The Wok Shop

I had a really good experience here yesterday. I went to the shop in person after lunch in China town and really enjoyed looking at all the kitchen items in the store. The two women store workers or owners were really helpful and recommended products when I was looking at the stock pot skimmers and sieves. I purchased two items totalling about $10 and received a complimentary item. Every time I go to San Francisco with work from London I always have lunch in China town and will head back to this store next time I’m in the area and want to look at kitchen items. Thankyou <3

(May 2025) I made an online order for a US-made wok on a Saturday. I got an email confirmation of the order the same day and a shipping confirmation on Sunday. The wok arrived a few days later (shipped within CA). It appears well-made without any toxic coating you have to burn off like other woks. The included instructions for seasoning worked well and we're now getting the hang of cooking with it. This was really the best possible shopping experience. I think the bad reviews are from a time when the shop was overwhelmed due to the wirecutter article. Hopefully this review will help move the ratings back up.

Unlike several other reviews, my online order experience w/The Wok Shop was very good. My carbon steel wok is beautiful. High quality and is a lot of fun to cook my Asian inspired dishes. Even rec’d a couple of free bamboo utensils as their thank-you for ordering. One thing to remember, have patience. This is a mom-and-pop local California small business, so do NOT expect the instant gratification you get w/Amazon shipping. I placed an online order for my wok and supplies, my credit card charge hit 7 days later, and I rec’d my order 9 days after that (to the East Coast). And this wok was well worth the wait!

Great little shop! Ok first off- it's a small business! I ordered my Pow Wok after a glowing recommendation from Serious Eats. I called after about 2 weeks to follow up on my order. The attendant was very polite and tracked it down. It turns out my order was delayed because the specific one I wanted was out of stock and they were making it. Hello- made in USA?! Yes please! The wok arrived two weeks later in great condition. I live on the East coast so it did take extra time to travel. There was a green pamphlet that had check marks next to the specific directions I needed to follow. It seasoned beautifully and I swear my food tastes better with this wok. Good products from great small businesses are worth the wait.

Went to the store yesterday. Got a cleaver for 25 but it’s the one of the sharpest knives we have ever used!! The cranky lady at the store was hilarious. But we really like her! She should become a standup comedian!!

Visited the store yesterday. They had everything we were looking for. And more. The staff were helpful (the younger woman) and entertaining (the older woman). The whole trip was a delight.

2 years after placing my order, many phone calls, emails, I am giving up. I never received the wok I ordered. Regrettably waited too long to be able to charge it back or report it to BBB. Oh well, The Wok Shop stole $50 from me.

THE OLD LADY WORKER HERE HAS THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER! I saw the guy worker bring out a wok from the back for a customer. So I was waiting for him to finish because I would like him to bring the same wok from the back. Instead, this old lady asked if we needed help. I told her we want a brand new wok just like the customer being helped in front of us. In a condescending angry voice, she told us we don’t have the option to choose which wok we want and we only get what’s on display. I was not expecting to get yelled at for asking for a new wok. We decided to leave on the spot after that horrible interaction. Advertisement and marketing can only go so far with that type of attitude!

I read about the Wok Shop in a magazine. I did a bit of research and ordered one through their website. I am so glad that I did! Fantastic quality product at a very reasonable price. And it was delivered in less than a week after I ordered. The instructions on preparing the wok were simple and complete. They have a super website with lots of other products. Highly recommend!

3/30/25 Easily the one SHOP we drove more than 5 hours to get his WOK, great service, large selection (new & used), small but eclectic. All for your (Asian/Chinese) cooking needs. Amy "walked" Hubby through his wok journey, making recommendations & giving him real true to life advice. She was not pulling any punches. I am glad she was being straight with him to apply it to daily use. She was funny & amiable. The store is filled with different, new & used (seasoned) woks and all things wok related, including the utensils that will accompany its use. It's small & a bit cramped, dated, some dusty items hanging on the ceiling but it added to the allure of what is being sold. It felt authentic. I wanted to explore further & look at everything but that would've rn our me to buy more items that might end up gathering more dust at home. Hoping that zHubby will really put these to good use, we'll see. Parking? Hard to find and on a Sunday? We got lucky & found street parking a couple of blocks away! Prices are reasonable according to Hubby coz he was one buying the cookware. Maybe there will be amazing dishes for me to post next time, crossing my fingers and toes

I was weary about visiting this shop after seeing the terrible reviews about the customer service. I even brought help (Chinese speaking in laws) in case they needed to step in. There was no need--seriously, my in-laws stayed outside of the store once they realized I didn't need their help, since it was a bit crowded in the store. I didn't get any names but there were two women there that helped me pick out a wok and other accessories. There were so many other things I wanted to buy and definitely walked out with more than I intended to purchase, including a butcher knife, wok ring, and cookies utensils. They were friendly and answered my questions and, not only provided paper instructions on how to care for the wok, physically showed me how to prep the wok for its first use.

