10 on this lunch that wasn't even edible.
(1)Butch S.
Really good food! Fresh stuff from the protein to the veggies. Definitely a go to place for me. Black gold sauce is my recommendation and stick to brown rice.
(5)Temitope K.
Went here because Thai Singha House wasn't taking cards and I was too lazy to walk to TD. Thought I'd try this place and get my Asian fix. I ordered quinoa with shrimp and chicken and the szechuan pepper sauce. Suffice it to say it was lackluster at best. I know this isn't Han Dynasty but for all the gesticulations of cooking I anticipated a MUCH better tasting meal. Ended up picking out the chicken and shrimp eating a few veggies and tossing the rest. Quite a waste for $14.50.
(2)Delia T.
I love this place. Small, cheerful space with a few tables. The food is prepared to order and is delicious. Today, Brendan really took care of me and I left feeling full and happy.
(5)Michele R.
So sad. I was gunning for the concept: fresh, locally sourced meats and produce, a creative menu, a 22 year old owner (no need to speculate on just HOW he arrived at entrepreneurial-ship....he is there working!). Many different starch options for the base of your stir fry are offered including rice noodles and quinoa. I opted for the quinoa, with shrimp add broccoli, in the tropicali sauce, and crispy garlic to finish. Your dish arrives in a chinese take out box. Firstly, I hate eating out of those boxes. The food never really cools down enough to eat, and i had to dig through mounds of quinoa to get to my 4 shrimp and 4 pieces of broccoli. Secondly, after paying for our meal, the man behind the counter handed me the receipt and said a bowl of miso was free next visit. Great! Except when we left, the sign outside the door said, "free bowl of miso with your wok!" so really, he should have offered me the free bowl with the meal I just bought. Unfortunate. The real problem here though is the Taste of the food. All I can surmise is that they don't properly clean the woks. There was a pervasive burnt taste that overpowered the added sauce. It was...gross. I was so hungry I still ate half of it, and smiled sweetly at the fresh-faced owner because I couldn't bear to hurt his feelings and tell him the food sucked. I will say, my husband got a similar dish (with noodles Instead of quinoa), and he couldn't taste what I tasted. I had a bite of his and that same burnt essence was there too. Perhaps I'm more sensitive to it. But truly, if you're looking for this style of cuisine, go to Honeygrow. Unless they work out their kinks here. I give 2 stars not 1 simply for the premise that I appreciate. Hopefully they can do better.
(2)Adam B.
This place is phenomenal. The food is quick and so so so delicious. I had the blackgold sauce with shrimp and absolutely loved it!!! The customer service was very friendly and I even got to meet the young owner Brennan (I think that was his name). Anyways, the young entrepreneur seems to be heading in the right direction with a healthy take on a quick lunch. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a nice place to cool down and listen to some hip music this summertime.
(5)Stefan H.
I expected a lot more flavor. I had the tall wok with shrimp, broccoli, green beans, and szechuan sauce. Tasted really bland when I was finishing it up. Nice vibe to the place though.
(2)Widd S.
The whole tour of Asia and you get to choose your own ingredients , your own noodles , your own vegetables and your own V meat or tofu and best of all , they have amazing Hot steamed buns with either pork or beef in them ....a real find !
(5)Michael A.
Awesome place to grab something fast, tasty, and still very healthy. It was my first time there and the staff was very friendly and informative. It's hard not to eat like crap when you're in a hurry so I'm glad I found this place. I will be going back soon and often.
(5)Aaliyah P.
Quick lunch is the reason places like wok works exsist. I was over Thanksgiving Day leftovers and decided i needed something i could grab quick and in a hurry. Wok Works is less than a 5 min walk from my office so i ran out the door a few min after 12 hoping to beat the crowds. To my suprise i was the only patron here. I decided on the wok noodle bowl with shrimp and the tropicalia sauce. I was a little annoyed that what i have come to know as the standard veggies used in asian cusines are optional and come with a price tag . I kept my bowl with the traditional carrots cabbage bean sprout and egg. Less than 5 min passed and i was out the door on the way back to my cubicle to devour my lunch. The tropicalia sauce has a nice BITE and the spice level is spot on ( at a level 2 on the menu). I will say i thought i got gypped on the shrimp tip but i had to dig all the way down to the bottom of the container to find the protein i paid an extra 3.00 for. The sauce noodles and shrimp all seemed fresh and the portion size was legit. I could have easily made a second meal out of leftovers but decided to eat the rest throughtout the day. The finish sauces all sound great im very intruiged by the green curry sauce so perhaps i will try that next time. I think ill have to add wok works to my rotation.
