Wok Chi Opens in Brandon, Here's What You Need To Know

Looking for another Wok Chi to compare to the one newly opened in Brandon? Don't look too hard. The Wok Chi at the Regency Square shopping center, which opens to the public for regular dining hours Monday, May 13, is the first of its kind.

To get a preview taste, a special grand opening "community celebration" was held May 11, to benefit the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary as a Greater Brandon area fixture.

At the Wok Chi benefit, restaurant founders, promoters, employees and diners talked about the store's concept, roots and menu offerings, with the words "fresh" and "authentic" used liberally.

And for good reason.

"No batter, just what matters," is one of the restaurant's core concepts. Also, no MSG.

"Not only is the food fresh and delievered fast, it's easy to order, and it's authentic," said Rahul Chaubal, vice president of operations. "There's no confusion of choice. We know what vegetables go with which sauces. The proteins, it's your choice."

Indeed, ordering at Wok Chi starts with your choice from among eight vegetable- and-sauce offerings, served with steamed rice, white or brown: Zesty Orange, Ginger Sesame, Sweet and Sour, Spicy Szechuan, Kung Pao, General Not-So-Tso's, Wok Chi Fried Rice and Wok Chi Stir-Fried Noodles.

Add a protein (chicken, pork, shrimp, tofu or beef); a soup (wonton or hot-and-sour); or a "dim sum" appetizer (Chicken Jiaozi, Pork Jiaozi, Edamame Jiaozi, Vegetable Spring Roll, Shrimp Spring Roll, Barbecue Pork Bao or Crab Rangoon).

Finish your meal with either a Crispy Custard Chi-Bon donut or a Crispy Peanut Butter and Jelly Chi-Bon.

For drinks, there's freestyle Coca-Cola machines with innumerous offerings and combinations (like the ones they have at the nearby AMC The Regency 20 movie theatre). Also served, beer and organic iced teas.

While you dine, or before you leave, enjoy a complementary cup of hot green tea and a strawberry flavored fortune cookie.

"If you were in China and you came into a home they would offer you a cup of hot tea," said Judi "Chef Judi" Gallagher, who has been working with Wok Chi to promote its offerings. "It's a ceremonial feeling of warmth and comfort and friendship. Also, hot green tea at the end of a meal enhances the experience of the food. It's healthy and it gives you a wonderful balance."

Wok Chi comes from the Canadian-based Bal family, which owns restaurants in India, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, according to Kanak Bal, who was in Brandon for the May 11 community celebration.

Under the Bradenton-based Hot Brands International, Wok Chi "is our first concept in the United States," Bal said. "Everyone here is familiar with Chinese food. Unfortunately, it's [viewed as] greasy, unhealthy and too oily. We wanted to revitalize that image. Nothing here has MSG in it and that's huge."

The aim is to "showcase authentic Chinese cuisine" in a "simple, efficient format," Bal added.

Brandon was chosen, she said, because of its location (regionally, right off Interstate 75) and its demographics (young, old and family oriented). Plans are to build Wok Chi and expand its offerings in the Tampa Bay area.

"Brandon is the largest secret in terms of restaurant industry sales," said Patrick McGinness, Wok Chi's multi-unit operations manager. "All restaurants do tremendously well here."

McGinness said his family has roots here; his wife, a graduate of Nativity Catholic School and the Academy of the Holy Names, grew up swimming at the Brandon Swim and Tennis Club, which today is known as the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center.

Also, McGinness, a former wrestler, is a huge fan of the Brandon High School wrestling team. He said he even had the honor of wrestling — and losing to — Brandon head coach Russ Cozart, in an open tournament in 1991.

As for Wok Chi, McGinness said, "We're going to do everything right because it's the right thing to do, from serving great food to how we treat our customers, our employees and our purveyors."

Melany Petrella and Dan Williamson are the restaurant's associate managers.

"They've given ownership to us and they put quality into every aspect of the restaurant," Petrella said. "The community is number one in their mind."

As you enter the Wok Chi restaurant, the "chi" is defined in signage as the "flow of energy that sustains life."

Community life as well.

"They're a fantastic organization to work with," said Chuck Burgess, executive director of the not-for-profit Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center. "I was so humbled and blessed that they partnered with us."

He spent the day at the restaurant, greeting BSAC members and friends as they entered to dine, giving a rave review of the meal he ordered for himself.

"It's healthy, it's fresh, it's unique and the food is great," Burgess said. "It's a great concept and the Brandon area is going to embrace it."

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Wok Chi hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Wok Chi is in the Regency Square shopping center off State Road 60 and just east of Interstate 75, across the street from the SR 60/Brandon Boulevard entrance to the Westfield Brandon shopping mall. The address is 2420 West Brandon Blvd.