I used to come here years ago, before all those Sichuan restaurants opened up around town. Hunan was one place where you could get something more exciting than subgum chow mein. Then I moved to the other side of town, and I just haven't gotten out this way. But I was in the neighborhood this evening and thought--Hey! Hunan!
The menu doesn't look like anything special--the selections look like what you'd see at most American Chinese restaurants. I read carefully and ended up picking dry cooked green beans, Hunan lamb, and kung pao chicken. The lamb really was done Hunan style--strongly flavored without a lot of goopy sauce, and I loved it. The kung pao chicken had a sweet crunchiness to it that reminded my dining companion and me of the "Confucious prawns" that used to be served at the Princess Garden. It was outstanding--I'd go back just for that. Dry cooked string beans were the perfect doneness and were tasty, although they weren't the high point of the meal.
Prices are middle of the pack; decor is a step up from standard strip mall ethnic restaurants. Service at Chinese restaurants is often brusque and businesslike, but this our waiter was exceptionally friendly and pleasant.
Hunan is by far the best Chinese I have ever had. My grandparents and uncle have going here since they first opened and when I moved to the Twin Cities they introduced me to this magical place. Sesame chicken will never be the same to me.
The buffet that they have at select dinner services is one the best I have ever had. Like most non-buffet Chinese restaurants the buffet reflects the higher quality ingredients you find in their menu as well as the use of in-house sauces.
While the buffet is the start for most newcomers it is the menu courses where you become hooked; quality ingredients and great sauces make this a restaurant not to miss. Their sesame chicken in particular is an amazing mixture of quality breaded chicken and the most amazing spicy sesame sauce you will ever have. It is not just orange chicken with sesame seeds spread on top.
Hunan is a restaurant that due to its food has been able to thrive for a long time and will continue to thrive for a long time to come.
This place is freaking amazing.
I generally don't do well with Chinese buffets. Â I get grossed out easily and my stomach is a little sensitive to low quality ingredients.
This place completely changes the game for Chinese buffets.
Fresh food that actually tastes fresh and high quality.
Amazing service - very very friendly staff
Great prices.
We will no longer be searching for a good buffet.
I've been a fan of Hunan for a few years now, ever since a coworker introduced me to it. Â I've only ever been there for the lunch buffet so I can't comment on food off of the menu. Â As far as the buffet is concerned, I should first state that I'm not at all a fan of buffets. Â I find that generally speaking, especially it seems in Chinese buffets, it's quantity over quality. Â As in, huge quantities of extremely low quality food. Â I tend to avoid most buffets but especially Chinese buffets. Â Hunan is one of 2, perhaps 3 Chinese buffets I will eat at.
Now, about the food. Â They've got a decent sized buffet, maybe 8 - 12 dishes, 2 soups and some sides you'd expect to find on a Chinese buffet like egg rolls, spring rolls, etc. Â Some of the dishes are standards that will be there every time and some of them rotate in and out. Â My personal favorites are the spicy chicken and the Buddha delight. Â Despite the name, I've never found the spicy chicken to be too spicy so I compliment it with a health dose of chili oil. Â The Buddha delight is a nice veggie and tofu dish with really good deep fried tofu. Â Also not to be missed are the potatoes that are cooked in some kind of sweet, brown sugar type sauce. Â
From what I've seen of Hunan, it's not exactly what I'd call authentic Chinese, so if that is what you want, there are probably better options for you elsewhere. Â But if you're looking for a good, quality lunch buffet, give Hunan a try.
I re-traced the steps that brought me here back in April, hoping for a better result.
The place was 'waiting-line' packed today. Sadly the original review still stands. Dishes were still 90% the previous selection. The Hyper-cornstarched neon color sauces' still have work as do the Lemon Chicken and Sweet Sour Pork.
What's new is the final realization that food of this category go to 'Gut-stuffers' instead of 'Succulent Asian'.
Rating stands.
Never been disappointed here with dine-in, take-out, or their lunch/dinner buffet. You know how you go to most Chinese restaurants and it tastes like they use the same sauce for every dish? NOT HERE! Everything is so favorable, comes out freshly cooked, and the staff are some of the nicest people I have ever met. The restaurant is very clean and the people here know what they are doing. Definitely one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Twin Cities.
