Jason Perlow
Google
We’ve now dined at Wan’s twice since its 2025 revival, and both experiences cemented its place as a local favorite for American Chinese fare—delivered with remarkable efficiency, warmth, and a noticeable upgrade in protein and produce quality.
First Visit:
We arrived just after 7pm to a packed house, with a 15-minute wait for a table. Despite the crowd, service was smooth and never rushed. Here’s what we ordered:
• Hot and Sour Soup: Generously filled with tofu, mushrooms, and pork. Good vinegar tang, but missing the pepper heat—remedied with a side of chile sauce.
• Egg Rolls (Appetizer): House-made, crisp but bland, mostly cabbage. The only dish we wouldn’t repeat.
• Szechuan Pork (Main): Tender shredded pork and vegetables in a garlicky brown sauce. Savory but mild; extra chile sauce brought it to life.
• House Fried Rice (Side): Excellent wok hei, well-balanced mix of egg, shrimp, and meats. Total comfort food.
The standout here was the fried rice and the overall quality of the proteins and vegetables.
Second Visit:
Returning earlier—5:45pm after the early birds—the dining room started quiet but filled quickly. Once again, service was sharp and efficient; we enjoyed a larger meal and still finished comfortably in under an hour.
• Thin-skinned Fried Pork Dumplings (Appetizer): Absolute must-order. Crispy, juicy, packed with pork flavor—far superior to the egg rolls.
• Ja Ja Mian (Main): Hearty noodles in a mild, pork meat sauce—Cantonese-American take on zhajiangmian. Good texture, but like other mains, benefits from extra chile sauce.
• Eggplant with Garlic Sauce + Shrimp (Main): Sweet, glossy sauce, perfectly cooked shrimp, and fresh, tender eggplant. Adding chile sauce balances the sweetness.
• Crispy Baby Bok Choy with Garlic (Side): The sleeper hit—light, fresh, perfectly sautéed, highlighting excellent produce.
• Cocktails: Both the Mai Tai (classic, dark rum-heavy, and strong) and the White Sesame Old Fashioned (smooth, nutty, Japanese whiskey) were generous and well-crafted.
What Didn’t Work:
• Egg Rolls: Only tried on the first visit—bland, mostly cabbage, and easily skipped.
• Spicing Overall: Our only real complaint. Most dishes are mild by default, clearly tuned to the local palate. Want more flavor? Just ask for their chile sauce—they’re happy to oblige.
Food Quality:
The proteins and vegetables on both visits were a cut above what you’ll find at most neighborhood spots—shrimp are plump and sweet, pork is tender, and every vegetable tasted crisp and fresh.
Atmosphere & Bonus:
Wan’s is always clean, comfortable, and buzzing with a loyal, mostly non-Asian crowd. Christina Wan herself was greeting guests on our second visit—officially “retired,” but clearly still part of the weekend magic.
Bottom Line:
Wan’s sets the standard for service, consistency, and ingredient quality in SoFlo’s American Chinese scene. Skip the egg rolls, focus on the dumplings, mains, veggie sides, and cocktails, and don’t be shy about asking for more spice. After two visits, we’re already looking forward to the next.