I have been meaning to come here for a while. The wife and I were visiting the kid who lives in SF and we were staying nearby in the Marriott Union Square. I short walk away. The kid had to work one afternoon, so the wife and I walked around Chinatown for a bit. The place is very tight and since it was a Sunday afternoon and not too much rain, it was crowded. We squeezed around looking at the different nooks and crannies that held all types of woks, utencils, knives, bowls, chopstick, dishes, more cooking utencils, more chopsticks, woks, woks, woks, etc... As a hobbyist cook, I had a blast looking at everything. I would like to go again when less crowded and just take my time looking at everything. For this trip, I was specifically looking for some decent size soup/noodle bowls, some ceramic Asian soup spoons (large, have flat bottoms) and bamboo chopsticks. Found too many soup bowls I liked, so grabbed two different ones and was good with that. I found a couple spoons I liked and then looked for chopsticks. What I was really looking for was good bamboo ones like in a Chinese restaurant, not the crappy disposable ones you get if you order a pack from Amazon. All I could find was plastic or similar material ones. They were very nice looking, but not what I was looking for. When I asked the gentleman, he lead me to the large selection of plastic ones. Oh, well, I was happy with the bowls and spoons. See pictures. I see from other reviews that there was some comments about a rude person working there. While I was looking at knives, two girls were asking one of the women working there about what knives they should get. At one point the woman asked the girl "do you even cook, how come you know nothing about knives." She said that she cooks at home, but but her friend with her was a chef. The lady then said, "a chef that knows nothing about knives? I don't want to eat at her restaurant." It was shocking, but damned if I don't agree with the woman as she was speaking the truth! I laughed out loud when I heard that comment. It was quite entertaining. Go. Find a Wok or a Knife. HAVE FUN!

All hail the Wok Shop! I've been meaning to buy a wok for a long time and was prompted by the desire to make a great fried rice! I have heard great things from my friends and Kenji Lopez's book, The Wok, about this shop and decided the check it out. It's in the heart of Chinatown and was not difficult to find with the busyness of the shop. Despite it being busy, one of the staff was able to help me with choosing the perfect wok for me to cook with. I was in and out in 5 minutes. Overall, the price of the wok was wayyy cheaper than I expected, which I was grateful for! When purchasing the wok, you are provided instructions on how to care for the wok as well as seasoning instructions. If you do not do one thing, please follow the instructions on how to season your wok, I promise this will help you in the long run! Although this shop is known for their woks, but they sell other asian style cookware. Please check this shop out and happy cooking! P.S. the fried rice was phenomenal in the wok!

The Wok Shop is an SF institution, and should be praised for its deep roots, deep community connection and deep (and dope) selection. She has so many delights there: woks (mine is awesome), tons of cooking accessories to make you feel like a kitchen boss, and excellent advice. Seems as though many have forgotten that human beings run businesses, not robots. If you want a robot support the buttholes that are killing small business. If you want humanity, visit Tan. She will learn you a thing or two.

THE OLD LADY WORKER HERE HAS THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER! I saw the guy worker bring out a wok from the back for a customer. So I was waiting for him to finish because I would like him to bring the same wok from the back. Instead, this old lady asked if we needed help. I told her we want a brand new wok just like the customer being helped in front of us. In a condescending angry voice, she told us we don't have the option to choose which wok we want and we only get what's on display. I was not expecting to get yelled at for asking for a new wok. We decided to leave on the spot after that horrible interaction. Advertisement and marketing can only go so far with that type of attitude!

This a great store! I have been wanting a pow wok for a while, round bottom 12" diameter. I knew this was the place to go. Found exactly what I wanted at a very reasonable price (carbon steel, US made) and quickly made my purchase. They include a detailed pamphlet with instructions on seasoning before use and a free gift (a bamboo cooking utensil). I noticed they pushed the local, US made woks, more so than the more expensive dark woks hanging above they said were made in Japan. I had a ton of fun browsing at all the goodies a cook will appreciate. Definitely a must see/visit in Chinatown.

This is a small , yet wonderful Chinese culinary tool shop. I was able to find the clay pots here that I can't find them sold anywhere else any more. I hope the shop will continue to exist as is for years to come.

As bad as the shopping experience was, the wok we purchased is excellent. After months of using. It gets better and beter and when using properly at the correct heat and after seasoning it is beautiful and nothing sticks to it! We got a beautiful bronze patina after seasoning and after washing it we always make sure to quickly rub it with some veg oil and a paper towel. No rusting at all. There is definitely a difference cooking Chinese food in this because you get that nice heat and searing. We love cooking meats in this.

