Happy Wok offers Asian food

Sisters Country fans of Asian cuisine don't have to leave town to get their food fix. Happy Wok is open for takeout business on Hood Avenue.

Owned by June and Mark Spofford, the restaurant reflects its name with a warm and friendly buzz. June believes that happy people are well-fed with healthy, fresh food and according to Mark, her talents in the kitchen make it so.

The Spoffords previously owned The Royal Thai restaurant in Sisters, closing it, to the disappointment of their customers, in 2002 after June had their daughter, Sammie, now 12. The restaurant business life runs strong in both June and Mark, and they had been waiting for the right time to open again, this time using a takeout model.

"It's good value because of the takeout," said Mark. The most expensive menu item is $10.50 and servings are generous."

All the food is made to order and uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The sauces are also made fresh daily. And June is a joyful cook, happiest when watching her customers chatting as she prepares their food.

"When you do that, it shows. You can feel the energy," said Mark.

The recipes June uses come from her family in Thailand. She grew up in a family of restaurateurs, and when she and Mark met and married in Thailand, they kept the family tradition alive by opening a restaurant of their own. It catered to the tourist trade, with burgers and pizza featured on the menu.

These days the emphasis is on healthy Asian eating. Appetizers, salads, soups, entrees, curries and noodles, along with Thai custard or fried bananas, are offered. Many of the dishes can have tofu added for a vegetarian option and extra veggies and spices may also be requested. Brown rice is available as a side, as is fried and white rice. And the drinks case is stocked with Asian sodas and fruit juices.

Because the business relies on takeout, the Spofford's recommend phoning ahead with your order. Their menus are designed to fit in a vehicle glove box or inconspicuously on the fridge. Wait time is about 20 minutes, unless there's a big rush; then you might have to wait a bit longer. But the happy vibe that June and her front-of-the-house staffer, Molly Page, create means perhaps making a new friend or meeting an old one during that

wait.

To order from Happy Wok, call 541-549-9999 or visit the restaurant at 352 E. Hood Ave.