insidecardiff

This week we have a Q&A session with Zishan, franchise owner of Wok to Walk, Cardiff’s newest noodle bar and the first location for this chain in the UK outside of London.

Nathan: Wok to Walk has locations in some of the most chic areas in cities around the world like Soho in London, Greenwich Village in New York and Amsterdam. What made you think that Cardiff, above other cities like Manchester or Birmingham, was the place to open your latest store?

Zishan: Cardiff is a young, dynamic and fast growing capital city. We believe that the Wok to Walk concept will compliment the city by providing a fast and innovative dining experience.

Nathan: In Cardiff Wok to Walk will be in close proximity to a range of big fast food restaurants, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King and also just across the road from one of the most legendary culinary streets in South Wales, Caroline Street (aka Chippy Lane). What do you think will give you the edge above these establishments?

Zishan: Wok to walk is about quick, healthy hot food. We only use fresh produce that is prepared daily to ensure a high standard of quality. All our meals are made to order on the spot by our in house wok experts who will provide a feast for both the eyes and the stomach in an open kitchen environment. We want our customers to have freedom to create their own meals and experience the sights, smells and sounds as it is made.

Nathan: How long have plans to open a Wok to Walk in Cardiff been in the pipeline?

Zishan: 18 months

Nathan: What made you choose this part of the city centre above the main shopping areas of Queen Street and the shopping centres?

Zishan: St Mary street is a vibrant part of the city centre that is able to provide for the lunch, dinner and late night crowds and of course the stadium being behind is a big bonus!

Nathan: Did you have any difficulty in obtaining a license to trade from Cardiff council? What opening hours did you manage to secure?

Zishan: There were no difficulties with the council, in fact they were very helpful. We managed to secure the following times:

• Sunday – Tuesday 11am – 1 am
• Wednesday & Thursday 11am – 2am
• Friday & Saturday 11am – 4am

Nathan: What advertising will you be doing to get your name out there? Will there be any special opening offers?

Zishan: We will have a tester day to sample some of the many combinations and also some free extras when you buy a meal.

Nathan: Is there going to be anything different about the set-up of Wok to Walk to the other Asian fast-food restaurants in the area, such as the buffet style set-up at China China and Tasty Wok? Will there be anything technologically advanced? LCD screens? Computerised queuing systems?

Zishan: Wok to walk is a quick service restaurant and not fast food as this label has many negative connotations. We do not use any MSG or artificial colourings at all. Each meal is cooked for an individual rather being made in huge quanities and crammed in to bain-maries. I personally feel that buffets are like saying “our food is not that good, but you can eat as much as you like”. People are settling for quantity rather than quality. Our menu also offers healthy options such as whole wheat noodles, rice noodles, brown rice and a low carb vegetable dish. No LCD screens I’m afraid (although I like the sound of that!) just a simple menu, quick service and tasty food to eat in or on the go.

Wok to Walk are opening at 90 St Mary Street (near Edwards and Subway) on Wednesday the 17th of September.

90 St Mary Street has seen businesses come and go over the years, the last incarnation was just another fast food restaurant whose unique selling point, as set out by the huge sign in the window, was ‘We sell WKD’. They didn’t last six months.
The premises have been derelict for over a year and has now been bought by a franchisee who is turning it into Wok to Walk, a trendy noodle bar that started life in Amsterdam and has become renowned for their quick and tasty meals to eat in or to take out in traditional noodle boxes, packaging that is commonplace in LA, Paris and Hong Kong, but until now Cardiff has firmly held onto the plastic tub that burns your hands if you try to take it out of the carrier bag, if the lid hasn’t already popped off and left the contents congealing at the bottom.

Cardiff is set to become one of only 8 other cities to have a Wok to Walk franchise. Others can be found in the bohemian capital, University Place in Greenwich Village, New York, the only store in the USA and SoHo in London, the only other location in the UK.

The 3-step menu at Wok to Walk is evidence of their claim to serve “fresh, nutritious, tasty food that is cooked in front of your eyes and served to you in minutes.”

But, what will set Wok to Walk apart from the other fast-Asian takeaways that have been set up in Cardiff, like China China, which is just down the street, or the Tasty Wok, around the corner on Wood Street? Granted, the concept is quite different, the others being buffet restaurants and not noodle bars; but will the new kid on the block be able to deliver the ‘fresh, nutritious, tasty food’ that they boast? InsideCardiff has been invited to take a look around before the grand opening, so hopefully we’ll be able to take a taste and answer that for you.

Wok to Walk are aiming to have all works finished soon and to open in the first week of September.