The South Bay’s two Big Wok “Mongolian...

The South Bay’s two Big Wok “Mongolian Bar-B-Que” restaurants offer so many things to stir-fry you can please the vegetarians and those with Mongol appetites.

Reading a paper place mat, you learn that the restaurant is modeled after the cooking methods of Genghis Khan’s conquering army, as adapted by the Chinese after Khan’s 13th-Century invasion. They added the vegetables and spicy sauces to the soldier’s fried meats.

Big Wok has a five-foot diameter cooking surface staffed by several cooks. After selecting noodles and vegetables from a salad bar, you douse your uncooked food with sauces that range from mild to “Dragon Hot Sauce” and hand it to the cook.

The salad bar has broccoli, carrots, spinach, bean sprouts, pineapple, tomatoes and enough other fresh vegetables to please the pickiest vegetarian, as well as noodles.

During dinner hours, its is all-you-can-eat, but at lunch you pay $4.75 for a bowl of meat, then help yourself to the salad bar. Side orders of soup, rice and fried appetizers are available too--but unless you’re really hungry, it may be too much.

The restaurant has a children’s menu with scaled-down portions and prices. Imported and domestic beers, wine and soft drinks are available, although they recommend Chinese tea to make the “perfect barbecue.”

Big Wok also offers home delivery and to-go services.

Big Wok, lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. There’s a Big Wok in Torrance at 24012 Vista Montana, (310) 375-1513, and in Hermosa Beach at 1200 Pacific Coast Highway, (310) 798-1155.