Magic Wok

Magic Wok on Waltham Abbey's Market Square has a five-star hygiene rating and draws enthusiastic reviews from those who discover it despite its mixed online profile. One TripAdvisor reviewer called it "one of the best Chinese takeaways in London" — comparing it favourably despite Waltham Abbey sitting in Essex rather than the capital. Dishes praised include satay chicken skewers, egg fried rice, salt and chilli chips and a good chicken curry. The Market Square location puts Magic Wok at the heart of Waltham Abbey's historic town, overlooked by the Norman Abbey and adjacent to the town's famous clock. The Abbey church — reputedly the burial place of King Harold — draws visitors to the town, and the market square's restaurant cluster benefits from that footfall alongside its regular residential trade. Magic Wok's five-star hygiene rating is the strongest objective measure available, and its loyal regulars provide a more favourable assessment of the cooking than the aggregate review score alone would suggest.