(4)DWFMB A.
I'm never even remotely disappointed by this place. Food is excellent, staff is excellent and friendly, prices now that they have the smaller bowl option are great. They always have clever marketing campaigns and specials. This is in my top 5 favorite lunch places in Philly. Try the Soba+Chicken+Brussels Sprouts+Bacon+Peanut Sauce
(5)Bill L.
Wokworks is a pleasant addition to the Philadelphia food scene. The owner and staff were great and super cool to speak with. The idea of quick, hot, fresh ingredients, cooked on the wok is perfect for the hustle and bustle of downtown Philly. The BBQ pork belly buns had a nice flavor and the edamame dumplings are excellent and a must try. Take my advice and try the Kelvin Citrus tea slush which is a perfect warm weather drink. The owner also recommends bringing in your own alcohol and putting a splash in the slushy. I tried it with vodka and I must say I agree!!
(4)Jacob T.
Here's what you get from Wok Works: simple, inexpensive, hot, Asian-inspired stir fries. I'll keep this review short, just like my trip to Wok Works. On to the pros/cons: PROS: * Inexpensive * Fast * Lots of options * Tasty food CONS: * $1-2 too expensive? * Non-authentic? * Too spicy? * They label Sriracha "hipster ketchup" Are you can deduce, there just aren't many cons to this place. It's a no frills, quick-stop in Rittenhouse. I'm a fan. You should be too.
(4)Adrienne T.
Having moved back East from 4+ years in Hawaii, I am constantly trying to quench my Asian food cravings. Wokworks is a great lunchtime alternative. I've tried the Hong Kong and Chow Fun noodles, and need to try the rest. The Tropicalia sauce is just sweet and spicy enough, and the Szechuan Pepper sauce is even hotter-- plenty for you to "feel your food." The portions are great for a hangry day, and I'm looking forward to their free draft beer happy hour on Wednesdays, with some pretty sweet pupu specials.
(4)Rachel C.
Let me start off by saying I'm a girl who LOVES her stir-fry. It's the perfect combo of veggies, carbs and protein and I could eat it every single day. That's why I was super excited when I heard this place was opening in my neighborhood. It's similar to HoneyGrow, but less pretentious and on the smaller side. There is only one persont to place an order with, however, so I could see this creating a bottleneck problem when getting crowded at busy lunch hours. The base of the stir-fry comes with carrots, cabbage, sprouts, onions and egg which is nice, but adding in extra veggies and proteins can start to get a bit pricey--I ended up paying a little over $10 which is okay, but I'd rather be spending $8. (Yes that $2 difference makes me feel slightly less guilty about buying lunch out every day when I really intend to bring my own from home, but never do, obvi). They jam-pack your take-out box with food, so don't be fooled because it's actually a pretty generous amount of food. I have to deduct one star, however, because I was really excited to try to the 'Pearlmaker' Oyster Sauce (garlic, sesame, scallion, almond joy), but was really taken aback by the almond joy-candy-almost-mint-tasting-flavor the sauce left me with. It sort of ruined the whole dish for me, but I will definitely try a differenct sauce next time. Highly recommend this stir-fry heaven!
(4)Brad W.
Great food. The Service is Rapid!! I never have to wait. The personal is extremely friendly. I have lunch there 3 to 4 times a week.
(5)JGVC G.
I had Wok Works delivered (via Dining In) and it was the highlight of my day. The food was fresh, hot and delicious. At first, I didn't think the "little" container was going to fill me up, but to my surprise I had leftovers. The chicken was all white meat, the sauce was sweet and spicy (as described), and all-in-all, it was a very filling, yet light, meal. This will definitely be on my rotation for lunches in the future, especially if I am in the neighborhood. If it was that good delivered, I can only imagine how good it will be on location.
(4)Vivian N.
Spicy noodles to order! Great service, and the BBQ port belly bun was to die for!
(4)Rachel R.
