Hunan Chinese Gourmet

I kept thinking there was no good Chinese restaurant around the neighborhood, until I found them. The dishes are always freshly cooked to order, and the flavor is very authentic. You can order in Mandarin, and you can order off the menu if you know what you want (and if they have the materials to accommodate you). The prices are very reasonable for the portion they give you, and the fact that they are located inside Fair Oaks Mall does not automatically pump up their pricing. The regular entrees are around $6 to $8, and they have daily specials for $5. They also participate in the Fair Oaks Mall Privilege program for additional discounts. Best of all, you don't get those silly fortune cookies after the meal. You do realize that only in America, fortune cookies are given in Chinese restaurants to entertain the Americans, right? They also have delivery service, but the minimum order is $12. They also do catering. I find no reason to call-ahead unless you have a very large order, because the food is prepared very quickly. If you call-ahead, they might be getting cold by the time you get there. They offer on-line ordering capability, but I have not tried it myself (there is no need because the food is ready very quickly). They are open beyond the Mall hours: M-Th 10 AM - 9:30 PM, F-Sa 10 AM - 10 PM, and Sun 11 AM - 9 PM. They are located near the entrance by Arby's, Todai, or between Hecht's and JCPenney. They take credit card with no minimum charge. They add no MSG, and they use soy bean oil only. I have not gone through the entire menu (because there are way too many choices) but my favorite dishes so far are: Mongolian Beef, Sauteed Rice Noodle (chicken, beef and shrimp), and Shrimp in Lobster Sauce. Oh, and a word of advice for people who are not familiar with Asian foods - Do Not order your noodle soup to-go. The noodle soups are best when they are fresh out of the kitchen. Once you take it home, it will be hard to mix (unless you have the proper bowl), the noodles will stick, and the soup will start to get cold.

PROS: Authentic flavors. Reasonable pricing. Fast service.
CONS: The ordering process can be slightly rushed.

Posted 07/18/06 | Report Abuse

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