Collegiate Times

Happy Wok on College Ave.

Imagine hot and sour soup on a cold Blacksburg day. After being pelted by ice and furious winds, what could be more enjoyable than that steaming soup and delicious food? Crab rangoon, egg rolls, chow mein, mei fun, moo shu, specials and combinations — the list goes on.

Happy Wok is perfect for a college campus; it’s as simple as that. It combines generous portions and delicious food with decent prices that won’t hit a wallet too hard.

At first glance, Happy Wok looks a little plain. Despite being one of the smaller-sized restaurants downtown, it sports some traditional Chinese decorations on the walls. The layout is basic, with a counter to place and pick up orders and a seating area with simple furniture.

All of this is irrelevant because the food is what matters. Extensive seems inadequate to describe the options available to a hungry soul craving savory soups or fried noodles.

The menu is broken down into 13 categories, some of which seem the same because they are titled “noodles,” but no one should take it at face value. Lo mein noodles are softer, tend to favor sauces and come with every meat a student could want, from beef and chicken to roast pork and crabmeat.

Mei fun noodles are extremely thin and can be fried or used in soups. The variety is in the little details, such as the preparation of the food or its presentation.

All major types of dishes have vegetarian options, but Happy Wok also includes a vegetarian section to its menu that lists more choices for those who don’t want meat.

Also featured are “Perfect Health Dishes” that consist of steamed vegetables, no oil and sauce on the side for the health-conscious who can’t resist the call of chicken with broccoli.

Many of the entrees are vegetable-heavy, even if that isn’t in their name or description. For college students who think French fries and potato chips fall under that portion of the food pyramid, vegetables mixed with meats and sauces could be a healthier option.

The prices are comparable to other Chinese restaurants in the area. Single entrees can range from $3.25 to $9.95. Combination platters and chef’s specials are slightly more expensive, but are good for sharing. They also offer many meat options, such as Mongolian beef or orange chicken.

Happy Wok has one of the best lunch specials for a very affordable price. For a sumptuous entree, $4.25 is all you need, and you’ll even have a choice of rice and soup. A drink from an on-campus facility puts the whole meal at less than $5.

Great prices and healthy options aren’t the only things Happy Wok has going for them. The portion sizes are huge, often requiring two students to complete a meal. Sides that come included, or that can be added for a decent price, are great snacks. The fried dumplings, for example, can work as an incentive for getting assignments done on a study day.

Delicious food, big portions and affordable prices are three of the biggest reasons Happy Wok has the best Chinese food in Blacksburg. The last reason, however, is the authenticity of the food.

Some students have trouble enjoying the spice and flavor in Happy Wok’s homemade-tasting food because of its genuine flavors. It’s the reason so many homesick students with curious palates enjoy their meals at Happy Wok.

A version of this article appeared in the Oct 19 issue of the Collegiate Times.