Hunan

Went to Hunan last night with a group of 10 friends and having lived in HongKong and other parts of Asia I have to say it was one of the best chinese I have ever had !

The service was excellent. We called several times to amend our reservation which must have been very annoying but the staff was very nice about it. During the dinner our server (a tall girl with short hair) explained all the dishes to us, joked around with us and was absolutely nice and fab.

I can't wait to go back!!!!!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, June 26, 2009

Been before and so jumped at the chance to go again. We sat at the table, ordered a bottle of wine, then waited to be asked the "meat or fish" question before all the food starts to arrive. But we waited some more....20 minutes in all. Not good.

However, this proved to be a blessing, as the chef/owner spotted our table and asked what was going on - after telling him the 20 minute wait story, he told off his son (Michael - good lad) and his missus (always moody) - before asking if we ate "everything" - we do.

I recommend the "everything" choice as we seemed to get some dishes other table weren't getting (duck tongue salad being one). Simply incredible - 14 dishes of incredible complexity and taste - really special and the best Chinese food I've had outside Hong Kong.

One beef dish was way too salty, but I love this place and will look forward to returning when the opportunity arises.

14 dishes + a £38 bottle of riesling and the bill came to £130. We could of ate more, but still full. Leaving aside the wait - it was a really enjoyable meal.

Whilst I am a advocate of free speech, anyone who think this is a by numbers Chinatown place should have their opinion ignored.
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coops
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, March 29, 2009

A truly awesome gastronomic experience!! I celebrated my 28th birthday last Saturday afternoon at Hunan. We were a party of 8, but due to district and circle tube lines being closed everyone was late! And if you have eaten here before (I had once before, hence why I wanted to introduce my friends to this amazing restaurant) you will know there is only a short window of time to eat in the afternoon as the kitchen closes at 14.00.

We asked the owners son, Micheal if he could possibly make an exception and see if the chef would be willing to keep the kitchen open a little bit longer. And we were lucky as we didn’t stop eating till nearly 15.00.

Also because we were a large party some were pescitarians and others pretty much open to trying anything, our waiter had no problems with this what so ever. He merely said he would bring an even mix of meat and fish dishes for everyone. All our dishes were fresh, delectability exciting and mouth-watering, each plate delivered to our table got a ‘wow’ reaction from all of us!

The restaurant is family run, cosy and neutral in its décor. But you go to a restaurant to enjoy their food and your company all of which we did and thoroughly!

The next part was the bill, and being as it’s the year for battening down the hatches with regards to money because of the credit crunch, the bill was very fair. It came to approx £30 per head for food, and the alcohol was kept within reason. I wanted to pop open a bottle of champagne, but with the credit crunch I had to be reasonable with costs amongst my friends. So the entire food bill for 8 people was under £330 (incl. of service charge too!)

Incredibly good value for money, as we got 9 courses of food, desserts and 2 bottles of wine, and a special treat for me the chef was kind enough to keep his kitchen open for bit longer!

So this restaurant is a must if you are a ‘foody’ and want something a little quirky, and great value for money.

Happy eating my foody lovers!!
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Yan Nim-Chi
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, March 09, 2009

No menu so everything was a surprise which helped to make it a real eating experience. Their were eight of us and each course, (and there were many) were placed on a separate plate for each of us. I did not find anything I could not eat, all dishes were tasty and interesting we all had a great time.
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Mike Williams
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, January 26, 2009

My girlfriend and I went to Hunan for my birthday dinner, thrilled to be going at last to such a lauded restaurant (online at least). I was hoping to irresponsibly blow a huge wad of cash on the the best meal of my life so far.

How UTTERLY dissappointing. The food was simply one notch above the standard Chinese that one can find anywhere in London. Perfectly tasty and fresh, but nowhere near knock-out. If it was half the price I would rate it a bit higher, but the meal cost the best part of £190. Completely ridiculous. The apparently charming 'no menu' routine is actually just a brilliant ruse to make you spend more - it is the last time I leave my ordering entirely in the hands of the bloke who owns the restaurant. They won't get away with it for long.

I wonder if we went on an off night, because Hunan bore no resemblance to the restaurant that my fellow reviewers ate in.
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GILES HUXLEY-PARLOUR - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Saturday, September 27, 2008

I've never bothered reviewing a restaurant before (though probably should have done with the odd stinker (the pig and trotter - previously 'the front page - off old church street comes to mind). However after last saturday's visit to Hunan as a group of nine of us I feel compelled at least to concur with all the other reviews and say that this was simply one of the best meals I've ever had. I've just booked again for a last meal with friends before they emigrate. It really is fantastic and for the quality, incredibly reasonable. There's a much more well know chinese restaurant round the corner on Ebury St which is way more expensive and which I'm afraid doesn't come close. Finally I should mention that I don't get why people in other posts have knocked the dad - he was great all through the meal - not least when refusing to serve one of our party rice. As he put it "you order rice, you lose, I win."
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

When someone asks you to a restaurant that has no menu, you would normally begin to question why?

