WOK CITY DINER – Mouthwatering Chinese Cuisine!

Chinese Food in Bay Area is as prevalent as the neighborhood grocery store, connected with the rich tradition and history of the Chinese populace. One is bound to find a Chinese restaurant in nearly every shopping center or shopping mall. With so many Chinese food restaurants to choose from, which one do you frequent, look forward to, and leave feeling great? There is an old proverb: One should go eat where the Chinese eat. Wok City Diner always has Chinese folks eating with lively conversations and having fun.

WOK CITY Diner at 46531 Mission Blvd. in the Warm Springs Plaza (next to the new Ross store and the longstanding Long’s Pharmacy) is conveniently located off Mission Blvd. between highway 680 and highway 880, near the intersection of Warm Springs Blvd. It is the only Chinese restaurant in the Warm Springs Plaza, and is housed on the same shopping strip that has Bay Jewelers and Hawaiian Barbecue. The best way to get to Wok City Diner is taking the right turn on Warm Springs Blvd. as you are driving down Mission Blvd. from highway 680 and then taking another right turn at the traffic light entering Warm Springs Plaza.

The Diner captures you with an eclectic charm and an inviting décor, initiated by a well-laid out open aquarium housing orange gold fish dancing around the water fall, set within a stony creation complete with miniature bridges reminiscent of a hillside Chinese city. The restaurant includes about a dozen comfortable booths enveloping the walls with relaxed sitting for at least four adults. The walls above the booths adorn classic paintings inviting a second and third look. The middle part of the restaurant has multiple round and rectangular tables, decked with white cloth, pink napkins and fine china, strewn all around with roomy chairs. A large aquarium fish tank over on the far right goes unnoticed unless you are sitting close by.

WOK CITY Diner provides fine selection for both lunch and dinner. Although I have frequented the restaurant only at dinnertime, the lunch menu is also equally inviting. The Diner serves 12 different succulent appetizers, and 12 hot soups to match. Customers’ favorite appetizer is the Pu-Pu Platter that includes pot stickers, egg rolls, B.B.Q. spareribs, fried prawns, beef on bamboo skewers, and paper wrapped chicken. My favorite soup is Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup; the best soup though that is always in demand is Sharks Fin Soup Supreme. The main course provides ample variety from Poultry, Pork, Beef, Vegetable, Seafood, Noodles, Rice, Chow Fun and Sizzling Plates – over 120 varieties that will whet your palate and then some. Chef’s Suggestions provide another 21 delectable choices that include Chef Pon’s Tofu – “tender bean curd with black bean and fresh chili, shredded pork sautéed in brown sauce – the most famous Tofu dish in Taiwan.” The main Poultry selection has 24 mouthwatering choices including the spicy Da-Chien Chicken – “diced chicken with green pepper, mushrooms and bamboo shoots, celery sautéed in spicy brown sauce”, and novelties such as Chicken in Phoenix Nest and Tea Smoked Duck. For Pork lovers, the favorite is Shanghai Spareribs from 11 various dishes – “baby back rib, braised in house special sweet brown sauce.” Dry sautéed Shredded Beef Szechuan and Prawns with Sizzling Rice are tops in Beef and Seafood selection.

For Vegetarians like me, every item is worth trying since each is created and flavored uniquely. On the past four trips, I have thoroughly enjoyed the flavors of Broccoli with Cashew Nuts, Broccoli with Tofu, Vegetarian Mu-Shu, and Dry sautéed String beans, which is so good that I could not stop eating until I had devoured the last bit of string beans. Bing, the manager, has told me that the Braised Eggplant with Garlic Sauce is another customer favorite, and I am looking forward to relishing it on my next visit. The restaurant caters to the family, and hence offers special Gourmet, Connoisseur and Vegetarian Dinners for families, and a separate Family to go menu.

The Service at Wok City Diner is superior, for either dining in or take out. Bing provides much energy to the establishment, and the staff carries through his commitment and zeal. Wok City is under new ownership, and it appears that the new owners are doing well to attract and retain customers by providing a better experience. On my last visit to Wok City, I was not only received well by Bing and the team, I was also able to custom order a Vegetarian dish that was created rather well. There was hardly a dull moment since we did not have to wait to order food, and to savor the appetizers and main course. A separate waiting area for patrons as more business rolls in may be needed.