Tane has EVERYTHING in her shop. If you can't find it, just ask. Her prices are great, too. I was looking for clay pots and recipes, and she got me two sizes of hard - to - find pots and an out-of-print claypot cookbook. Her knowledge of Asian cooking is amazing and Tane is beyond helpful. Her service was great - she referred me to a shop around the corner for what she didn't have: a culinary torch for searing my creme brulées! I've been coming here for decades and bring all my friends who like to cook. Long live the Wok Shop & Tane!

I don't cook, but my family members do. Came here with my cousin because she can't speak Chinese (don't worry they speak English here) and wanted my help to translate. She wanted to buy a wok for cooking vegetables and stir frying meat with a lid and one of those spoon things. She also wanted a bamboo steam bowl.she found everything here and more, such as chopsticks, pots, etc. She ended up buying around $200 worth of merchandise! They were generally friendly and helpful, and they give you a really cool bag with purchase.

For years my friends in SF have told me this is the place to buy a simple quality wok... I finally made it up to SF for a weekend and glad I visited the shop in person!! Prices are VERY reasonable and the shop is full of gems. The staff was very helpful and woked me through everything I needed to get wokin' in my kitchen. I bought a new 14" wok and enjoyed the process of bluing and seasoning it at home. Now I'm making the BEST fried rice EVER! Some folks here complained about the customer service, I did not experience anything to complain about. I did notice the shopkeeper seemed rather short with a potential customer over the phone... I suspect this was because she knew the person wasn't going to buy anything; yet asking a million questions then buying from Amazon to save $5. When customers are waiting in the store it's rude to keep them waiting for someone on the phone; the shopkeeper was great in person and helped everyone in the store attentively. This is a small, personable, family business, they do woks very well; don't treat them like a large greedy multinational corporation and don't expect them to pander to your ridiculous whims.

Product is good, and prices are reasonable. We got a 14" carbon steel wok with two wooden handles since it's too heavy to pick up with one handle. It was about $40, though we realized it didn't come with a lid so had to go back and buy the lid for another $21. About the same as you'd get on Amazon. Comes preseasoned and pretty oily (be careful when you pick it up!), but you definitely should do your own seasoning as well. However, the customer service leaves much to be desired. We read reviews about the variable experience for online orders, so we specifically wanted to go in person since we live in SF anyway. The owners were abrasive; for example, we came when the store wasn't that busy, but when we asked for help picking knives from the 30 or so choices on display, she responded, "You pick. You're the one using the knife" and walked away. I talked to friends who mentioned very similar experiences, including her insinuating that you should get a 14" wok if you're a real man, etc.

A little Burt Bacharach please... If you see me cookin' on the street And I start to cry each time we meet Wok on by Wok on by Make believe that you don't see the carbs Just let me chop in private 'cause each time I see you I break down and stir-fry Wok on by (no, stop) Wok on by (no, stop) Wok on by... Here a wok, there a wok, everywhere a wok wok... Don't even think about getting that teflon wok at Bed Bath & Beyond just because your 15%-off coupon expired last week. Come to Chinatown and get the real thing here. They've been making authentic iron woks since 1972 when founder Tane Chan seized an opportunity to spread the word about the convenience of wok cooking to skillet-loving Americans. You can buy a carbon steel wok with a rookie wooden handle for as little as $35. I didn't know how indispensable a cleaning whisk was until I came here. I just can't get over whiskin' you And so if you seem broken and scratched Wok on by Wok on by Foolish pride, that's all that I have left So let me hide the stains and burn marks I gave you When we said goodbye Wok on by (no, stop) Wok on by (no, stop) Wok on by (no, stop) Wok on... RELATED - Exploring Chinatown? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2WoF1Z2

This is THE place to go for good quality woks. I purchased the 14" flat-bottom wok, made of carbon steel in the USA. Along with the long stainless spatula, I paid close to $50 for everything, including tax, which I think is great considering the quality. Do recommend stopping by in person; they have a lot of other stuff in there that may peek your interest.

This shop is hit or miss. I've been here off and on over the years as I live in the City. Most recently I came in looking for a won ton bamboo spatula. I showed the sales person a photo of it. She immediately said no more. And that was it. She was very dismissive. Might it have been because a group of tourists on a walking tour entered the store at the same time I did? My sis came in a couple weeks afterwards. There's a whole inventory. This either meant new inventory arrived or the sales person couldn't be bothered by my need for a bamboo spatula when she could sell a wok to a tourist? To be fair I came in another time where I wanted a pricker for poking pork belly. I showed a photo. I was immediately walked over to where they were. That's why it's hit or miss.

Editing this review from 1 star to 5 stars: Tip: Don't order anything that is not currently in stock. Logistics is terrible and customer service is 0/5 on the phone from one person. If you've ordered a 12 inch flat bottom wok with helper handle, call in to remove your name from the list because that order is not happening. Come in person and shop the available section. The ladies here are very kind and helpful, guiding you to the proper items you need to buy for your purpose. Their wok is amazing and I love it far more than my previous woks. 10/5 wok, 5/5 in-store customer service, 0/5 phone service from one person. I plan to buy more woks from here for my family.