Wokworks is amazing! The perfect lunch, healthy and filling, I had a tall wok with chicken and veggies but could have easily had a short wok and still have leftovers. The pork dumplings are also delicious. I can't wait to go back to try the other sauces and the slushies
(5)Frank S.
Very good. We get to pick our own Base, Meat, Toppings, and Sauce. Of course we went with what we already knew. But the Small Bowl is PLENTY of food. Definitely worth heading out to.
(4)Libby P.
What a pleasant lunch surprise! I work maybe two blocks away from here, so I avoided trying it out in the first few months it was open, knowing my time would come eventually. After reading earlier reviews of Wokworks and comparing it today's experience, I'm glad I held out to visit until now! The place had maybe a handful of people in it during the hour I was there, and by no means did I ever feel like it was too noisy or crowded. At 1:30 on a weekday, I'm used to Hip City Veg's auditory assault (always SO LOUD in there), so this was a welcome change of pace. I ordered a short wok with soba noodles, tofu, bok choy, and crispy scallions in pepper sauce. After checking in on Yelp, I received a 30% off coupon--yay! A gigantic bowl of food and a medium fountain drink cost me just over eight bucks with the coupon. A more than fair deal, especially for a made-to-order lunch spot in Rittenhouse. While the soba noodles were tasty, as were my mix-ins, my only disappointment was in the pepper sauce. I'm one of those obnoxious people who needs as much heat as you can give me (except if we're at Han Dynasty--I am human, after all), so when I read the pepper sauce description (peppercorns and chili peppers), I was expecting to sweat at least a little. Sadly, I needed to add lots of chili oil and red pepper flakes for ANY heat whatsoever, but that's legitimately my only complaint. If they step up their heat game, I'll become a regular for sure.
(4)Brad W.
I went here for a quick take order last night. The space is very bright and clean. They did a very nice job cleaning up the gnarly old taco place. I order chicken stir fry with broccoli, bok choy, and spicy sauce (the three pepper one). I also order the pork dumplings. I received shrimp instead of chicken. Thank goodness I am not allergic. It was actually very good, and the shrimp were perfectly cooked, and on the larger size. Sauce was slightly spicy and somewhat tart. I liked it. The dumplings were scantily stuffed, and lacking on flavor. My major gripe is all the above cost $18.50. Pretty expensive for stir-fry and dumplings. BUT it is Rittenhouse, so I digress... Welcome to the neighborhood WW.
(3)Edison Y.
I am glad that Wokworks adds a great option of quick healthy Chinese food in the neighborhood. They have very good price and the portion size is good. They have a lot of great promotions sent to my phone, which makes the deals even better. I generally find their sauce to be on the sour side and sometimes there is too much sauce in the noodles, which makes the noodles slightly too soggy. I love their option of Hong Kong style noodles. I definitely will go back.
(3)Brad M.
Seriously fresh Asian fusion food. Great taste, good value and clean, nicely fitted out restaurant. Very satisfying meal.
(5)Eddie B.
Wok works has quick, affordable food for both lunch and dinner. The large-portioned combinations blend well together and the sauces are really unique! The wok bowls are evenly distributed with all of your personally chosen ingredients and each individual component is cooked nicely before being combined. Definitely check this place out if you are in the area. The employees were really friendly too! Seems like they have worked out the "kinks" that people have commented on previously.
(5)Aaron F.
I dined on Monday, November 20 at 11:30 AM. Service (4/5): The staff was friendly and helpful with needs. My wife wanted a courtesy cup of water and the manager was helpful with keeping her hydrated. The counter staff made suggestions while we were trying to choose between sauces for our meal combinations. The staff was obviously working hard and doing their best to be accurate, efficient, and fast. Even during the rush they were still delivering food orders to tables which is unusual for most QSRs. Atmosphere: (2/5): The place is brand new and has a slick decor that is clean and simplistic. Seating in the place is a bit cramped with not much space between the two-tops. The other option is to sit at the bar facing the wall. This is not entirely their fault since they are making due with the space of the building, however with a packed lunch crowd it is close to sitting on top of each other. Menu (4/5): The big display board with the menu is pretty straight forward and easy to follow. Making selections from each column to create your own masterpiece is a lot more clear in writing (compared to say a Qdoba which uses the bain marie more to communicate fillings). Food (3/5): The protein in my dish was under seasoned. My guess is that the sauce is supposed to supplement seasoning, but if this is the intention it is not being executed correctly. The food was still tasty and a fair value for my money. Overall (3/5): The food and value were good and the service was better than par. This is an upgrade from mall food court Chinese, on par with Mexican QSRs like Qdoba and Chipotle, and a down grade from dim sum in Chinatown. It sits somewhere right in the middle and I doubt I will find myself craving food from this particular restaurant, but I can imagine revisiting if I was in the right place at the right time.
