In the early stages of his life as a hospitality entrepreneur, Lee Chang Woo - who is originally from South Korea - was running a cafe in Mount Eden.
But when that business didn’t work, he thought hard about what New Zealanders liked to eat and changed the venue to the “Asian fusion, nutritious food cooked right before your eyes” Wok’n Noodle concept in 2005.
This fledgling enterprise boomed - he then opened a second Wok’n Noodle in Auckland’s CBD - which unfortunately closed after the Covid-19 pandemic but Lee has now spread his wings over to the North Shore and launched a new shop just by the beach in Takapuna.
In a peaceful space metres from the beach far from the CBD madding crowd, the new Wok’n Noodle gives diners respite and relaxation with the convenience of a good location in a cozy setting.
A meal at Wok’n Noodle, is one derived from unmistakable Thai flavours, and evident that consideration and a lot of passion has been put into making the dishes fun and healthy and this sets it apart from other Thai restaurants.
“Although I am from Korea, I have always been interested in Thai food which is healthy, tasty and fun, emphasizing a lot on quality fresh produce and layers of flavour,” Lee said.
Although he oversees the business, the kitchen is helmed by a group of expert Thai chefs. Since the closure of Takapuna Thai during the pandemic, there has been no Thai restaurants in the suburb so Wok’n Noodles has become a welcome addtion to many of the locals.
"The concept behind noodle bar is centered around using the wok as the primary cooking method, which inspired the name 'Wok’n Noodle',” Lee said.
"The menu is rooted in traditional Thai cuisine, featuring unique noodle and stir-fry combinations. We aim to create a lively, energetic, and casual dining experience, while also offering affordable takeaway options for any occasion."
A top seller is the pad thai - you get to choose the meat, seafood or tofu - which are fried with egg and bean sprouts with Wok’n Noodle’s special sauce and topped whith chopped peanuts.
Other must-tries include cashew chicken, pad kee mao, laksa, crispy pork belly, curries and pad see u.
Diners also have the option of going with low carb (meaning less noodles/rice with more vegetables), carb free (no noodles or rice and extra vegetables ) “We want our meals to be not only hearty and soothing, but also healthy,” Lee said.
“At the start of our business, many customers expressed a desire for low carb options - smaller portions of noodles or rice and loved adding extra vegetables. Wok’n Noodle is unique in our ability to cater to these requests compared to other takeout options.
To meet demand, Lee created several innovative options:
“Low carb, offering a smaller serving of rice or noodles with extra fresh vegetables at no additional charge, or carb free, which is no rice or noodles with extra fresh vegetables, also at no extra charge,” Lee said.
“We also offer a ‘caveman meal option’, and this choice includes no oil, no additional sugar, no rice or noodles, but features kumara and pumpkin (instead carb), catering to fitness enthusiasts like gym-goers, CrossFitters, runners, and others who seek lower-carb and sugar-free meals.”
Additionally, Lee has also launched a 100% sugar-free option for those on strict diets or with health concerns related to sugar. Onions are the key ingredient for its sugar-free sauce which provides a wonderful flavour and sweetness.
“At our Mt Eden location, you can enjoy a selection of wines, beers, sake, soju, and more. We're also excited to announce that Wok’n Noodle Takapuna will be getting its liquor license very soon,” Lee said.
“When I first started, I was always in the kitchen but now I leave that to the professionals and I spend my days in the front of house having fun with the customers,” Lee added
Lee’s dream and plans are to establish new stores around Auckland and further afield, possibly in Australia.
What he enjoys most is meeting people and making friends through the business and being able to offer “great healthy tasty meals and fun” to the locals.
“That’s why our slogan is ‘healthy, tasty, fun,” Lee added.
WOK’ N NOODLE
Takapuna 1/7 The Strand, Takapuna 09 485 3259
Mt Eden 61 Normanby Road, Mount Eden 09 630 6651
Web: woknnoodle.com