Tame is the principal at this store who welcomes all her clients. She takes the time to explain how various cooking equipment is used and places in Chinatown to eat.

I ordered a wok, arrived damaged and handle needed to be replaced... Spoke to the owner twice and each time she said she was mailing the part the next day... It's been 4 weeks and nothing.. Each time she ranted how long she was in business and promised to send the handle to me... I would not recommend this business ever...

Have patience. I ordered a wok and several accessories on July 15th. I received my package today - Aug. 28th. After the initial pending charge when the order was placed - I wasn't actually charged until the items shipped. It did take a few emails and a few phone calls to get my order. Also, I was told a few different reasons for why it had not shipped. While I didn't believe the excuses I did not call them out on it. Why not? 1st: A wok is not a necessity and if I didn't get it from them I could buy it from another retailer. And since the charge to the credit card is only pending for about 48 hours and then didn't charge until shipment - I wasn't out anything. 2nd: Because this place had a lot a great reviews until recently. Reading the recent reviews, on here and other sites, they have a common theme. It isn't hard to understand that the pandemic has likely caused most of these issues. The online shopping orders have no doubt increased greatly with all the people staying home and cooking. I imagine they've had quite a hard time keeping up with all the orders, especially needing to get things shipped to them (likely from China) and then to ship it out in a timely manner. While a few have said that they had some less than polite responses from the shop - everyone I spoke with (phone and email) was friendly, polite and helpful. I can't wait to use my new wok!

5 star shopping experience with The Wok Shop! I heard about this shop through the cookbook, "The Wok". The website was a bit tricky since I think they are transitioning to a new site, but it was overall a pretty seamless experience. I love the fact that I was able to buy a high quality wok, plus lots of other accessories! I placed the order on 1/20 and then received it six days later - super fast since I live across the country from SF. Everything was packaged nicely and there were thorough instructions on how to season and take care of the wok. Highly recommend and will be shopping at The Wok Shop again!

My dad had called the day before we came in and reserved a 14" carbon steel wok with wooden handles. We came to pick it up the next day and the ladies working were super helpful. They brought out multiple sizes of woks for us to look at and asked us things like if we'd be cooking inside/outside, how many people cooking for, how to care for it, etc. There are a ton of other kitchen supplies (empanada maker, juicers, bento accessories, chopsticks, ceramics, mooncake molds, etc) throughout the store but some items seemed old and neglected. For example, a bunch of tart and cake pans were super dusty and rusted. They should probably go through their inventory and sort out the stuff that's no longer ok to sell. The prices were super reasonable for what we got with all the stuff in the photo coming to a little less than $100. We got a lotus ceramic bowl, noodle strainer, chopsticks, extra wok handle, 16" wooden handle wok, and a stainless steel spoon. They threw in a free bamboo rice spoon too!

I bought a wok from this shop a few years ago. I went back today and was treated VERY RUDELY. When I commented about the good prices the owner said that I could go to Target and get a wok-and that she can't afford to pay the rent on the shop. I was perplexed, as I thought i had given her a compliment. The owner also said to me (in front of other customers) "I don't want to sound racist but why are Chinese people this way?" (I had asked how much she charged for a reusable bag, and she was offended). I wanted to ask for a refund, but was afraid of even more verbal abuse. I will NEVER EVER go back!

If you are considering buying their carbon steel wok, please read before you buy. 1. Their website (www.wokshop.com) was buggy. After I finally managed to place an order, I received no email confirmation. Fortunately, I took a screenshot of the order. 2. They had one of the worst customer services that I've seen. I asked them if their wok carried any warranty. The lady who answered the call said, "You are buying a wok, not diamond! It is a stupid question!" I calmly told her that I understood. She was still unhappy and repeated what she said. 3. The order took more than 5 weeks to arrive. I live in Washington state. 4. Finally, the wok bottom was not flat. The center was noticeably bulging out. I use an electric stove with a flat glass top. The wok is completely useless. I chose their product following a WireCutter article. In this case, they were way off. What a waste of money and time!

I "purchased" a 14" carbon steel wok from The Wok Shop's website on 4/2/23. Didn't realize that NYT recently reviewed and recommended the same wok from The Wok Shop. I waited two weeks. Never got a shipping notice. Tried calling. Phone rang and rang with no answer (during biz hours) the first handful of times I tried. Finally got the owner on the phone. She said the wok I purchased was 'out of stock'--TWO WEEKS after I ordered it. I'm convinced I would have never received the product had I not called. Like many others, I chose to cancel the order and purchase a similar wok from a reliable retailer. The upshot: I suspect the recent NYT review has catapulted this little mom and pop wok shop into full-blown chaos. I suspect their inventory systems and staff cannot handle the uptick in volume, which means you may or may not get anything you 'clicked to purchase.' I like keeping small business in business. But I cannot recommend this place, unless you don't care if or when you get the item you purchased.

