First Wok

I just went to First Wok for lunch, and the low prices are not enough to get me to return. I got the Kung Pao Chicken, which came with wonton soup, eggroll and steamed rice. The soup broth tasted like it came from a can; the wontons were just noodles. The eggroll was salty and greasy. The main dish tasted burned, but if it hadn't been, it still would have been blah. The rice was fine. The lone waitress had at least 10 tables to take care of, but even considering that she was overloaded, her demeanor was brusque. I had to get hot mustard myself from a table next to the kitchen -- after delivering all the food (appetizers and meal) at the same time, she never again asked if we needed anything else and I couldn't get her attention. My water glass went empty; she offered to refill it some 15 minutes after I was done eating. The restaurant's atmosphere was pleasant enough, not noisy and no blaring music, unlike many places. Overall, however, a depressing experience. more

First Wok is still as good as the previous posters have mentioned. The delivery service is always prompt and the food is always hot! The General Tso Chicken and Poo-Poo platter are two fantastic recommendations! Just felt the need to update as the last posting was two years ago. more

Though I've never visited China, I've eaten a hell of a lot of its food. The aesthetically modest First Wok really stands among the finest Asian dining experiences you can have, in Austin or otherwise. Yeah, the place doesn't look like much from the outside (a brick rectangle next to a laundromat) and the interior decor is no more regal, but once you've sampled your first bite, it's obvious that the food is really where they place their efforts and this just adds to the entire ""best-kept-secret"" appeal of the place. Because this hole in the wall has never served me anything less than a perfect meal. Even as you're looking over the menu, they bring you a free appetizer of delicious fresh fried noodles. My regular meal there is the combination fried noodles with shrimp, chicken and beef. Though it's a simple dish, the flavors and freshness of all the ingredients exceed the quality of any Chinese food I've had elsewhere, including much more ""respectable"" restaurants. The coup-de-grace is the engaging, attentive and often warmly sarcastic wait staff -- easily the best in town. I obviously can't recommend this place highly enough, so instead of reading my endless praising babble, just go to First Wok. Oh, and they also deliver. more

They have a shrimp dish with candied walnuts that I cannot find anywhere else. It has a slightly sweet mayonaise sauce that is lightly drizzled over the shrimp. YUM! .I usually ask for the broccoli (that is the vegetable with the shrimp dish) to be steamed a little longer and always get it perfectly done to my taste.The waitstaff are nice and remember you. The complimentary ""chips"" and sweet dipping sauce is good too. How do they get the wanton strips so crispy yet tender? more

I have been going to First Wok for six years now, but never before that did I like Chinese food. I had tasted the food at a different restaurant and I did not like and I also did not like the prices, but when my husband took me to First Wok I loved it and ever since then I have been going there. I recommend it to anyone. I have told my friends about it and they love it too, especially their soups their just perfect. more

First Wok serves great-tasting, good-looking, traditional American Chinese food in a non-pretentious little restaurant. Portions are ample, prices reasonable, quality consistently high, service good or better. I have been ordering takeout from First Wok for more than 10 years, at first b/c it was conveniently close, but after sampling the others over the years, I keep coming back to First Wok for the quality of their food. The only reason I qualified my rave with 'southside' is b/c I seldom get north of the river, and did not want to imply knowledge of other places that I don't have. more

I used to live close to this restaurant...and discovered it then...now I won't eat Chinese anywhere else! Since then I have moved almost to San Marcos..but will make special trips to get this yummy goodness!!! Pros: The Take Out more

I've been ordering from First Wok for over four years. I've turned friends on to it and although there are many restaurants in the area with Chinese or Vietnamese food, First Wok is the best. I've been in the restaurant to eat, but I'm lazy and the delivery is my favorite. Portions are huge and reasonably priced, so one order can easily last for two meals. And the Hot and Sour soup is excellent. Better than any other Asian restaurant in the area. Pros: Inexpensive, Delivery more

Absolutely positively wonderful. I love First Wok and would come to Austin just to eat here. They are exacly what every Austin restraunt should strive to be. more