Wok-Inn Noodle
4912 Emerald St, Boise, ID, 83706
Wok-Inn Noodle Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Boise for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4912 Emerald St
Boise, ID, 83706 - Phone (208) 343-7262
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Crystal S.
Sadly, the service was slow, no one asked if we wanted drinks, we had to ask for the soup...which was terrible. When my iced tea came, it was a plastic pitcher of hot water with two tea bags. 20 minutes later, the waitress poured ice in the pitcher and gave me a cup of ice. The taste of plastic was too strong. She came to refill my husband's soda and proceeded to dump ice in our soup! She then poured soda on the table and our phones. Her response was "Oops. Sorry". She never brought us napkins for that. After 35 min, food came. Mind you, there were only two other tables!!!! My curry had burnt vegetables and black charcoal/dust around the edge of the bowl. There was no spoon to eat with. She realized I didn't have rice and brought a small plate with dried out, hard rice. The flavor was ok, but the burnt vegetables overpowered it. The space by the front door/window has junk piled up. The tables were sticky, the menus were sticky. Sadly, we will not be back. :-(
(1)Michele R.
One man. One wok. One dish at a time. That's what the server told us. It is true. The seventy-six year old owner / cook is the one man. When he retires, so will the restaurant I assume. If you haven't been in yet, what are you waiting for? We peeked in to the kitchen. But for one young woman assisting to put food into containers for to go orders and moving the plates for dine in customers from kitchen to server, it was a one man show. Sometimes in evenings or at busy lunch hours there is a line of customers or longer waits for food. Knowing how hard this cook / owner works to produce the dishes all week long should help make one patient and then some. FOOD & MENU Not all execution is 'chef perfect'. For example, the shrimp in the shrimp and veggie noodles were served with veins still in. My husband and I seldom eat poultry, in particular at a restaurant, but the House Special chicken and noodles with ginger sauce sounded delicious. The sauce was addictively good but we might have appreciated the dish more had the chicken pieces been skinned before the cooking since for us they had an odd texture. But the house made noodles are wonderful, the vegetables are wok cooked perfection, and the sauces on our dishes were not only delicious with distinctive flavors but not over applied. In many American focused Chinese restaurants it seems the trend is to drown food in sauce when it should really be only smooched by it. Like this. The noodles are fresh made every day. The cook makes the dough, it gets run through an ancient looking noodle machine six times to stretch it out (our server's daughter runs that machine and it looks pretty labor intensive) and then noodles are cut to use. Order any Chinese noodle dish and you'll be happy. Order noodles with vegetables included and you'll be even happier. This food is clearly cooked in a hot wok by a person with the experience to get that very difficult to achieve skill right! A note worth sharing is this: you'll have a choice of heat levels. Medium was just right from two hot dried chilis being part of the cooking. Also note: Pad Thai is on menu That is a Thai dish using rice noodles. It may be good. But the house made Chinese style noodles are "it". THE DRILL Take a seat at a table and order from the laminated menu. A pot of tea and a cup of soup is offered with your meals. The soup was a delicious one of vegetables cooked only in the broth created by their cooking. That is the Tuesday / Thursday soup. On Monday / Wednesday / Friday Hot and Sour soup is served with "cook's choice" on weekends. Forks are on table and diners are offered chopsticks. These are noodles perfect for eating with chopsticks. Even my hubby, chopsticks skill challenged as he is, had fun with it. VALUE Portion sizes are ample, we had leftovers to take with us, and the price is a bargain. I think our lunches clocked in at under $9 / each. THE VIBE The window in front looks into a hodepodge area of chair and table stacked high with food magazines and dusty cookbooks and plants. I'm thinking this might be the cook's retreat as it didn't seem to be seating. The dining space itself has black and white lino floors and red topped tables with paper parasols hanging on the ceiling. The space is an old one but clean and inviting. But expectations in synch for what this is, it