(3)Michael B.
Heard awesome things about this place and my expectations were exceeded. Was semi busy when I walked in, cashier took my order within 2 minutes and had my food within 5. Perfect as a fast casual. Portion size was large enough, ingredients were fresh, and I received exactly what I ordered. Gonna have to make this a regular thing.
(5)J B.
This was simply the worse noodle joint I have ever tried. I love noodle houses, and was kind of hoping this would be a Wagamama style joint close to my office. I ordered the "wok noodles" with chicken, snow peas, portobello mushrooms and the Asian BBQ sauce. Watching the utterly chaos going on behind the counter was highly discouraging. Lots of people bringing unlabeled containers down to a woman at the end of the counter. She then had to open the container to figure out what it was, match it to a slip she had stuck to a cork strip on the counter. Orders would pile up, and you could see she was getting rather disoriented sorting it all out. First, the noodles were so over cooked, they essentially became a mass of mush. I have never had such terribly over cooked noodles. The other issue was that instead of portobello mushrooms, they were either pale porcini's or dark buttons, I couldn't tell. The sauce was just...ugh. Of course, this was made much worse by the gelatinous goo that had once been my noodles. For this, I paid a premium rate of more than $10. I don't plan on returning, and I strongly discouraged co-workers from heading down. I recommend Tampopo (on 21st), Smile cafe (on 22nd), or even the standard American style Chinese joint called Mandarin (chestnut between 21 & 22). I had high hopes, but they were crushed.
(1)Nunya B.
Wow. What a total 360 these guys did. The first good sign was the short line of people waiting to take their order and 3-4 calm and collected chefs doing their thing. Our order took literally 2 minutes to put in; we told the cashier what we wanted and sat down. Less than 10 minutes in our food arrived, served to us. Great, full portions: I got chicken and broccoli with brown rice and peanut sauce. Absolutely delicious, way better than Honeygrow (Honeygrow's sauces are so bland...this was not). I'm really proud these guys got their act together. Brennan, the owner, contacted me and offered a meal on him after my shit review- which is awesome PR for the business. However, I didn't take him up on it (I'm not about to take money from a small business, no matter what my experience was). I will be coming back here often if the experience I had today continues.
(4)F. O.
I wanted to like the place but it's mediocre at best. I ordered a brown rice chicken stir fry with snow peas, cilantro, and Thai basil with the "creamy" peanut sauce. Individually the quality of the ingredients were fine, except the peanut sauce was hardly creamy nor I could I really taste the peanuts. It also could have benefitted from crushed peanuts, but I guess it's not that kind of place. Also the list of ingredients to personalize the stir fry was pretty limited. My food was lukewarm and not favorable despite having sauce. I will say that it was a healthy portion of food, but not quite worth the $10 spent. Service was fine, the place was clean and has a pretty chill vibe. I wouldn't come here on purpose, perhaps if I'm super hungry and am tired of all the options around.
(2)Stephen S.
I had a great meal here, but until they open one here in Northern NJ I will only get to enjoy this place once a month at best...
(4)Alex W.
Oh my gosh! I was in Philly last week and I went to Wokworks. It made my life complete! I got the shrimp bao buns, the soba, and tofu bowl and its all because of the cashier, Ricky or Richard or something. It was my first time and he could tell I looked lost so he suggested a few items and I decided to try all of them and everything was great! Not only was the food good but the staff was kind. Thank you Wokworks for a great experience.
(4)chris d.
Place has gotten even better, don't realize why this place isn't more packed!
(5)S L.
Tried this place for the first time yesterday, and I'm pretty sure I'll be back. I got the ramen noodles with Tofu and a spicy sauce (2 peppers on the board) and it was really tasty. The spice level was just perfect. The place is new, so I'm assuming they have a few kinks to work out. Service was a bit slow, and there was a minor flood in the place yesterday when I went in (no lie, this actually happened) but the show must go on. 4 stars for Wokworks.
