For the Star City Blog
China Inn occupies a strip mall site on North 27th St. adjacent to Super Saver. The decor is sparse, with 10-12 Formica tables and booths and an open kitchen separated by a long counter. The owners are Mr. and Mrs. Mun. Mrs. Mun often serves as the sole order taker, waitress, server and table cleaner. She is extremely polite and friendly, remembering many of her repeat customers and what they like to eat. Service can be a little slow when the restaurant is crowded, but once ordered, the food is cooked fresh and delivered quickly and hot.
One does not dine at China Inn for decor or ambiance. The restaurant serves the best home style Chinese food in the city, and can not be beat for the price. The clientele is made up of repeat customers, college students, professors and aficionados of good Chinese food. Many of the customers are Asian and attest to the authenticity of the food.
Most dishes are in the six to eight dollar range and come with steamed or fried rice. American-Chinese favorites, such as chow mein, cashew chicken, won ton soup, moo-goo guy pan, and sweet and sour pork are available for the non-adventurous. The best plates are the "special" dishes and the "home made" dishes listed on the last two pages of the concise menu. When Mr. Mun is the head chef, the food is especially good. Many notable dishes are not on the menu, but can be ordered in advance by consulting with Mrs. Mun. These include Peking duck, a winter squash stuffed with seafood and medicine chicken soup, a whole chicken cooked in a unique herbed broth.
Fresh vegetables are available such as green beans, bok choy, Chinese broccoli, eggplant and asparagus. It is best to ask "what fresh vegetables do you have tonight". The seafood items of note include whole flounder, mussels with basil and head-on fried shrimp known as salty shrimp.
China Inn is great for spur of the moment informal dining or prearranged multi-course banquets. As one visits the restaurant repeatedly, familiarity opens up novel gastronomic surprises.
China Inn
2662 Cornhusker Hwy. Suite 8
Lincoln
402 466-8242
No Credit or Debit Cards Accepted
