Tigawok is taking over the former Voqozo space at within the busy La Jolla Village Square shopping center near UC San Diego. The upcoming location marks Tigawok’s sixth overall restaurant and its first expansion into San Diego County, following a steady rollout across Los Angeles and Orange County.
Founded by restaurateurs Tomas Su and Kelvin Wang, the concept blends traditional Chinese flavors with a streamlined, customizable service model that allows diners to build their own meals from a rotating selection of small, mix-and-match dishes. The brand has positioned itself as a more authentic alternative to typical Americanized Chinese fast food, while still maintaining the speed and accessibility of a quick-service format.
At the core of Tigawok’s operation is its use of automated wok cooking technology, a system that allows dishes to be prepared quickly and consistently at high heat. These programmable machines are capable of stir-frying, simmering, and seasoning dishes with precision, helping replicate the “wok hei” flavor associated with traditional Chinese cooking. While human staff still prep ingredients and assemble orders, the technology enables the restaurant to operate with a lean team while maintaining efficiency and relatively low pricing.
Menu offerings center around a “mini bowl” format, where guests can choose multiple entrees to pair with a base such as rice or noodles. Options typically include dishes like orange peel chicken, kung pao chicken, mapo tofu, braised pork, and wagyu curry, along with sides such as chow mein, fried rice, soup dumplings, and pork buns. Several vegetarian-friendly dishes are also available, and the menu is designed to rotate periodically to introduce new flavors while keeping core items consistent.
Menu offerings center around a “mini bowl” format, where guests can choose multiple entrees to pair with a base such as rice or noodles. Options typically include dishes like orange peel chicken, kung pao chicken, mapo tofu, braised pork, and wagyu curry, along with sides such as chow mein, fried rice, soup dumplings, and pork buns. Several vegetarian-friendly dishes are also available, and the menu is designed to rotate periodically to introduce new flavors while keeping core items consistent.
The La Jolla Village Square location places Tigawok in a high-traffic retail hub surrounded by a mix of students, office workers, and nearby residents. With established neighbors including Ike’s Love & Sandwiches and The Kebab Shop, the center has become a reliable destination for quick, casual dining, making it a strategic fit for Tigawok’s model.
Tigawok’s arrival also reflects a broader trend toward automation in the restaurant industry, where operators are increasingly turning to technology to combat rising labor costs and improve consistency. While the use of robotic cooking systems has sparked ongoing debate about the future of restaurant jobs, brands like Tigawok are positioning the technology as a tool to enhance efficiency rather than replace the dining experience altogether.
An official opening date for the San Diego location has not yet been announced, but permitting activity indicates progress is underway. Once open, Tigawok will join a growing list of fast-casual concepts targeting the La Jolla and UTC area, continuing to diversify the region’s already competitive dining landscape.
Tigawok is expected to open at 8657 Villa La Jolla Drive, Suite 103, in San Diego’s La Jolla Village Square. For more information, visit tigawok.com.
Originally published on April 7, 2026. Information first reported by Joey Reams of WhatNow.
Tigawok’s arrival also reflects a broader trend toward automation in the restaurant industry, where operators are increasingly turning to technology to combat rising labor costs and improve consistency. While the use of robotic cooking systems has sparked ongoing debate about the future of restaurant jobs, brands like Tigawok are positioning the technology as a tool to enhance efficiency rather than replace the dining experience altogether.
An official opening date for the San Diego location has not yet been announced, but permitting activity indicates progress is underway. Once open, Tigawok will join a growing list of fast-casual concepts targeting the La Jolla and UTC area, continuing to diversify the region’s already competitive dining landscape.
Tigawok is expected to open at 8657 Villa La Jolla Drive, Suite 103, in San Diego’s La Jolla Village Square. For more information, visit tigawok.com.
Originally published on April 7, 2026. Information first reported by Joey Reams of WhatNow.
