Taste of China
612 Albemarle Sq, Charlottesville, VA, 22901
Taste of China Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Charlottesville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Charlottesville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Charlottesville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
612 Albemarle Sq
Charlottesville, VA, 22901 - Phone (434) 975-6688
- Website https://www.tasteofchinacharlottesville.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Ferdinand H.
Okay, I haven't eaten here... but I know Peter Chang. He's my absolute favourite Chinese (sichuan style) chef in North America. He comes and he goes -- if you can go while he's there GO!!!! It's so rare to find good chinese food at this level outside of asia... He's award winning, and has cooked for the current president of china. Don't miss out... :) There are some dishes you can't find anywhere else...
(5)Jennifer M.
Authentic Northern Szechuan Chinese restaurant with some Cantonese options. Most authentic Chinese food I've found in Charlottesville! You can tell how authentic it is from the make-up of the clientele. The staff is very nice and the menu provides a nice variety of foods. (written in both chinese and english, so don't worry too much about what you order) Be careful, though, because Szechuan food tends to be SPICY HOT! Yummy! I noticed that they offer a really cheap lunch combo too. Not so authentic but still good and very very cheap!
(4)Diane L.
After hearing raves about this restaurant, I went to try this with a group of 7 others. With our large group we were able to taste a number of different dishes. The crispy beef was a favorite and most of the other dishes were solid as well. I do agree that perhaps some of the dishes were quite salty and the Cantonese dishes we tried were not the best I've ever had but definitely the best I've had in Charlottesville! Portions were very share-able and the staff was very friendly. I'd actually give this place 3.5 stars but seeing you can't give half stars and it's probably the best Chinese we have in Charlottesville, I'm willing to round up.
(4)Tiffany N.
Good food, but overpriced for what I'm used to at a Chinese restaurant.
(4)Nana H.
They have soup dumplings! I don't think any other place in town has these, and they're an authentic and delicious experience if you've never tried them before (though a little difficult to eat). I was excited to find another Chinese restaurant other than Peter Chang's with an extensive and authentic menu. If you're looking for cheap Chinese-American take out, they have some serious grub for $6.99 off the lunch menu. It is a TON of food for a good price, and it all tastes pretty good. Every lunch dish comes with soup, a large egg roll, and a sesame ball for dessert.
(4)rifluvreza r.
The Worst Chinese Restaurant. Me and my family came to this restaurant around 15.30, and there was a big and tall waitress in there, she was still eating for her lunch, and she didn not get up from her seat, she just said " Hi... Get your own seat....." (with the mouth full with the food). And we got our seat by our self, and she still eating her lunch. And we wait like 3 minutes until she gave the menu. She gave us all ice water, without asking what we want to drink. And she took the order, and thanks for the kitchen chefs to made our food fast and taste good. And then she continue with her lunch and finished her lunch. She did not refill our ice water. And finally and unfortunattely we gave her tips 20% from our bill. I wish she learn from this and share the tips with the kitchen chefs. We will never, ever come back again... PS: I don't wanna give a star, even only one star, but i have to, sorry....
(1)Anna Y.
Really a 3.5 but I'll round up. We ordered the soup dumplings, crispy duck, and beef with scallions. No trouble finding a table and being served right away. Service was attemptive which I appreciated it because I drank like 5 glasses of water. -decor- clean and no outdated. As soon as you walk in you see pictures of their entrees with a caption explaining what it is. SO helpful. -soup dumplings-If you are a dumpling-holic then you definitely have to order these. I think that 10 came with the order and they were delicious. Be careful when you bite into them because the soup with squirt out. Yes, I got it in on my hair and on the table, but even that was worth it. These dumplings were GOOD. -crispy duck- pieces of duck (boneless and with bone) that were yes, crispy, because they had been friend. There's some kind of herb fried with it. I want to say basil or something along those lines. The plate is plentiful and it has the perfect about of spice to not make it spicy but have the right amount of background heat. -beef with scallions- aka Beef on the menu. Why couldn't they think of a better name for the dish on the menu. It was more spicy then the duck and the cumin added a very strong note to the dish. It was a little too much for one of my friends, but I loved it. I gave it a 3.5 because I haven't tried more dishes on the menu, but hope to be back to cville soon to try more. ANNNNNNNNNND they gave us orange slices and fortune cookies at the end. :) Small gesture but highly appreciated.
(4)Oren R.
This is simply the best Szechuan style restaurant in America. I'm sure you know the stories of the chef who opened this restaurant and left on account of the excess publicity. The dishes have not changed much. They are still awesome. All of our Chinese friends said this is very authentic. They have an American-Chinese menu (don't get anything from there) and the rest is real Chinese food. You can't go wrong with any dish. Oh, be careful: when they say spicy - they mean it!
(5)Bonnie C.
Ahhh - dining redemption is SO nice!! This past Monday we were going to the wonderful Paramount theatre in Charlottesville to watch the original classic "Bride of Frankenstein" on the big screen, so decided to stop in and give "Taste of China" another try for an early dinner. Arrived around 5 p.m. & were seated promptly. The place was empty except for one other table. This time, decided to give the specials a pass & order from the regular part of the menu. Started off sharing an appetizer of the usually mundane "Crab Rangoon", & mundane they were. Not worth a repeat. Overly crisp with a bare dollop of what tasted like pure cream cheese - not a speck of crab in sight (or taste). And this time we were brought a little caddy of condiments - salt, black pepper, soy sauce, the usual neon orange "duck sauce", & some really nice creamy hot mustard. However, husband's "Kung Pao Chicken" was full of succulent little bites of chicken, peanuts, water chestnuts, onions, etc., all bathed in a fragrant nicely spicy sauce. Much better than the versions one usually finds elsewhere. But the piece de resistance was definitely my order of "Spicy Crispy Duck". Sheer poetry & definitely one of the best duck dishes I've ever enjoyed in an Asian restaurant. Semi-boneless morsels of moist, yet completely grease-free duck, dry-cooked with plentiful Asian chili peppers & scallions. The finishing touch was the very light underlying note of Five-Spice Powder. However, let me emphatically tell you that when a waitress here advises you that a dish is hot, do not scoff - take her at her word. I ADORE extremely spicy food, & this dish did not disappoint. While it wasn't completely blow-the-top-off-your-head hot, it was pretty darn close. I had to take half of it home to enjoy for lunch the next day, as it really was too intense for me to enjoy a full platter of at one sitting - lol! Service was excellent & as prompt as before; and once again the check arrived written in Chinese with just the total, so just a warning if you're particularly anal about that. Now we'll definitely be back. I definitely need to try more!!
