China's Chef Fei opens 1st U.S. restaurant in San Diego
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In pursuit of wok hei. Photos: Courtesy of Chef Fei
San Diego has another feather in its cap as it builds its reputation as a foodie haven.
The big picture: Chef Fei, known across China for viral wok-fired dishes and Hunan-style cuisine, picked our city for its first U.S. location, further cementing San Diego as a go-to destination for creative cuisine.
Driving the news: Chef Fei opened this weekend at the UTC mall, another example of mall dining that goes way beyond Sbarro's and Panda Express.
Dig in: Chef Fei is known as China's "King of Stir-Fry" and has more than 200 international locations.
- Its claim to fame is serving stir-fry fresh from the wok instead of reheated food.
- It serves primarily stir-fry dishes with meat and vegetables, but also tofu dishes and salads.
- Prices are generally in the $25-$35 range.
Inside the wok: The key is achieving a wok heated above 356°F, which creates what Chinese cooks call "wok hei," a smoky flavor that's hard to achieve at home, according to a restaurant press release.
- If your wok isn't hot enough, "ingredients tend to cook gently rather than flash-sear, so the signature aroma of wok hei never fully develops," the release said.
Yes, but: Chef Fei will be making a change for its San Diego opening.
- In China, they serve premium black pork, but the UTC location will use Wagyu beef.
- That's so they can use fresher local ingredients, the release said.
Flashback: Chef Fei started in Changsha, which is a diverse and dynamic tourism city in China, the restaurant's marketing manager Andy Tang told Axios.
- "When we chose our first U.S. location, we were looking for the same spirit: diverse, welcoming, and full of energy," Tang said. "San Diego is a great match. In China, Chef Fei has grown into a national sensation starting from Changsha. We hope to follow a similar path in the United States."
Context: The UTC mall has been building up quite a roster of internationally recognized Asian dining brands, including Din Tai Fung, HaiDiLao Hot Pot, Menya Ultra, Qin West Noodle and Katsuya Ko.
- So Chef Fei will be in good company.
- In China, the restaurant also regularly chooses upscale malls for new locations, according to the Chinese retail trade magazine Winshang.
If you go: Chef Fei is open Monday to Friday 11am-10 pm and Saturday and Sunday 10:30am-10pm.
- Reservations are already filling up, but you can also walk in and put your name on a waitlist at the host stand.