Review Source:I have never been disappointed with Hunan. Â I go for lunch periodically and one time I went two consecutive days. Â This place just rocks. Â The buffet isn't huge, which I feel works in their favor. Â The 10 or so major dishes they have are carefully crafted and are each delicious in their own way. Â Me and guys from work all find something we really enjoy. Â I'm partial to the spicy chicken and egg foo young, my fellow compatriot loves their sesame chicken, another enjoys the thick sweet glazed potatoes as well as the similar chicken dish. Â
Service is spot on. Â They are constantly aware of empty glasses and dirty dishes. Â They are very friendly and prompt with the check. Â I saw another yelper use the term turn-table and it certainly is during lunch. Â This place is packed during lunch, but well worth the visit.
Today started out normal (aside from the blender exploding almond milk and strawberry all over) with me forgetting to bring a lunch to work. Somewhere around 9:30 I started getting a craving for some Chinese food. Chinese food that was decent and wouldn't make me feel bad about myself. Such a thing not existing in Richfield, I did a quick googling of the area and decided on Hunan Restaurant. I had heard/read good things.
I arrived probably just after the big lunch rush, was seated immediately and I head over to the buffet. I try to avoid buffets because they make me sad. But sometimes I can't help myself. The options were somewhat limited but I consider that a good thing because then a restaurant can focus on having quality food, which Hunan did. Also I often feel compelled to try some of everything at a buffet and that can lead to disaster. The sesame chicken, fried rice and cream cheese wontons were all quite delicious. I wouldn't say it was out of this world, but it was certainly better than average. The staff was attentive; I was never out of soda and my plate disappeared like magic while I went back for another.
One thing some people may not like, but I don't mind, is that the tables are quite close together. This along with riding solo, I was able to participate in one of my favorite pastimes. Eavesdropping. I heard all about how the neighborhood is going downhill and about some cross-eyed girl who is lucky that she has a good personality. So if I ever have another moment of weakness and need to hit up a buffet, I'd return. I have to admit, it's nice having a word of encouragement, wrapped all up in a cookie, after a satisfying meal.
Hunan, you were so good to me. Â No really, I miss you already. Â For once in my life, my stomach is not angry with me following a Buffet Massacre. Â In fact, I actually feel energized on a Friday afternoon...
It seems most Chinese food buffets these days are all the same, but Hunan is a cut above. Â Witness the restaurant being absolutely packed today (albeit a Friday lunch), with a line going several customers deep. Â We were seated immediately, and my glass of Diet Coke was never empty. Â Never mind the absurdity of ordering diet soda while throwing down three plates of heart attack-inducing Chinese food. Â Absolutely mental.
The sesame chicken was phenomenal, and I was pleasantly surprised by the stir fry potatoes...they were rockets in flight, afternoon delight. Â The staff works hard to keep the dishes fresh, and while the buffet does not stretch a mile long, it offers a solid variety of options.
Probably going to add it to my "Best First Dates" list here on Yelp.
Kidding.
My husband and I now frequent Hunan on a regular basis. Though the buffet isn't huge, it has absolutely fantastic dishes! Each one is outstanding and actually 'sits' well. I find that to be one aspect that's difficult for most buffets, the food can often get soggy and disgusting after sitting in the bottom of a tray for hours on end. But Hunan has somehow found the perfect buffet recipes! The food has never been soggy or disgusting at all. We're continuously pleased and excited about returning. I also have to say that the waiters at this place are GREAT. Even with the crazy crowds, they manage to be polite and refill waters when needed.
Review Source:Very good Chinese Buffet. Â You will find all the classics you expect at this type of buffet. Â The meat and vegetable ingredients can stand on their own without the necessity to drown them in thick sauces. Â I would be happy paying extra for the quality of food Hunan Restraunt provides, but they keep the lunch buffet very reasonably priced. Â Friendly and attentive service. Â Comfortable atmosphere.
Review Source:I have been going to this restaurant for a couple of years for lunch since I work by there and I'm always happy with the food and service. All the workers are great and friendly and really good at keeping the food fresh and getting people through there, because it's always packed during the lunch hour for their buffet.
There's not a lot on their buffet but enough food to fill you up and you can't beat their sesame chicken or the price!!