(3)Ji S.
***4.5 stars*** 4.5 stars. An extra 0.5 since we're in Charlottesville and this is by far the most authentic Chinese food for miles around. I've been here when Peter Chang was still running the kitchen and also went back recently since he's left, and my bf has gone a whole bunch of times. Last time, we started with fuqi fei pian (spicy beef and tripe) as a cold appetizer. My bf claims part-Sichuan ancestry and said he couldn't start the meal without it. The flavor was spot-on, inducing a mouth-numbing but amazing spiciness called "ma la." Next, we had xiao long bao (soup dumplings) which are pockets full of pork filling and piping hot soup. While its not traditional Sichuan fare this is probably the only place in Cville (aside from Peter Chang's) where you'll find it executed decently. Finally, our main course was a dish called shui zhu yu (spicy fish and veggies). This dish isn't for the faint of heart. If you don't like to eat spicy food then don't get this. (but then why would you be at a Sichuan restaurant?) This dish consisted of boneless fish fillets and vegetables literally drowned in chili oil and blanketed with Sichuan peppercorns. Overall the service was great. Everything came very quickly and my bf can attest that this wasn't a fluke. Unlike American diners, the Chinese prefer all of their dishes coming to the table simultaneously so they can be shared family-style. At Taste of China you can expect your appetizers plated 5 minutes after you order, and all of your main courses, even if you order close to 10, plated between 15 and 20 minutes after you order. For anyone looking to venture into authentic Sichuan-style food in the Charlottesville area this place is a must-eat. For us it serves as a much-needed fix, and close substitute, for when we can't make it back to Flushing, NY.
(4)Billie S.
Really good Chinese food. Just went for the regular old fried veggie rice and egg roll but nice and fresh. Coke in a can. What more do you want?
(4)Me M.
Pro: Authentic Chinese food Con: Definitely Overpriced! Average price per entree $15-18. The portion is very small which makes the price even less justifiable. I've had several pick-up orders from there, (hoping that it would be better) but the container have been consistently half-full :-( If you are gonna charge that price, then don't skimp on the food
(1)Waldo J.
I first went to Taste of China several days after The New Yorker wrote about it, and I returned again today. The meal that I had a couple of months ago was very good, but the meal that I had today was excellent. My wife and I went for a Sunday lunch, but weren't optimistic, having heard that the chef had departed. We both ordered off the specials list tucked into the back of the menu--she had had a stir-fried eggplant dish, while I had a cryptically-named dish, something like "Delicious Dry Chicken in Spicy Tasty Sauce." Neither option existed on the dinner menu a couple of months ago. I had a few bites of her dish. I do not like eggplant--I find it bitter, and the texture unpleasant. But it was very good. The eggplant was slightly crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside, and had none of the flavor that I associate with it. But it was in a brown sauce, a sort of stereotypical Chinese dish. Within that framework, it was good, but it wasn't Taste of China good. My chicken dish was amazing. It consisted of slightly crispy chunks of chicken mixed with cilantro and herbs. There was a small amount of a thin, brown, slightly sweet sauce. It was boldly spicy, but wasn't a nuisance to the tastebuds. The lack of sauce and the powerful flavors aren't things that I associate with Chinese food, which is precisely the sort of thing that I was looking for in this restaurant. It was just delicious, really great. Much better than the duck that I had during my prior visit, and without question the best Chinese dish I've ever had. The service was attentive, friendly, and prompt, unlike during our prior visit. The departure of Peter Chang may be a blessing: the crowds are gone, but the food is as good as ever.
(4)Irene C.
The most authentic Chinese Restaurant in Charlottesville. Yesterday's dinner was a slight disappointment :( Our group of 3 ordered 3 dishes: Fried eggplants, crispy duck, and "sauteed" fish. From the recommendations by the waiter, who clearly said the fish was NOT fried, but "roasted" or "sauteed", we decided to order it. And guess what? the dish was clearly deep fried. I don't think the waiter understood what the words, sauteed and roasted meant... We REALLY did not want 3 fried dishes :( Each dish was delicious by the combination of the 3 made a slightly heavy meal. However, if we were to have each dish separately combined with a soup dish, we would have been satisfied. We just ordered the wrong combination of dishes yesterday. The food is very delicious and spicy. I will definitely come back and perhaps an extra star will be added :)
(3)Zen Z.
Great Chinese food. Authentic! Brought a group of Chinese there and they all enjoyed the dinner.
(5)Caroline H.
I've been here a couple times and I want to love it but I just can't. I think the food is overpriced for the taste. I do prefer the lunch to the dinner. Tonight I had duck and it was just okay, really not worth $15. All the appetizers were great - those eggrolls are spectacular. But the entrees are mediocre. Service is mediocre at best. I left feeling like I had an impression of what this place was supposed to be, but it didn't live up to it.
(3)Nick M.
