Magic Wok Aurora is a phenomenon that occurs in the sky. It is a type of aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, that creates a colorful and magical display. The name "Magic Wok Aurora" comes from the shape that the lights form, which resembles a swirling wok..
Other multigenerational customers have streamed into Magic Wok over the past few weeks, and one can bet that the inside of the restaurant will be jammed on the closing date of June 30.
Those of us who have lived in town a while, though, know and appreciate restaurants that are true treasures, the ones that many people grew up with, visited for birthdays, anniversaries and baptisms. Then a slew of customers began coming in, to savor their favorite dishes as much as they were savoring memories made at Magic Wok, which first opened at 50 S.
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Petrak: Magic Wok closing ends an era for La Grange
I was walking out of Magic Wok in La Grange this week when a man on the street stopped me. He pointed at the sign in the window.
"They're really closing?" he asked, looking what I would describe as crestfallen.
Advertisement"Yes, they're really closing on June 30, so you better get inside!" I told him.
As I walked away, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him standing there, re-reading the sign that that the owners of Magic Wok are retiring and shuttering their restaurant after 40 years.
AdvertisementThose 40 years have really meant something to people, because within minutes after the first posting about the closing appeared on social media, it was shared several times. Then a slew of customers began coming in, to savor their favorite dishes as much as they were savoring memories made at Magic Wok, which first opened at 50 S. La Grange Road in 1977 before moving to Harris about 1990, in a building with a signature pink facade.
Downtown La Grange has changed a lot in 40 years. It's now a veritable restaurant row, with cool rooftop dining spaces, hip cocktails and dishes written up in magazines and features on TV shows. When Magic Wok first opened, this was a dry town, so you couldn't yet order what have come to be almost-famous Mai Tai drinks.
Those of us who have lived in town a while, though, know and appreciate restaurants that are true treasures, the ones that many people grew up with, visited for birthdays, anniversaries and baptisms. The ones that we probably and wrongly assumed would always be there.
La Grange resident Raymond Lee, who owns Magic Wok with his wife, Grace, and her brother, Tommy Ng, says that sense of shock and wistfulness at the loss of the restaurant has spurred many people to come back in for a final taste of their favorite food or perhaps to order a dish they always wanted, but never got around to trying.
"We've had a customer who's been with us for five – five! – generations and they were just in this week," says Ray, who did double duty for decades by working in business while owning the restaurant, as Grace, with Tommy, ran the day-to-day operation. Some of the restaurants' chefs have been with them almost from the start.
Other multigenerational customers have streamed into Magic Wok over the past few weeks, and one can bet that the inside of the restaurant will be jammed on the closing date of June 30.
"People have been stopping in and say goodbye. It's overwhelming, the support we've gotten from friends and customers," says Grace, noting that they have received small tokens of appreciation, too, like a poster board a customer made for them out of candy bars, heralding the fact that "You have always been our Lifesaver in a Crunch," among other sweet sentiments.
The Lees plan on spending their retirement enjoying time with their grandchildren and children, who grew up in the business with Magic Wok being like a second home to them.
AdvertisementFor the next several days, though, the owners will be busy serving, sharing and smiling with the customers who have helped make Magic Wok an institution in town. It really was its own kind of magic, and it will be missed.
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Reviews for "Experience the magic of Asian cuisine at the Magic Wok Aurora"
- John - 1 star - I went to Magic Wok Aurora with high expectations, but I was greatly disappointed. The food was bland, and the service was extremely slow. It took ages for our order to arrive, and when it did, it was lukewarm. The portions were also quite small, especially considering the high prices. Overall, I would not recommend Magic Wok Aurora to anyone looking for a satisfying dining experience.
- Sarah - 2 stars - My experience at Magic Wok Aurora was rather underwhelming. The restaurant had a nice ambiance, but that's about the only positive thing I can say. The food was mediocre at best, lacking in flavor and creativity. The service was also lackluster, with the waitstaff being inattentive and slow to respond to our requests. The prices were not justified by the quality of the food and service. I don't think I'll be returning to Magic Wok Aurora anytime soon.
- Michael - 1.5 stars - I had high hopes for Magic Wok Aurora, but unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations. The food was average at best, lacking in both taste and presentation. The service was also disappointing, with the staff seeming uninterested and unattentive to our needs. The restaurant itself was also quite noisy and crowded, making it difficult to have a peaceful dining experience. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend Magic Wok Aurora to others in search of good Chinese cuisine.