Wok the Wok
Restaurant owners return to Hampton
Matthew Fan is feeling exhilarated these days. He has returned to Hampton Beach with his wife, Sophia, to take over the Ocean Wok Chinese restaurant, which he has renamed Wok the Wok. As he relaxes on the back deck of the eating establishment, he puffs on a cigar and tells his story.
“We are overwhelmed by the welcome we’ve received from the folks in Hampton,” he said. “People are very warm and this is helping us to move forward.”
It’s apparent by the lines of customers waiting to enter the place that the residents are thrilled to see the Fans return. They owned the original Ocean Wok and stayed owners of the building after leasing it to new owners of the restaurant several years ago. Recently, the owners fell into hard times, so the Fans came out of retirement to resume the successful business they established years before.
“It came as a real surprise, and it’s been a bittersweet move for us,” Fan said.
It’s not just the customers who are happy to see Matthew and Sophia again. Several staff members also agreed to come back and work for their former boss.
“All the bartenders are back, and most of the cooks and servers have returned also,” Fan said. “Just a few phone calls and they were on board.”
Expect to see some menu changes at Wok the Wok. The Fans have kept most of the popular common main dishes and appetizers, but felt it necessary to remove some of the foods they originally served.
“As with most businesses right now, we are looking for decent help. Things have changed a lot since Covid,” he said. “We have a number of cooks that are new, and we didn’t want to overwhelm them with a lot of fancy, complicated dishes. In time, we may return those choices to the menu.”
There’s also been a change in the chicken wings. Patrons have questioned the size of the wings, saying they are not as big as they used to be. Fan said he started out ordering the jumbo-sized wings, which are so big that they don’t cook as evenly as a smaller wing.
“The jumbo-sized wings were difficult to fry. They end up being overcooked on the outside and still slightly raw on the inside,” he said. “We had a choice of using the jumbo ones or the smaller ones, and if we decide they are too small, we’ll give extra.”
Fan’s dream is to expand the restaurant by building an extra room on the back.
“I’d like to have a bar/lounge separate from the dining room,” he said, “just so the people in the bar can relax and the crazy stuff can go on, and they can be loud and not worry about disturbing those who are dining.”
He described his possible plan and explained he’d be removing the back deck in order to make it happen.
“The room would be just to the right of the entranceway,” he said.
It’s something he’s thought about but has no concrete plan to do just yet. The current bar has seven stools, so an expansion would probably be welcome to those who like to sit there. Being able to claim a bar stool during busy times can be challenging.
Overall, Fan feels it’s been a good move and is looking forward to a successful future in his restaurant. When asked about the name change, he smiled.
“We know what we’re doing,” he said. “We don’t just talk the talk. We Wok the Wok.”
— Betty Gagne
Wok the Wok
Location: 7 Ocean Blvd., Hampton
Hours: Open daily from noon to 10 p.m.
More info: 926-6633, wokthewoknh.com
Featured photo: Left to right: Sophia Fan, returning bartender Jessica Dolmat and Matthew Fan. Photo by Betty Gagne.
