Iron Wok

Reviews

• Elissa J.

  star star star star star 25 July 2026

  Ate here for the first time on a weekday after a morning in Apple Hill. Despite the busy lunch hour, we were promptly served with a smile.
  We ordered the combination plate of orange chicken and one of kung pao chicken, which comes with wel drop or hot and sure soup, steamed or fried rice and a vegetable spring roll plus sweet and sour dipping sauce.
  The food arrived in the perfect amount of time, long enough that you know it's being made fresh (plus you can see and hear the cooks depending on where you sit), but not so long that you're wondering if you were forgotten after the soup.
  
  Everything was so incredibly fresh, and super tasty.
  
  Highlights:
  .Orange chicken was tender inside but so crispy on the outside and had plenty of sticky, sweet and spicy sauce, accented with orange peel.
  .The kung pao chicken struck just the right balance of salty and spicy without having to chug five glasses of water,, the vegetables were all tender-crisp and the whole plate had the perfect amount of toasted peanuts and sauce.
  . Not only were the ingredients high quality, everything had its own distinctive flavor, not like the same flavored MSG packet of sauce had been dumped on everything.
  .The food was piping hot, well spiced and seasoned and comfortably filling, veering from the heavy, overly salty and greasy tendencies of lesser quality Chinese food.
  .The egg flower soup was normal soup colored, not fluorescent yellow, and was filled with tender bits of chicken and veggies.
  
  I suppose the Apple Hill donuts we consumed earlier might have played a role in this, but we could only finish about half of our plates... Still, you get a very decent amount of flavorful, fresh food for the same price as other Chinese restaurants, that in my experience, serve inferior food.
  
  The place was a little crowded but that's a good sign. We will definitely be back for more amazing Chinese food!

• Hilary B.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 21 July 2026

  This was the worst meal that I have ever had in my entire life.
  4 items cost me 70 dollars and we couldn't even eat it due to it's disgustingness.
  The chicken smelled and tasted like fish and it was scary.
  I trusted the reviews and have never been let down like this before!

• Norm L.

  star star star star star_border 17 July 2026

  Summary: good food, somewhat pricey, but plentiful portions.
  
  Details:
  * the dining room is modestly, but appropriately, decorated.
  * the kitchen is easily visible from the dining room, so cleanliness and proper cooking techniques are on display.
  * the wait staff is friendly and attentive to customers' needs.
  
  Meal:
  * the daughter ordered a combo meal which consisted of egg flower soup, pork fried rice, egg roll and sweet/sour pork. All was satisfactory, and plentiful.
  * the missus and I ordered wor wonton soup, house fried rice, walnut shrimp and pork/garlic/eggplant.
   The soup broth seemed to be pork-based unlike the usual chicken or salt broth, but it was tasty.  PLENTY of wontons, chicken, and shrimps with veg. The wontons seemed lacking in some flavor dimension - not unpleasantly so, but noticeable.
   The house fried rice was primo, including some 21/25 shrimp.
   The walnut shrimp was thumbs up: the shrimp was freshly battered and fried, the sauce was sweet but not too sweet (a problem with this dish) and the walnuts crispy.
   The pork/eggplant was also tasty, with fresh eggplant, sufficient garlic, and a pleasant chili burn.
  
  All in all, this Chinese restaurant sets the bar for the local brethren. It is worth your patronage.

• Frank O.

  star star star star star_border 10 July 2026

  Came here for a big lunch with my wife and dog after a 6 mile hike on the El Dorado Trail. It was our first time and I know this part of Main Street struggles for visitors so I was glad to come in and patronize this relatively new place. It's been around maybe 1-2 year.
  
  The inside ambience is subdued and nice, more modern than your average chinese (americanized) place. A dragon on the wall, a decent lighting, clean bathroom, all A-OK. Inside is ok, they did a good job with what they had to work with.
  
  Now onto the food, is it good or great? I would say better than good, almost great.
  
  They have $10,50 combo plates that they offer all day long. But I would recommend a la carte which are very large and all entree dishes. No fried fillers or small soups to trip you up. The portions are large and I found extra fresh. I think I have two complaints.
  
  Number one, no special dishes here, it's all the same as any other Chinese restaurant, but perhaps a bit better than average. I can get the same quality at China City in Cameron Park. But it is that good.
  
  Number two, the reception I got was a bit chilled, but the waitress/owner was a little nicer once she warmed up to us. Still she was not too friendly. The first part of customer service is being friendly and approachable.
  
  Is the food good, YES, don't trust reviews from people that order door dash or get it old and cold via delivery services. Those review should be banned. Read reviews from in house eaters, who invoke the full ambience of a restaurant, its service, kitchen and chef. After all you pay 3X more for food going out, because you are going for experience. The Experience at Iron Wok is A-OK, I hope they make it, in this very challenged location. Challenged only because this is not Folsom and 3rd in San Francisco.
  
  Like the expert that knows Asian food that gave this place 3 stars, I think Iron Wok could do well to offer some signature dishes, that could set them apart?
  
  The patio is very nice, and a real treat, but for a Chinese restaurant that doesn't matter very much.
  
  Try the Iron Wok, it might be the "freshest" Chinese you try in Placerville!

• Lydia K.

  star star star star star_border 30 June 2026

  First time and we had soup.  I had the wonton chicken for $8.75 and the hub had special order shrimp noodle for $10.
  
  The chicken wonton came with a bunch of yummy chicken on top of so many wontons! It included snow peas, carrots and greens.  The broth was some of the best I have had and the wontons were good, but not as flavorful as I expected them to be.  Still very yummy soup!
  
  My hub loved his shrimp noodle and the shrimp were big but I thought there should be more for $10.
  
  The place is small for a Chinese restaurant but we went at an off time with only one other couple there.  Lots of take out action though.
  
  We left very happy and can't wait to go back!
  
  OH and I def don't agree that this place is $$$ like Yelp has assigned it.  There prices are just a bit more than any other Chinese place in the area that I have been to!