City Wok - Studio City 06/02/2024

City Wok 3.6/5 (674 reviews) · Chinese, PanAsian · $$ 10949 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 · East meets West City Wok, an East-meets-West collaboration, served its first North Hollywood guest in 1990. ​ The dream was a contemporary yet casual restaurant offering authentic, upscale Asian cuisine. Today, City Wok is proud to be recognized by Restaurant Hospitality magazine as personifying the future of fast casual dining. How did we get this far? ​ Our flavors rock and our food is addictive. People CRAVE City Wok. We use only the freshest meats, seafood and produce available. Professional chefs prepare authentic dishes with a contemporary twist from our shining exhibition kitchens. Our food is prepared health consciously, though it isn’t health food. Half orders are great for sharing and variety. Our sauces are homemade. We never use MSG. We don’t use steam tables and we aren’t fast food. All of our dishes are made to order. If you’re feeling creative, we’ll do our best to accommodate your wishes. Take-out orders get the same care as the dishes we serve in-house. We use state-of-the-art packaging to keep your order hot and fresh. We’re here to serve you, not our egos. Our team is friendly, professional and responsive. If you don’t agree, please let us know. We believe in Clean… Clean kitchens, Clean food, Clean flavors. Whether it’s a night out or takeout, City Wok is the place for fresh flavors made to order. We hope to see you soon! We unconditionally guarantee our food and service

I no lie, I ride Ivan's Ride

We don't need no expectations

We don't need no thoughts at all

No car anthem as a mass transit tune

Drivers leave us to just ride along

Drivers, leave those bicyclists alone

All you know, we're not a stick in the road

All we go on a trek to the wall

And if that is the history of Los Angeles, LA is one depressing town of destruction and depravity.  Swear the only good time was the prehistoric.  Before people habituated.  Perhaps that explains disappearance of dinosaurs. Because of us, they all decided to jump into a tar pit.  You know what I'd like to seen on the mural is an ape throwing a bone in the air and a space craft.

Let me thank everyone for being so patient and waiting.  It is so kind and thoughtful and makes me appreciate riding with the club.  So thank you so much.

During my down time, I exercised.  Though Donna would not let me leave the house, you're going to fall down and I can't pick you up. I walked in circles in part of the house, as long as I was in view.  You can imagine how boring.  Fortunately, have carpeted stairs to give me a work out.  Make sure you hold the rail.  And I'd sit and standing a chair repeatedly, oh what fun.  And I'd do the therapy exercises, repeatedly, when I'm in sessions, they tell me how well I'm doing them,  Well I've doing them so much as I have nothing else to do.

Well they did have me ride a stationary bike.  The first time, they have it at one and I'm hitting my knees on the handlebar.  So next time, added resistance, and still the people next to me watching me spin like a runaway fixie.  So each time, I move it up, they don't know.  They have a ten minute timer and leave me on my own, so I'm touching all the buttons because that's me.  Most [patients when the timer goes off stop but not me, when it's a minute left I'm giving it all I got, sweat is flying about.  Seems I'm the only person who sweats.  Each day I ask for a towel which I tuck in the neck of my shirt, the towel is completely wet and when I go outside, it's cold as my tee is sopping. 

So second to last session, I'm nearing 3 miles after a slow start and tell the guy I want to get it, but no he has me quit.  I was thinking 18 mph is pretty good.  Now my last day, I've moved it to resistance 8, scared to go 10, so I'm slogging, dripping, internally grunting.  I'm nearing 3, upped it to 10. a flood is falling from forehead.  3.4 miles, that better than 20 mph.  Before my accident I couldn't even get the bike close to 20.

Now I'm thinking I'm hot stuff.  Return here the next morning.  Less than 25 dollars, call that a bargain.  And I didn't even have to drive or ride.

Checked the club ride.  Sepulveda pass, should be a cinch.  Back when my Dad was around, I'd ride from home over to the valley and back once a week before work.  Back when on Sunday would take Rosecrans to the end and back, depending how much time before work, would take Beach to PCH and return.  My Dad would tell what I did which made me want to go farther. He was not alive when I started getting into bicycling, wondered what he would have thought.  But then I couldn't do all those rides as I'd be working.  On the Great Wall of LA was depiction of child labor, could see us kids.  It'd be the Great Wails of LA.

Come on Sepulveda is fairly easy, the numbers if done it.  wife is not sure but she gives her blessing, just don't over do it.  No, I'm going to quit after lunch and take the train back.  Good.  So today I'm on the phone, when I caught the K line in Inglewood, 1/2 hour to do three miles.  then again when I got of the E line in Culver City.  Went to La Ciénaga Park as their restrooms are nicer.  more chatting.  And at lunch.  And when I got back here, past 5:00,  I'm sure everyone was home by then.  Could have ridden the bike faster.  Actually was but legs just was not feelin bueno and best be safe than sorry.

Right from the start realize it was going to be a struggle.  At the start stepped on a banana, must of stuck to the shoe as it kept sliding off the platform pedal.  Kept wiping it, figured just push my shoe toward the bike.

Took quick glance at cue, figure out the route by memory or whatever, forgot there is some climbing before the main up  The good with this heavy bike, it has climbing gears.  Seems I snapped the derailer cable, but being in the middle gear works.  Glad did not have to go granny.

