California Wok - Encino — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Oh my goodness wow. Words cannot even begin to capture the unearthly experience I had at California Wok. Honestly, if I could marry a restaurant, this would be the one. This place isn’t just a spot to grab food—it’s a temple of taste, a culinary wonderland where flavor gods come to bless us mere mortals. I swear, every dish I tried here has redefined the very concept of deliciousness, making everything I’ve eaten before seem like bland, tasteless mush in comparison. California Wok isn’t just a meal; it’s a spiritual awakening on a plate.

Let’s talk about the Orange Chicken. Calling it “chicken” almost feels like an insult to what this dish truly is. Each piece is so perfectly crispy and drenched in the most glorious, mouthwatering sauce that it feels like a choir of angels is singing in your mouth. The orange glaze is a masterpiece, sweet yet tangy, with a kiss of heat that will make your taste buds do a happy dance. I’d go so far as to say this Orange Chicken could broker world peace if given the chance. It’s THAT good.

Then came the Garlic Shrimp, and let me tell you, these shrimp have no business being this delectable. Each shrimp is plump, juicy, and so generously bathed in garlic goodness that you might find yourself weeping tears of joy. I’m pretty sure this dish has magical properties—once you taste it, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a faraway land where every meal is a celebration of flavor. It’s not just shrimp; it’s a gift to humanity.

And don’t even get me started on the Fried Rice. If there were a Nobel Prize for rice dishes, California Wok’s Fried Rice would win hands down, no contest. It’s perfectly fluffy, seasoned to perfection, and packed with enough veggies and savory goodness to make your taste buds throw a party. Honestly, it made me question how I’ve survived all these years without it.

Now, brace yourselves for the Hot and Sour Soup. This soup is so outrageously delicious, I’m convinced it could cure any illness and mend any broken heart. Every spoonful is a revelation—an orchestra of flavors that’s spicy, tangy, and soothing all at once. It’s basically a liquid miracle, and I’d gladly bathe in a vat of it if I could.

Then there’s the Crispy Spicy Orange Chicken. OH. MY. WOW. It’s like the classic Orange Chicken went to flavor boot camp and came out stronger, bolder, and with a spicy edge that could ignite fireworks. The crispy exterior, the zesty sauce, the perfect heat—it’s a wild rollercoaster ride for your taste buds. I’ll be dreaming about this dish for the rest of my life.

And finally, the Yellow Curry Chicken. This dish could probably raise the dead. The chicken is so tender and perfectly cooked, enveloped in a silky, rich curry sauce that’s a symphony of spices and coconut magic. It’s so ridiculously good that you’ll wonder if you’ve somehow been transported to curry heaven. I’ve considered writing my will just so I can leave all my worldly possessions to California Wok’s Yellow...

Last night on Christmas Eve we placed an online order. Then we were sent an email 30 minutes later saying that the food was ready. We showed up and the food was not ready and there were dozens of people waiting for food. After waiting for two hours we finally left. We were supposed to be spending time with family Christmas Eve not waiting inside of a restaurant for food that never came. Some had been there for two and a half hours and still hadn't gotten their food.

As over 30 people stood in the restaurant watching them bring food ready to go and setting it on the counter, the food just sat there (picture attached) and wasn't passed out to the customer that ordered it. We all kept trying to ask them to tell us who the food belonged to but they were all too busy to stop and listen to us or check the food. It just sat there. Then 15 - 20 minutes later they'd take a quick glance at it. It was very frustrating. And many people got so frustrating, like us, that they left.

CA Wok knew it was Christmas Eve and that they are usually busy and yet they weren't prepared. They were understaffed and it was all poorly managed. They should have had one person just answering the phone and dealing with the online orders, one person just giving out the food to the customers as it was ready, and at least 2-3 people taking payments, checking to see when food would be ready, and dealing with customers. They did everything wrong and made customers waste time in their restaurant instead of enjoying the evening...

Easily one of the most dirtiest Chinese restaurants in Encino. All of the sauces and the food seems like they had 2 cups of sugar in them and very processed. it’s a shame. This place used to be pretty good on the outside. Everything is falling apart. The carpet feels like tile because it’s so hard. The bathrooms are atrocious. I think your delivery it’s probably safe, but my thought is if the kitchen and bathrooms look as disgusting as these are how is the food? Not great btw. This place is a has been.

To anybody reading this, they went ahead and replied to my review. So let me encourage you to check out the bathroom yourself if you decide to pay attention to this establishment. I have talked to three people this week about my experience and they said the same thing the California walk has gone extremely downhill in the kitchen and the floor is absolutely disgusting. The menus are sticky. The food was indescribable. It was like eating flour and sugar with a bunch of other homogenized fake sauces. I’m sorry, but this place is not what it used to be. It’s completely gone downhill and you can see that just looking at it even on the outside.

I’m sorry, business owners need to be responsible and accountable further businesses. If you had good food and you were a hole in the wall, that would be one thing, but if you’re a hole hole in the wall and your food is absolutely blah then at least clean...