(4)Clare D.
Asian stir fry using top shelf ingredients could never be bad. In fact, it can be frickin' delicious! Oh, my God, there are FLAMES shooting straight up and around the wok, just like how my mother used to cook! Whoever taught these guys how to use a wok truly deserves a pat on the back. My wok noodles (fresh lo mein) with angus beef and creamy nut sauce was one of the tastiest meals I've ever had. The beef was brimming with flavor. The mixed veggies (carrots, cabbage, bean sprouts, onions, and egg) gave nice texture contrasts to the soft lo mein. Oh, and that delicious peanut sauce! Is it massaman curry? I find myself nodding my head with every satisfying bite. This is good stuff. I don't want it to end. That's how you know a curry sauce is really good. Besides lo mein, there are four other noodle or rice options, including chow fun, soba, steamed rice, and quinoa. There are six protein options, including farm-raised chicken, my wonderfully tender Angus beef, thick-cut and smoked bacon, roasted pork, wild-caught shrimp, and tofu. There are seven veggie options, but I'd suggest skipping those unless you're a vegetarian because mixed veggies already come with your entrée. There are eight different sauces from green curry to oyster sauce. To top it all off, there are also a variety of side dishes, such as pork belly buns and edamame dumplings. *** VISIT #2 *** I got the same thing and it was just as good as the first time so all you peeps ordering soba noodles or some other weird thing like quinoa... just stick to the wok noodles with beef. You'll be glad you did.
(4)Meg B.
I ate at wok works for their free food tasting yesterday. It was delicious! I went with a few friends and we all ordered different things. Everyone was equally pleased. I got quinoa with tofu and bok choy and the peanut sauce. There were great options on the menu - it was difficult to choose. My meal was really flavorful and the portion size was bigger than i expected. I loved the idea of being able to create your own dish. The decor was great as well. Perfect for an easy & healthy lunch or dinner. I am super excited for this place to finally open!
(5)HM K.
Tried their sesame organge chicken salad. Fresh, well seasoned and portion was good enough to subsitute proper lunch. Fast service. Would love to come back to try their noodles
(4)Varsha R.
Good joint with good food. I loved the concept of choosing my own sauce. They gave me samplers as well to help me decide. Tasted a few and they were all equally good. You should definitely visit if you're around center city and looking for some Asian food !
(4)Shamit C.
Nice spot to grab a quick bite to eat. I ordered Soba + Chicken + Bok Choy + Bengal. Pros: Portioned well for a late afternoon lunch meant to hold me over for dinner. Spicy and seasoned just right for my taste. Friendly staff. Cons: Pricey. Smaller dining area (great for a few people, but it could get cramped quickly). Hoping: They extend their hours so I can make this my late night place.
(4)stephen f.
I'd currently place Wok Works somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, but I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt because I'm dismayed by all of the negative reviews that concentrate solely on the time it took to get served during the lunch rush during the first days the place has been open. I'd suggest waiting a few weeks to try a place if your main priority is to get served within a few minutes. The concept is interesting -- it is like Chipotle in that you build your meal, but quite different in that the dish is cooked to order instead of assembled from pre-cooked parts. So it is going to take a bit more time to get your food. The dishes we had were very tasty -- pork in a bbq sauce that I thought was a touch too sweet but quite flavorful. And chicken and veggies in a peanut sauce that had a nice bit of spice without being overwhelming -- the one pepper marking on the menu was very accurate. I agree with some other reviewers that it would be nice to have plates for eat-in. I felt a bit bad about the amount of garbage generated by a couple of lunches. Overall, good food, reasonable prices, and a nice addition to the neighborhood.
(5)Larry N.
I was expecting great things from this place, but it was mediocre at best. The staff were very friendly. The food was so bland. I had the dumplings (pork). They were greasy and burnt. Cool concept though.
(2)Holly G.
I loved it here so yummy and quick ! The hot and spicy pickles, edamame dumplings, brussels sprouts, and the mango sauce are all my favorite! :P
(5)Worthy Q.