Terrible service. Absolutely awful. They never notified me that the wok I ordered wasn't in stock. After 12 days of no package, I called and they told me they didn't have the item. I opted for a different one they had in stock and asked for a discount on shipping because of the hassle of having to figure out myself why the wok didn't arrive rather than them calling me and letting me know. Nope. No discount. No customer service. Now I need to return my wok because it's not going to work for me, and I've been calling multiple times a day for 10 days and they do not answer their phones. Do not shop or order from them online. Absolutely terrible customer service.

About two weeks ago, I did something I'd last done 50+ years ago: I went into Chinatown and bought a wok. Thanks to reviews here and elsewhere, I was expecting the owner to be a character, and she definitely was. Like someone in a Seinfeld episode. But ultimately very helpful. We came home with just what I wanted: a beautiful 14" carbon steel wok, two semicircular handles, made in the USA, reasonably priced. Today, following the shop's instruction pamphlet, I baked it with flaxseed oil to a stunning bronze, then charred a couple of sliced onions. Who knew that onions, a member of the allium family, will rid a wok of any metallic taste? Then dinner -- baby bok choy with different onions, garlic, ginger, shiitakes, and a little red pepper for color. I'd include a photo, but it was devoured too quickly to take any.

We finally ventured here on a slow day and the store is small with neat little clutters of great kitchenware and all kinds of woks of different shapes and sizes. Unfortunately I have my eye on other woks that are induction and just purchased a Japanese wok from another store last year but it was fun to finally come here in person. The owner came out to greet us and seemed very nice and we chatted a bit.

Quite literally some of the worst customer service I've experienced. I bought a wok on 5/5 and still have yet to hear any follow up or any shipping notification. I called Tane several times already. First call a week after my order, she told me shipments were delayed on my product but she'd send me the same wok but with a different handle the next day. Two weeks past and still nothing. I call her again and demand a refund. She apologizes, promises to send me the replacement wok the very next day. It's been another two weeks and I'm forgetting I even purchased this originally. I called again today and she hits me with "I'm currently speaking to another customer and this call is holding up a sale right now. I'll call you back." Yeah what about my sale that you've been holding up for over a month?? Conclusion: don't get a wok here, scummy customer service, will say anything to pacify you any issue you have but shows no real sign of following it up Edit: Upon reading other recent reviews, seems like others are having similar experiences. I called back and got in touch with someone who isn't Tane. They told me she always says things like this. This person was able to quickly help and identify the issues with my order. They haven't had my size wok in over two months with either handle which Tane doesn't seem like she would have ever told me. So I was finally able to cancel my order and be done with this place. Only good news I've received since trying to purchase anything from here.

So an update. ... Unfortunately, no a happy one. I emailed the seller three times over the course of three weeks without any response. ... NOTHING. So I had to cancel the purchase and request a refund. I hope they don't try to ship me a wok now as I purchased on on Amazon. What a loss for them. They have great write ups on wok review sites. They blew it. If you research them, my experience sadly is not unique.

Went to the Wok Shop yesterday. I bought a wok, which is great and they gave me a free wooden spatula, which is nice. When I walked in, most of the folks there were having a conversation and kind of left me to my own devices for about 10 minutes, which is a little much since the shop is tiny. There was a ton of interesting merchandise, however it was almost all dusty and a bit haphazard. The conversation was with the owner talking with what seemed to be relatives about how online orders were backed up and customers were calling and she didn't have the help or energy to get to the backlog. Honestly, it was a bit heartbreaking. A different lady eventually noticed me and gave me some nice tips on what wok to purchase and checked me out. The products are good and I can see how the cramped and overstuffed store might have been fun and interesting before but it seems like the folks running it are slowing down in their older years and don't have the help to continue running the business as is. That said, if you go in person, you'll be able to get service and a great array of items for cooking Asian foods.

A popular wok place in Chinatown. If you don't want simple souvenirs from Chinatown, you can visit this place in Chinatown for something really special. Cooking tools of all kinds and great

I heard about this shop from J Kenji's book but I absoultely regret that decision to even try this place without reading the reviews. I emailed them multiple times on multiple days that I wanted to cancel my order. They never replied to any of it. I never even attempted to call the shop because of their bad reputation on the phone. After seeing other products where they claimed it was made in USA but had made in china underneath, this shop lost credibility. I wanted to support a small business but was clearly screwed over. There's obviously the lack of respect with their paying customers and the shop's owners/operators. Today, they sent me a wok that I ordered more than a month ago that I didn't even want anymore. Would absolutely never recommend. TLDR: Wok itself was pretty flimsy and didn't even have a label where it was made. The handle attachment can't be attached because it didn't fit the hole on the wok. What a joke. They never entertained any of my emails (I sent at least 6) to cancel the order and after a month just randomly sent me the wok I didn't even want.

