Wok to Walk Review: It’s Not for Everyone

My first acquaintance with Wok to Walk was during Covid. It was very much take-out only, and honestly I was too worried about social distancing and staying alive to notice anything else! I remember liking it, but I also remember it being a nuisance to create my own dish from scratch. I usually enjoy that sort of thing, but not when trying to make a quick in-and-out and not catch a deadly virus.

Fast forward a few years, and now Wok to Walk have their top dishes front and centre. You can still make it your own, but the first thing you see is the Pad Thai and Donburi and a reassuring chicken Teriyaki bowl. This is no small thing, a lot of people are turned off by having to play chef.

Wok to Walk serves as a quick lunch for those in a hurry who still want quality hot food. That’s exactly how it sees itself: “Wok to Walk is an Asian open kitchen creating flame-tossed fresh food, to order in minutes”. There’s no service, no music, no comfy chairs to keep you there longer. This isn’t a place to socialise; you’re there to eat a get on with your day.

How’s The Food?

Personally, there are some dishes I see on a menu and I just insta-order. Carbonara is one of those, I just have to order it. Pad Thai is another so here we go. I ordered at the till, got a number, and they cooked it in front of me straight away. The woksmith put on a little show whether he meant to or not, and my dish was ready in under five minutes. We’re off to a good start.

Cooked in a huge wok, the place certainly lives up to its name. It’s a little smoky in there, but that’s sort of the point. Portions are quite big, the food is piping hot and really packs a punch. Don’t expect any subtle flavours to emerge; everything is unapologetically strong and sort of melds into one. On my next visit I tried the Donburi (Chicken Teriyaki rice bowl with an omelette on top) and was left with the exact same impression; Wok to Walk’s distinct taste isn’t for everyone.

Any way you slice it, at £10-13 for mains, you’re looking at a great deal. Wok to Walk isn’t competing with Pho or Tampopo, it’s an alternative to the itsus and Hops of Manchester: good quality hot food, reasonably priced, and ready within minutes. It’s definitely worth a try.

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