Taste of China

Taste of China -very, very good. We had takeout last weekend and it was by far the best Chinese food we've had in Virginia. Started with a couple of the more conservative dishes. All were well prepared.

Singapore Noodles - Not sure how "authentic" this is but it was so good I went back late night and ate more cold (and with my fingers). Interesting curry sauce and the shrimp and chicken were cooked perfectly. Every other Chinese restaurant in town overcooks their meat.

Kung Pao Chicken - spicy yet all the flavors came through. Not an overabundance of soy sauce and the chicken was very tender. More veggies than what you get elsewhere, which I very much enjoyed.

Orange Peel Chicken - the only thing we tried from the "American Chinese Food" menu. Made with real orange zest as opposed to the marmalade you'll get elsewhere, so the flavor is not as sweet and very orangey. REPLY (by mojoeater , created November 12, 2009)

I've read many of the above posts and have to agree that there really aren't many *authentic* Chinese food options in the Charlottesville area, having come from the DC metro/NOVA regions. However, just this October 2009 the Taste of China opened up in the Albemarle Shopping Center (where ACAC, Outback Steakhouse, and Chandler's Bakery are).

My mom actually dined there the very day that the health inspectors had checked the place and given the thumbs up for opening. She reported back that the dishes she had sampled were probably the most authentic "Northern" Szechuan options she had seen in the C'ville area. She also conversed with the wait staff in Mandarin as she went through several menu options with them and their recommendations. I trust her palate as she is first generation American-born Chinese who grew up in San Francisco Chinatown.

My family and friends dined there twice last week and sampled many different dishes. They were all very flavorful - some a tad more generous with spice and oils, but that was fine with us. The restaurant is still working on becoming fully functional - as when we came for dinner they had run out of certain regular soda cans, and some basic vegetables (shitake mushrooms and scallions) for their very popular dry-fried mushroom dish and tasty scallion bubble pancake (similar to an Indian Puri pancake).

Their staff are also becoming more rehearsed with running a smooth operation - at lunch hour when they were less crowded, we had immediate service. When we returned for dinner with a party of 7, our waitress was often missing for up to 30 minutes after food had been served. However, we also had to point out in the beginning they had forgotten to give us eating utensils, serving plates, or rice when the dishes had been served.

Overall, aside from minor glitches of starting a restaurant, the food quality was excellent. Unlike all the other Chinese restaurants in C'ville, this is NOT a buffet and offers more authentic options, including menus strictly in Chinese. The three times I have now been there, I have seen an abundance of Chinese cliental which should speak volumes to the restaurant's appeal. And yes, they do have a page in their menu titled, "American Chinese Food," for those looking for more Americanized flavors. You'll love their picture wall of some 30 pictures of each dish as you walk in the restaurant...

I recommend you all try this place and get the word out! I've tried to enter it on TripAdvisor, but it's still too new ;)

Taste of China
610 Albemarle Square Court
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434-975-6688

Sun - Thurs 11 AM - 10 PM
Fri and Sat 11 AM - 10:30 PM REPLY (by giselle816 , created October 19, 2009)