Pick Up Stix

Pick Up Stix is a privately held American fast-casual restaurant brand focused on Chinese-American and Asian-inspired food. The chain was established in California in 1989 by Chinese immigrant Charlie Zhang, who adapted traditional Asian cooking for American customers. Its menu emphasizes dishes prepared to order over high-heat burners in traditional woks, with offerings including orange chicken, chow mein, fried rice, spring rolls, and other wok-cooked entrées. The first Pick Up Stix restaurant opened in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. The business expanded within Orange County during its early years, adding restaurants in Irvine and Laguna Niguel by 1992, and then entered San Diego County in 1994 with locations in Del Mar, Carlsbad, and San Diego. Its operating model combines company-owned restaurants with franchised locations and serves dine-in and take-out customers. The chain has also offered catering, selected delivery services, and meals through a private-school lunch program. Zhang developed the concept around a lighter adaptation of traditional Asian food. According to the available reference material, the recipes used less oil and incorporated wine, vinegar, and soy sauce to suit the preferences of the American market. This positioning placed Pick Up Stix within the fast-casual segment: the brand sought to provide faster and more convenient service than a full-service restaurant while presenting food as freshly cooked rather than preassembled. The company also operated its own food-processing facility. In July 2001, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, a unit of Carlson Companies, acquired Pick Up Stix. Zhang continued to serve as president and chief executive officer until retiring in 2003. During the Carlson period, the chain experienced both geographic expansion and later market consolidation. In early 2008, 26 restaurants in California, Nevada, and Arizona were closed as the company concentrated on stronger markets. By 2010, its Nevada and Arizona locations had been closed, although a Pick Up Stix restaurant later appeared in the Excalibur Hotel and Casino food court in Las Vegas after a 2012 renovation. Carlson Restaurants Worldwide sold the brand in 2010 to Mandarin Holdings, associated with Lorne Goldberg and the Leeann Chin restaurant business. The chain has primarily remained a United States business, with its principal presence in California and a network that has been reported at more than 70 locations nationwide. Its business includes restaurants operated directly by the company as well as franchised units. In addition to restaurant service, the brand has pursued off-site catering, some delivery, and institutional meal programs. Pick Up Stix has received regional recognition for its takeout offering. A readers' poll published by San Diego Magazine in June 2008 placed it among the three best takeout restaurants in San Diego. The brand continues to be associated with wok cooking, made-to-order preparation, accessible American-Chinese flavors, and convenient takeout-oriented service. The available material does not identify a current chief executive, a precise current unit count, or a detailed nationwide operating footprint. A Rancho Santa Margarita location was reported closed in 2022.

Pick Up Stix was created in California in 1989 by Charlie Zhang, a Chinese immigrant who had moved to the United States in 1982. The concept adapted traditional Asian cooking to American tastes while retaining wok-based preparation. Zhang's approach reportedly reduced the use of oil and incorporated wine, vinegar, and soy sauce into the flavor profile. The first restaurant opened in Rancho Santa Margarita, establishing the foundation for a fast-casual chain centered on freshly cooked Chinese-American food. The company expanded first through Orange County. By 1992 it had added restaurants in Irvine and Laguna Niguel. In 1994, Pick Up Stix entered San Diego County through locations in Del Mar, Carlsbad, and San Diego. The operating concept combined dine-in and takeout service, and the company later supported catering, selected delivery services, and a private-school lunch program. Its food was cooked to order over high-heat burners using traditional woks, a preparation method that became central to the brand's identity. The company also operated a food-processing facility to support its restaurant system. Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, a division of Carlson Companies, acquired Pick Up Stix in July 2001. Zhang remained involved as president and chief executive officer until retiring in 2003. Under corporate ownership, the brand operated through a mixture of company-owned and franchised restaurants. It expanded beyond its California base, but later retrenched in some markets. In early 2008, 26 restaurants in California, Nevada, and Arizona were closed in an effort to focus resources on stronger markets. By 2010, all Nevada and Arizona locations had closed. A later exception occurred in Las Vegas, where a Pick Up Stix unit was installed in the Excalibur Hotel and Casino food court after a major renovation in 2012. In 2010, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide sold Pick Up Stix to Mandarin Holdings, the company associated with Lorne Goldberg and the parent organization of Leeann Chin. The transaction moved Pick Up Stix from the Carlson restaurant portfolio into a privately held restaurant group. The chain has continued to operate primarily in the United States, especially Southern California, using company-operated and franchised restaurants. Public reference material has described the system as having more than 70 locations, although the available sources do not provide a current verified count. Pick Up Stix has also built a regional reputation around takeout. In a June 2008 San Diego Magazine readers' poll, it was named one of the three best takeout restaurants in San Diego. The brand's commercial proposition remains based on convenient service, American-Chinese flavors, wok cooking, and freshly prepared meals. Its activities extend beyond standard restaurant visits to include takeout, catering, some delivery, and school meal provision. The Rancho Santa Margarita restaurant was reported closed in 2022, but the broader brand is identified as active. Current executive leadership, exact ownership structure within Mandarin Holdings, and the present distribution of locations are not specified in the supplied source material.