Hunan doesn't have the biggest buffet out there, but all the items served are good quality. Â They have a nice variety of dishes so you are sure to find several you like. Â The staff is friendly and they will start to treat you even better once you become a regular. Â This might just be the best Chinese buffet out there in the Twin Cities.
Lunch can get pretty busy. Â If you can't wait that long, check out the Indian buffet next door at Tandoor.
Hunan is located in Bloomington off of American Blvd. and Penn Ave. More specifically, it's located in the small strip mall behind Sonic/Wendy's.
We went here on a Friday evening for the dinner buffet.
Upon entering the first thing you'll notice is the size of the interior. The restaurant seems rather small, although it very likely accommodates a respectable number of people.
After being seated by someone up front, the waiter will ask if you'd like a beverage. Another reviewer said that tea is free; we had sodas, so I'm not sure (they had Pepsi products, if anyone cares to know). If it is free, you may want to have some because-- judging by the carafes being brought out to the other diners-- Hunan seems to have more than green and black.
If ordering the buffet, the next step is grabbing a plate and sampling the selection. Because of the layout of the place, it may seem like the buffet is small. Compared to other buffets it probably is a bit smaller, but Hunan actually has a sizable selection of dishes.
They had Sesame Chicken, Buddah's Delight, Kung-Pao, Chicken with peppers and onions, and even some really tasty spicy lamb with green onions. Also available: a mild slaw, cantaloupe, jello, chicken wings, spring rolls, egg rolls, and more. I'm petty sure I saw a soup up there, too, but I never sampled any.
All in all, the food was great.
The decor of the restaurant is really good as well. Semi-dark earth tones and ambient lighting with tastefully placed paintings. The place was really clean, something I haven't seen too often at Chinese buffets.
The waitstaff around the store are all over the place getting everything done quickly. Our drinks were filled instantly upon completion, our plates whisked up before we reached the buffet to grab a new one, and tables cleaned off as soon as customers left.
Two dinner buffets, two sodas, and tax came to $24.95. We were completely satisfied.
If you're looking for a different Chinese buffet in Bloomington, definitely check out Hunan.
A co-worker of mine has been going to Hunan for a number of years, and suggested the group give it try. Â What did I discover? Â One of the best Chinese buffets around.
The restaurant is somewhat hidden in a small strip mall in Bloomington, and very unassuming. Â The interior represents every Chinese Restaurant you've been to in your life...with a small buffet in the back of the room.
The selection doesn't appear to be anything special, judging from the size of the buffet...but what it lacks in selection, it makes up for in taste.
I had a sampling of most everything they were offering from the Egg Drop Soup, to Lo Mein noodles, but was blown away by the subtle heat of the Spicy Chicken. Â I had two heaping servings of the stuff, and had I not gotten completely stuffed...would have been back for more.
The wait staff are very open, friendly, and punctual. Â One of the staff remembered my co-worker as having been there before, which impressed me. Â The cost of the buffet is $7.25, and tea is free. Â It's well worth the visit for the quality of food and service.
My family has been going to Hunan Restaurant for over 15 years.
Why do we keep coming back?
--- First and foremost the buffet is incredible. Â Whenever I go to a different Chinese restaurant I find myself thinking "this just isn't quite as good as the __insert entree__ Â at Hunan"
--- The family and wait-staff that work at Hunan are wonderfully friendly. Â They are always happy to see you and definitely make sure you enjoy your meal.
--- Perfect atmosphere for any number of guests, and they are happy to accommodate even large parties - great for getting together multiple families.
--- Lastly it's such a bargain, the dinner buffet is under $10 a person (the lunch buffet is less by a dollar or something) with so many tasty selections to choose from.
I recommend their hot & sour soup (the best I've had), walnut or spicy chicken, and crispy green beans. Â All these can be enjoyed from their buffet or off the menu.
Here you will find a most amazing thing: a Chinese buffet that does not suck. Â Said buffet will feature items such as hot and sour soup that is both, potstickers that are not greasy, sesame chicken without the glop, kung pao chicken with flavor and heat, and so on. Â Staff are very friendly, and because the place draws a crowd, the buffet is frequently replenished with more freshly cooked tasty items. Â Based on the quality of the buffet, I'm guessing that off the menu and takeout are also good options here, but you'll have to see on those yourself. Â If you are looking for a quick, enjoyable lunch in the area of Penn and 494, give Hunan a try.
Review Source:
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