Restaurant News

Closing while busy as ever, Garden City restaurant bids farewell after decades

A longtime Asian restaurant in Garden City is ending a nearly three-decade run in the Boise area.

And at least one little girl will be smiling.

Golden Wok, a family-owned business at 3948 W. Chinden Blvd., plans to close after a final day May 17. The restaurant has been in operation more than 27 years, according to a goodbye message posted on Facebook by owner Cuong Trinh.

“We are so lucky we have a lot of customers supporting us, more and more come,” he wrote, adding that he wished he could keep Golden Wok open longer.

“But I have to let it go,” he explained.

The towering Golden Wok sign is a familiar sight on Chinden Boulevard.
The towering Golden Wok sign is a familiar sight on Chinden Boulevard. Golden Wok Boise/Facebook

The long, grueling hours of running a restaurant often take a toll on owners-operators. Trinh, who took over Golden Wok from his father, has a 9-year-old daughter who misses her parents after school and on weekends, he wrote.

“She is so sweet and so lonely at home with Grandma and Grandpa,” he posted, adding, “time to make her wish happen!”

Commenters on Facebook were disappointed — but supportive.

“Happy you’ll get to spend time with your family! That’s what it’s all about,” wrote one. “I will miss my go-to vegan spot! Thank you for all the delicious meals over the years. Your tofu is the best in town!”

This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM.

Michael Deeds
Idaho Statesman
Michael Deeds is a long-serving entertainment reporter and opinion columnist at the Idaho Statesman, where he chronicles the Boise good life: restaurants, concerts, culture, cool stuff. He started as a summer intern after graduating from the University of Nebraska with a news-editorial journalism degree. Deeds’ prior Statesman roles have included sportswriter, music critic and features editor. His other writing has ranged from freelancing album reviews for The Washington Post to bragging about Boise in that inflight magazine you left on the plane. 
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