I ordered a wok on 5/1, have sent multiple emails, and tried to call them about the status of my order but nothing. Seems like this is par for the course for a lot of their clients based on these reviews. Hope to get a wok or my money back in the near future, but chances of either happening are looking slim! Worst customer experience I've had.

This place is a scam! I ordered a wok and the quality was awful. I emailed them and they said that was impossible and I must not understand how screws work. They said I could return it, so I paid to return it and after 10+ emails nad 5+ phone calls I still haven't received my money back. I even have a voicemail saying I will be refunded. I recommend not supporting a business that is willing to steal your money!

Progress Update, since my initial review on Thu 2/11/2012: I documented my phone calls & Yelp review with Tane via email: My email sent Thu 2/11 @ 6:16 PM EST: "Tane - Thank you for looking into this for me, per my two phone calls today." My email sent Thu 2/11 @ 6:37pm EST: "Tane - I also updated your 4 stars on Yelp to 3.5 stars, per this review: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-wok-shop-san-francisco?hrid=ZZE14C6HVTuaVseP_Vv_fA&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)" After which, Tane finally replied: Tane replied on Thu 2/11 @ 7:55pm EST: "Dear Ms. [redacted]: I don't care if you rate us very negatively.  Our years in business in high rent San Francisco, 54 years and our reputation for real woks, Asian cookware, reasonable prices, good quality, courteous prompt service will keep us in business for 55 years . We enjoy serving our many customers for years and hope to make it a few more years.  Not many small mom/pop business in America and in  high rent San Francisco can attest to this record.  Not to worry, we only charge the day we ship and we will ship as soon as the woks are in again, this week.  We make our own woks and have to accumulate" Tane replied on Thu 2/11 @ 8:19pm EST: "Dear Ms. [redacted]:  Sorry...I meant to ask...still interested in the wok or do you want us to cancel since we delayed your order (out of woks).  Of course, you have not been charged.  We only charge the day we ship.    As I email you, the woks have arrived!!!!   We make the  woks here and they hurriedly delivered from our factory.  Will ship tomorrow, 2.12...still want the wok?  Let me know.  Great wok, real wok and can't beat the price.  This is not a toy but a real, USA made wok. Tane Chan" My email sent Thu 2/11 @ 8:25pm EST: "Tane - Since your woks are the best quality, I still very much want it, as mentioned, and I lived in San Francisco for 5-years, so am very familiar with all you mentioned. When can I expect to receive my wok? Happy Lunar New Year!" Tane replied on Thu 2/11 @ 10:14pm EST: "Great!  Will ship your order tomorrow, Friday 2.12.  Takes 6 working days to VA.  Sorry for the delay.  Tane Chan" My email sent Fri 2/12 @ 3:27pm EST: "Tane: Thanks for shipping today. What's the tracking number?" Tane replied on Sat 2/13 @ 11:25pm EST: "Chinese New Year and workers took a few days off.. But wok is on its way.  Allow 6 working days to VA.  Tane Chan" My email sent Sun 2/14 @ 6:58pm EST: "Perfect. Thanks for the update, Tane!" My email sent Sat 2/27 @ 3:04pm EST: "Hi Tane, It's now been 12 working days since you said you shipped my wok on Fri 2/12, and I have not received it. You told me to "allow 6 working days to ship to VA" (below). You said on Thu 2/11 that "we only charge the day we ship," and yet I have no record of this transaction on my credit card. And I have no carrier name or tracking number. What is going on?" *STILL NO WOK, OR ANY SIGN IT WILL EVER ARRIVE*

The owner was incredibly hostile and rude in response to normal questions (how do I season a wok, etc.). Told me I'd ruin her woks and would be better off leaving. Raised her voice at me to the point other customers started to watch us. Mind you I didn't engage her in the first place, I was looking through the woks and she came over to ask if I had any questions. She also discouraged me from looking through the woks because "they're all exactly the same." Very odd way of running a business.

