Answers

Flying Woks is renowned for its unique on-site wok catering experience. From simple Asian finger food delicacies to our exotic four course banquet, Flying Woks can tailor a menu and style to suit you perfectly.

We are happy to cater for vegetarian/vegan, coeliac, halal, kosher and specific dietary requirements and all recipes are free from MSG and artificial additives.

How does it work?

You firstly book a specific day and time, by way of a deposit. This may be as little as one week to two years in advance.

Once you have a date in mind, please be sure to book our service early to avoid us being fully booked up on that day.

As the date of the function approaches we liase with you, guiding you through the menu selection, checking the site and making sure that everything will simply be perfect. On the day we usually arrive at least one hour before the serving time (great for surprises) however for a small fee we can pre-set the wok barbecues earlier.

Chefs and waiters stand behind the woks and 'put on a show' throwing in garlic, ginger, chicken fillets and bok choy. With a flash of flame, the oriental delights are cooked before your very eyes. We have been known to even entice the birthday boy or host out to mann the wok, using the big wok shovel!

The guests are invited to come to the wok, take a noodle box or bowl, help themselves to perfectly steamed jasmine rice and condiments and then we serve your guests directly from the wok.
It's modern, contemporary Asian fusion and certainly not traditional!

Alternatively we can be hidden away, working diligently in the background and serve directly to the table, using our professional waiters.

Either way, the Flying Wok Experience is unique, enticing and delicious.

Here you will find answers to the most popular questions clients ask us. Feel free to call or email us with your specific questions.

When Should I Book, How Long Do I Have To Think About Whether Flying Woks Is The Right Option For Us?

We take bookings on a first in, first served basis. We can cater for up to four functions on any given night, though if we accept a booking for a function for 600 people, we may be able to cater for this event only. So the answer is once you have made up your mind to use our service, please let us know at your earliest and we will accepts a deposit usually 30% or $500.00 is suitable as a and this will hold the day for you. We can then discuss with you at a later date serving times, menus etc. Please note you are free to change the date to a later date, up to six months if required.

When Do Most People Usually Book?
Wedding Bookings from one month to eighteen months. Birthday Parties usually two weeks to three months in advance. Corporate Events from one week to six months in advance. We have taken bookings with as little as three days in advance, though it all depends on availability, It is a regular occurrence in summer that we are fully booked having to unfortunately turn away bookings and at other times too throughout the year. So please to avoid disappointment, keep us informed of your intentions.

Can We Taste Your Food Before Booking Or View Your Operation?
Sure, we can invite you along to a function to discreetly view our unique approach and in summer there are public events we appear at that you can attend.

Do You Use MSG?
No, we do not add msg and choose pastes and sauces with no msg.

What Happens If It Rains?

Before arriving, we always discuss in advance dry & wet option for wok set up up. Dry option is just about any where, wet option has been pergolas, market umbrellas, garages, marquee, tarpaulins. You can pre-book our Marquee for $150.00 though there usually is an alternative at the venue/home.

How Big A Function Can You Cater For?

The largests private function so far is 1000 serves in one sitting and public events more than 5000 serves though we have the manpower and equipment to cater for much more.

How Small A Function Do You Cater For?

The smallest so far is 12 persons. There is a minimum fee of $1200.00 ($1400.00 on Friday/Saturday nights after 5:00 pm) so the function for 12 people works out to about $100.00 per person all-inclusive. However a function for 50 persons starts at $22.50 per person. The average function size is 80 to 120 persons.

Does The Price Come Down The More People You Cater For?

Yes, generally functions over 100 Serves are 10% less per person compared to those functions under 100 serves. Eg a function for 100 persons a selection of three main course stir-fry’s starts at $19.80 per person. There are further discounts for functions greater than 200 persons.

What Do You Get For Your Money?

Everything to do with serving and eating the food is included in the price. Prices include the chef and his wok waiters, food, condiments, noodleboxes, chop sticks, forks, serviettes, serving tables, spot lights, we even bring our own rubbish bins and take the rubbish away!

What Is Not Included?
If you required floor staff to serve courses to the table, there is an additional charge, though usually we serve the main course directly from the wok. Beverage Options are not included and there is a small travel fee if we are driving greater than thirty kilometres from Melbourne CBD. We can pre-set the wok kitchen i.e set up the woks in the morning or day before and there is a charge for this, though usually this is not necessary as we arrive approximately one to one and a half hours before the serving time.

What Time Do You Serve The Food?

That’s entirely up to you. We can cater seven days a week at any time.

What Is A Popular Time To Serve Dinner?

It varies. For example Wedding catering is usually served early evening whilst a 21t Birthday celebration we have served at 10:30 pm. It depends on the arrival time of your guests, the expectations of your guests, the time span of your event. We usually serve finger food or entrees within one hour of main courses. There is an additional time based charge when there is more than an hour between different courses.

How Much Is That Additional Charge?
Usually $75.00 per hour in 15 minute blocks, though it is unusual for clients to want courses spread out over a longer period of time that what is usually allocated.

How Much Space Do You Need?
For a function of 50 to 180 persons we may take up about 3 x 4 metres in space. This includes space for our prep table (set up behind the chefs) the three woks (set up in front of the chefs) and a serving table (set up along side the woks) This estimate also includes space for your guests to come up to the woks and be served.

How Small An Area Can You Cook In?
It depends on the number of guests too, though we have been on balcony’s in apartments on St Kilda Rd for small functions, a function for 600 guests needs potentially double the space.

Do You Cook Inside?
Generally we cook outside though have cooked inside in halls, galleries, offices and garages. The woks can generate a bit of sizzle, flame and smoke so when cooking inside we modify the cooking process by pre-cooking some foods. We have many times cooked outside then wheeled the barbecues in to a hall to a pre-designated space and served guests from there.

And Outside?
That’s the best options, because we cook on show, wearing bright red jackets, tossing in food with a bit of pizzazz, we like to set up the woks in a space where your guests can see what we are doing, as well as a space that is easy for guests to come out too.

Are You Flexible With Serving Times? Can I Change My Mind On The Night?
Within reason. You may have agreed to have your main course served at 8:00 pm and not all your guests have arrived in time. In this case we are happy to wait 15 minutes or so, though much longer and additional charges are incurred.

We try to have all these requirements like serving times, menus etc all agreed to approximately one week before hand. That gives us a chance to send you a copy of your menu and you can check in writing your self what we have agreed too.

Can You Change The Menu On The Night?
No. Before we arrive, we measure our ingredients specifically to your menu choices.

What About If There Is A Person Who Can’t Eat Something And They Tell Me On The Night?

Sure let us know and we will endeavour to accommodate them. It may be possible that they can eat two of the three main courses dishes or we may (dependent on timing) be able to cook a specific dish for them. Eg gluten free, vegan etc.

What About Coeliacs, Vegetarians And Any Other Dietary Requirements?
Sure, Flying Woks can "work" with you to create a menu that suits all your guests. We have catered for vegetarians, coeliacs, vegans and we can provide menus that are Kosher friendly, Hallal meats, Natural Hygiene based.

How Do I know If Any Vegetarians Are Coming To My Function?

We suggest on your invitations that you ask for people with specific dietary requirements to contact you. We are happy to chat with your relevant guests before the function, to ensure their dietary requirements have been accommodated.