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Rolling Wok

4.3 (107 reviews)
InexpensiveChinese, Vietnamese, Thai
Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Rolling Wok Photos

Business Info

ROLLING WOK ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Rolling Wok

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Reviews With Photos

Where I pick up the delicious awesomeness that is Rolling Wok
Alabaster C.

I have heard good things however this was my first trip to Rolling Wok and I will admit I'm pleasantly surprised. When I entered I was a little turned away by the plastic coverings on the table. It's a small spot, I enjoy finding small spots no one has heard of. Nice atmosphere with some cool decor. Of course nowadays Buda has a mask on lol. Nice people, good food and look atmosphere however they did forget my sweet and sour as well as my soy sauce, oh well I suppose no one is perfect and I will most definitely be coming back to try more of this deliciousness! ~Alabaster

Papaya salad combo with chicken wings
Anh N.

Moved from Iowa but came back to visit and Rolling Wok was a must do on our list! Best Thai /Vietnamese hands down. Can't find any papaya salad that compares in Texas or any other places. Service is great and food will not disappoint! Lunch gets busy and parking can fill up quick! Thai iced coffee - do it Papaya salad combo - absolutely do it Pho - fantastic and flavorful Noodle dishes (pad se ew etc...) -yum Tom yum - good mixture is spicy sweet and sour Chicken wings - fresh crispy and juicy Green curry - lots of veggies, fresh tasting Spice levels- do anything between 3-5 and your sinuses will clear out! *no this was not all for me but I helped myself to others dishes

Deliciously seasoned fried chicken wings with a spicy & Smokey-flavored dipping sauce! I recommend dipping with sticky rice as well!
Lotus S.

Looking for authentic Lao Food? Rolling Wok is definitely one of Des Moines' gems for amazing food and service! Located in a Mexican plaza on Grand, the place does stand out! I've tried some Thai dishes, but I tend to lean towards the Lao selection. Drunken Noodle here has a deliciously Smokey flavor and they generously serve it with veggies and meats! It's actually not an overload of noodles! The papaya salad and sticky rice combos with deliciously seasoned fried chicken wings are on point. The Heavenly beef is also a delicious option for those who are beef jerky lovers. Let's just say, if you love beef jerky, Rolling Wok's beef jerky is definitely in competition for the best options you can possibly find served in a restaurant. I've tried the Kapoon and have been extremely satisfied and delighted to find the dish as it's not always easy to find. Some restaurants may have it on hand if you ask, but it's not on the menu like it is here. This place is that cross btwn a hole in the wall, and moderate dining. I would say it's comfortable for family dinners as long as you don't mind not having a booth and your primary focus is to eat GOOD FOOD! The plaza it's located in is a fun cultural venture as well!

Wonton soup with yellow egg noodles
Amy C.

We went on a Sunday and they were pretty busy. The staff were friendly and accommodating. It's a small place. The Pho soup was delicious, only 1 size to choose from but it was a huge bowl. The egg rolls were so good, great sauce with them. They had a tv above the bar which was great so we watched march madness. We will be going back.

Shrimp in a blanket! I do not come here without ordering this!
Bill L.

This was the first Asian restaurant I have eaten at in Des Moines when I first moved here a few years back. This restaurant is tucked in the plaza surrounded by Mexican restaurants and businesses. Parking can be difficult at times since it is a small lot shared by multiple businesses. The food here us great! I have eaten here countless times and have not had an unpleasant experience. They have southeast Asian dishes that other Asian restaurants do not have. Usually the same staff is working and they are very friendly. Their bubble tea drinks here are well made. It is never crowded here which makes for a good, calm eating environment. I will continue to eat here often. You must try their shrimp in a blanket appetizer here!

Lots of vegetarian options
Angie M.

Tried the Pho today it was flavorful and in a huge dish! Sticky rice is served in a steamer and perfect!

Drinks menu
Vishal K.

Ordered Hunan and Schezwan chicken.. It was awesome.. This is a hidden gem in middle of nowhwhere. Will visit again. Looking forward to visit with more friends. While i was there, i found more repeat customers as these folks knew most of them. Food is amazing. Authentic chinese and Vietnamese..

