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Review: Take a trip down Asian avenue at Chop Chop Wok

Review: Take a trip down Asian avenue at Chop Chop Wok

With a reasonably priced menu, the new eatery is Noodle House's yummier, more affordable cousin.
05 Oct, 2015

"We got to where we are by spending $30 on Facebook. The reception has been bigger than our wildest imagination," says Salman Naqi.

Naqi is the proud owner of Karachi's relatively new eatery on the block, Chop Chop Wok. Squeezed between a dhaba and Indus Foods in Phase V Khadda Market, it looks almost out of place. More so because there is a perpetual crowd outside the yellow painted wall, waiting to get a table, sometimes giving up and settling for take-away.

Say bye bye to the burger fad?

When I heard that a rice/noodle bar was going to open its doors in Karachi, a voice in my head screamed "Hallelujah!". We all know that stir-fried rice is the ultimate comfort food (sorry chicken soup!) and I was just itching to try it out. Needless to say, I showed up on the very first day. A few months later, I can safely say I've tried almost everything on the menu.

Here's how it works: they have a 'make your own wok' option in which you choose a base for your bowl, a sauce and then a protein.

The menu
The menu

They also have a few starters that include Thai Beef Salad and Crispy BBQ wings (my favourite!) and special dishes like Thai Red Curry, Nasi Goreng, Chilli Prawn and Calamari. A reasonably priced, concise menu, with the most expensive priced at a little over Rs600, Chop Chop Wok is Noodle House's yummier, more affordable cousin.

Chilli Prawn and Calamari — the squid was cooked to perfection and the heat from the sauce was delectable
Chilli Prawn and Calamari — the squid was cooked to perfection and the heat from the sauce was delectable

"When I was in college, this is the kind of no frills take-out food I lived on. That's why we wanted keep the price easy on the pocket, the whole point is to make it accessible," explains Salman.

"We tested the menu for weeks with friends and family. The idea was never to have a dine-in option. We set up a few benches, in case people want to have a few bites while waiting, but we've come to understand that delivery and take-away alone don't have the same appeal in Pakistan."

From L-R: Rice bowl with Japanese sauce and chicken, Nasi Goreng and Crispy BBQ wings
From L-R: Rice bowl with Japanese sauce and chicken, Nasi Goreng and Crispy BBQ wings

We've recently seen a mushrooming of burger places around town, with some failing to maintain quality (I'm looking at you, Burger Shack!) and others thriving. Could Chop Chop Wok be a trend setter and become the inspiration for a plethora of such Pan Asian cuisine ventures?

A welcome addition to Karachi's gastronomy?

Pleasing every customer that walks in is next to impossible. Amidst mostly positive reviews, Chop Chop Wok did receive some criticism on popular food forums such as Karachi Food Diary and SWOT's Guide for Karachi's Restaurants & Cafes regarding portion sizes and the prices.

The restaurateur shrugs it off: "All our sauces are made from scratch; nothing is store bought. If people were to compare, they would realise the difference in taste that comes from fresh ingredients. That said, all the negative feedback has either made us work on things that needed fine tuning or helped us accept that you can't entice everyone's palate and that's okay!"

The Iced Tea and Fried Ice Cream are big hits, Naqvi reveals
The Iced Tea and Fried Ice Cream are big hits, Naqvi reveals

Read: Food wars: Are online food forums a force for good or ripe for misuse?

He adds: "Our bowls are actually healthier than most fast food places — 400 calories per bowl is the maximum."

They have their teething issues but with authentic, piquant flavours, courtesy of their state of the art woks, and a laid-back ambiance, I predict this joint is going to be around for a long time.


Food: 4/5

Ambience: 3.5/5 (The wooden benches are a little uncomfortable but hey, you're not meant to sit there for too long!)

Value for money: 4/5

Comments

Ali Raza Oct 05, 2015 01:49pm
Agreed
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Hala Oct 05, 2015 03:22pm
I really want to try Chop Chop Wok! Have heard so many good reviews about it.
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Aun Raza Oct 05, 2015 07:19pm
Totally concurring with the review. I went out with my family and cousins, highly recommended. Cozy ambience along with simple and customized services of a Wok. The Vietnamese sauce, jasmine rice and a beef combo was great, at least I order that and it turned out to be delicious. A hangout place for all noodle lovers. Keep your service uptight.
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Parvez Oct 05, 2015 11:20pm
First we had Gullu But and now down the road Chop-chop-wok........its the innovative name that says ' one must try this...at least once '.
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Parveen Oct 05, 2015 11:39pm
Here we go again,another good article about food and social issues.Now it is high time that you write about cleanliness in restaurants. Have the restaurants inspected for this,by your team,it should be fair.They should be rated for their cleanliness on all the categories,like kitchen,food,refrigerator,storage etc.Finally customer service.
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syed adnan naqvi Oct 06, 2015 12:09am
I like there food it is different in a good way and prices reasonably. I say go for it.
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waqar ali Oct 06, 2015 02:28am
Pad Thai has no similarity or taste the one I ate in Thailand.
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Salman Oct 07, 2015 12:46am
Great food, great review. Thumbs up!
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Az Oct 07, 2015 11:33pm
I would love to try Nasi Goreng.
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Marl Brando Oct 08, 2015 10:06am
I want pho...yahan pho milta hai?
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