is bare bones. As you walk in you are greeted by the aroma of a hot wok and fresh food. Further sensory delight was provided on our visit by ability to hear the "chop, chop, chop..." rapid fire of knife on block and the sizzle of food hitting the wok. We could hear all that thanks to no music in the dining room. Hooray! There were strains of classical music (like Scheherazade) wafting from the kitchen. The nuances of sound made this even better. SERVICE Our server, although clearly over busy as the dining room started to fill up, was very friendly and refilled the tea pot for us too without us needing to ask. She checked in with us during the meal and thanked us for coming in. She also paid attention when one of the two women at the table next to us didn't finish her noodles. She asked if something was wrong. No, said the diner, it was a large serving and she couldn't eat that much at one time. Good to know, said the server, because the cook does not like plates with uneaten food coming back to the kitchen. If that happens, he expects her to know if there was a problem and what can be done to make the guest happy. Delightful. THIS N THAT: 1) PARKING: In private, aging, poorly maintained strip mall lot. 2) ACCESSIBILITY: Level in door and throughout. All seating is standard height. Enough clear floor space to get to most tables. Accessible parking in the lot does not meet Federal Law and State Codes. 3) NEIGHBORS: Chiang Mai is next door. Outpost of Asia Market at far end of lot.
(4)Stephanie A.
Funky little place in a strip mall, but don't let that fool you! We came in on a Friday evening and it was pretty empty at first. The server was very sweet and made sure we were taken care of. We ordered an egg roll, the chicken chow mein, and the house special fried rice. While it took a little while to come out, all of the food tasted really fresh and included lots of fresh veggies! It was worth the wait and we will be back.
(5)Annie B.
Yum! Loved the house noodles! Subbed tofu for the meat. The crispy tofu was made in house! Awesome for vegetarians.
(4)Ophelia M.
Came to Wok-Inn hot on the heels of the Yahoo Food article that utilized Yelp data to determine the best Chinese Restaurant in every state and which named Wok-Inn the best Chinese Restaurant in all of Idaho. Wok-Inn Noodle is the perfect example of a hole in the wall. It's in a run down strip mall on Emerald (next to dive bar spectacular, Navajo Room--if that helps to paint a picture of what you're dealing with as far as location). As you approach, the front window displays a huge cluttered pile of discarded boxes. Ok... However, once you get past the eeek worthy entrance, the restaurant itself is tidy and the tables were all sparkling clean. I'm not saying the decor isn't odd, though--it is. From the art on the wall to the flat screen TV with VHS cassettes piled in front of it--it's definitely...eclectic. We were seated immediately. I ordered the their Pad Thai, which was absolutely amazing. Everything tasted so incredibly fresh. I also tried their fried rice with beef and chicken and it was hands down the best fried rice I've enjoyed in Boise to date. Per the Yelp check-in deal, I also enjoyed one of their egg rolls (for free). It was fresh made and delicious. A quick heads up for vegetarians, though--the egg roll did have meat in it. I was in a party of three and all of our meals came out at different times. I attributed this to the fact that it's freshly made, they have one chef, and they get it to you the moment it's done--but a little odd, none-the-less. Prices are right (less than $10 a plate). I will definitely be back. Likely, for the fried rice. Also likely? I'll take my meal to go. Get to it!
(4)Ernest L.
If you're in Bosie make sure to check this place out. We came here twice on our last visit. The deep fried chicken with house made noodles was fantastic.
(5)Jourdan J.
I have gone here a few times and have had the same consistency in the food tasting good. When I go I usually get the house noodles and Thai curry chicken. I haven't branched out and tried other stuff on the menu yet, so will keep updated when that happens. Friendly staff and good experiences so far.
(4)R. S.
Wok-Inn Noodle was rated the best Chinese food in Boise. What a disappointment! Pad Thai was ordered medium heat. It arrived with zero heat or taste and was swimming in what tasted like cream of mushroom soup. Thumbs down for the Pad Thai! House chicken with noodles was decent but nothing exciting. I stand by my original statement.....there isn't good Chinese food available in Boise :(
(1)Jamie W.
