Unique canteen-style Chinese restaurant opens in Baymeadows

Mini bowls pack big flavors at a unique new fast-casual Chinese restaurant now open on the Southside in Jacksonville.

Wokhey Wok Fired Mini Bowls recently debuted at 8221 Southside Blvd., No. 11, in the Deerwood Station shopping center at Baymeadows Road.

The restaurant is a canteen-style Chinese concept that is believed to be the first of its kind in Northeast Florida.

Guests design their own meals from Wokhey's rotating menu of traditional Chinese-American, new regional dishes and dim sum. The offerings are available in 12-ounce bowls to encourage exploring new tastes, as well as larger portions intended for sharing.

Guests grab a tray, walk along a buffet-like line at the serving counter and choose from a selection of freshly made fare, which

can be purchased by the bowl or pound.

The restaurant is the latest concept from founder Andy Yang, who, along with his wife and business partner Stefani Go, lead Bibimbox Korean Kitchen & Wings and Tous les Jours — also in Jacksonville.

Bibimbox opened on Oct. 28, 2025, at 4463 Deerwood Lake Parkway near Tinseltown, about three miles away. Tous les Jours, a stand-alone artisan French-Asian-inspired bakery cafe, opened May 22 at 9810 Baymeadows Road No. 6, about a half-mile away in Baymeadows Village shopping center.

In the soft opening phase, Wokhey plans to celebrate its grand opening Oct. 16, general manager Christa Del Rosario told the Times-Union.

Chef-driven cuisine by the bowl or pound

Wokhey is "positioned to bring more authentic flavors to the community," Yang said in a news release announcing the restaurant's opening.

"Same accessible, quick service format that you are familiar with, but lean more into dishes and flavors closer to real home-style Chinese cooking," he said. The high quality of the food, portions and price, plus the canteen-style format, makes Wokhey stand out from other Chinese restaurants.

"Wokhey offers authentic Chinese and Asian cuisine in a quick, affordable and convenient format," he said. "We will carry your Chinese American favorites, but also serve some classic Chinese food that you may not have tried before!"

Dining destinations: 5 Jacksonville-area restaurants open, 6 permanently close in September

On the horizon: Upscale steakhouse coming to former Ragtime Tavern in Atlantic Beach

Yang founded Wokhey. Born and raised in the United States, he worked at his parents' Chinese American takeoutrestaurant.

"It was always curious to me that we served customers one style of Chinese food but ate another style at home," said Yang, noting that when he got older, he explored other styles of Chinese cuisine during global travels.

"I realized how big the culinary world really is. Wokhey is my attempt at bringing those experiences back home," he added.

Chef Xiao Shulin, whose background includes Chinese fine dining, is Wokhey's culinary leader.

"I want to have items that we know our community loves but also add items that my parents and my family love too. This restaurant is the amalgamation of the two cultures that define my life living in America," Shulin said in the news release.

Menu highlights

"The popular dishes so far are our Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs and our Red Braised Pork … which is pork belly chopped into chunks then covered and smothered in this nice sweet and savory sauce," Del Rosario said. "That one's been really popular. We normally sell that one out consistently."

She said Sichuan Crispy Chicken, with its hint of spiciness, is really popular as well and "really enjoyable." Classic Orange Chicken also is a customer favorite. In addition, the diversity of dishes — chicken, pork, seafood and tofu — has been key to the restaurant's growing popularity.

Dim sum offerings include a variety of shumai (traditional Chinese steamed dumplings), egg custard tarts, buns and more, she said.

What does 'Wokhey' mean?

Wokhey is the English pronunciation of the Cantonese phrase, "wok hei," which translates to "the breath of the wok." It refers to the smoky flavor infused by a wok in stir-fry dishes, according to the prestigious Michelin Guide.

The Jacksonville restaurant "was inspired by a 1970s-1980s Hong Kong aesthetic with neon red and greenlights lighting up the city."

"It’s a small canteen-style restaurant, but we still wanted to pay homage to our cultural heritage. The dining area features comfortable booths and warm lighting," Yang noted.

The restaurant, licensed for up to 49 seats, is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at [e-mail].

If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Unique canteen-style Chinese restaurant opens in Baymeadows