Modest China Wok is a winner
By Gustavo Reveles Acosta
EI Paso Times
When it comes to Chinese food, I have tried nice sit-down places as well as the serve-yourself buffets. I’ve enjoyed both, and have accepted them for what they are.
But when a reader suggested the East Side’s China Wok, I didn’t expect a walk-up counter where I would place the order for myself and my friends.
I must be frank, I was a bit hesitant about the restaurant. China Wok is part of strip mall by Hanks High School and has but three tables.
Still, the reader said the food was nothing short of amazing, so I gave the extensive menu a good read-through. The restaurant serves Mandarin, Szechwan, Hunan and Cantonese meals – either take out or eat in. It soon became apparent that the China Wok didn’t need that many tables becaues most of its patrons – and there were many on that Wednesday night – walked up to the counter to carry their food out.
After we got our food, it was obvious why China Wok doesn’t need the fancy decor many Chinese restaurants have. The delicious meals we enjoyed were enough.
Eric ordered what he always orders at Chinese restaurants: General Tso’s chicken ($6.55).
Ling Jiang of China Wok showed a plate of sesame chicken with broccoli.
Came with a healthy side of pork fried rice and large egg roll.
The breaded chicken chunks were tasty and not spicy-hot at all. Eric said he enjoyed the rice, which reminded him of the around-the-corner Chinese restaurants he frequented when he lived in New York City.
Eric’s parents, Yvonne and Charlie, came along with us for the review.
Yvonne ordered the sesame chicken platter ($6.55), which came with fried rice and an egg roll. She also ordered a pint of the wonton sou ($1.20).
Yvonne’s chicken was tender and sweet, although I must admit, it tasted a lot like the General Tso’s chicken Eric ordered.

Charlie – Who normally shies away from Chinese – opted for the very-large order of orange chicken ($8.35) with steamed rice. Because he didn’t know if he’d like the meal, he also got a 12-piece oredr of fried shrimpm ($3). The shrimp had to be boxed up and taken home becaues Charlie couldn’t stop eating his sweet-and-sour-tasting chicken.
In fact, all of us had to order to-go boxes because the portions were so large.
I wanted some vegetables with my meal, so I opted for the Hunan chicken ($6.35) – chicken sauteed with carrots, snow peas, broccoli and other vegies.
The platter, with an egg roll,   in more upscale places.
I also ordered some egg-drop sou ($1), which was good but was sered too hot for me to really enjoy.
The menu is extensive, and options range from lo mein to chop suey. There are several pork, vegetarian, seafood and beef plates. There’s even a healthful section of steamed food with no salt, sugar, oil or fat.
China Wok stays open until 10 p.m. during the week and 11 p.m. on the weekend. Very New York indeed.