The Wake

Photo by Ben Lansky

The Cedar-Riverside intersection has tons of authentic ethnic restaurants to offer, so what makes K Wok stand above and beyond the others? Well, nothing in particular, except for maybe its towering blue sign that makes it an easy spot to target.

The Vietnamese/Chinese eatery is a family-owned joint that, in the spirit of its Hard Times and Wienery neighbors, dimly resembles a do-it-yourself diner. The décor is a muddled mish-mash of Chinese regalia and out-of-place pieces like a painting of rich white people and wooden monkey statues. The space features two dining areas, one of which is a larger room, and the other seems like a dining car with booths. If you take away the flower-patterned tablecloths and the window drapes you’ve got a 1960s greaser hangout.

While the menus have been noticeably marked on – most meal prices have been written over their old prices with pencil – the owner will never cease to stop refilling a water glass. When he’s not serving, he’ll be sitting down twirling the long mole hair on his face. Running a restaurant takes deep concentration.

The food is fried and greasy, but not the kind of sub-par, over-fried, over-crispy Asian food that is sometimes a hit in this city. I consumed wontons, sesame chicken and fried rice, the last of which was above average. But in general, the food quality is equal to the price. An average meal costs roughly $6 – a fair exchange for curing last night’s hangover. But, if you have the means and the motivation, look elsewhere for your MSG fix.

Overall: 6/10

1813 Riverside Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55455–1034
Phone: (612) 338–4238
M–Th: 11 a.m.—9 p.m.
F: 11 a.m.—10 p.m.
Sat: 12 a.m.—10 p.m.
Sun: CLOSED