This post has been updated with more information about Mr. Wok’s closure.
Mr. Wok Asian Bistro has permanently closed after more than three decades in business, according to a Facebook post.
“No words will ever describe how immensely fortunate and honored we have been to serve you all,” the post read. “There are simply too many people to say thank you to and so many incredible experiences to recount.”
The restaurant has been temporarily closed since February 2019, when a catastrophic fire left a hole in the ceiling and damaged the entryway of the Plano restaurant. Repairs were initially going to take six months, but the owners decided to do a significant overhaul of the interior. By May 2021, an update said the restaurant remained closed due to ongoing litigation.
The lawsuit, filed against Mr. Wok owner Jack Kang in 2019, was an injury or damage case that was dismissed this past June, according to court records.
Kang told D Magazine Tuesday that the decision to close the restaurant was difficult. Mr. Wok opened in 1989, and Kang took over his family’s restaurant in 2000 after he graduated from the University of Texas. He told D Magazine in 2012 that he used to roam the kitchens as a 10-year-old while his parents worked. He maintained its quaint interior for years before the fire in 2019. In 2013, we named the restaurant as one of the 100 best restaurants in Dallas, and in 2018, it was named Best of Big D’s readers’ choice for best Chinese.
The restaurant was BYOB—a popular choice for customers—and had an extensive menu of East and Southeast Asian cuisine, including sizzling Szechuan beef plates, wok-fried noodles, and bowls of hot and sour soup. The specialty, however, was Kang’s Peking Duck, which had to be reserved at least a day in advance.
An order of the Peking duck came in two courses. The browned, caramelized, and crispy duck was carved tableside, usually by Kang himself, in 108 pieces as per tradition. Guests could choose between thin pancakes or thick bao buns to layer julienned green onions, cucumbers, and hoisin sauce for each bite. The bones of the carved duck could later be turned into soup or stir fry for the second course, depending on what customers wanted.
There was always hope Mr. Wok would reopen after photo teasers of the new interiors. But the building sat quietly for years, and many customers began to wonder what would happen to the restaurant and if it would open again.
Kang said while the restaurant was closed, he was able to spend ample time with his family, particularly his young son. He volunteered with the Plano Police Department and at food pantries across the city.
Kang said he plans to put the building up for lease and that it is turnkey ready for a new concept. He’s not sure he’ll stay away from the restaurant industry for too long, but for now, he wants to start a new chapter.
“It was time,” he said. “It’s been four years. It wasn’t fair to the customers and it wasn’t fair to my staff either.”
Mr. Wok’s permanent closure is leaving many heartbroken. Hundreds flooded the comments of the Facebook post within hours, many of whom said they would miss the restaurant, Kang, and the meals they had savored.
“[Seeing those comments] was the reason it was so hard to make a decision,” Kang said. “Giving all that up, it’s tough.”
I’ve written at least once about my meals at Mr. Wok. I talk about them more, usually with my family. My parents brought up Mr. Wok at least once every six months. They’ve been hunting for a Peking duck meal that matches Mr. Wok’s taste and magnificence. When we visited, my parents always raved about the meal, often doting on Kang and his carving technique.
Kang, who often wore a black short-sleeved polo shirt, was usually seen smiling and hopping from table to table to entertain. It’s the type of warm hospitality that we hate to see vanish.
2600 14th St., Plano.
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