First time eating here.....and it blew my mind!!!! This is going on my regular rotation schedule from now on!!!!! Great job!!!
(5)Steve M.
If this place served breakfast it would be called a greasy spoon which is why I fell in love with it instantly. The red pleather laden tables and stained seats of the metal framed chairs are classic. I ordered pork pot stickers and sweet & sour chicken. Before they arrive I was served a beef vegetable soup reminiscent of mom's. Although, mom's was never that good. They also brought hot tea which was barely warm. Apparently, they are complimentary with the meal. The stickers were unremarkable and not served with any interesting sauce. I wouldn't order them again. The chicken was served with a green hued sweet and sour sauce that was pure shit. The shit was accompanied by a heaping serving of cold and clumpy white rice. I'm still trying to ascertain why this place is rated so highly.??? The food is barely passable. I was Really hoping this place would live up to its reviews.... it didn't even come close. On an up note the staff was very friendly.
(2)Suzy E.
The hand pulled noodles are so delicious... I wish I lived here so I could eat those egg rolls every day!
(5)Sheila W.
Wok-Inn Noodle has reopened after it was closed due to the owner being ill (8/28/2012)! The House Noodles are a party in my mouth! Easily the best noodles in town and the beef was high-quality. The place could benefit from an Extreme Makeover, as it's definitely seen better days. But, this restaurant could probably be in a dumpster and I'd still go there to eat those noodles. Yummers!
(4)Jesse B.
Great food and service. I'll definitely be returning next time I'm in the treasure valley area. I ordered the pad Thai with tofu and had them make it spicy. And I really enjoyed it.
(5)Bridgette D.
I went here because the reviews looked decent enough and it seemed authentic. I had the slowest service ever! It was just me and my son and they served him first and I received my pad thai 15 minutes later. There were no other patrons in the restaurant. The pad thai had little flavor and the noodles were like they added already cooked angel hair. I had a hair in my food too. YUCK! If i were smarter, I should have walked out at the first sight of a guy...I'm guessing the owner...was cutting newspaper clippings and had books piled high in the front of the resaurant. Not professional at all to have your office in front for all to see. I won't ever come back. Sad I wasted my time.
(1)Cindy L.
AUTHENTIC!! Overlooked this place many times because of the strip mall location. This mall also houses the fantastic Bosnian Express (Boex) and Chaing Mai Thai resto. All 3 are fantastic and authentic! Went here with the fam and we all enjoyed it immensely. We were the only people in there and service was a bit slow, but I found out later it's just one guy and it's all cooked to order so good food takes time, sometimes. He handmakes the noodles. I really can't rave enough. Try the egg rolls. We will be back!
(5)Dave R.
This is a low key, no frills restaurant in which you can count on very good food. It's not a deep menu, but there's enough to cover most tastes. It's often a one - person operation in the kitchen (the long-time owner), so it may be a bit of a wait if it's busy. On the other hand, it's consistent; that's a big plus, because knowing exactly what you're going to get when you order it is something lacking in many other eateries. I do like the House Noodles, Sweet & Sour Chicken (very different than typical restaurants), and the Egg Rolls are excellent.
(4)Jeff S.
Love it. Best Asian food in the area.
(5)Zhaowen Z.
This is the best Chinese restaurant in Boise. I finally can enjoy the home taste in Boise! Amazing!!!
(5)Roxy S.
This place was ok. The man who owns the place also cooks all the food which was cool. When I found this out I really wanted to love this place. However when we got our food it was not amazing. Nothing was terrible and we did eat everything. However I have had better pad thai and house rice. The one thing that was GREAT was the egg rolls. I would for sure go back just for that!
(3)Kenneth W.