So disappointing. I just ate tough, flavorless beef with a bland practically non-existent green curry sauce topped with a few veggies mixed in over okay noodles for almost $10. It managed to feel greasy despite having little sauce presence. But it did have bits of scrambled egg mixed in. Even though I didn't order any egg. There are so many options for good Asian food nearby. Skip this one. (And it was so hot inside the restaurant I had to take the food to go.)
(1)John P.
The wait is horrible. I ordered Pork Buns and their typical Wok meal with the noodles. Wow. This place is so bad. The noodles were way over cooked and the buns were just ok. Not going back. Don't waste your time here. It looks like a good idea that they couldn't execute on.
(1)Joe M.
Great food and friendly service. Ordered the Tall Wok: Hong Kong Noodle, chicken, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Jalepeno, Crispy Garlic, Crispy Shallots with the Pepper Sauce. Would definetly go back.
(5)Susan R.
I just happened to stumble into wokworks yesterday, and it ended up being exactly what I was craving. This is my new go-to spot. The ingredients are fresh and tasty, and the options make it really interesting. I ordered brown rice with broccoli shrimp and the peanut sauce. It was healthy and satisfying. All in all I was really impressed by the whole idea! Thanks wokworks!
(5)J. L.
Super friendly and efficient service. Great food. Really nice vibe on a rainy afternoon. Portion size is perfect and the food is fresh. I'll be back!!
(5)Christopher L.
Went to wokworks for their second day of lunch. Line of people waiting to pick up food should have tipped me off that something was amiss, but I ordered anyway. Liked the options and the interesting ingredients, but this place really has to work out its operations (an assembly line concept would seem more efficient) as my food took over 25 minutes to be ready. With respect to the food- First impression - not great presentation. Wish "to stay" orders came in actual dishes and not cardboard takeout containers. Taste-wise my quinoa, chicken, brussle sprout, mushroom dish with the green curry sauce was good but too salty and WAY too much sauce, it was like a soup. Friends I was with thought their dishes were pretty good. Prob should have ordered rice or noodles as they seemed to absorb the sauce much better. Here's to hoping the kinks will be worked out as there is potential here.
(2)Marna L.
I went here in November, around when Wok Works first opened. The service was awful. My noodles were undercooked and slimey, and this was our second order, following a mix up in the first order. Really not worth the money, which is quite expensive for such a simple restaurant with poor service.
(1)Erin M.
Went on Sunday no line, no waiting so I assume my order was correct. Overall I just didn't really enjoy it. I ordered rice noodles with veggies, the tropicalia sauce, and crispy garlic. Maybe my order didn't get the right sauce because I didn't taste anything sweet or spicy. It tasted like generic savory stir fry sauce. I liked the consistency of the noodles. I like the variety of veggies. I did not taste the crispy garlic so I would not waste the extra money on this. Lastly, I did not realize eggs come on everything. I'll take responsibility here as it is mentioned on the menu (in very small lettering). I hate eggs. I even got some egg shells. I'll be sticking with Honeygrow Pros: Good Variety of Vegetables Noodles Fast Cons: Expensive Blah tropicalia sauce Eggs come with everything Egg shell
(2)Gia Y.
I enjoyed this place the first 2 times I went, but this time was a bit of a miss. My dish was like 80% sprouts! My coworker said the same thing. Hoping this was just an off day. (Went for lunch today around 1:30)
(3)Jon B.
Holly smokes!!! This was an absolutely amazing lunch. I got the quinoa with wild caught shrimp, portobello mushrooms, and bengal sauce. Extremely fresh ingredients, bright flavors with perfectly light and healthy feel. A+++++
(5)Justin W.
We tried this place again hoping that they had worked out the kinks after 4 months. Nope. They still take forever, it tasted like there wasn't even any sauce in the stir fry, and on top of that they forgot to put the pork bun we ordered in our bag. Overpriced, slow, and not tasty. This place should be closed soon.
(1)Paul D.
Solid fast food. I've had the chicken with both brown rice and egg noodles. I have also tried the spicy BBQ sauce as well as the spicy pepper sauce. Personally I like the BBQ better. Good quick lunch spot and they also deliver.
(4)Lindsey M.
I was very disappointed with my meal. I got the noodles, chicken, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and the green curry sauce. The result was a $10 container of mush. I may try this again with a different sauce or less sauce -- but I will certainly check out similar places in the area first.
(2)