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Rolling Wok

4.3 (107 reviews)
InexpensiveChinese, Vietnamese, Thai
Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Rolling Wok Photos

Business Info

ROLLING WOK ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Rolling Wok

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Reviews With Photos

Where I pick up the delicious awesomeness that is Rolling Wok
Alabaster C.

I have heard good things however this was my first trip to Rolling Wok and I will admit I'm pleasantly surprised. When I entered I was a little turned away by the plastic coverings on the table. It's a small spot, I enjoy finding small spots no one has heard of. Nice atmosphere with some cool decor. Of course nowadays Buda has a mask on lol. Nice people, good food and look atmosphere however they did forget my sweet and sour as well as my soy sauce, oh well I suppose no one is perfect and I will most definitely be coming back to try more of this deliciousness! ~Alabaster

Papaya salad combo with chicken wings
Anh N.

Moved from Iowa but came back to visit and Rolling Wok was a must do on our list! Best Thai /Vietnamese hands down. Can't find any papaya salad that compares in Texas or any other places. Service is great and food will not disappoint! Lunch gets busy and parking can fill up quick! Thai iced coffee - do it Papaya salad combo - absolutely do it Pho - fantastic and flavorful Noodle dishes (pad se ew etc...) -yum Tom yum - good mixture is spicy sweet and sour Chicken wings - fresh crispy and juicy Green curry - lots of veggies, fresh tasting Spice levels- do anything between 3-5 and your sinuses will clear out! *no this was not all for me but I helped myself to others dishes

Deliciously seasoned fried chicken wings with a spicy & Smokey-flavored dipping sauce! I recommend dipping with sticky rice as well!
Lotus S.

Looking for authentic Lao Food? Rolling Wok is definitely one of Des Moines' gems for amazing food and service! Located in a Mexican plaza on Grand, the place does stand out! I've tried some Thai dishes, but I tend to lean towards the Lao selection. Drunken Noodle here has a deliciously Smokey flavor and they generously serve it with veggies and meats! It's actually not an overload of noodles! The papaya salad and sticky rice combos with deliciously seasoned fried chicken wings are on point. The Heavenly beef is also a delicious option for those who are beef jerky lovers. Let's just say, if you love beef jerky, Rolling Wok's beef jerky is definitely in competition for the best options you can possibly find served in a restaurant. I've tried the Kapoon and have been extremely satisfied and delighted to find the dish as it's not always easy to find. Some restaurants may have it on hand if you ask, but it's not on the menu like it is here. This place is that cross btwn a hole in the wall, and moderate dining. I would say it's comfortable for family dinners as long as you don't mind not having a booth and your primary focus is to eat GOOD FOOD! The plaza it's located in is a fun cultural venture as well!

Wonton soup with yellow egg noodles
Amy C.

We went on a Sunday and they were pretty busy. The staff were friendly and accommodating. It's a small place. The Pho soup was delicious, only 1 size to choose from but it was a huge bowl. The egg rolls were so good, great sauce with them. They had a tv above the bar which was great so we watched march madness. We will be going back.

Shrimp in a blanket! I do not come here without ordering this!
Bill L.

This was the first Asian restaurant I have eaten at in Des Moines when I first moved here a few years back. This restaurant is tucked in the plaza surrounded by Mexican restaurants and businesses. Parking can be difficult at times since it is a small lot shared by multiple businesses. The food here us great! I have eaten here countless times and have not had an unpleasant experience. They have southeast Asian dishes that other Asian restaurants do not have. Usually the same staff is working and they are very friendly. Their bubble tea drinks here are well made. It is never crowded here which makes for a good, calm eating environment. I will continue to eat here often. You must try their shrimp in a blanket appetizer here!

Lots of vegetarian options
Angie M.

Tried the Pho today it was flavorful and in a huge dish! Sticky rice is served in a steamer and perfect!

Drinks menu
Vishal K.

Ordered Hunan and Schezwan chicken.. It was awesome.. This is a hidden gem in middle of nowhwhere. Will visit again. Looking forward to visit with more friends. While i was there, i found more repeat customers as these folks knew most of them. Food is amazing. Authentic chinese and Vietnamese..

Sarai G.

They're super friendly here. They asked if it was out first time and we said yes, they offered to help us pick what to eat and were really helpful. They have Tofu, a great bonus for me. They also have bubble tea. The place is really clean. Would love to come back, they gave great service over all, glad we decided to try it out i

Khang pad

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9 years ago

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10 years ago

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7 years ago

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17 years ago

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11 years ago

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8 years ago

Best egg rolls! Their lo mein combo and chicken pho are really good too along with the coconut boba tea!

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8 years ago

The Thai food was very poor completely lacking in Thai flavors. Service was slow for only two tables in the restaurant. Just was not happy.

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14 years ago

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11 years ago

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10 years ago

Great little place. Inexpensive. Good food. Quality locally owned place. Support small business.

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11 years ago

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9 years ago

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10 years ago

Great Pad thai, good soda, and servers. Nice bar and tv to watch games but most importantly good food.

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12 years ago

Best Chinese food in Des Moines. Wide menu, friendly staff.

