New Asian fusion restaurant set to open soon in Carolina Beach

For 13 years, Patrick Puffpaff and Amy Webster have been serving classic comfort food at Pop’s Diner in Carolina Beach. The hand-pattied burgers, chicken and waffles, and sandwiches like the Reuben made with slow-roasted meats are especially popular.

“But my husband, he loves to cook all different types of food,” Webster said.

Now the pair are trying something new that will bring Asian fusion to Pleasure Island. They hope to open Puffy’s Magic Dragon, named for Puffpaff’s longtime nickname, in March in the former Ida Thai location at 304 N. Lake Park Blvd. (Ida Thai, meanwhile, re-opened in the Monkey Junction area at 5920 Carolina Beach Road in the Beau Rivage Marketplace.)

More: New three-story restaurant and bar slated to open this spring in Carolina Beach

They’ve been updating the space with an Asian dragon-inspired look and will have enough seating for 25 people inside. They also plan to add an outdoor bar in the coming weeks. The food will be a mix of Asian and American favorites, Webster said. Look for dishes like Crab Rangoon pizza and wonton tacos.

“But it will be more upscale,” she said. “We won’t be using processed food. We’ll have actual lump crabmeat and lobster, all homemade sauces. Everything will come in fresh, or be made in house."

For Pop's Diner's fans, Webster said they plan to continue business there, too, less than a half-mile away at 109 N. Lake Park Blvd.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at [email protected]. 

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Pop's Diner owners to open Puffy's Magic Dragon restaurant in Carolina Beach