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(April 16, 2004)
Hello my name is Rob. And I am a Wokaholic. I have been in this condition
for months now, ever since Ronald Cheng introduced me to the restaurant
of the same name. Owner Eddie Lee's addictive dishes have lured me back
many times and I'm afraid the same will happen to you. Oh well, there
could be more dire things to worry about.
Wokaholic is on 1779 Wells Branch Parkway in the
Wellsport Shopping Center. It's in a little strip mall but don't let
that deter you. Some of our best Chinese restaurants in the greater
Austin area are in strip malls.
Wokaholic has a very serviceable and affordable
buffet for lunch and dinner each day. There are dozens of choices ranging
from fresh Sushi to Sesame Shrimp, Chicken Wings to Cheese Puffs, from
Dumplings to Egg Drop Soup. All fresh and the entrees are not left sitting
around in congealed oil. So if buffets are the straw that stirs your
drink, you will find much to enjoy at Wokaholic.
You can also order dishes off the menu. They come
out quick and hot, and are full of flavor. I am very partial to the
Garlic Shrimp which has a very rich and distinctive flavor. Equally
enjoy the Szechuan Beef. The beef is tender and aromatic and the sauce
is the perfect complement. And while it may be the caloric equivalent
of a Happy Meal, the Kung Pao Chicken is still worth trying if only
because it is so darn tasty. And don't forget to sample the Pork Lo
Mein. The lo mein noodles are nicely al dente, the pork is fragrant
and perfectly cooked, and the use of oil is minimized in this dish.
This means you can linger over the dish without having to worry about
greasy oil backlash.
But it's the magic wok of owner Eddie Lee where
the customized delights occur which set the Wokaholic apart. So you
start with a choice of vegetables, then choose from white or dark chicken
meat, beef, or shrimp and then select your sauce (Wokaholic sauce, a
clear white wine sauce, kung pao sauce, and a spicy garlic sauce). Eddie
puts it all in his wok (only one customer at a time) and in about 40
seconds, you have a fresh, hot, stir-fried masterpiece. And unlike the
Mongolian Grill, where lines at lunchtime can last twenty minutes or
more, the process is at Wokaholic is very swift. Before you know it,
you're back at your table enjoying the fruits of Eddie's labors.
And do not leave Wokaholic without checking out the amazing Puffer fish
and its feats of derring do. This fish will eat out of your hand. Perhaps
it's a metaphor for all the compelling seafood choices at Wokaholic.
Or possibly it's a subtler message to avoid lesser Asian restaurants
lest you get eaten by the provervbial sharks swimming in those inferior
waters. Or not.
But do try this restaurants and find out what me and all those other
Wokaholics have found so compelling.
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