My Online Ordering Experience: A Hot Mess My Received Product: A Hot Wok The Wok Shop's wok is one of the recommended woks from Cook's Illustrated--which is one of the few decent objective/thorough wok reviews online--but ordering a wok from them elicited extremely polarized feelings. It worked out for me, but be prepared for a worse case scenario. Customer Service: Is pretty awful. Placed an order on a Sunday and sent them an email the next Tuesday asking when they might dispatch it to no response. Called the following Monday (Order +8 days) to inquire when it'll be sent, the woman on the phone thought she was a comedian and half-pretended to bad-mouth Texas. I gave her crickets. She asked me why I hadn't laughed, and thought I was offended because I'm from Texas. Like Jerry Seinfeld to Tim Watley's former priest, I wasn't offended by the joke because I was from Texas (I'm from New York), I was offended as a comedian. That woman promised me it would be dispatched that Thursday (Order +11 days). Having not gotten any information, I call the next Tuesday (Order +16 days) and another woman tells me that they're crazy busy, they have 500 woks to pack and order, they will send it out later this week, maybe next week (Order +3 weeks). Wok's Performance: The wok shipped later that week (Order +18/19 days). It's a...very good wok. Seasoning takes quite a bit of work. I ignored Wok Shop's instruction and their included flaxseed oil--don't use that, use canola for more consistent results--and instead followed Dan Gritzer's Serious Eats video on seasoning a wok. This includes heating over an open flame and baking in the oven, so it's hard work and you need a good pair of oven mitts, but the reason is a excellent carbon steel wok. If you stir-fry to any extent at all, you'll never go back to a skillet of any kind after this--the wok heat is just too good. Ultimately, 3 weeks, bad communication, worse comic work were relatively small prices to pay for an effective wok. But your mileage may vary, especially if you order online.

I've been looking into getting a wok for a while now and wanted to support a local business, so getting one from this Chinatown institution was a no-brainer! The owner was such a nice woman with a great sense of humor, and she answered all our questions in choosing the right kind of wok (material, size, shape, handles). We ended up picking up a wok spatula and a couple of steamer baskets too, all at very reasonable prices. Everything we bought came with nice detailed care instructions as well (cleaning, seasoning, storing, etc.) If you're looking to improve your Chinese cooking at home and want some equipment to get started, this is definitely the place for you!

Horribly unprofessional when I called to ask where my wok was a month after ordering it, and zero communication. I was informed it was held up due to a lack of flakseed oil - 'fine send it without it. But please credit for the $30 shipping' - and then the yelling commenced. They may make a great wok... and clearly I'll never know that... but they absolutely are not the place to order one from online.

WTF?! When I can, I try to support my Asian-owned stores. I wanted a wok and I only have 240 different online sites at which I can make my purchase. But knowing SF Chinatown has experienced a lot of slowing down of business, I might as well spend my money there, right? Wrong. Learn from my experience. (1) I utilize their garbage website to order a wok on 7/14. It said it was in stock. I can get one with free 2-day shipping elsewhere but I opt to pay the $15 shipping and buy from them. Total comes to $49.50 (2) On 7/18, i email to ask about when I might expect it. Later that week, I call twice to no avail. On 7/28, I email again and call again. No response. Just absolutely no response in this day and age. (3) On 7/31, I am fed up. I think it's pretty ridiculous for an in-stock wok to take two weeks to even ship but it hasn't even shipped. I find their Facebook page and tell them to cancel. Later that day, I finally receive a response. It says: "Hi Grace: Sorry, I should have emailed you that we are out of the wok.?? We were expecting the wooden handles but told out of stock. ?? The supplier for the wooden handles, in Maine, informed us shipping this coming week.?? We make the woks here in SF and the handles are from ME. You have not been charged. We charge the day we ship.??" They then proceed to try and sell me a different wok. I told them that's fine; I'll wait. (4) On August 8, the same individual emails again asking if I want to cancel and saying: "Will have the woks today or by early coming week.?? Hope you checked...not shipped, not charged.?? Not to worry!?? TC" Someone forgot their medication. I reply reminding them I said I didn't want to cancel and that I'm waiting. Shipping early the week after is fine. (5) I email on 8/12 (no response) and 8/15 (no response). And then finally on 8/22, I've had it. I email them and tell them: "Cancel this order. And please confirm cancellation." (6) To this, this creature responds with the first photo attached. "Not to worry. If you want to cancel, we will cancel and of course, you are not charged. We are above board and not out to cheat...please trust small businesses; we are transparent and honest. This might sound racist, but why is it that Chinese want more than confirmation...they need evidence, a promise, a written document that order has been canceled. If you have not been charged, isn't that good enough? I have been in Chinatown San Francisco for 53 years in business and it must be a cultural thing, not to trust..when we say we cancel, isn't that good enough? Or do you want a proclamation from President Trump that order has been canceled ? :) " WTF?! I've attached my response to this ridiculous shop in the photos. Why she assumed I'm Chinese, I have no clue. Why she thinks a confirmation of cancellation is so weird, who the hell knows? She's got my credit card information and given my experience, why would I think this insane, incompetent shop can manage this properly? And really -- Trump? Stay FAR away from this shop. Crazy woman. It's time for her to close shop and stay home. "We are very honorable, trustworthy and transparent," she says. HA!