This cozy little unassuming Chinese restaurant tucked away in a strip mall is quite the food champ. The owner is a Chinese native that personally cooks each dish to order. I had the House Noodle, and I must admit that I was impressed. Expect the rich, savory and oily texture that is typical of Chinese food. The establishment itself is small and privately owned so the decor is nice without being too extravagant. The owner is a very nice man & personally inquired about our meal which I appreciated. If you are in the area and want Chinese. This place is a good choice! Recommended...
(4)Alan Y.
wok-inn noodle has some of the best food I've had in boise. when i looked at the restaurant from the outside it was easy to question the quality of the food but boy was i wrong the best thing about wok inn noodle isn't the food but it is rather the awesome service we received i was very pleased with the kind old man that not only waited on us but also made our food. i haven't received service like that in a very long time and it was refreshing. the food the food was surprisingly amazing. the noodles were well cooked and the meat was of much higher quality than you would get from your ordinary mongolian bbq i asked for the meat to be done well and it was exactly how i wanted it and the flavor was unlike anything i have tried before i had a kind of spice to it that i cannot forget. the price the price was awesome at a modest 8 bucks plus tip for the amount of food you get and the leftovers that you get to take home(makes incredible leftovers btw) i was sincerely pleased. wokinn noodle will be a weekly restaurant for me now i was completely impressed.
(5)Kelly T.
The server was nice but this was an okay chinese spot. I feel bad for the Boise if this is one of your best chinese place since the food was mediocre. I was kind of disappointed. The two good things were, all entrees came with Free hot green tea AND soup so that's why I'm giving it 3 stars.
(3)Shanice W.
Went here for dinner with my husband. The service was okay. The waitress was friendly but didn't wait on tables as well in my opinion. I had to ask for pretty much everything. Silverware, refill on water, and she didn't know too much about the menu or the food that the restaurant served. Granted, she did provide all that we needed after we asked for it, but we have experienced better. Aside from that the food was good. I had the Mongolian chicken, which was different from many Mongolian chicken dishes I have had before. It wasn't as savory as my past dishes, but it was still good. I decided to be daring and asked for medium for my choice of how spicy I wanted my food....that was too spicy for me. I had to ask for a side of rice to help make it a little more tolerable. My meal came with home made noodles, but I did not like them very much. They were really greasy as well. We did see the owner/chef on our way out. He seemed very nice. With all that said overall the food was good but its not somewhere that I will go out of my way to go eat. If your in the area and would like to try it, I say go a head and give it a try.
(3)Jeffery R.
We usually eat at Golden Star around the corner on Orchard - and have been for many years, but decided to try Wok-Inn Noodle based on Yelp recommendations. The food here is MUCH different from Golden Star, much more authentic and less "americanized". Large portions, well cooked, tasty. We will be coming here again!
(4)Mike S.
Remodeled and Still wonderful. Check em out. You wont be disappointed!
(5)Derek B.
This guy Chen is the real deal! Food was superb! I would have never found this place, and if I had would have never ventured in if I hadn't read the reviews on Yelp. From the outside it looks like someone got evicted, but push on in and you won't be sorry. House noodles with chicken, shrimp, beef and spiced to your liking. Everything was fresh and crisp and the shrimp tasted like they just came out of the ocean (don't ask me how). I've ate of Chinese food all over the States and this guy is a hidden little secret. Try it for yourself and you won't be sorry.
(5)Reid S.
I can not get enough of this place! Best Chinese food I have found west of the Mississippi, East of the Bay Area. The House Noodles or The House Chicken with a side of noodles is the way to go. Don't forget to say hello to Mr. Chen, he cooks back there alone and it adds to the experience! I don't know what's better, the food or the record collection, you have to see this place.
(5)Matthew R.
Incredible Pad Thai. Much better than expensive restaurants in both taste and presentation...and only $5.50.
(5)B. C.
