So, what do you do when you show up in a strip shopping mall for an early Sunday lunch and the Italian restaurant you’ve chosen doesn’t open for another hour? Our choices left were between a popular burger chain, known for greasy, but tasty burgers or a Chinese restaurant that has operated in the same location for 30 years. We opted for the Chinese.
Inter China has been operating in the shops at the corner of Midlothian Turnpike and Courthouse Road since the 1980s. They offer dine in, carry out and delivery options.
Inside the décor is very traditional Chinese. Or at least what we Americans have become to believe is traditional Chinese. Dark wood with lots of accents of gold and red.
Since it was an early Sunday lunch, the restaurant wasn’t crowded. We were seated right away.
The menu is what you’d expect from a Chinese restaurant with the traditional poultry, beef and seafood options. House specialties include Orange Shrimp which has jumbo shrimp lightly battered and deep fried with special orange peel sauce. Szechuan Steak Kew which is beef and sautéed vegetables in a hot tangy Szechuan sauce or Chystal Chicken Hunan Style which is chicken fried with a tangy sauce and sesame seeds.
It worked out well for us that the lunch special was available on Sundays. Sometimes you’re only offered that during the regular work week. But my wife, son and I were all able to choose the lunch special which included choice of soup, choice of egg roll or spring role and choice of entre.
We opted for the hot tea and water. Our son added a soda. The tea came hot and remained hot throughout the meal. And our water glasses were replenished regularly. The soda came in a can, so refills weren’t unlimited. We limited him to two.
The Wonton Soup was good, but not spectacular. But my wife said the Hot and Sour soup was some of the best she’d had. The crispy noodles were plentiful and fresh.
The egg roll and spring rolls were tasty, but a little dry. It was pretty obvious that they weren’t fresh that morning, unless it was very early that morning and they’d been keeping them warm.
The main course was okay. I went with beef and broccoli, one of my standard choices for Chinese. It wasn’t bad, but wasn’t the best I’d had. It was cooked well enough but the sauce was a little bland.
My wife had the Crispy Shrimp, jumbo shrimp quick fried and sautéed with honey coated walnuts. She enjoyed the spicy flavor.
The 12-year-old never misses an opportunity to include seafood with a meal, so he went with the Imperial Twin which is beef, jumbo shrimp and vegetables in a brown sauce.
According to others who have frequented Inter China, prices have crept up over the years. But the reality is that’s true just about everywhere. We thought the meal was reasonably priced.
The service was excellent. Maybe that’s because there were still only three tables of customers by the time we left and the staff needed something to do. But they hostess and the wait staff were gracious and accommodating.
Is Inter China the best Chinese I’ve had? Probably not. But if you like the Americanized version of Chinese food Inter China is pretty predictable and a good value. For dining in the interior is quiet and enjoyable.
In 2011 Inter China was named one of the top 100 restaurants in America by Chinese Restaurant News. Also in 2011 they received the NBC12 Hall of Fame award which is based on consecutive high scores on health inspections.
We won’t rush back to Inter China. But when we’re considering Chinese food, they’ll be on the list.
Inter China
11623 Midlothian Turnpike
Midlothian, VA 23113
804-794-0866
