(Photo by All American Wontons)
Spinach artichoke. Buffalo chicken. Creamy queso. Cranberry cheddar. Banana Nutella.
The only thing these items have in common is that they’re all edible. Well, that’s changing thanks to a new restaurant that just opened in Levittown.
Foodies in Levittown can now buy literally any flavor wonton one can think of with Sunday, Jan. 20’s grand opening of All American Wontons at the Tri-County Unique Bazaar, 3041 Hempstead Tpke., providing consumers with wontons galore.
“It’s awesome,” Kelly Kay, founder of All American Wontons, said. “It’s a lot of work. It’s nice to see when your hard work starts paying off. Hopefully, it’s just up from here.”
The wonton project started six years ago. Like all great ideas, All American Wontons started in none other than Atlantic City.
“My friend and I were in Atlantic City eating dumplings,” Kay said. “You only ever see edamame or cream cheese flavors. We went home and started experimenting.”
Since then, the wonton company has expanded from a modest startup business to one of the most successful female-owned chains on Long Island.
Kay started her business by traveling to different farmers markets and food festivals. It was just a fun activity at first. She was filling the stomachs of hungry people who wanted to try new foods. What could be better?
But after three years, she wanted more. She wanted to spread the word about her wontons. So Kay opted to make this her full-time job, getting out of her comfort zone.
“I’ve been making progress,” she said. “People follow me to festivals and markets. They order online and hopefully, they’ll be coming here, too.”
For people to follow Kay’s special wontons, they have to be great, right? So what makes these wontons so good?
“It depends on the filling, but we lay them all out and we have caulking that shoots out the filling,” Kay, a self-described foodie, said. “Then, you just have to fold them all up. I’m crazy fast, but it’s been six years.”
And fast she is. Kay said she’s made almost 300,000 wontons over the years. Before her shop at the bazaar officially opened, she had a freezer sitting there, ready to go with dozens of multifaceted wontons to sell.
Her home less than a mile away from her first official wonton spot features a garage full of wontons. That’s right. Wontons galore. All in her garage.
No longer is Kay just going to farmers markets. Her journey, she said, is just the beginning.
All American Wontons’ first location is humble, just like Kay’s initial dream of sharing her creation with the world. It grabs your attention immediately, sitting in the bazaar’s food court by the back entrance. While it isn’t a full-size restaurant, it is a stepping stone to what she believes will be the start to bigger and better things.
With a cuddly panda and pictures of mouth-watering wontons, it’s hard to miss. Kay’s journey doesn’t end here, either.
“There’s just so many things I want to do,” she said. “We’re working on getting a trailer, too, so I can do private events, like weddings and other catered things. I can do more festivals and spread the word that I’m here more. I’m trying to do everything.”
Besides purchasing wontons already made at the Levittown location, Kay also sells frozen ones online. It allows people to cook them however they want at home, enjoying her delicious wontons whenever they’re desired.
And don’t worry about new flavors. She makes sure to change things up every now and then.
Kay said, “I did a seasonal egg nog one for Christmas. I’ve done cranberry cheddar, Philly cheesesteak. I’ve tried to narrow it down and it’s just so hard because they’re all so good.”