Good food, but wow, this place is filthy. I almost walked out, but the reviews were so good i got the house noodles and took them home because there is no way I could have ate them there. I felt bad for the guy and wanted to start cleaning up. I'm in the business and I have no idea how he passes inspections. The noodles were good but I think this is a case of people thinking its such a dump that the food must be good, the food is good but not good enough to justify dining in filth.
(3)Eugene B.
Simply put, Wok-Inn has the best stir fried noodles in Boise. Many may not remember it was the first stir fry noodle house in Boise 28 years ago. The same owner still hand makes his noodles everyday. The place is not much to look at any more but the food started out great and somehow has gotten even better. Order the house noodles at lunch and you will be more than satisfied. One of my weekly favorites!
(5)Emily A.
Thoroughly enjoyed our meal! The House Noodles were delicious- the noodles had great flavor, the vegetables were fresh, and the sauce perfectly complemented and did not overwhelm the ingredients. If we are ever back in town we will stop by again!
(4)Karlie S.
Tastes good but I've found a hair in my food twice now, out of 3 times being there. They also take FOREVER to get your food out. I'm not convinced its the cleanest place either.
(2)Janice B.
After seeing the good reviews here, I stopped in for lunch a couple of weeks ago. I ordered the House Special noodles that day, and it was good . . . but as another reviewer mentioned, the shrimp that had not been deveined was a bit off-putting. The young woman who was serving was very friendly, but although there were only a very few people there, the food did take a long time to come out. Last night my husband and I went back for dinner. My husband really liked his fried rice, and the daily special that I ordered, Singapore Noodles, was excellent. Very fresh and light, with an outstanding, unique flavor. However, I am sorry to report that the server last night did an absolutely terrible job. For example, I had noticed the Singapore Noodles listed as the Daily Special on the sign board as we came in, but I had never heard of this dish, so as we were being seated, I asked her what it was. Her answer? "I have no idea." And she was perfectly content to leave it at that! It took persistence on my part to get her to go and ask! Seriously? My husband specified chicken when he ordered his fried rice . . . but she returned a good while later to ask what kind of meat he wanted. His order came up quite a long time before mine, which I suppose is to be expected with just one person back there cooking one thing at a time. When my food was finally served, the young lady came back no more than two minutes after serving it to ask whether I'd be needing a box! My answer at that point was the same that hers had been in regard to the special: "I have no idea!" One of the things that rather charmed me about this place was the old photos on the wall depicting Chinese culture in Boise from back in the time period when it was a significant influence here. I got the sense that the owner really takes pride in that. Bottom line . . . if you're willing to put up with the quirkiness and not-so-amazing service, the food is worth coming back for.
(4)Traeger W.
My family's only choice for good. ..real chinese food in the area. My wife and I are chefs...and she is Asian. Needless to say, we are picky. This place is slow (don't expect fast food), their service is friendly but sub par....but the food is fresh, and delish! Small menu, but everything is great. House noodles/3 stars for spice/extra vegetables. Yum! I hope this Boise treasure is passed on...may many generations eat fresh house made noodles. ...
(5)Carl T.
Loved the House Noodles and Fried Rice. The Cashew Chicken was OK but I would have been better off skipping the soup.
(4)Hootch M.
Hand made noodles were perfect, and meat and veggies were fresh and not overcooked. I ordered the House Noodles, and asked for it hot. Their version of hot is still pretty mild though. Portions were perfect, and the service was friendly and proficient. Overall, my meal was satisfactory, but nothing to rave about. The sauce was pretty standard fare, actually. My biggest beef was that the men's room was out of order, and the women's toilet was backed up. Add a filthy water glass caked with pulp from a previous diner's drink (ice tea with lemon, it appears) and a copious amount of flies buzzing around (maybe a back door was open), and my overall experience was marginal. I'll probably give this place another try sometime, but it's not high on my list, given the many nearby alternatives.
(2)Sean B.