Sarai G.

They're super friendly here. They asked if it was out first time and we said yes, they offered to help us pick what to eat and were really helpful. They have Tofu, a great bonus for me. They also have bubble tea. The place is really clean. Would love to come back, they gave great service over all, glad we decided to try it out i

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5 months ago

Love the sausage and sticky rice! Be patient when they are busy. Great family business.

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Love this place. Excellent Lo Mein and Mongolian. They're a regular haunt of ours. Highly recommend.

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12 years ago

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6 years ago

I come to this spot every time I'm in Des moines. Sticky rice and Beef jersey for the win. Pho here is amazing.

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9 years ago

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6 years ago

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7 years ago

I love Rolling Wok! The kao piek is my favorite and so is the chicken wings and papaya to go along with it!

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

Best pad Thai ever!!!!!!!!!!!! So easy call ahead, pick up, easy check out, get home and dig in! I'd give 10 stars if I could!!

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

The food is absolutely delicious, lots of flavor and very authentic! One of my go to places I definitely recommend.

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9 years ago

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8 years ago

Delicious food and excellent service. The drunken noodles are phenomenal...we added tofu and it was some of the best I've ever had!

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10 years ago

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Ask the Community - Rolling Wok

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Sam's Fine Food Egg Rolls - Beef Lo Mein

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My boyfriend and I stopped in early on a Friday evening. We walked in and were immediately greeted…read moreand the 4 tables were all open. We ordered egg rolls, crab rangoons, beef lo mein with egg drop soup, and hot and sour soup. It was our first time here, so we wanted to try it all. The food was delicious and plenty for my boyfriend & I and a small amount of leftovers. The egg rolls lived up to the hype everyone is talking about. I am not typically a fan, but these were delicious. There's a spice or something that they add that levels up the flavor and with a nice crispy crunch when you bite into it, you can't go wrong with these. We also really enjoyed their rangoons. They were cooked to perfection, but what makes them even better is dipping it in their duck sauce. 10/10 for the egg-rolls and the crab rangoons. For the main we ordered the beef lo mein. It had so much flavor and we enjoyed it a lot. We also tried both the soups. The hot and sour was good, but I have had better elsewhere. My boyfriend really enjoyed the egg drop soup. He liked that it had veggies and tofu in it and was different than other places we have tried 9/10. We really loved this place and are already planning to come back soon even though it is 25 minutes from us, but it's totally worth the drive. Everyone working was so kind and they continued to make sure everything was good with our meal.

This place was on my list of restaurants to try for a long time so my husband and I had dinner…read morethere last night. It's a tiny hole in the wall place with only five tables. There was a line all the way to the door. It's a very popular place. I got the Yusiang Chicken and my husband got the Hunan Chicken. The entrees came with either: an egg roll , a crab Rangoon, hot and sour soup or egg drop soup. I really liked my entree. It was spicy and sweet and came out piping hot. I thought the egg roll was just average, though, and was disappointed that there was no homemade sweet and sour sauce that came with it. There were just packets of duck sauce. My husband thought his dish was just ok but his crab Rangoon was delicious. It was filled with a slightly sweet cream cheese filling. I had a bite of it and agreed it was very tasty, The service was very good and the employees were very friendly. I thought the prices were pretty good and lower than other Chinese restaurants we had been to. The amount of food we got was really good, too. We both ate half or what we got and had leftovers for lunch the next day. That's always nice. I would definitely come back again. They serve Laotian and Thai food, too. I'd like to try some of their potstickers and get more of their yummy crab rangoons next time.

China Chef - Chicken lo mein (extra spicy) and fried rice.

