Iron Wok, 545 Main Street, Placerville, 530-903-3358

Popular Elk Grove Chinese restaurant Iron Wok has moved into new digs on Main Street—taking over the space that was formerly Taste of Europe—and it’s already clear that EG’s loss is Placerville’s gain.

If you visited the former incarnation of this space, you’ll find it transformed. Laminate flooring, a warm, muted-yellow coat of paint, tasteful art, and white linen tablecloths have really amped up the interior to a level that’s both refined and inviting.

My husband and I dined in on a Saturday evening expecting a quiet dinner. To our pleasant surprise, there was a steady stream of takeout orders and plenty of patrons filling the tables around us—including some loyal regulars from their previous locale. Having only opened in June, it’s refreshing to see a new business getting so much local love. 

Pot Stickers

Serving traditional Chinese comfort food favorites that you know and love, Iron Wok’s menu has enough variety to please everyone in your party without being overwhelmingly intimidating. 

For starters, we ordered pot stickers, and they arrived just as they should: crispy-bottomed, plump, and bursting with flavor-packed pork. Dipping the dumplings into the accompanying vinegar, hot oil, and soy sauce made for the ultimate mouthwatering morsel. 

Mongolian Beef

For entrées, we sampled the orange chicken and Mongolian beef with steamed rice. The servings were generous and—like any good Chinese restaurant—worth its salt: We had enough leftovers for the following day’s lunch. The chicken featured huge chunks of golden-fried, all-white breast meat bathing in a savory, house-made sauce that had just enough heat and sweet and actual pieces of roasted orange peel. The beef—with its tender slices of wok-seared, melt-in-your-mouth meat; light, flavorful marinade that wasn’t at all syrupy; and addition of colorful, perfectly al dente onions and, scallions—was equally excellent.

If Iron Wok isn’t already on your restaurant radar, you should definitely make an effort to change that ASAP. With fresh fare cooked using plenty of TLC, and fast, friendly service, you won’t be disappointed! 

by Sharon Penny  //  photos by Dante Fontana

Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday); 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Friday-Saturday); closed Tuesday

Try This: Pot Stickers, Vegetable Egg Rolls, Wor Wonton Soup, House Special Fried Rice, Orange Chicken, Ma-Po Tofu, Mongolian Beef, Mu Shu Pork, Walnut Prawns, Beef Chow Fun 

Drinks: Beer and wine

Tab: $$

Heads-Up: Special combos available all day (choice of entrée, soup, egg roll, and steamed rice or fried rice); patio; numerous vegetarian options; level of spice can be customized