Continuing yesterday’s foodie theme, another Bloomfield restaurant has received positive press in social media. Earlier today, blogger Cassie Wallace posted a review of Wai Wai in which she praised the three-dish Dinner Box as “some of the best Chinese I’ve ever had.”

Is anyone else making dinner plans based on these posts? I’m thinking Chinese.

Local blogger Mandy of More of Mandy wrote a complimentary post yesterday titled “Wai Wai in Bloomfield”. I’m not sure why Mandy was immediately taken aback by the New York-esque feel of the tiny place, but she enjoyed her meal, writing the following about her lunch box:

The meal, brought to me by our super friendly and elegantly dressed waiter came served on dishes I was actually jealous of. If only my kitchen could harbor such cool plates. The food was presented beautifully on the plate (that I wanted to put in my purse) and to my pleasant surprise, rivaled Asian eatery, PF Changs. I made sure to mention to our waiter that it was indeed “the best sweet and sour chicken I have ever had, hands down!”

Thanks Mandy, we love it when people enjoy our businesses so much that they write about them, and want to encourage more people to blog about Bloomfield! You can read more about Wai Wai on Shopping Bloomfield here.

I was pleased to find a review of Wai Wai Chinese Cuisine in today’s Pittsburgh City Paper. In their dining review, Angelique Bamberg and Jason Roth write favorably about Bloomfield’s newest Asian restaurant, finding its greatest strength “the ability to work expertly within the framework established by countless Chinese-American restaurants, yet serve dishes that, while assimilated, are distinctive enough to be a cuisine of their own”.

I stopped by the restaurant to pick up dinner and congratulated owner Wai Lam, who was also pleased with the review. I recommend giving the article a read if you’ve yet to experience Wai Wai, or even if you’re a regular customer — I overlooked the fried lemongrass wonton appetizer until the review brought it to my attention in delicious detail.

Wai Lam prefers to deal in bargains.

Now, along with husband Mike Wang, she prolongs this lifework by opening the couple’s second business in Bloomfield.

Wai Wai Chinese Cuisine opened doors on March 20, bringing a stylish feel and affordable Chinese dining to what Lam termed a “steady crowd for opening night”. Occupying the former Domino’s Pizzeria at 4717 Liberty Avenue, one door past Dollar Max—the couple’s other business endeavor—Wai Wai (pronounced "way way") provides new character to what Lam felt was an over-used ambiance in Chinese dining. The couple totally re-vamped the interior from the old business, utilized much more space for dining and used Lam’s decorative sense to provide a new tone to the eating experience.

“We were tired of the old look of traditional Chinese restaurants so we decided to try something new,” expressed Lam, who drew decorative inspiration from the couple’s travels around the globe and integrated it into the restaurant’s theme. “This feels better to me.”

While the new-look to old-tradition will certainly catch glances, it’s the prices that are sure to warrant eye-popping stares.

A dinner box, which combines four chosen selections from the regular menu in heaping volume, goes for only $7.75. The lunchtime equivalent, which is served cafeteria style until 3 p.m., costs a mere $5.75.

All-the-while dishing out traditional Chinese favorites without skimping by with a sub-par product.

“There are some Chinese restaurants where the employees won’t even eat the food,” admitted Lam, who’s spent 17-years working in the restaurant business. “That is not the case here. We make all the food from scratch and we all enjoy the food here.”

Bloomfield resident Joe Laskowski felt much the same way after completing his meal on opening night.

“I was very surprised by the portions,” admitted Laskowski. “I really liked the atmosphere and the food had a real nice flavor. I’m a huge fan of Chinese food and this place was very good.”

Bloomfield resident Joe Laskowski (left) and Michael Hartman enjoy their first meal at Wai Wai.

Wai Wai offers delivery (within a 10-mile radius) and take-out options daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, remaining open later on weekends.