Speedy Wok is one of the small strip mall Chinese restaurants that have become quite popular by concentrating on take-out orders at cheap prices. Most of these "express" restaurants offer MSG-free food (including Speedy Wok), but Speedy Wok can be distinguished from some of the other restaurants by such features as a very ambitious menu and a large number of items with both large and small portions.

Speedy Wok has enough tables to offer dining in at the restaurant, and I have usually done this. Lately I have seen a number of take-out Chinese restaurants with one or two tables, but I usually find them to be unsuitable for dining because they do not serve hot tea, they do not have chopsticks, or the menu is too limited for anything other than Americanized Chinese dishes (and usually I find all three to be the case). Speedy Wok's large menu, though, and the customer service they provide, should make anyone feel comfortable who wishes to dine in.

Speedy Wok does not attempt to offer the kind of authentic Chinese menu found in various restaurants near N.W. 23rd and Classen. This does not mean, though, that there is no traditional, or at least flavorful and nutritious, Chinese food. The menu has its share of fried and gloppy dishes, but not all are that way.

Vegetable lo mein

The Vegetable Lo Mein was good considering that this is something I rarely order (usually it is too Americanized). I found this one, though, to be flavorful and not too heavy on the cooking oil. The vegetables were fresh and this was an all around good meal (and pretty filling as well).

Small bowl of wonton soup

Wonton Soup is probably the standout item I have found so far. A small bowl is available with many lunch and dinner plates (or a choice of egg drop or hot and sour). A large bowl can be served as a meal, though, and I found it to be a refreshing change from soups served in other restaurants that are too salty with not enough vegetables (in addition, Speedy Wok serves about as many wontons as I think most people can eat).

My attempt at ordering Bean Curd Country Style, one of my favorite dishes, was not as successful as other items I have tried. The tofu was overcooked and the vegetables were somewhat unappealing, although the sauce was good. With Speedy Wok advertising "MSG Free Low Calorie Cooking Chinese Food," the sauces seem to be one of the better points of the restaurant.

The Hot and Sour Soup was quite flavorful, and I almost gave it a five-star rating except for the fact that the red chiles really overpowered the other flavors.

With most restaurants I have to average out the prices to determine the cost category into which it should fit, but at Speedy Wok, only the "House Specials" fall into the medium category (almost everything else is well within the inexpensive range). Even the House Specials, though (Triple Delight, General Tso Chicken, etc.) are less expesive than at most restaurants.