Have ate here a few times and its always great. They even made some generals chicken for me, which was one of the best I've had, and it wasn't even on the menu. The pad thai is the best thai food in boise. I usually get the house noodles with beef. Their mongolian beef is also great.
(5)Brooke H.
This place is a dive, so you have to be able to appreciate that (which I do)... the noodles and eggrolls were great, the sweet and sour chicken was not your traditional, but I thought it was yummy... hard to get anything close to that good in the Treasure Valley. The House Noodles dish seemed to be the favorite from our group.
(5)Big J.
Finally dropped in for dinner. Have been coming here for lunch now a couple of weeks after discovering this gem via Yelp. Anyway, the service this evening was fast and attentive. Have yet to deviate from the House Noodle dish as it is just so fantastic. I highly recommend it. The egg rolls however I would avoid. Not very good. The funk of the place is starting to grow on me. I don't notice it anymore. So just push on in and enjoy a great meal.
(5)Kelly H.
I should also have given credit where it is due. Shane, whom I work with, mentioned this place to me and recommended the house noodles the day I finally went there for the first time. I've been one time since, and it was just as tasty as the first time. This is now a solid contender for any lunch day I decide to eat out.
(4)Mark Wan K.
The place looked and smell funky.. Not one that will entice you to go in. However their stir-fry house noodles is awesome! Best Asian stir-fry noodles I had in Boise. Oh ya.. Ask for chopsticks, their utensils may not be as clean as u want it to be.
(4)Bree B.
This place is SCARY looking. Not an appetizing appeal, but the food makes up for it. The stir fry's are really amazing. Its actually a pretty fun little adventure, I recommend this place for lunch. When I went on a weekday at noon, there was no line and it was not too packed. I would love for this guy to get hooked up with a cleaning team and an interior decorator!
(4)Grant H.
When I was a kid, the Wok Inn Noodle seemed to reign supreme over all Chinese joints in the area. It had a downtown restaurant that seems to have gone the way of the dodo since the good old 1980s. I don't know about the enthusiastic claims of authenticity here (being half Chinese, I am not ready to call any Boise Chinese restaurant authentic), but I have to agree with the statements about the noodles. Spectacular. The decor cracks me up. It's kind of sad, but in general this actually is typical of "authentic" Chinese restaurants, so I kind of like it.
(4)Michele E.
I wish I could give 3 1/2! The food was really good... The house chicken and Mongolian chicken were great! The Pad Thai was not as good. But the chef made us sesame chicken, not on the menu, which was really kind! However, the wait was horrendous, especially considering we were the only people in the restaurant... And they brought the good out one at s time with long pauses in between, which made it hard to eat as a family. We'll be back, with expectations reigned in regarding service, and high hopes for food!
(4)Matthew S.
this place hits the spot when you need something at a decent pace and decent price. They make their own noodles here which are great. When you first enter it seems a bit cluttered but isnt too bad once you get into the place itself. With just one person in the kitchen it seems slow at times but the food is well worth the wait. And is authentic. Try this out whether you are by yourself or with a group you wont be disappointed once your taste buds are treated to this delight.
(4)John S.
Sadly, there are few Asian restaurants left that make their own noodles. And that's in Hong Kong, the culinary capital of China. So to have an eatery in Boise where owner Chan Chun-Chung crafts his own egg noodles, that is pretty special. The Noodle is a place where many potential first-time visitors may be turned off by the clutter of plants inside the front door and the rather drab decor. However, this is authentic Hong Kong -- where Chan grew up -- at its best. It's not about the building, it's about the food. If you think sauces dominate Chinese cooking and that a General Tso chicken is a real dish. you need to go to PF Chang's, Panda Express and their ilk. However, if you want bright dishes where the ingredients themselves shine, Wok Inn Noodle is the place for you. Three decades ago, I was introduced to the Wok Inn Noodle on Idaho Street. Sadly, it no longer exists, but the original Orchard Street location remains in a nondescript strip mall at Emerald street, wedged between a smoke shop and a bar. Chan is getting older and it's just him in the kitchen, so service may be slow, but oh, is it ever worth it. I recommend the House Noodles, which includes chicken, beef and shrimp stir fried with an assortment of vegetables and noodles paired with a subtle sauce. Hong Kong Chinese complain that in the United States sauces are too dominant and become the taste of the dish, rather than complement it. Chan sticks to the authentic style and it's the reason he puts out the best Chinese food in Boise.