China Chef

(73 reviews)

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This past Saturday a friend and I were out and about and we stopped by China Chef on SW 9th. China…read moreChef always comes highly recommended especially when you are talking about food on the South side of town! They're open for lunch and dinner Tuesday - Sunday. We were greeted right away when we walked in and were shown to a booth. Seating is a combination of booths and low top tables. It's easy to find and the parking lot wraps around both sides and the rear of their building. China Chef opened in 1996 so they've been around a minute. The owner passed a couple of years ago. The owner's wife and his son have kept the business open. The young man who seated us and served us is the original owner's grandson. His father spent some time visiting with us too. He was more in a manager role and working both the back and front of the house. Drink orders were taken first (Pepsi products by the can) and other drinks are available as well. We ordered a couple of sodas and an unsweetened iced tea. The menu is extensive... There's something for everyone. But it more or less open with a very bold statement... "The best egg rolls in town!" We got the Mongolian Beef and Chicken Lo Mein (extra spicy). The combos came with fried rice, an egg roll, and soup. Instead of soup we both opted for the choice of an extra egg roll. I mean... C'mon! If they are the best how can you pass that up? Lol The egg rolls ARE fantasic! Served obviously right out of the fryer. Hot, fresh, and crispy! The hot mustard on the table is pretty standard... It's Iowa nice. It doesn't clear your sinuses. The Mongolian beef tasted really good. I enjoyed the couple bites I had. I'd ordered the Lo mein with chicken (extra spicy)... This did clear the sinuses! Nah... It wasn't quite that bad. Lol But they took me at my word and definitely ramped it up. Amazing flavor and the heat was perfect! He said they have a special hot oil/chiles they use in the back. The one they use for their personal meals... If a customer asks for extra spicy...that's the one they use. These guys were great and I really enjoyed my time talking to both of them! The grandson is a senior this year and doesn't have an introverted bone in his body. Not even the broken one in his arm... His dad was just as outgoing and personable. We talked about the business, it's history, his father, some recent remodels and changes, the impact of the pandemic and the current economy, etc. Little things like the cost of being able to keep the menus updated. Seems like a small thing to a customer..., but having to print new menus every couple of months to meet rising costs can have a significant impact to a small business' bottom line. Standard table service and our lunch was $30ish before tip. While we were visiting I'd asked what I should try next time. We talked about some of the standard dishes, but as we were leaving the son came running outside and up to my car... I rolled down my window. He said "The crispy duck! You have to order the crispy duck next time!" Someone had just ordered it, it reminded him, and he ran outside to make sure we knew before we left. If I hadn't liked the guy as much as I already did...that would have won my heart! And I know what I'm ordering next time...! Lol A great first visit to China Chef!

Ordered tonight. First time bad? The menu says. $9.95 per meal! They charged $18+ tonight for…read moreeach meal!! . Forgot our extra crab Rangoon. 2 orders, ordered extra ehh rolls , No egg Rolls, sauce all over the bottom of the sack! They said because of tariffs. I said then update your menu. He said they didn't put it up!!?? Aren't you responsible for your Reastraunt info. He said no. Other people put that up ???? What!! He was very nice on the phone when I called!! But still!! A 100% increase on the meal. Plus it was 1/2 of what we have gotten in the past!! $45 for supper tonight sad !!

Flaming Wok - Kung Pao chicken

Flaming Wok

(24 reviews)

This place is amazing!!! The food was soooo delicious, soup and egg roll with your meal and the…read moreportions very generous! The service was excellent as well! Will most definitely be coming back!

This really is a hidden gem! I've driven past this place a few times before but never stopped. It's…read moreacross the street from the post office and visible from Hubbell, but you probably won't stop in by accident. This place really should be more popular. I went just before 8 pm on a Thursday night and was the only dine-in customer. There were some people standing outside talking, but other than a couple of carry-out customers there weren't many people there. The seating area was immaculate and they let me sit wherever I wanted. The server brought me a menu immediately. I ordered Mongolian beef. Meals come with rice, soup, and a spring roll. I ordered the egg drop soup and friend rice. The soup and spring roll came out almost immediately. I noticed that the soup wasn't just egg. There were actually pieces of carrots and celery in it, and it wasn't too salty like a lot of restaurant soups are. The spring roll had a crisp, flaky crust. I was so glad it wasn't soggy with oil. The main dish came out before I could finish my soup and before I could even touch the spring roll. The beef had a good flavor, and best of all it was not drowning in oil or some kind of sauce. I appreciated the food and the good service. I plan to come back soon and bring some more people with me.

Rolling Wok - chinese - Updated May 2026

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