OVERALL 5/5 Best Chinese food in Charlottesville. This place is great by any standard. If I am in the mood for Chinese or I have friends visiting this is where I go. FOOD 5/5 I've eaten here quite a lot and never had anything that I didn't love. It is Sichuan food, so many dishes can be prepared spicy. I must say though, that the spice level is toned down, you are not going to die if you try something here. Of course, you must try the famous dry friend eggplant. The various Sichuan hot pot dishes are wonderful as well. Recently, Feb 2012, they started to serve dim sum as well as the regular menu every day from 11-3. Check out the menu on their website. They have all of the best dishes and everything was up to the normal high quality standard. Beer and wine only. AMBIENCE 3/5 This is decorated Chinese style with flashy neon lights and pictures of China scenes. It looks tacky to Western eyes. That being said, it is warm and comfortable inside. Frankly, it's all about the food. PRICE 3/5 This is a real restaurant, not a cheap Chinese takeout, so be prepared to spend 10+ for a dish. Delicious and well worth it. The lunch menu is much cheaper, maybe go then if you aren't quite sure you want to commit at first. They have never had a problem splitting a check. SERVICE 4/5 Great service, the servers are all prompt and will help you find what you want to explain a menu item. Whole different experience if you speak Chinese and can get access to everything that is not on the menu, but that goes without saying.
(5)Julia B.
One of the best Chinese restaurants I have ever been to! They also have an UNBELIEVABLE lunch special! $7.95 for a listed entree, (we love general tso's and beef with broccoli) lo mein, fried rice, an egg roll, a little donut-y pastry, and a cup of soup. Their hot and sour soup is divine and the vegetables seem to change daily based on what they have. So delicious! Dinner here is also great - so many great options and I have truly never had anything here I didn't like. Great service, friendly staff, clean. It's a real gem of Charlottesville and you've got to give it a try!
(5)Krissy M.
This was a solid dining experience =) I was craving fried rice (kinda weird, I know) and hubs wanted to try a place we hadn't been to before. Since ToC is but two minutes from our condo, we hopped on over on Friday night to check it out. The restaurant was very busy, but we were seated within a few minutes. Upon receiving our menus, we made our selections - I went with the seafood fried rice (it had a fancier name, but its escaping me) and hubs ordered the crispy beef - and for an appetizer, we tried the cilantro and fish roll. The service was prompt and the food piping hot and tasty/fresh! Before too long, there was a bona fide line of people waiting at the door!
(4)Liza S.
The best Chinese restaurant ever!!! All of their food is simply DELICIOUS !!!!! great for spicy food lovers ! Highly recommend to try it out
(5)Kenny D.
Recently had lunch from their 6.99 lunch menu. I ordered the Ma Po, which is a tofu dish that I have found that of love the flavor of. The lunch comes with soup, egg roll, fried brown rice and noodles (lo mein?) I was a little disappointed at first as my hot and sour soup was not hot (temperature wise) but it tasted pretty much like most Chinese hot and sour soups and was a little on the gelatinous side as is almost all hot and sour soups...I don't know why they make it like this, it would be much better as a thinner soup. When they brought the rest of the lunch I was surprised at the amount of food. A pile of fried rice and a pile of lo mein noodles accompanied a good sized bowl of the Ma Po. This was also accompanied by a full sized egg roll. The Ma Po flavor was fantastic and I could not finish my meal. I saved the lo mein and half the Ma Po for another meal. One note: I was excessively bloated for the rest of the day, more so than meals at some other Chinese restaurants. It was very uncomfortable and I suspect possibly a heavy dose of MSG somewhere in the meal. Very tasty but I paid for it the rest of the day. Good price and good portion size. The place has a lot of real Chinese food selections, and then plenty of American Chinese food choices too like General Tsos chicken and such, which has nothing to do with real Chinese food but Americans think of it as Chinese food.
(4)Starrie W.
I first came here when the infamous Peter Chang was chef. I've been twice since he left and honestly you cannot tell that he is gone, except it is now less busy. He must have done a great job with training the current chefs because the food is as good as it was before his departure. Every time I go I always have to get the scallion bubble pancakes. They are amazing, something I had never experienced before I came here. I have also tried the steamed dumplings, which are some of the best I have ever eaten. This is real Szechuan cuisine, not some Americanized novelty food made with highly processed ingredients like most Chinese restaurants in the U.S. I have had both the Crystal Shrimp and the Seafood Hot-Pot. The latter was exceptionally savory. You receive plenty of food, most of which I took home with me. I would like to go back soon and try something else. Now that I have have experienced Peter Chang's China Grill - Peter Chang's new restaurant also in Charlottesville - I can confidently say I will still go back to Taste of China. It is similar quality in cuisine with the added benefit of not having to get a reservation to ensure a table.
(4)Emily M.
"LOL ASIAAAAAAAAAA" The Good - The menu. I love the extensive selection of traditional dishes. If, for some godforsaken reason you consider ordering off the "American" menu, I would suggest you pack up and haul your @ss over to Panda Express. You don't belong. - Pork. The End. I had the Pork Mao Family Style, which is actually pork belly and leeks braised in star anise and shaoxing wine - delicious. I was able to try the Twice-Cooked Pork, which unlike similarly named dishes at other take-out places, was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The Crispy Duck was just what Duck should be - dark, with a healthy dose of fat and skin and a lovely fried crust. - Service was prompt, and friendly. Water-glass-fillers were borderline obsessive, but unobtrusive. I don't think my glass ever got near half-empty. - Portions were sizeable. - Prices are a little more expensive then the average Chinese-place, but so worth it. The Bad - I can't go as much as I want to (every day!) as entrees average around 10-12 dollars. - Scallion pancakes were lovely and puffy and awesome - but could have used a bit more scallion. The Verdict - Go. It's authentic and delicious. Definitely a tasty food-adventure.
(5)Mary C.
My Chinese friend recommended this place so we went. We loved the Hunan fried rice, the Singapore Noodles and the Crispy Beef. Not greasy, ready on time and I was able to order online. I will go here again!
(4)Miriam T.
I've been here about eight times and it is always good. Last night it just blew me away! Ordered wanton soup ( so fresh!), egg roll ( perfect eggrolls!), hot tea, tofu skins, crispy beef, dry crispy eggplant, and string beans with garlic. They bring you sliced oranges and always fresh fortune cookies at the end. The service is very friendly. I love this place! I will return to try one of their large noodle soups next time because I am obsessed with noodle soup and am on a mission to find a good one in Charlottesville.