(5)Belinda S.
I'm digging the house made noodles, nice and chewy, but not undercooked. More like al dente and the texture is amazing! Everything is fresh and tea and soup is complimentary with your meal. I also got some spring rolls free (the yelp offer), also fresh and amazing! I recommend eating here for a nice lunch. Be prepared to take some leftovers home, as the serving size is quite large! Good food at a good price.
(5)Bion C.
The sweet and sour chicken here is excellent. I absolutely loved the egg rolls too. The only not-so-great thing was that the tea was Lipton and had to be steeped. Everything else tasted like the best thing I will ever have in my life. Definitely going back!
(5)David M.
Zany entry to this delightful place. The owner and the waitress were squealing with laughter watching a 3D movie when I walked in on a Friday night. I felt like part of the family immediately. Mr Chen asked what I wanted. I told him to make his best noodle dish. Amazing! I told him the spicier the better. . . Just use real chilis. It was spectacular. Very unique ingredients. . . Beef, broccoli, chilis, homemade noodles, shrimp, chicken. Crazy good!
(5)Matt T.
Everything I was hoping it would be. Had heard and read many positive reviews and finally made it in to try. Fresh, light food and good service. Authentic and fresh. Highly recommend.
(5)Emma M.
As the other reviews have said, this place looks scary. It is old and dark inside, they have prehistoric looking plants, there is an ancient stereo playing dusty records, and the tables wobble. The first time I went here, I almost walked out but the waitress was so friendly and had already pulled a chair out for me so I sat down and I noticed the kitchen was clean. I had the house noodles and was blown away by the taste and texture of the noodles. Now I always order something that has noodles. When you take someone here for the first time, warn them so they will give it a chance. Go and eat and enjoy!!
(4)Buddy S.
I got take out here and was totally turned off by the obvious filthy dining room area. And the food is over rated. I cannot recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Brian H.
The elderly Chinese owner here gets props for doing one thing that I'm guessing probably no other Asian restaurant in town does: he makes his own noodles from scratch. I once walked in to his restaurant before opening to request a menu to take home, and he was hand pulling noodles. It brought a smile to my face. This may not be a big deal to some/many, but I can appreciate it when he can take the time and effort to make them on his own instead of heading over to Oriental Market down at the other end of the strip mall and buying some. No matter the quality of the rest of the meal, there's at least a somewhat discernible difference in taste between fresh noodles made that day and store-bought ones. As for the rest of the offerings sans noodles? The short menu offers Chinese/Thai basics (I don't know if he makes his own rice noodles for his pad thai as I avoid his Thai options). Honestly nothing is worth gushing over. I've never had more than a handful of other customers in there with me at the same time, so chances are you'll be hearing a microwave oven being used after you place your order (perhaps get there right when he opens for lunch or dinner?). My only recommendation is to get something with noodles prominent in the meal, like the house noodle order mixed with vegetables or a meat of your choosing. Hell, just tell him that you came for the noodles and see if he can add some more to your order! Everything on the lunch menu hovers near $5 if you want to try this place out cheaply. In a city where the Chinese food is uniformly awful (and why do I get the feeling that these restaurant owners prepare and eat REAL Chinese food once they go back home?) and cluttered with quantity-over-quality buffets, Wok Inn's owner making his own noodles is the lone bright spot for me. He's a real nice guy, and it's fun to chat with him if he's sitting down at one of the tables reading a newspaper. I've even managed to discuss with him how poor much of the Asian food is around here, and he agrees!
