Hunan Garden
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: (650) 565-8868
Fax: (650) 565-8818
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Lambert Avenue
- Hours:
- Daily 11am-2:30pm, 4:30pm-9:30pm
Message from Hunan Garden
Fine Hunan food on the peninsula
- Seafood
- Vegetarian Dishes
- Luncha and Dinner
Paid advertisement by Hunan Garden.
Editorial Review for Hunan Garden – by Laura Reiley
The Food
The long menu boasts impeccable English, but this by no means is a sign of muddy, Americanized Chinese food. The kitchen staff concocts fragrant and artfully arranged dishes, like fried cinnamon chicken with steamed sticky rice or braised prawns with tomato and ginger sauce. Served as an appetizer or as an entree, one of the most savory dishes is the deep-fried spareribs with spicy salt, lent flavor by a mound of sliced chilies, scallions, and ginger. Quickly wokked heads-on shrimp, beef with tender greens, and velvety soft tofu, brought in daily from San Francisco, also share a huge following.
The Scene
Designed by Bruce Yelaska, it may just be the prettiest Chinese restaurant on the Peninsula.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
One of Silicon Valley's BestNominated for best Chinese restaurant for providing an upscale dining experience.
More Egg RollsCheck out our complete list of Chinese restaurants.
User Reviews for Hunan Garden
01/02/2007 Posted by boscoj
As it is very near my work streetwerkedotcom I eat here about once a week for lunch. I imagine it's pretty standard lunch special fare. Hot and sour soup, an egg roll, rice, your entree, hot tea, water. Your bill arrives with orange segments and a fortune cookie. The cost is usually $7.52. Each table has salt, white pepper, soy sauce, some black bean hot chili oil and some sweet and sour sauce. I think the elements that stand out for me after 2 years of eating here are the consistency and the excellent service provided by enthusiastic people. What I like most is just chucking the menu and asking my server "what should I get?" I have found this to be a very rewarding approach. How else would have I discovered the bliss that is "Pork Chop Soup Noodle"? Your basic broth with noodles, veggies and some very thinly sliced pork chops (about 1/4" thick) lightly floured and 5 spiced, flash fried and placed on top of the soup bowl. Very yummy. Ask about the Hunan Chicken - White meat, sauteed with cabbage and leeks in the chef's hot sauce. I routinely get the negative head wag. "No, don't get that." The decor is very pleasant and understated. Various aquariums and fish tanks hint that seafood is the specialty of the house and the big dollar items such as lobster, local crab and langoustines are alive until you order them. The outside garden area is wonderful on a warm summer night or an overcast winter day. Plenty of shade and gas heaters make this a very versatile and enchanting seating area all year round. Customer service is what really sets this place apart for me. Service is snappy but one doesn't feel rushed. You don't like a particular ingredient? Just tell them, they will make even the most standard sweet and sour pork to your exact liking. So if you need your Audi or VW serviced call streetwerke and then go to Hunan Garden for lunch/dinner. Tell them "Jeff" sent you . . .
Pros: Everything you go out to dine for
Cons: Parking, easy if you're not yapping on the phone
12/15/2006 Posted by mpechner
This has been my favorite Hunan Chinese resturant for years. The owner used to be involved in Hunan Homes, then he opened this place. So I'm talking 10 years of happy eating. I've never had a bad dish here.
Pros: GReat food and service.
Cons: parking can be a problem
