City Wok, the Southern California–based fresh casual Chinese restaurant chain recently signed a

multi-unit franchising agreement with North Carolina entrepreneur Greg Gala. Gala will open City Wok restaurants in parts of Charlotte and also in the southwest portion of the Raleigh metro. He expects to open his first restaurant in early 2008.

“The Chinese food segment is very hot right now and City Wok is the best I’ve ever had. The format is 50 percent carry out and 50 percent dine-in, and they enjoy tremendous volumes in relatively small spaces,” says Gala. “City Wok is incredibly popular on the west coast and we are confident that North Carolina residents are going to love this concept.”

City Wok is co-owned by Fransmart, the Alexandria, Virginia based franchise development company that developed Five Guys Burgers and Fries and zpizza throughout North Carolina. The founders of Fransmart are also responsible for bringing QDOBA to the state.

City Wok’s fresh, made-to-order dishes are prepared using authentic Chinese cooking techniques and recipes, and feature homemade sauces, and high quality ingredients. The restaurant provides tableside service. In fact, Zagat suggests, “There should be one in every neighborhood.”

City Wok currently has four locations open in Southern California. Gala joins two other East Coast franchisees already developing City Wok restaurants in Florida.

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