Wok to Walk, the fast-casual stir-fry chain that started in Amsterdam in 2004 and now has more than 70 restaurants in 15 countries, has landed in New Jersey.
Specifically, in downtown Newark.
The first American Wok to Walk outside Manhattan opened Tuesday at the Shoppes on Broad, 695 Broad Street. Similar to the now-ubiquitous Chipotle Grill model, Wok to Walk lets you build your own meal.
In a three-step process, you pick your base (different kinds of noodles or rice, with egg or vegetables), then your proteins and other ingredients (21 choices), then your Asian sauce (eight choices).
The cooks are trained to handle flame-engulfed woks with flair. As woktowalk.com puts it, “It’s something really cool to watch: fire, wrist moves and funky wokists entertain you while you wait for your Asian food fix.”
The whole process takes less than five minutes.
Expect a Wok to Walk in Hoboken at some point and more Wok to Walks to spring up around the state. The Newark site is adjacent to the new Whole Foods and Rutgers University. It’s open from 11 am to 10 pm, Monday through Saturday; 11 am to 9 pm, Sunday. 973-622-0359.
Open:
Daegu Chicken, 553 Main Street in Fort Lee. The Korean chicken specialist has taken over the former Dojo Chicken location. Open 11 am to 10:30 pm, Monday through Saturday; 3 to 9 pm, Sunday. 201-302-0949. daeguchicken.com.
Opening very soon:
Porter Collins, 1426 Willow Avenue in Hoboken, will host an invitation-only party on Saturday evening, March 11. That means the real-deal opening won’t be far behind. It’s the latest, and most ambitious, project from chef Anthony David Pino and his wife, Liz Pino, proprietors of Anthony David’s and Bin 14 in Hoboken. Porter Collins will have two bars and a menu described as inventive American fare. portercollinsrestaurant.com.
Recently Closed:
After an 8-month revival under the direction of the Terra Momo Restaurant Group, Enoteca Ursino has closed. Born under different auspices as Ursino in 2011, the farm-to-table restaurant on the campus of Kean University in Union won many accolades, including Top 25 ranking from New Jersey Monthly, before closing in 2015.