(5)Richard S.
It's pretty hard to find some decent, legitimate Chinese food, especially in Charlottesville, but this place is pretty good. It's a great change from all the takeout Chinese or the Asian buffets in the area, and the food packs a pretty good punch (in spiciness). I don't think this place is up to par with some of the Chinese restaurants in bigger markets (ie. NY, DC, SF), which is kind of a downer since I'd rather not travel that far to eat some damn good Chinese, but this place comes pretty close.
(4)Kathy L.
I am mildly obsessed with this place. Maybe really obsessed. It may be a side effect of the fact that up to this point, Charlottesville has had no really good & authentic Chinese place. This is as close as you can get without trekking north to DC! You know it's good when they post signs on the door written in Chinese only. Anyway, the spicy stuff is super spicy, but not in that "I can't taste anything" way. I highly recommend the Braised Fish Fillet in Hot Bean Sauce. It doesn't sound like it will be good but it is fantastic. The Crispy Beef w/ Scallions & Chili is really good also. On Friday and Sat night don't expect to be seated right away. On the weekends I visited a substantial line formed. They don't take reservations so everything is first come, first serve. Be sure to speak up if they call your name because everything is handled in a terse, efficient, Asian style. I guess the only disappointment was the Hot & Sour Soup.
(5)Jennifer T.
As soon as I walked into the restaurant, there was a huge board displaying the specials of the day. "Vegetable or Shrimp dumplings" were listed, so I asked our waitress for Shrimp dumplings. Not only did she not know what I was talking about, but I had to walk her over to the 'special's board' and point to the menu item. On top of that, she brought us the wrong dish and gave us vegetable dumplings (which are gross, btw). After a good 30 minutes or so, another waitress came to us and we told her our waitress brought us the wrong dumplings. Give it another 15-20 minutes, she finally brought the right dumplings out. Basically, service is completely awful here. You'd get better service @ a food cart than this restaurant. The main dishes were fine. A bit salty, but very filling and flavorful. I highly recommend the Japanese Udon Noodles or Noodles with Braised Beef. Stay away from the Singapore noodles-- it was extremely dry and powdery. It seemed like they just dumped tons of curry powder with the noodles without mixing or sautéing it.
(3)Lisa N.
Authentic Chinese food at affordable prices. The service here is friendly and attentive, but the dishes were hit or miss. I would probably come back if I had a craving, but it is a little far from campus.
(3)Stuart S.
Amazing Chinese food, among the best I've ever had. I visited again and again. This restaurant's chef was profiled in the New Yorker. That may be the reason why it's very crowded. The staff does a pretty good job at handling the crowds, though you may need to wait a while at peak dining times, and may be asked to (or pressured into) sharing a table. Favorites include the ma po tofu, the dry fried eggplant, the hotpot dishes. Not sure if the head chef is still there, as another reviewer linked to an article which suggested his departure.
(5)Cat L.
My favorite place for Chinese food in Charlottesville. Just as good and sometimes better than the new Peter Chang's but at more reasonable prices. I recommend the scallion pancakes and seafood soup.
(4)mary w.
We went here for a Sunday lunch and ordered a totally vegan meal for 4 people. We got the tofu vegetable soup, dry fried eggplant, tofu balls casserole, singapore noodles, and Chinese broccoli. One of our party, who has been eating Chinese food for many years, all over the country, said it was the best meal she ever had! It was truly flavorful and interesting; this restaurant has unusual food items unlike what you'd find in the typical strip mall Chinese restaurant.
(5)David G.
Wonderful lunch. good portion size, spicy food that is actually spicy! great presentation on my dish even at lunch time. friendly waitstaff, surprised it wasnt busier considering the high quality food i ate.
(5)A. M.
This place is worth the hype, even without the famous chef. We love the crispy pork, crispy shrimp and the deep-fried spicy eggplant. The wait staff is sort of terrible. I usually just get up and grab my own soy sauce/other sauces because I'll have to ask several times otherwise. However, most of Charlottesville has terrible service, so I guess we're used to it.
(5)Brie K.
We must have the best timing in the world (or the worst, depending on your perspective) because we had a chance to eat here only a few days before Peter Chang left. At that time we ordered the fish with cilantro rolls, crispy duck, and singapore noodles. The fish with cilantro rolls were all cilantro and not as much fish, and pretty good. The singapore noodles were delicious, but a little spicier than I'm used to, and I think I might have actually gotten a nosebleed in the process... The crispy duck, though, whoa. I think the waitress really loved it too, because she smiled knowingly when Jeremy ordered it. The way it was cut and cooked (on the bone), the fat puffed up and surrounded the tender meat in a sort of crispy, flavorful cracker. It smelled so amazing that the people between us and the kitchen stopped the waitress to ask what it was so that they could order it! Two weeks later, and Peter Chang is gone. So the question was, would it be good or not? Luckily, from our limited perspective, it was still good! We did not have scallion bubble pancakes before, so we don't know how they were, all we know is that it was tasty this time. My crispy sweet and sour fish had a great sauce and no pineapple, so it was better than any other sweet and sour I have ever had. Not overly fishy at all. Jeremy ordered the crispy beef, and that was delicious! (He must have a knack for ordering the best stuff). The chef's special sauce was still a good balance of sweet and savory, and I actually couldn't stop myself from reaching over to nab some when he wasn't looking. All in all still a good experience, probably because we didn't have enough exposure to Peter Chang when he was in town, that elusive genius. If you have never been here, it is still the best Chinese in Charlottesville, even if its not the best in the country any more.
(4)Ryan M.
Yum! Solid. It's much better if you go in a huge group, order every dish that looks vaguely appealing, and sample each platter.
(4)Seth R.
Very good authentic Chinese food. Everything I've had has been delicious; spicy fragrance beef hot pot is a favorite. Limited drink selections and lacking ambience: this is a place to eat, not to hang out and make a night of dinner.
