Who wants to be a ‘Wok Star Express’

We have seen Western Chinese players on the Bangkok scene before, but Wok Star Express are the new guys with the goods. And spoiler alert, the taste is spot on, so much so that uncle Chow Fat would approve!

In their own words this venture began from “Loose Dudes who met in Samui and opened a Chinese Restaurant. Ventured to the City of Bangkok after the Covid situation rampaged the island of Samui and are now making Bangkok their new cooking canvas”. It’s a mouthful but it’s their mission.

Prawn toast

Kicking off with a crowd pleaser, the Prawn toast. What they have got right here is the thick layer of chunky prawn, no holding back here. its quite delicious and the prawn is quite present, not overly diluted by the toast or sesame. The whole thing comes together quite well and should be well received.

Kung Pao Chicken 

Wow – Im in love, I have missed this little fella! Its delicious chucks of tender chicken smeared with a sweet and juicy black sauce. Adorned with Cashews and large cuts of dried chilli peppers (not overly hot). This is going to be a winner for many people. Expect warm memories to wash over you has you chow down on this beauty!

Pork Balls

Oh how I love to stick balls in my mouth, especially the pork balls from Wok Star Express. But its essential to drip their special sauce on the balls first. It’s a lovely sweet and sour concoction that will remind you instantly of those distant dorm days or late work nights with nothing but Chinese Takeaway as your friend. It’s pork, deep fried in a light batter, and then covered with sauce. Or if you will, can be dipped in the sauce. What more can we say ?

Yangzhou Fried Rice

I mean rice ever tasted so good ? Its the fried rice we all grew up with (unless you are actually proper Chinese, then thats a different story). It’s got the usual suspects of Shrimps, BBQ Red Pork, Peas, Carrot and Egg with some seasoning, so its a very welcoming and definitely a fond taste. For kicks we stole some of the Szechuan sauce from the other dish and added it in! hmmm nice!

Lemon Chicken

Oh hallelujah! Lemon Chicken! I don’t know how they did it but it tastes like the chicken has been soaked in the lemon, i mean this sauce has really seeped through, and thats a great thing. This dish I have missed greatly. Loving the little loving touches of sesame seeds and a flourish of mini lemon slices. This goes all the way. You’re going to love this!

Mongolian Beef Tenderloin

Ahhh Friday nights at the local Chinese buffet, filling up half the plate with Mongolian Beef! Trying to beat the other patrons to it, such sweet memories! And Wok Star Express have done a great job of being true to these memories, keeping the integrity of that succulent beef done Mongolian style! Strips of non frozen tenderloin, Shimeji mushrooms with some dainty sesame seeds on top wrapped in a sweet Mongolian sauce.

Sweet and Sour Pork

And the pièce de résistance, Sweet and Sour Pork!!! The epitome of Chinese takeout! Pineapple, carrot, capsicum (Bell Pepper), onion and of course fried and battered chunks of pork. All swimming or rather enjoying a dip in some lovely and delicious sweet and sour sauce. This is where it all began for many a folk’s addiction to western Chinese.

Conclusion

I found the whole experience to be for me, part enjoyable food, part fond memories – i think thats part of the appeal. its the quintessential comfort food of many a westerner.

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