Great group waited as I remove my jacket and drink Orange Crush.  Left my road bike in Fallbrook along with all the fixings.  Had to scrounge for stuff, could not find a waterbottle.  Lost most of them when my bikes got stolen.  Yeah could have taken from collection, but it's my collection.  Btw, while down Googled LA Wheelmen patches.  Find on ebay like a dozen set, patches for each holiday, for each century.  Seems you can earn a patch every month.  Then there was this display of Great Western Bicycle Rally, twenty years worth.  So my collection of patches is nothing, can see how people can make a jacket out of them.  Btw 2, when searching for spare bicycle tools, came upon three patches.  Appears I don't put them away.

Sepulveda was more difficult than I remember.  All the nuances felt right, seems my legs did not have the oomphs.  So I'm having to work harder resulting sweat raining down.  And I'm huffing, puffing.  If anyone was close enough, they may fear I'm going to have a heart attack.  For me not good.  But as I learned, you just keep pushing.  To every climb there is a summit, to every ride there is a finish.  Unless you died and went to hell.

So I'm quite happy to get up and over.  Btw, could not find club jersey, woke up later than like, should have laid out my wear, saw something orange, turns out to be March Madness 2012, The last t-shiirt you will ever need  End of the World  Ride for your life.  Thing about wearing a t, it hot and soaks.  Should know, when rode Doubles in tees. at end they'd be so starched can stand up by themselves.

BTW, I know I'm going to be all over the place, way my mind works, scatterbrain.  While searching, found a May 2004 Gooseneck, 20 years ago,  The ride schedule is lavender.  Lists also GT trainers.  As today's ride had Mulholland, there is a Mulholland Madness starting from Calabasas.  As next week has La tuna, listed is Arcadia/La Tuna Canyon.  Back to back days, Mount Baldy Village and Oak Ridge Rides, a century.  Notice after Mulholland, next day is Flintridge Express with steep Crown/ Starlight.  Then it has June, with Angeles Crest which first sentence reads, Not to oversell it but this is the ride you will tell your great grandchildren about especially if you also rode the next day's Reseda Phase One over Little Tujunga and Kagel.  And as Topanga Canyon was mentioned, the trainer does that prior to the next day's Neuerburg Century.  All I can write, in the old days riders were truly a tough bunch.  And I'm crying just going up Sepulveda.  

Fargo, Parades, commuting, LA Marathon, Grand Tour, Summer Mini Tour, and Ralph's Big Tour Part 16.

Dale and Julie went long, as Rod, Russ and I went down Sepulveda.  Even with fat tires, still slow.  catch red.  thankfully they waited otherwise I'd be in Santa Clarita, no I knew where to turn.

Checked out the mural.  Had a poem in mind but not the time to compose it, then I'd be called a racist.  Just writing what I saw.

My game plan had I been on my own was an Armenian restaurant with a fish dish not familiar with as I like to Guinee pig with food, cept it not open till noon.  As we rode together should eat together unless it's Habit or some chain.  A Chinese place will work but it is not open, so the guys go to Togo.  As I'm not riding anymore, will wait as the orange chicken poster has my attention.

So for Russ, here is my review.

First they asked where my buddies as both of you stuck your head in, was told not open.  I've eaten here before.  Sat outside, all other patrons went in.

checked menu, it's the usual stuff, so ask the wait, which is most popular.  Pointed to the picture.  Ok, what comes with it, rice.  I need vegetables, ask suggestion.  Spring rolls.  Fine.  And ice tea.

Spring rolls were OK, crispy shell.  Offered two dipping sauce.  one is sweet, the other was told spicy.  took a top of chop stick, no way.  The best part is the shredded cabbage as garnish, I liked, crunchy and I like greens.

As for orange chicken, well every Chinese place does it, always the number one.  First see these hot peppers sticking out, removed them.  Expecting heat, not.  And the chunks are crispy, I like.  Sauce is sweet, not overly.  Can see why this would be a favorite.  Puts Panda's to shame.  Was not going to get as my wife served me boxed orange chicken for three nights.  And I have it frozen in this freezer.  

Anywhat, give it thumbs up.  May not eat again with so many other eateries in the area.  Way back, the club stopped at that diner on the other side, quit going because it's crowded which is a good sign, saw, there was a line at the door.  Vivian's.  Nancy knows.

While eating and chatting, was thinking I'd ride home, only 19 miles, just Cahuenga climb.  Wife says you're already overdoing it.  Take the train.

I've never been on the B line.  Rod mentioned of LA subway, not the sandwich shop.  It's a short hill away.  Never been, tried to figure this out as I see no tracks.  Lots of cars, parking and escalator to Universal City.  Spot the Metro, an elevator down.  Three levels, stop at first, nope, to the basement.  Rod tells that someone got stabbed.  If so, see no police.  And find some seedy looking characters.  With a ugly bike, even uglier shirt, none will bother me.  

B line is underground.  Could have gotten off at 7th but all but me gets off.  Though it's farther away, will catch the A at Union.  Less people, higher chance to have a place to park the bike.

From Union, know my way back.

Played with the dog, wrote that for Dale.

Last chat with the wife, what took you so long.  

Looked at the comic section.  Then came on here and started typing.

Plan on attending next Sunday's.  Not sure if I can do the long which Rod plans on.  Chevy Chase might be steeper, than Christmas Tree lane, if I recall correctly, someone seems to dread that climb.  Lunch in So Pasa.  Can catch the A line home

As my dear asks if I'm doing my exercise, without her supervision, no.  But I promise to try and eat the serving size she feeds me.  Told her when we meet again, I'd have dropped poundage.  I'm so envious of Russ's weight.

see all come Sunday.  And hey, if I can do it, you can do it too.

Happy bicycling, David