(4)Dek R.
This is how American-Chinese food is done. Ummm...so so good. Really, the non-descript script mall should not discourage you. I bet the locals already know all of what I am saying.
(5)Artcha W.
Finally a place with real Asian food! My husband and I love that they make their food very spicy. Had the spicy crispy shrimp, stir fry beef and intestine, and soup dumpling. Everything was delicious. The staff were very friendly. Large spacious dining area. We will definitely return.
(4)Jake F.
I've been to Peter Chang's but was not really impressed. This place, on the other hand, has a fantastic menu -- and the dishes are cooked to perfection. I recommend the crispy spicy duck, and the braised cabbage (which was truly amazing). The ambience isn't dazzling, but the food more than makes up for it. Good service too.
(5)Steven L.
Been here a couple times now. The Chinese/Szechuan food is decent. I thought the soup dumplings were done well with good flavors. Out of the other dishes we've ordered, most of them tended to be on the salty and oily side. Prices are somewhat on the more expensive side, but they offer fairly large portions. A decent, authentic, Chinese food option in C'ville that I would go back to.
(3)Eric C.
This place was a good lunch meal, a bit pricier than what i would normally get but we got some off the dim sum menu. It was fresh and tasty would definitely go back. Waitresses were very good, might have been also b.c there were not that many people there haha.
(4)Jerry G.
Dined with friends on Saturday.. Let's get the bummers out of the way first.. Service is surly. Yes, surly.. Not the most friendly of folks.. In a very big hurry to take orders and the food appears in "stages" so some guests get the main courses before others. Second the tables are terribly small. Four adults and a toddler sharing a small table with water, drinks, appetizers, main courses and, well, it's down right cramped to the point where we were putting glasses of water on the window sill. Now the upside.. The portions are huge; the quality pretty good by Charlottesville standards. Crispy beef was very nice.. Kung Pao Chicken a bit too much on the sauce side and not much spice.. Hot Pot of beef and broccoli look good as did the sweet and sour chicken. And the fried rice was not greasy and had good flavor. Prices are a little "steep" but the quantity and quality make it worth the extra price. Would I go back? Likely yes but I'd do carry out.. Surly wait staff and cramped tables can ruin a good meal.!
(3)David J.
Chef Peter Chang comes and goes as he pleases, but he leaves gems where he has been. This is good Sichuan--in the middle of Virginia of all places!
(5)Erin M.
Absolutely amazing Chinese food, and I have never had to endure the wait times everyone else complains about. Plenty of seating, good service, and outstanding szechuan eggplant! Tthe most authentic Chinese food in Charlottesville!
(4)Alex F.
We came upon this place while driving through Charlottesville. Great food, great service. Don't forget to try the crispy toufu and spare ribs+chestnut.
(4)augin s.
i just read heezy g's news about the chef leaving, and, that's odd, i thought tonight's dinner tasted way, way better than the two previous times i ate here. however, please note, the other two times we ordered take-out. so apparently, it makes a huge difference to dine in. anyway. having eaten or not eaten chef chang's food really makes no difference to me as this restaurant is shoddy about making any accommodations for ppl in terms of taking reservations or seating patrons in an orderly manner. something else that's a huge bother is that they don't write down what you order and how much each dish costs; the whole bill is just handed to you with a $ amount circled. can taste of china really not afford any restaurant professionalism? blah.
(3)N-P H.
Good good food...spicy, tongue numbingly good. We went there looking to try this mysterious Chef Peter Wong's food. We were told he was gone 2 months after he started, but nevertheless, the food was really good.
(4)Bree L.
We've eaten there twice with the original chef and twice since he's left. Each visit was great. The food is very spicy. The only thing I didn't like was a crispy beef dish. I've had both crispy beef dishes. One was too sweet and the other was too crispy although the flavor was good.
(4)Jim C.
Went back this weekend (at a much earlier time in the evening) with a few friends to try to get some of the things we missed last week. The food was great, but this time the service was horrible. The wait staff was either completely oblivious or just plain rude, inattentive (we and at least 7 other people that I counted had to walk over to the busing station to pick up our own utensils, napkins, etc.), and this time when one of the items we ordered wasn't available they didn't even bother telling us. They also seem to have a *serious* problem with keeping the restaurant open. As we arrived, there were signs stating "we open today at 5." After we finished, our group stood outside for some more conversation, and watched no less than a dozen people get turned away. This was at 7:30pm. With their posted hours for the evening as open until 10, and that they'd only opened at 5, this was a huge surprise. Don't get me wrong - I love the food, but if I were them I'd be worried that they're going to begin driving away customers.
(2)J R.
My wife kept telling me that we couldn't get authentic Chinese food in America. I never understood what she meant until we spent a month traveling her homeland of China last year. Since then I have been craving those flavors not-to-be found between our shores. Then a friend recommend Taste of China to me. I can say that it is as authentic as you will get anywhere in the the US. My recommendations are: the Five Flavored Tofu (but don't eat the black stars!), the Spicy Crispy Beef and / or Duck, the Singapore noodles, and pretty much anything else on the menu. Enjoy...
(4)Jim H.
Best Chinese food in these parts. A celebrity chef put this banquet style Chinese restaurant on the map, hope the food quality stays exceptional long after the celebrity chef (Cheng) is gone!
(5)Sam L.
Best Chinese place that I've been to in a looong time (and I'm Chinese). They have a special menu on the back of the menu-definitely check out that page for some really good dishes. We ordered a cabbage with tofu skin dish (sorry, I don't remember the actual names) and it was a very refreshing dish. There was also an intestine stir fried in green peppers-sounds gross, but it was sooo good. How good-let's just say the two vegetarians with me actually ate some because it was too good to pass up. We also had a water-boiled fish with tofu-basically a bowl of fish and tofu cooked in spicy soup-another excellent dish. I had the fried calamari-it was ok. I'm going back there again next weekend (I live in Baltimore).
(5)Dana C.
