King's Wok finds new home

• Restaurant moves

Owner Zai Chen stands by one of the buffet bars at the new King’s Wok, located in the former Michael’s Restaurant building at 1305 Spring Ave. King’s Wok offers 60 dishes on its buffet every day.

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By Amanda WallJasper

Daily Globe

WORTHINGTON — King’s Wok recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by moving to a new, larger location.

The Chinese buffet restaurant has been operated by Zai Chen and his wife, Yong Li for 10 years along Oxford Street in Worthington. On Aug. 27, King’s Wok began serving food at its new location at 1305 Spring Ave., the former longtime location of Michael’s Restaurant.

“We were looking to buy a building,” said Zai Chen. “This is a nice building and bigger.”

Before opening, the Chens put a ceramic tile floor in the buffet room and new flooring in the entryway. The Chen children — Qiu, 19, Yuli, 17, and He Chen, 16 — help often at the restaurant. Yuli Chen said customers have been happy with the new location.

“Their first impression is it’s beautiful in here. First they respond to the décor, and we get compliments on the food as well,” Yuli said. “I think people like the wide variety and the choices.”

King’s Wok has also added 10 new dishes to the buffet for a total of 60 different dishes plus ice cream and beverages. Some of the new items include dumplings, lemon fish, Singapore chow mein and pork chops.

In the upstairs of the restaurant, there are two dining rooms that seat a total of 150 people. There are also two party rooms available in the basement. These rooms can be reserved and rented for large groups.

For Zai Chen, it is hard to believe he has had his business for 10 years in Worthington.

“I came here in 1996 from China and I worked for my brother at a King’s Wok in Marshall,” he said. “Then I decided to open the King’s Wok in Worthington in 1998.”

When the restaurant was up and running, Chen’s wife and children came to the United States.

“When we started business was not that good,” remembered Yuli Chen. “Slowly it got better and better. The old building was a little small for the business now.”

Zai Chen hopes to be at the new location for many years to come.

“We plan to continue business as long as we can,” he said. “We are very happy to be in Worthington.”

King’s Wok is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. To make reservations for large groups, call 376-3338.

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