Wok Hey
Wok Hey is a takeaway kiosk concept which creatively references the similar sounding Chinese wok hei method of cooking (锅气, which literally translates to "breath of a wok").
Then again this is hardly coincidental, as it is in fact also in the business of extolling the essence of Cantonese zi char, where the rapid stir frying technique of constant tosses and turns is employed by means of a cast iron wok pre seasoned with oil amidst brutally intense fires. A medley of rice or noodles along with assorted ingredients and condiments are whipped up in a signature flash of punishing heat and consummate dexterity by trained chefs, then funnelled piping hot into stylized oyster pails.
Wok Hey Outlet At Bugis Junction Shopping Mall
Four resident items feature on the menu: egg fried rice, shanghai fried rice, udon noodles and Japanese ramen. Each can be paired with one of three meat options: grilled chicken, braised beef or seasoned prawns. Additional toppings including sous vide egg, thai asparagus, brussel sprouts and shimeji mushrooms are available for an extra dollar per serving.
Main Menu Selections (Customer Can Switch To The Brown Rice Option At No Additional Cost)
A few whiffs of the charred aroma emanating from its open kitchen and one huge crowd witnessed thronging the stall front sufficiently enticed us to join the queue. A lanky lass wearing an expression of sullen disinterest attended to us (little harm done), and we proceeded to wait in the vicinity for a good 20 minutes before our orders were made ready for collection at the counter. To ourselves, bon appétit.
Unfortunately, we couldn't be more wrong about the food itself - previous expectations of enjoying a sumptuous meal quickly dissipated after a few mouthfuls. The egg fried rice with grilled chicken reeked of bland ordinariness; stiff grains were paired with a few miserable pieces of apparently overcooked chicken which left much to be desired. The ramen with braised beef wasn't any better, as the noodles were poorly textured and lacked spring in them, while the beef slices presented an unwanted sinewy challenge. We were left considerably befuddled as to our inability to properly reconcile the jarring differences between the great smells "sampled" before purchase and the actual tasting affair. An educated guess? Not all chefs are created equal (three were seen working alongside one another on that occasion), and our lot was probably cooked by the least inspiring of them.
Egg Fried Rice With Grilled Chicken ($5.80)
Ramen With Braised Beef ($7.80)
The udon with seasoned prawns consumed on a return trip was more densely flavoured and managed to encapsulate the smoky tang of a skilful stir-fry. But wait a second ....... charging customers an additional $1.80 for 4 measly peeled prawns? TSK-TSK.
Udon With Seasoned Prawns ($7.80)
Note: Prices subject to change without prior notice. Kindly clarify with outlet before visiting or ordering.
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Score: 5.5/10
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Editor's Note: Thirty-nine other outlets subsequently opened; their addresses are included below as well for convenient reference.
Locations
| Bugis Junction | Hougang Mall | Bukit Panjang Plaza | Paya Lebar Square |
| 200 Victoria Street, | 90 Hougang Avenue 10, | 1 Jelebu Road, | 60 Paya Lebar Rd, |
| #B1-K3 | #01-40 | #01-69 | #01-62 |
| Singapore 188021 | Singapore 538766 | Singapore 677743 | Singapore 409051 |
| Plaza Singapura | Funan Mall | IMM | AMK Hub |
| 68 Orchard Road, | 107 North Bridge Road, | 2 Jurong East Street 21, | 53 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, |
| #B2-31 | #B2-K01 | #01-K02 | #01-36 |
| Singapore 238839 | Singapore 179097 | Singapore 609601 | Singapore 569933 |
| White Sands | Chinatown Point | VivoCity | Tiong Bahru Plaza |
| 61 Pasir Ris Drive 3, | 133 New Bridge Road, | 1 Harbour Front Walk, | 302 Tiong Bahru Road, |
| #B1-K05 | #B1-52C | #B2-K23 | #B1-113 |
| Singapore 518457 | Singapore 059413 | Singapore 098585 | Singapore 168732 |
| ARC | Causeway Point | Compass One | Republic Plaza |
| 460 Alexandra Road, | 1 Woodlands Square, | 1 Sengkang Square, | 9 Raffles Place, |
| #01-12 | #B1-K13 | #B1-42 | #B1-15 |
| Singapore 119963 | Singapore 738099 | Singapore 545078 | Singapore 048619 |
| Bedok Mall | City Square Mall | Bukit Batok MRT | Velocity @ Novena Square |
| 311 New Upper Changi Road, | 180 Kitchener Road, | 10 Bukit Batok Central, | 238 Thomson Road, |
| #B2-K9 | #B1-36 | #01-15 | #01-23 |
| Singapore 467360 | Singapore 208539 | Singapore 659958 | Singapore 307683 |
| Clementi Mall | Junction 8 | Waterway Point | Raffles City |
| 3155 Commonwealth Avenue West, | 9 Bishan Place, | 83 Punggol Central, | 252 North Bridge Road, |
| #B1-K22 | #B1-11 | #01-K6 | #B1-72 |
| Singapore 129588 | Singapore 579837 | Singapore 828761 | Singapore 179103 |
| Changi City Point | Guoco Tower | Heartland Mall | JEM |
| 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, | 1 Wallich Street, | 205 Hougang Street 21, | 50 Jurong Gateway Road, |
| #B1-07 | #B2-21 | #01-23 | #B1-K10 |
| Singapore 486038 | Singapore 078884 | Singapore 530205 | Singapore 608549 |
| Jurong Point | Lot One | One@KentRidge | NEX |
| 63 Jurong West Central 3, | 21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, | 1 Lower Kent Ridge Road, | 23 Serangoon Central, |
| #03-89G | #B1-K27 | #01-25 | #B2-10 |
| Singapore 648331 | Singapore 689812 | Singapore 119082 | Singapore 556083 |
| Northpoint City | Parkway Parade | Simei MRT | Sun Plaza |
| 930 Yishun Avenue 2, | 80 Marine Parade Road, | 30 Simei Street 3, | 30 Sembawang Drive, |
| #B1-41 | #01-K9 | #01-03 | #B1-39 |
| Singapore 769098 | Singapore 449269 | Singapore 529888 | Singapore 757713 |
| Our Tampines Hub | Tampines 1 | Suntec City | The Woodleigh Mall |
| 1 Tampines Walk, | 10 Tampines Central 1, | 4 Temasek Boulevard, | 11 Bidadari Park Drive, |
| #01-82A | #B1-K12 | #02-615 | #B1-K4 |
| Singapore 528523 | Singapore 529536 | Singapore 038989 | Singapore 367803 |