My roommate always raved about this place, and I finally decided to give it a try. Before trying Taste of China, I was not a big fan of Chinese food (as I've had multiple bad experiences in the past), but after my meal- I walked away loving Chinese food. I will definitely be going back.
(5)lucy m.
rude owner was F+ after seeing her staff made a mistake with the order, she still charged us for the dish was willing to take 5% off that one item. 50 cents off.. really? that is horrendous waitress was a C- no greeting, took a bunch of silverware and left it on the table without guiding us. expected us to seat ourselves. checked on us very few times, did not refill my drink if you just want food without service, then go otherwise go somewhere else
(1)Jennifer W.
First, full disclosure. I tend to think Chinese food is gross. General Tso and I have a long and complicated history (I love him but he hurts me so...), and also, I may not really know how to order Chinese food...but I just would rather eat just about any other cuisine. I was really hoping to be blown away by this joint. The rave reviews, the long lines...I believed the hype and rode the wave. Blegh! We ordered a bunch of stuff. Nothing was REALLY good. Overall...Spicy - too spicy. Salty - way too salty. Service - just meh. Atmosphere - ewwww. Bottom line, I really hoped to be moved by this place, but I left feeling yucky.
(2)R R.
Addiction: Cilantro w/ fish rolls! Nuff said!!!
(5)Kelsi G.
3.5 stars* Since the first time I went to Taste of China, the food quality has somewhat declined. I'm not going to comment much on service + interior since those have remained pretty much constant (typical Chinese restaurant). Taste of China has a huge menu with lots of variety, whether you want authentic or Americanized Chinese food. My go-to's are usually the bubble pancake, soup dumplings, dry fried eggplant, crispy beef or duck, and some type of seasonal vegetable. The soup dumplings have definitely taken a turn in the wrong direction. The first time I came here, the skin was thinner and you could definitely tell there was soup inside. The past two times I've went, you could tell the skin was really thick and dry on the outside, and when you bit into it there was minimal to no soup. The eggplant is still pretty solid, but they use a heavier hand with the salt than what I remember before. Other items I've tried are all pretty good, but the soup dumplings/eggplant were the biggest draw for me to come here. Overall, I would still come here since it's probably the most authentic Chinese food in Charlottesville. There are still a couple things on the menu like the hot pots that I haven't tried so I'll see how those are if I go back.
(3)Chanhong L.
After finally learning how to eat soup dumplings correctly, I was thoroughly disappointed to find no soup in my soup dumplings. I've been here before when there was soup in the soup dumplings, so I'm just hoping that our order was just a fluke. However, no soup spoons were provided for the soup dumplings nor was ginger present in the sauce, making me question the validity of the restaurant as a provider of authentic soup dumplings. In addition to the soup dumplings, we also ordered the dry fried eggplant, garlic eggplant, combination fried rice, baby bok choy with tofu skin, and basil shrimp. It was more than enough food for the five of us. I recommend the dry fried and garlic eggplant dishes, but I must warn that they may be a little salty. I didn't believe my friends when they said that the dishes were salty because they weren't the last time I came here, but on this occasion everything was noticeably saltier-especially the tofu skin. The combination fried rice was disappointing and tasted more like American Chinese fried rice than Asian fried rice. It was salty and looked like soy sauce had been poured all over it. The basil shrimp is not as good as the basil chicken in my opinion but it does have the basil flavor. Other dishes I would recommend from previous experiences are the crispy beef and double-cooked pork. The double-cooked pork was not good the last time I ordered it though-another hit-or-miss. In addition to the non-traditional traditional fortune cookies provided at the end of the meal, Taste of China also provides complimentary orange slices at the end of the meal, which I always enjoy. However, due to the soup dumplings not having soup, I will now be going to Peter Chang's instead whenever I need my Chinese fix.
(3)Lijin Z.
Awesome beef hotpot! Tender and authentic Sichuan flavor! Prom steamed Dumpling is not that authentic but juicy enough~
(4)Vy L.
The restaurant was clean. The staff was nice and professional. My husband and i went there and had dinner. It was pretty nice but their dishes could be spicy so if you order something and wasn't sure, make sure to ask to see the level of spiciness. Overall, everything was good.
(4)Becca L.
Two words: soup dumplings. They are soft and gooey, and full of hot, flavorful soup (along with your standard dumpling filling). There is almost nothing better on a cold Sunday afternoon. I had never tried them before stopping in Taste of China last year while visiting my boyfriend in Charlottesville. Now, every time I visit, it goes without saying that at least one meal will take place at Taste of China. Every time we go, we try to order a different entree or two to go along with our soup dumpling appetizer. Sometimes we'll ask the waiter for a recommendation, sometimes we'll pick something random off of the menu. Everything has been delicious, and most have been quite different than your typical Americanized Chinese food entrees. My mouth is watering thinking about those soup dumplings. Definitely try Taste of China - you won't be disappointed!
(5)Salman V.
Food wasn't that bad, but service wasn't great and they have drinks in cans and no refills. For a restaurant which offers spicy food, I plan on needing a lot of drink because I like my food on the spicy side. Invest in a fountain soda machine. It will save you a lot of money in the long run and increase your profits and customer satisfaction.
(2)Michelle S.
Had to come all the way from Idaho to get some really good dumplings and found them here. The Lo mein was perfect also along with the service. Only complaint is that it was to much food!
(4)Phillip M.
It was lack luster and just ok.
(2)Stephanie T.
Growing up in Queens, I love good, authentic Chinese food. I have enjoyed everything here but my new favorite is Sautéed shrimp in fresh garlic, one of the chef's specials. It is full of plump shrimp, mini corn, water chestnuts and crunchy pea pods. There is plenty of sauce and it is still great the next day!
(5)Long N.
Have been here many times and it never disappoints! This place is definitely on another level compared to your standard Chinese restaurant. Don't expect great service from here, or any real authentic asian restaurant, but the food alone makes this a 5 star experience.
(5)Kelley S.
