Asian Fusion Restaurant brings fast-casual dining to Valley
BY JOHN BRICE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — Local residents have a new dining option with the opening of Sizzlin Wok, an Asian fusion restaurant, which welcomed customers to its new location on Highway 29 in Valley last week. The restaurant saw a steady stream of customers throughout the day, with its fast-casual model offering a balance of convenience and restaurant-quality Chinese dishes.
Head Manager Naenae Johnson discussed the newest addition to the area’s dining scene and some of the dishes offered.
“We are a new Chinese restaurant that just opened here in Valley,” Johnson said. “We offer a lot of great food such as honey sesame chicken, orange chicken and Mongolian beef. [It’s] real authentic Chinese food. It is independenly [owned], but we also own the ATL Fried Chicken and Seafood, and I am the manager there as well. I have been working there almost five years now, and I live in Lanett.”
Johnson said the goal was to bring something fresh to the local restaurant lineup while prioritizing speed and convenience.
“We wanted to bring something new to the area,” Johnson said. “We do have a few Chinese restaurants here, but we wanted to offer something fresh and exciting with a faster food concept and a convenient drive-thru.”
Attention to quality and preparation, Johnson said, is a key factor that sets Sizzlin Wok apart.
“The authentic dishes [are made] from scratch,” Johnson said. “All of the sauces are made from scratch, [including] the yum yum. That’s what I love most. We’ve grown through word of mouth, with people trying the food, and we’ve sold a lot of plates. We want to make sure we’re bringing them good food.”
Johnson also emphasized her role in setting standards for service and consistency.
“I love it, I get to meet new people — talk to people, and get their feedback on what they love and [we] try to implement that in the best way,” she said. “Cleanliness comes first, [and we also care about] keeping the food consistently good and always having a smile on our face. If we mess something up, we don’t mind fixing it. It’s about keeping the right attitude. Come on in and try us out.”
Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carrie Wood said the opening is a positive sign for the local economy.
“As Chamber Director, it’s always encouraging to see growth happening in our community,” she said. “New businesses contribute to the momentum of our local economy and help keep our area moving forward. I was extremely excited to see the line [of people] on Highway 29 on their opening day.”