(3)Danica W.
"Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover" really applies to this business. The first time I came here, I was with my family and we decided to look at it for lunch. Upon stepping inside, my sister-in-law (who was pregnant at the time) got a sicky look on her face and we left. I felt bad for walking out on the owner who promptly greeted us. I came back a few months later to try it out. At first, the restaurant is very old-fashioned (doesn't help that it's in an old part of town, and it needs a fresh coat of paint), dimly lit, lots of plants and soft music playing. When we arrived, we were told to pick a seat, and were brought ice water and hot green tea, which is free with your meal. I ordered the mixed vegetables with tofu, and my boyfriend ordered the house noodles. Most of my diet is Asian influenced, and I have to say these noodles were the best I've had. They are hand-made, just soft enough and not greasy at all. The sauce was sweet with a mild kick to it, with plenty of delicious veggies. You'd easily spend twice as much to get a dish like this at P.F. Changs. Cheap and delicious cannot be beat. The only down-side on my visit is that they were a little slow on service, but not enough to really make an impact. I'll definitely be back for lunch, and I'd recommend this place to any noodle lover!
(5)Becky S.
The place is kind of strange but the owner makes delicious food! The space is super interesting and definitely a great experience.
(4)Mark S.
Never judge a book by its cover. This place is fantastic. There's nothing like being greeted with a pot of steeping green tea. That put me in a good mood right away. I ordered a couple homemade eggrolls and they were super crunchy with a thin pastry crust. These guys are all about quality ingredients. I'd drive across country to eat their House Noodles. I ordered mine medium spicy and my nose was running. Truly a spiritual experience. The meats and vegetables in the noodle dish were cooked to perfection and the sauce was extremely flavorful. Not to mention the noodles themselves. I even ordered the House Chicken to go to take home to eat later. I was also impressed with that too. Very talented chef! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Megan T.
When you first walk in it may not look appealing. But the chef does a good job by himself. This restaurant has been around for more than 20 years. The chef makes a mean House Noodle. If you like pan fried noodles, go for that dish. I think that one is by far the best noodle dish I have come across in Boise.
(4)Holly K.
I remember eating here with my parents when I was little. Having returned to Boise a couple of years ago, I remembered this place after catching a glimpse of the sign while driving down Emerald. A quick check of Yelp and Trip Advisor to see if it was still any good sent me back. A yummy trip down memory lane. Delicious and fresh food. The Pad Thai is sooo good and inexpensive. I'm leery of the chicken pieces a lot of restaurants use and usually pick them out, but the meat here is high quality and tasty.
(4)Aneesh R.
Gr8 chinese food in the area near I stay. I used to take the Pad-thai/ Fried chicken rice as a to-go every alternate Friday and it tastes amazing - the quantity is enough to make you feel full.
(5)Kyle M.
Here in Boise on business, found this place and was a little hesitant, the look of the place is ran down and kinda dirty, the bathrooms were not super clean, and they were swatting flys right and left. However, the food was remarkable the best Chinese food in Boise by far! Get past the look and try this place!!!!
(4)Jonathan F.
We visited on a Saturday night. It was not too busy, and the waitress was very attentive. We started with their Hot & Sour soup, which I thought was tasty, though not hot or sour enough for my preference. Our entrees consisted of the Cashew Chicken, the Mongolian Beef, Pad Thai with vegetables, along with rice and their homemade noodles. I think all of their food is quite decent, and for the price, they offer great value. I highly recommend people pay them a visit.
(4)Mark P.
Very disappointing. Hard to get past what seems to be a very unclean facility. I literally had to walk over a broom and dust pan and pile of garbage on the floor to get my table. Lots of flies in the facility. Ceiling tiles coming down. In the air conditioning system was barely working. Our waitress was relatively inattentive. The food was decent, but hard to get past the rest of it.
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