Stopped here on a Saturday for lunch just after 11:00 when they opened. Waitress was attentive. For appetizers we ordered hot and sour soup, pork wonton 'soup' (comes in an order of 8 with broth) . The wontons were amazing, and the soup was pretty good too. For our main courses we ordered beef with broccoli and general tso's chicken. Both were very flavorful and the portion sizes were huge! Love that there is no msg in the food. Great place!
(4)Alice W.
This was my go-to Chinese restaurant in Charlottesville. Back then, I wasn't too familiar with famous chefs so while I knew it was Peter Chang's restaurant at the time, I didn't know the extent of his fame. My favorites here were the scallion bubble pancakes (葱油泡饼); hot & spicy beef rolls (麻辣牛肉å·); sliced beef and beef tripe with hot pepper sauce (夫妻肺片); roast fish with green onion (竹塔烤鱼片), which is fried fish sautéed with onion and chili powder and ground cumin; braised beef with tomato in hot pot (蕃茄牛腩锅); and braised beef fillets with chili sauce (æˆéƒ½æ°´ç…®ç‰›). I love Sichuan food and enjoyed most of their Sichuan dishes. There was subtle heat in the Sichuan dishes that I liked. Not sure how it tastes now since Peter Chang's departure but I definitely thought this was one of the best (if not, the best) authentic Chinese restaurants in Charlottesville.
(4)Amanda P.
One star for lying. I had wanted to try this place for some time, and we finally were about to try it. We called first to see if they were a buffet- because some sites listed it as such. My husband called to confirm, and the person who answered said it is a buffet. We got there and were seated and it was very clear that they are NOT a buffet. We left without ordering and will never go back. If they lied about the type of restaurant they are it makes us wonder if they'd lie about what's in the food as well.
(1)Alice L.
Reason for the one star is purely because of the service. The big, tall Chinese waitress was not accommodating at all when we first walked in and told her we had a reservation for 9. She basically told us they are very busy and if we wanted to eat here, pull some tables together ourselves. I did consider it was graduation Sunday and tried to disregard the incident and pull the tables ourselves and seated ourselves. A smaller, nice lady came to take our order. As the dishes were coming out, the big lady came charging to our table with the order of steamed xiao long bao we ordered. We didn't move the dishes fast enough for her to have room to put the dumplings on the table since we ordered a lot of food, so she shoved the steamer filled with dumplings onto the table and knocked over a full glass of water on us...... So you can tell no matter how good the food was, it was getting very aggravated. I must admit, the authentic Sichuan food is very good. All the spices were there. But unfortunately, that waitress' actions left a bitter taste in our mouths. So I won't bother to go into details about the food. Also be aware that they scribble some words on a bill and give you two totals without telling you that one is the subtotal and one is a total with service charge.
(1)Chad R.
I have searched for years for authentic Chinese cuisine. This place has it. I have only tried the hot and sour squid, but it was excellent.
(4)Sarah Y.
Sorry. I was excited to try your food but you told me you didn't deliver outside of a 2 mile radius. I literally live right behind you. Know your town or expand your delivery area if you are going to deliver.
(1)John V.
I love Taste of China. I really do. I discovered the restaurant by pure dumb luck several years ago while attending a conference in Charlottesville, and I make a point of dining here whenever I'm in town. I am never disappointed. In fact, on a recent 24-hour visit to Charlottesville, I had dinner here one night and lunch the next. Tucked inside a large strip mall (Albemarle Square), Taste of China serves up a wonderful mix of authentic Sichuan dishes, along with the Chinese-American standards that probably enable them to pay the rent. Steer clear of the lunch combinations and General Tso's Chicken and all that, and focus on the specials (written in Chinese and English upon entering, and shown in photos on the wall as you enter). There are some real gems here, especially in the "Chef's Specials" part of the menu. Dumpling addict that I am, I typically start with their Dumplings with Red Oil, perfectly-cooked half-moons of thin dough encasing a ground pork filling, served awash in red chile oil and topped with sliced scallions and minced raw garlic. I've sampled many of their offerings, but lately I keep going back to Crispy Shrimps with Scallions (Sunday dinner). Delicately battered and fried shrimps are heaped on a plate with shreds of scallion and lightly breaded (dusted?) onion slices that resemble nothing more than bits of an evil "Blooming Onion," heavily dusted in powdered red chile. Oh, don't forget the plentiful pieces of dried red chiles. No sauce, just waves of flavor and heat. The Crispy Fish with Green Onion (Monday lunch)is nice too ... I never associated ground cumin with Chinese fare, but this was a flavor sensation. I've also tried some of the Szechuan pork belly dishes here, all robust and full of flavor. The portions here are very generous, I usually leave with a take-out box, and they are always glad to provide an extra portion of steamed rice to accompany my leftovers. Service here is pleasant and efficient, although I have occasionally been subjected to the arrival of the main course before the appetizer. But otherwise, they are friendly, helpful, and ready to make recommendations if I'm feeling undecided. Prices are reasonable as well, given both the quality and quantity of the food. I only wish that Annapolis had a Chinese restaurant of this caliber.
(4)Agnes L.
For our first meal in Charlottesville, my husband, friend and I wanted to get take-out or delivery but did not want pizza (just came from Chicago and had a lot of deep dish before arriving here). There weren't many options on a late summer Sunday night in C'ville except Chinese. In the end, we were pleasantly surprised at the authenticity. Ordered: Crispy Beef with Green Onion Szechuan Style, Crispy Duck, and Eggplant with Spicy Garlic Sauce. In addition, we got Chinese pancakes for free on the side. Loved: intense spice level that numbed my tongue and mouth - true to Szechuan style Not especially fond of: all the breading - the dishes could do without so much of it because the breading really soaked up all the sauces, which made the ingredients flavorful, but then the outside got soggy and canceled out the "crispiness" factor
(4)Ashish S.
