Sesame chicken with steamed broccoli and other menu items are served in hearty portions. (Photo by Rod Aydelotte)

Whether enticing travelers off Interstate 35 or offering old favorites to locals, Magic China is often among the busiest places in town during weekday lunches. Despite that, there is seldom a wait for a table in the spacious restaurant, as employees glide through the bustling eatery giving attention to detail.

Another thing diners notice are the substantial portions on each plate — even during lunch.

Magic China has been serving up meals at its current location since 2001. The site had been home to Tanglewood Farms for many years, before that restaurant closed in the 1990s.

Ramiro and Jackie Guerra are quick to greet customers.
Photo by Rod Aydelotte

Before that, Magic China was located on Wooded Acres Drive, near the Lake Air Mall.

Lisa and Benson Siu opened the popular Waco business two decades ago. They retired and sold it to Alex Onofree, a friend of theirs, almost three years ago.

Alex’s daughter and son-in-law, Jackie and Ramiro Guerra, help run the establishment.

Alex and Jackie are no strangers to the restaurant business. They are originally from San Antonio, and family members still own a Chinese and a Mexican restaurant in that city.

Alex co-owned King’s Wok locations in Jacksonville and Rusk, Texas, before getting the opportunity to operate his own business in Waco.

Ramiro and Jackie were high school sweethearts in San Antonio. He joined the Navy and was stationed in San Diego and aboard the USS Tarawa, an amphibious assault ship. Meanwhile, Jackie moved to East Texas and worked with her father. The Guerras, who married in 2003, moved to Waco in 2008. They have a daughter, Sienna, age 2.

Ramiro and Jackie are both students. He is studying engineering at Baylor University, and she is a nursing student at McLennan Community College. Nevertheless, they both spend plenty of time at Magic China.

When they aren’t at work or school, Jackie said she and her husband enjoy family time.

“It’s wonderful being with our daughter — she loves going to the park and playground,” Jackie said. “We also have a lot of family in San Antonio that we like to visit.”

For customers, Magic China offers a friendly family atmosphere as well.

Ramiro said he’s been impressed with the following the restaurant has built, both among Waco residents and visitors.

“They still have customers from East Texas that visit here,” he said. “One is a huge Baylor fan who comes back to the games, but he always makes sure he stops in and sees Alex and Jackie first.”

Jackie said she is grateful for that kind of customer loyalty. She said it doesn’t take long for customers to become friends.

Shrimp with vegetables is one of many specialties.
Photo by Rod Aydelotte

“The owners before did a great job, and we’ve worked hard to make sure we have the same quality people expect,” she said. “We’re very thankful that people have welcomed us, and we appreciate their business.”

The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, ranging from Hunan and Szechuan chicken to Mongolian and orange beef, sweet and sour pork and chicken and shrimp kung pao. Also on the menu are barbecued duck, fried squid, tofu and vegetable dishes.

Lunch and evening specials are available, as well.

Ramiro said his favorite dishes at Magic China are spicy beef fried rice, lemon chicken and garlic shrimp.

Two of Jackie’s favorite dishes are chicken with green beans and fish with lemon sauce.

She said the attention to detail in each of the sauces is one of her father’s specialties.

“Dad makes sure everything is going well in the kitchen, and he prepares each sauce,” she said. “There’s more involved to that than you’d imagine.”

In addition to his role as a chef, Alex makes sure the busy establishment is constantly supplied, overseeing orders on three deliveries a week.

Alex has been in the Chinese restaurant business for 20 years, which gave Jackie the opportunity to grow up in the food industry.

“The highlight is just meeting people and making sure they have a great experience,” she said. “As a hostess, you want to make sure every customer leaves with a smile. That’s very rewarding.”