• 2022

  Rancho Santa Margarita location closes

  [1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  The location associated with the chain's original city was reported closed.

• 2012

  Las Vegas food-court location added

  [1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  A Pick Up Stix unit replaced Manchu Wok in the renovated food court at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino.

• 2010

  Sale to Mandarin Holdings

  [1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  Carlson Restaurants Worldwide sold Pick Up Stix to Mandarin Holdings.

• 2008

  Regional closures and takeout recognition

  [1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  The company closed 26 locations in three states while receiving recognition in a San Diego Magazine readers' poll as one of the area's three best takeout restaurants.

• 2003

  Founder retires from executive leadership

  [1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  Charlie Zhang retired as president and chief executive officer.

• 2001

  Acquisition by Carlson Restaurants Worldwide

  [1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, a Carlson Companies unit, acquired the chain in July.

• 1994

  Entry into San Diego County

  [1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  Pick Up Stix expanded into San Diego County with locations in Del Mar, Carlsbad, and San Diego.

• 1992

  Orange County expansion

  [1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  The chain had added restaurants in Irvine and Laguna Niguel, expanding beyond its original location.

• 1989

  First Pick Up Stix restaurant opens

  [1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  Charlie Zhang opened the first Pick Up Stix restaurant in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Accessible fast-casual Chinese-American and Asian-inspired food prepared to order in traditional woks, with emphasis on takeout convenience.

• Entrée

  Signature Orange Chicken

  Orange chicken is identified as a signature Pick Up Stix offering and represents the brand's American-Chinese positioning. It is part of the chain's broader menu of wok-prepared meals designed for familiar American tastes and convenient fast-casual service.

• Noodle dish

  Chow Mein

  Chow mein is one of the chain's representative noodle dishes. It fits the brand's core preparation model, in which food is cooked to order over high-heat burners using traditional woks and served for dine-in, takeout, or related meal programs.

• Rice dish

  Fried Rice

  Fried rice is a standard rice-based offering associated with Pick Up Stix's Chinese-American menu. The dish illustrates the chain's focus on familiar Asian-inspired staples prepared in a fast-casual restaurant format.

• Appetizer

  Spring Rolls

  Spring rolls are listed among the brand's typical products and function as an appetizer or side item within its broader Asian-inspired menu. They are available in the context of the chain's restaurant, takeout, and catering operations.

• Food service program

  Catering and School Lunch Meals

  Beyond individual restaurant meals, Pick Up Stix has offered off-site catering and supplied meals to private schools through a school lunch program. These services extend the brand beyond conventional dine-in and takeout occasions.

• 2012

  Addition of an Excalibur Hotel food-court locationOther

  Background

  The Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas underwent a major food-court renovation.

  Action taken

  Pick Up Stix replaced Manchu Wok in the renovated food court.

  Aftermath

  The move provided a Las Vegas presence after the chain had closed its broader Nevada locations.

  Source

• 2010

  Sale from Carlson Restaurants Worldwide to Mandarin HoldingsM&A

  Background

  Pick Up Stix had been part of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide since its 2001 acquisition.

  Action taken

  Carlson Restaurants Worldwide sold the restaurant chain to Mandarin Holdings.

  Aftermath

  Pick Up Stix became part of the privately held group associated with Lorne Goldberg and the Leeann Chin parent company.

  Source

• 2008

  Concentration on stronger marketsStrategy

  Background

  Pick Up Stix operated locations across California, Nevada, and Arizona but reported uneven market performance.

  Action taken

  The company closed 26 restaurants in early 2008 to focus on stronger markets.

  Aftermath

  By 2010, all Nevada and Arizona locations had closed, indicating further geographic retrenchment in those states.

  Source

• 2022

  Rancho Santa Margarita location closes[1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Pick Up Stix location in Rancho Santa Margarita, where the original restaurant had opened, was reported closed.

• 2012

  Pick Up Stix returns to the Excalibur food court[1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following a major renovation of the Excalibur Hotel and Casino food court in Las Vegas, a Pick Up Stix location replaced Manchu Wok.

• 2010

  Mandarin Holdings purchases Pick Up Stix from Carlson[1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Carlson Restaurants Worldwide sold Pick Up Stix to Mandarin Holdings, associated with Lorne Goldberg and the parent company of Leeann Chin.

• 2008

  Pick Up Stix closes 26 restaurants during market consolidation[1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The chain closed 26 locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona while concentrating on markets it considered stronger.

• 2008

  Pick Up Stix receives San Diego takeout recognition[1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A readers' poll in the June 2008 issue of San Diego Magazine ranked Pick Up Stix among the three best takeout restaurants in San Diego.

• 2001

  Carlson Restaurants Worldwide acquires Pick Up Stix[1]Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Pick Up Stix was acquired by Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, a Carlson Companies unit, in July 2001.

1. 1Pick Up Stixen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Pick Up Stix official websitepickupstix.com