I've been postponing my review for this place for a long time, after more than 3 months and a dozen visits, I think its time. This place serves decent Chinese food, not just American-Chinese food. This place is where I go for some comfort food. They also have pictures of the menu on the wall at entry, so you can see what you might want to eat. This is not your typical Chinese carryout places. This is a decent sit down restaurant that offers carry out.
(4)Kim B.
If I could give a half star, I would. For Charlottesville, which is lacking in good ethnic food options, the food is pretty good and I would come back again if it wasn't for the AWFUL SERVICE. I called a week in advance to make reservations for Chinese New Year. They took reservations for my group of 11 saying it would be "no problem." Come Chinese New Year Day when my group checks in for our reservation the staff says, "No reservation is a guarantee," so they are unable to seat us and ask us to wait "20 minutes." We run into about 30 other annoyed customers waiting in the foyer who apparently had "reservations" too, but are unable to be seated because the restaurant is packed. Our group waits and waits and waits. The "20 minutes" we had been promised passes as groups are seated before us. They promise another "20 minutes" and this passes too. Finally, we see FOUR large tables clear in the back of the restaurant, but they STILL won't seat us. They instead just leave the dirty dishes from the groups before on the table and ask us to come to the cash register to place our order early. When we go to place our order though, the woman makes us stand there for ANOTHER 20 minutes because she keeps interrupting us to yell at her staff, pick up the phone, process credit cards, or scribble other notes on notepads. It was ridiculous that she ASKED us to place our order early but then kept making us recite our order from the beginning over and over again because she was too rude and distracted to listen. Finally AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, the staff clears a table in the back for us and puts our food on that table before we are seated, and lets it start to get cold without even telling us that our table is ready! When we ask about whether that is our table, the staff SHOVE CHOPSTICKS into our hands as we walk over and have us set the table ourselves. If only Taste of China had told me that they don't actually take reservations and that there policy is "no reservation is a guarantee." I would have much rather hosted a Chinese New Year celebration at home than ever come here and put up with so much rudeness. Being Chinese, and always craving it when I'm away from home, I eat at Chinese restaurants a lot, but I've never left one feeling so bitter! Don't come here! Your money will be better spent on takeout from somewhere else!
(1)Adam Z.
The duck was rubbery and dry and full of tiny bone fragments - did they hammer the duck and shatter all of the bones before cooking? The vegetarian general tso's tofu was hardly vegetarian - had the tofu replaced with chicken. Mistake, yes, but this was a delivery with multiple shareable meals and it wasn't discovered til later. Mushroom dish filled with tough nearly inedible stems, but did have a delicious taste - what could be eaten. Beef and broccoli very average. Hot and sour soup was delicious. Gave this place two chances. Not happy either time.
(2)J H.
The food is super expensive and I never eat expensive chinese food... But yes, it is relatively authentic, according to my international friends. The portion sizes are also pretty large (they better be). You've got your general Americanized Chinese dishes and then the super authentic dishes with descriptions that don't sound delicious at all when translated. I'd recommend going with someone who knows how to order. It is very good food but it's near impossible to blow me out of the water with chinese food, and at this price too?
(3)Sterling D.
The food here is TERRIBLE. It's too salty, over-fried, and soggy. My mu shu vegetables came with flour tortillas. I was under the impression it would come with Mandarin crepes. Not Mexican ones... I barely used any plum sauce and it was so salty that I managed to eat about a third of what I ordered. The General Tzo's tofu was fried, but not very well. It was a nasty fake orange-red color with a gelatinous skin that peeled right off. I was extremely disappointed. I didn't even get to my sweet and sour soup. It looked good but I was feeling ill by the time I had eaten as much as I did. I'm so sad this place didn't live up to the expectations other reviews gave me. Also: the rice sucked. I don't think they even bothered to measure how much water they were putting in there. Guh. Please, if you're going to use low-quality rice, WASH IT. You should be doing that regardless of how good it is to be honest.
(2)Matt C.
I'm an average white dude with a worldly palate and I thought this place was pretty good. And I didn't eat any lo mein.
(4)World War Z.
The more I go here, the better it gets. They have a very diverse selection, and all the food is authentic and great!
(4)Lydia L.
They miscalculated the bill and lied to us that the tax is 10%! The service is bad and the fish is bad. This is a dishonesty restaurant!!!!!!!
(1)Joy G.
The best in town. Better than the numerous Chinese joints serving up greasy lo mein that leaves me thirsty for the next three hours. Better than that other Peter Chang place, simply because I bit into a peppercorn there and couldn't talk because I felt like my tongue was going to explode in my mouth. Probably couldn't compete with the Chinese eateries of Chinatown and Flushing, but hey, this is Charlottesville. Gotta lower some expectations. First off, Taste of China has an extensive selection of dishes that have been utterly sanitized of any Chinese influence, such as orange chicken, sesame chicken, spare ribs, etc., for your friends who are not so adventurous. Second, there's a pretty obvious Szechuan tilt to the menu, so that means tons of chili, red peppers, and peppercorns in your dishes. Unlike other provinces, Szechuan prides itself on a "numbing" spiciness, so if you can't feel your tongue or lips after a few bites, that's totally normal. Just order another ice water and dive right back in. Plus, the spiciness is supposed to be therapeutic during summertime, because you will sweat bullets, and in that process, you will cool down. My favorite dishes here are: 1) the tofu, seaweed, and spare ribs soup - the tofu today was weirdly sour but I haven't gotten sick yet, so ... yay? But the broth could have been right out of my mom's kitchen, and I love pouring it over rice for a heartier version of chicken rice soup. 2) crispy beef. Chock full of huge red peppers and lots of cilantro 3) dried fried eggplant. 4) eggplant with garlic sauce. Clearly P. Chang has mastered the eggplant dishes, because this was done perfectly. 5) water boiled fish. Don't listen to Kanye and just order the fish fillet.
(5)Daniel L.
The wife and I have been here three times. Each time it has been exceptional. The latest time I had general Tso's Chicken, and it was the best I've ever had.
(5)