The next time you are having cravings for tasty Chinese food in a pleasant setting and with superior service, Wok City Diner has to be on your A-List of fine Chinese restaurants in Fremont. It would definitely not be your last visit, rather the first of many more visits.

WOK CITY DINER
46531 Mission Blvd.
Fremont, CA
Phone: 510.490.3344
* Open 7 days *

http://fremontliving.blogspot.com/
FREMONT LIVING by Sanjay Dalal

EXTREME Pita - Inspiring Healthy Living!

When was the last time you felt good about having a big juicy lunch that filled you up, and was actually healthy. A new restaurant in the same shopping center that houses the Home Depot and REI on Automall Pkwy in Fremont promises a tasty lunch wrapped in a fresh Pita that goes the distance.

EXTREME Pita located at 43901 Hugo Terrace is easy to find as you drive down the Automall Pkwy going either East or West from highway 880 or 680 in Fremont. It is conveniently placed on the farthest end of the shopping strip that stretches onto the Automall Pkwy – hence it is the first restaurant that comes to sight. The best way to get to EXTREME Pita is taking the right turn off Automall Pkwy on the stretch between Fremont Blvd. and Warm Springs Blvd.

After going inside, the restaurant has the charm and feel of a cozy and well-lighted fresh food sandwich place – albeit with three key differences: instead of the usual sandwich, you get fresh pita, freestyle or flat baked; instead of the cold meat, the primary ingredients in the pita includes chicken, steak, tuna, turkey, falafel and more grilled hot and blended together with zesty sauces and fresh salad immediately after you order; finally, you have the option to go EXTREME with the spicy hot sauces that are guaranteed to set you on fire and provide you the jolt that will liven up the afternoon. EXTREME Pita sits about half dozen small tables, and provides a bar type setting for about half-dozen more sit-up chairs.

EXTREME Pita is not a fast food restaurant; rather a fresh food restaurant where the food is served hot and grilled, in large proportions, fast, and is healthy. There are no bones about the healthy part: EXTREME Pita publishes the inside scoop of each Pita creation – the nutritional content – so that you know what you are eating, and how good it is for your body. My personal favorite, the Falafel Fanatic, has only 366 calories (small), 12.9g of Protein, 11.0g Total Fat, only 1.7g Saturated Fat, no Trans Fat, and provides 10.8g Dietary Fiber. How do you know this? Simple – just pick up the handy nutritional handout from the side counter. The Standard Pita Vegetable Mix includes lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, onions and cucumbers.

Whatever mood you are in for lunch, EXTREME Pita has the choice. It makes nine “freestyle pitas” from Grilled Chicken (a customer favorite) to Philly Cheese Steak (another customer favorite) served small – 6", or regular - 9". For seafood lovers, try the Tuna-Tuna-Tuna on your next trip. Then there are the “extreme pita creations” – five in all. How about the Big Country Chicken & Steak creation – only served in Regular 9" size. It’s so big that you better not have plans for dinner. That’s not all – there are five varieties of “flat baked pitas” – including Classic Veggie, Hawaiian, and Extreme Pepperoni. If you don’t want the pita though, there are five different salads available – the Traditional Greek should be on your list. Bring along the kids, since there is a “Just for KIDS” providing cool choices. The pitas are reasonably priced from $3.99 to $7.69. A drink and chips (or cookies) combo is available for only $1.99. Even the cookies are Trans Fat free.

The employees of EXTREME Pita are an enthusiastic bunch, all laughing and enjoying their work as they greet the customers, take the orders, grill the food, take the payment, and serve the Pita wrapped inside an authentic stay-fresh double-wrapper that ensures that the taste stays in your Pita even after you begin munching it. The owner and manager Farid Saalabi seems to be taking care of the employees really well; not only are the employees jovial, Saalabi is also meeting and greeting customers as they are having their lunches and asking them for feedback. Saalabi tells me that this is the first EXTREME Pita in Fremont, and he is doing well so far in only the second month after the opening. Saalabi has plans to open many more, one at a time.

The next time you are really hungry for a spicy pita creation that is every bit juicy, healthy and fulfilling, you have got to put EXTREME Pita on your list. And if you like a sense of adventure, just ask to spice up your pita and go EXTREME. Live a little.

EXTREME Pita
43901 Hugo Terrace
Fremont, CA
Phone: 510.490.PITA (7482)

http://fremontliving.blogspot.com
FREMONT LIVING by Sanjay Dalal