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11 years ago

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Page 3 of 3

Ask the Community - Rolling Wok

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A Dong Restaurant

A Dong Restaurant

3.9(355 reviews)
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Pho is an individual taste that checks all your palate boxes of freshness, well seasoned broth, a…read morevariety of herbs and veggies that sends the dish into obit. My chicken pho was good with the knowledgeable wait staff knowing which number would meet my needs. The calmness of the environment allowed me to enjoy all the enticing ingredients to the max.

3.8* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 3* Value: 5*…read more Service: 3* Would I go back / Recommend?: 4* (Probably) Total check/person: $22 08/02/2025 While this place has an admittedly non-descript brick exterior and clean but average interior, I appreciated it most for what it was: solid Vietnamese food at a great value, served with a family-owned feel. Biggest disappointment was that while alcohol options showed on the menu, they were unable to serve any alcohol - claiming that their liquor license had not yet been renewed. I was craving a spring roll with peanut sauce, so to start things off, we ordered #90 Bo Bia steamed spring rolls with shredded shrimp, carrots and sausage served with plum sauce (see picture). While the wrap was thicker than the 'paper' wraps that I'm used to, they were very good - and I really liked the plum sauce. My wife was undecided and our very helpful waiter Archie, suggested #69 Com Ga Chien Xa Ot (chicken breast fried with spicy lemon grass - see picture). It was good, but both of us would have preferred a bit more spice, as we ended up adding Siracha at the table. I was considering #99 Banh Xeo Vietnamese style crispy pancake stuffed with shrimp, pork & veggies based on the menu picture, but Archie talked me into #97 Banh Tam Bi Xiu Mai udon noodles with shredded pork, steamed pork meatballs and veggies instead (see picture). I was impressed with the coconut milk and lemon sauce that he poured over it when served with the instructions to stir it all together - very tasty combination of savory, sweet and tart, with a very slight spiciness. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

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Pho All Seasons

4.3(185 reviews)
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First timer! Friday dinner time and were seated right away. Friendly service. Food came out really…read morefast - tasty dishes.

After a long work week in Ames and having good, but mostly American/Western food, we needed an…read moreethnic fix. Enter my comfort zone, Pho from my motherland. I knew we were in the right place when we walked I. And half of the restaurant were Vietnamese peeps. Was a warming experiencing hearing patrons throw a few traditional Lunar New Year greetings at each other and the owners. It's a small mom and pop shop, so much so, pop was the sole soldier working the entire front of the house. As such, don't expect super fast service, but good service nonetheless. We started with the fresh spring rolls, which were good, and their fried egg rolls, which I probably won't order again. The egg rolls were pretty much veggies, loosely filled, and served with a sweet and sour type dipping sauce. It was more of an Americanized Chinese style egg roll, not a Vietnamese cha gio with nouc cham. I ordered the pho dac biet and it was VERY good. The large is HUGE. Most places back home have suffered from shrink-flation and large bowls are tiny now. Not this place, I struggled to finish the bowl. My friends got the seafood pho, and another got the pho ga (chicken). I of course did not slide my chopsticks in theirs and swipe a bite, but they said they enjoyed theirs. I would definitely come back here again and maybe try some of their other dishes.

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Pho All Seasons - Casual but friendly dining room.

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Pho All Seasons - Pho All Seasons

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All Phở You - 7. Spring Bowl Combo

All Phở You

4.1(67 reviews)
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The food is EXCELLENT here; dirty wings are nice and crisp on the outside, tender and juicy on the…read moreinside. The Pho is a heavenly light broth with mild or spicy flavor as one chooses, while filled with noodles and generous helpings of meat or vegetables of your choice. Other choices of dishes from Thai or Chinese regions are well made with a wonderful scent, zing to the sauces and visual appeal that makes everyone at the table envious or hoping for a sample that might be shared. Service and price are exquisite, too! A great spot to get the right food when you want something a little different, this is my new go-to spot.

It's been about two years since i've updated my review and it says a lot about the restaurant that…read moreit's been there as long as it has. It's conveniently located in the strip mall with plenty of parking..it's the same mall off of University with Campbell's health foods, Hy-Vee pharmacy, Frederich's coffee. This restaurant still has that old time mom and pop Asian family feel it's a definite classic type vibe with Auntie snd the neices up front taking orders and the rest of the family in the back cooking and putting to go orders together. I always like to support a locally owned business. It's also about expectations, everyone is under staffed, so I always appreciate the service staff who are working. Having said that the service was fast and efficient . It's also about being realistic about the food. This is not a mall based chain restaurant or a high end bistro somewhere. The food was well prepared hot and delicious. This is a Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant. So there's lots of variety in the menu. I have had the build your own Pho, Korean style Kalbi ribs. They also have Hunan Chinese style dishes, i have tried Mongolian beef, combination fried rice and potstickers. I also have tried the pork fried egg rolls. I usually go for a late lunch early dinner. I talked to the owner and asked her how they made their soup and she said they boiled bones and added their own spices which is the traditional way to do things, I think they have a good soup base, all soup comes with sprouts and fresh Thai basil, I usually add bok choy, brisket and steak. They have plenty of other Vietnamese dishes too. I have enjoyed their pork vermicelli which is a cool salad type dish which is nice on a hot day. Some of my friends really enjoy their chicken wings. So there's still a good option with lots of choices, good staff and reasonable prices.

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