Well at Hunan that question is answered with the most mouth watering food you are likely to taste this side of Hunan its self. If only I had the time to list all 18 dishes we had on gorgeous summer evening!

It was without question one of my foodie highlights of the year.
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N Kelly
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 05, 2008

My girlfriend is Chinese and we regularly eat at top end Asian restaurants in London. It was by chance that we stumbled upon Hunan last summer and since then we have been back several times - it is undoubtedly in my mind (and more importantly since she is prob a better judge of Asian food than me!) quite simply the best Asian restaurant in London.

The concept of no menu may seem off-putting to certain restaurant goers at first but my advice is to go with the flow and so long as you are not vegetarian (if you are you prob should not be at the restaurant in the first place) then you will not be disappointed at all with what you are given. Every time we have been the 8-10 dishes you are given have contained a number of new and always delicious numbers.

The service can be a bit eccentric, particularly from the father, but again I think this adds to the uniqueness of this restaurant. The fact this restaurant does not have a Michelin star is a travesty but then again it does not detract from it for its regulars and prob keeps a certain type of unwanted clientele out of the restaurant! Besides I think the stuffy Michelin inspectors may not yet be ready for the greeting from the father in broken english "what you don't eat" and the no menu approach!
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Owain Griffiths
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, May 09, 2008

I had the pleasure of going to this restaurant last night...and it was without a shadow of doubt the best Chinese restaurant I've had the pleasure of eating at in London. I'd even go so far as to say it's the best meal of any description that I've had in several years...my own cooking excluded of course ;)

It's situated in Pimlico near Victoria station. A number 11 bus from Liverpool Street takes you almost to the door.

It's a relatively small restaurant - probably space for 35 diners, and when you arrive you are given a wine list only. There is an a la carte menu, but the strong suggestion is that you go for the "feast" menu...which consists of 10+ different small dishes. Calling it tapas doesn't do it justice - for while it is lots of small tasting dishes, a lot of care and attention goes into them, rather than them being spooned out into serving dishes like tapas can be.

The wine list is superb - mostly French, but with some interesting wines from around the world - Austria, Chile, New Zealand, Australia etc. There's wines to suit a wide range of budgets too.

Food - there's very little to say other than it was one of the best meals I've had. The variety, texture and flavour of all of the dishes was fantastic, and we finished everything we were given.
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Ken Okumura
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, April 08, 2008

It is a tiny restaurant, with perhaps six tables in the front, and six tables in the back.

Michael greets me, (he is the son of the owner) and kindly offers me a table by the window, although technically they are not open for lunch for another half hour.

Michael Buble's Feeling Good plays in the background, and I DO feel good :)

There are lovely lillies in a glass vase by the bar. Chinese paintings of the Emperor are on the walls, and there are Buddha figurines, dragons and vases on top of a cabinet.

The tablecloths are beige and white. Heavy off-white chopsticks rest on a delicate white china stand.

The lady behind the bar brings me hot tea, which she says is specially blended to go with the food, and does not need sweetening. (being a sugar junkie, I disagree, but do not ask again for sweetener.)

She follows this up with tiny bites of pickled cucumber (delicious), and salted pine nuts.

I watch deliveries being made, as there are hidden steps to a basement on the sidewalk. Crates of brown eggs, beans and fresh vegetables disappear and my stomach growls.

Michael comes over again to ask what I like to eat. There is no menu. Chicken, pork and vegetables, I tell him. Sour, hot and spicy...

Individual servings are brought. As I finish one, within two minutes, another appears.

Minced chicken in lettuce has a very fresh, light taste.

A century old egg is brought with pickled vegetables. The egg is, as expected, gray, almost black. I think it tastes gross, but pat myself on the back for being adventurous enough to try it.

(But after one bite I try to hide it under the vegetables so Michael will not know that I haven't finished it)

Crispy garlic beans are next, and they are wonderful. Spicy smoked chicken is equally good, and Michael comes to check and see if everything is to my liking.

Pork with tofu and shredded vegetables comes next, followed by plum & pork parcels in a sesame crusted wrapper. Everything is fresh and nothing is left over.

Taro chicken arrives, and after I have finished its savory goodness, I am stuffed, and cannot eat another bite.

(although Michael would have brought more had I been able to. No-one leaves his restaurant hungry.)

There are bites of toffee banana, apple and pumpkin for dessert.

I'll be back, and next time bring some friends. This was wonderful food, with attentive service.
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Loving Annie - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 03, 2008