Just received my carbon steel flat bottom wok and am impressed with the quality. I ordered it with a dome lid and flax seed oil. Shipping took about a week and they threw in some wooden cooking utensils. It came with great instructions on how to season it in the oven, which I'm excited to do later. My only gripe was that they emailed me asking to charge me an additional $5 for shipping when their website stated a lesser amount. I opted for the additional charge though since it is so hard to find a good quality wok and all the reviews raved about this place. Overall, I'm glad I splurged and am hoping this wok will last me a lifetime. I was getting tired of buying a new wok every few years.

Husband and I decided to visit Chinatown on Friday night and spotted the legendary Wok Shop. Tane was kind enough to let us in at closing and help us pick out a wok and tools. Definitely low/no pressure sales and lots of laughs. She is hilarious and takes the fear out of woking. The Wok Shop's website even has its own videos on seasoning your pan and wok therapy! Prices are great and most of the works are US made just for their store. Followed by some take-out dim sum from a nearby restaurant, it was a perfect Chinatown date night. We'll be back to the Wok Shop soon--probably to pick up a wok lid.

Best customer service! Sweetest woman with amazing selection of woks and cooking supplies.

I ordered a 14" flat bottomed wok on a Thursday and received it the very next day!! Thank you, thank you Wok Shop for the fantastic turnaround time. There are many reviews regarding poor customer service, slow shipping etc however not in this case. I just seasoned my wok and I'm looking forward to years of joy cooking with my new wok!! Ann Bay Area

I came in yesterday for the first time to buy a wok after reading positive reviews from the New York Times, SF Chronicle, and Serious Eats. I wasn't sure about whether to get the 14-inch carbon steel wok with the metal handle or wooden handle, and therefore asked the sales associate for advice. The sales associate, an older Asian woman, was incredibly dismissive and rude and told me there is no difference between the two and to "buy whatever I want." I didn't appreciate her tone of voice and disinterest in providing me with assistance, but I brushed it off and thought she might have just been having a bad day, so I went home to do more research. When I came back to purchase the wok today, I didn't see the one I was looking for. I asked the sales associate if she had any in stock, and once again she was abrasive and arrogant and said they were all sold out and called me "dumb and stupid" for not buying it yesterday. She then went on a rant about how Chinese people are stupid and waste time thinking things over and coming back and forth to the store before making their purchases. The encounter left me in disbelief. Never in my life have I encountered such a racist, demeaning, and verbally abusive sales associate. Why be rude and mean to Chinese people when she is Chinese herself and the store is in Chinatown?! I was so upset that I called the store immediately when I came home and got in touch with the store owner Tane Chen, as I wanted to let her know what had happened, hoping that how the sales associate behaved these past two days wasn't an accurate reflection of the way they do business. To my surprise, the owner Tane Chen became defensive and said "well, it's just PMS. I can be mean to customers on some days when I feel like it too. We are a Chinatown institution and have a Congressional Medal from Nancy Pelosi and have been in business for over 50 years now, so we must be doing something right" and hung up on me. Wow. Apparently poor customer service is the norm around here. They'll smile and crack jokes for politicians and large publications when the cameras are rolling, but not take a genuine interest in being pleasant people when customers come in to make a purchase. Never again will I step foot in their store or make a purchase from them. No amount of accolades or recommendations can persuade me to do business with such racist, demeaning, and nasty people. Buyers beware and STAY AWAY!

Ordered a wok in December 2022. Emailed them in February 2023 about not getting my wok or any updates on it. No response. Emailed them in March 2023 again. Got an immediate reply that they were "offended" by my fear of being scammed and that they had canceled my order. What a sorry excuse for a business. I made my order thinking I would get a nice wok and instead I got radio silence for months and then a sudden cancellation- without even asking to cancel. I just wanted a wok.

One-stop-shop for woks and if not more! (Speaking on behalf of my in-store experience during COVID-19 lockdown.) I was initially in the market looking for a wok after being inspired to up-game the noob cooking skills I acquired during the lockdown. I searched far and wide, hitting up my local 99 Ranch and Asian grocery markets, but there was nothing. You'll think they'll sell one right? Then one Sunday afternoon, after looking for some afternoon snacks in Chinatown I passed by this store. It sells woks I thought, so I said woks for me! I knew nothing about this store prior. It had its charm. It was cramped, woks hanging from the ceiling in different shades of metallic sliver and sizes, wok accessories, different covers and lids, tea pot sets, claypots. It's Asian kitchen heaven. I found my wok and the sales lady who clearly know her stuff, just vomited her wok knowledge onto me. Round bottom vs. flat bottom, how to season, maintenance, which ones to cook with bread (I was like WOKS CAN DO THAT!?) Anyways, I walked out the store with my wok, a dome lid, and a wok steamer. They also threw in an additional wooden cooking spin for supporting this business during these tough times. Theyve been in business since the 70s, and I hope they get through COVID as well. After seasoning it that night, I had fried my tilapia with it, stir fried some chicken, and steamed some home-made mantou. I legit love my wok and this shop made everything easy for me.