New dumpling shop planned for this south side Fort Worth family Asian restaurant
A new Asian dumplings restaurant by celebrated chef Stefon Rishel will fill a familiar space on West Rosedale Street in the Near Southside, according to city permit applications.
The restaurant is listed as Teddy Wong’s Dumplings & Wine, 812 W. Rosedale St.
It replaced Le’s Wok Asian Food, a former convenience store with food so good it became a restaurant.
Former owner Nina Pham said her family no longer owns the restaurant.
One application lists the new operator as Rishel, the chef behind the successful Wishbone & Flynt in South Main Village.
Rishel also has Tre Mogli Cucina Italian, 401 S. Main St., adjacent to Wishbone & Flynt, and Parker County Ice House in Willow Park.
He and partners had previously operated Berry Street Ice House, which became Lola’s. They also announced a seafood concept, Cast & Hook, which has not taken shape.
Rishel was not available last weekend to discuss the new venture.
The Phams closed the restaurant in mid-2021 and put it up for sale due to family illnesses, Nina Pham said.
Le’s had opened 10 years ago in a former 7-Eleven near hospital district and quickly became known for the spring rolls, pho and pad Thai from the store grill.
At the time Le’s closed, Nina Pham said, “Our website stopped working, so I have no way to tell our customers how much I truly miss them.”
Le’s Wok became a community cause in 2014 when Nina Pham and her husband, Le Nguyen, were assaulted in a robbery.
It rebounded and became a Fairmount and south side neighborhood staple for Asian food, although newer Asian restaurants have opened nearby on West Magnolia Avenue.
This story was originally published February 11, 2023 at 5:20 PM.
