Meet the owners of WE Little Wok: Marja Erickson and Karli Wiinanen
Jun 02, 2026 10:06AM ● By Editor
Photos provided
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - May 30, 2026
Congratulations on opening up WE Little Wok for the season! Can you tell us what your hours will be and where you will be located? Do you have a menu that you can share?
We will be open Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 am- to 6:00 pm at 910 E 5th Street. We have a menu on our website and have online ordering from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm.
How did this business concept come to be? Did you each bring your own area of expertise to the table? Did you have mentors who helped along with the way?
Marja: I have talked about opening an Asian place or getting someone to open an Asian take out place for many years. No one else did it and it just seemed like the stars aligned one cold January day.
Karli: I was living in ND and my sister called me in January and asked if I wanted to open a food truck and sell Asian food. I said yes and we opened 4 months later.
My first cooking job was in Grand Marais at the American Legion Post 413 under Brian Kizzek. He was an amazing cook and amazing friend. I cooked on and off again until I was a full time cook at a saloon in ND. I learned a lot in ND working with multiple different cooks from all over the world that would come and cook at the saloon. Mainly how to prep for the day, pace yourself and feed 200 people at a time during peak season.
What is the favorite menu item for each of you?
Karli: My favorite is anything Chicken Teriyaki...it is really, truly all about the sauce.
Marja: That is a tough one, I really like the products that we serve. I know it is plain Jane, but a cream cheese wonton is all kinds of comfort.
How do you both find time to practice self-care and relax when you are not busy working?
Is there ever a bit of sibling rivalry going on in the kitchen or have you figured out how to have a peaceful co-existence when things get busy and stressful?
Karli: We definitely have our designated stations when we are both in the truck.
Marja: If we are in the truck together, I am at the register and fryer. Karli is cooking and putting orders together. We have ended up with each other's jobs and it always feels wrong and we have to switch.
Lastly, do you have any plans for the future with this business?
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - May 30, 2026
Congratulations on opening up WE Little Wok for the season! Can you tell us what your hours will be and where you will be located? Do you have a menu that you can share?
We will be open Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 am- to 6:00 pm at 910 E 5th Street. We have a menu on our website and have online ordering from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm.
How did this business concept come to be? Did you each bring your own area of expertise to the table? Did you have mentors who helped along with the way?
Marja: I have talked about opening an Asian place or getting someone to open an Asian take out place for many years. No one else did it and it just seemed like the stars aligned one cold January day.
Karli: I was living in ND and my sister called me in January and asked if I wanted to open a food truck and sell Asian food. I said yes and we opened 4 months later.
My first cooking job was in Grand Marais at the American Legion Post 413 under Brian Kizzek. He was an amazing cook and amazing friend. I cooked on and off again until I was a full time cook at a saloon in ND. I learned a lot in ND working with multiple different cooks from all over the world that would come and cook at the saloon. Mainly how to prep for the day, pace yourself and feed 200 people at a time during peak season.
What is the favorite menu item for each of you?
Karli: My favorite is anything Chicken Teriyaki...it is really, truly all about the sauce.
Marja: That is a tough one, I really like the products that we serve. I know it is plain Jane, but a cream cheese wonton is all kinds of comfort.
How do you both find time to practice self-care and relax when you are not busy working?
Karli: If I can, pedicures, crotchet and paint by numbers
Marja: My husband and I have a hobby farm so being home, gardening, paint by numbers, rug hooking, making homemade noodles...soon I am going to be a grandma so I am sure that will all change. Dr. Stoner and McCabe Plaas also help to keep me loosened up and if you haven't tried Karina Roth and bodywork she does, you really should.
Is there ever a bit of sibling rivalry going on in the kitchen or have you figured out how to have a peaceful co-existence when things get busy and stressful?
Karli: We definitely have our designated stations when we are both in the truck.
Marja: If we are in the truck together, I am at the register and fryer. Karli is cooking and putting orders together. We have ended up with each other's jobs and it always feels wrong and we have to switch.
Lastly, do you have any plans for the future with this business?
Just to keep improving the menu and feeding the community.
To view the WE Little Wok website, follow this link: https://welittlewok.com/
Boreal Community Media has been featuring the"Meet your Cook County Neighbor" series for several years now. If you enjoy reading these and would like to nominate someone to be featured, please send us an email to [email protected]
To view the WE Little Wok website, follow this link: https://welittlewok.com/
Boreal Community Media has been featuring the"Meet your Cook County Neighbor" series for several years now. If you enjoy reading these and would like to nominate someone to be featured, please send us an email to [email protected]
WE Little Wok [8 Images]
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