Healthy, tasty, and spoilt for choice - All about the new menu at Hunan, Koramangala

Soups, dim sum, hot Hakka noodles and my winter is all set. This is what I was thinking when I visited Hunan last week for the preview of new menu. My perception of Chinese food completely changed when I tried the authentic Chinese food at Hunan. The word authentic is very tricky one. Most of the people serve unhealthy and nowhere-close-to authentic dishes in the name of Chinese cuisine. Hunan restaurant is different and serves the best Chinese food in town. This was my first visit to Hunan after hearing a lot about them. Hunan is located in the busy streets of Koramangala 5th Block. From outside the restaurant looks very dinky and once you enter you will have a different feeling. Their ambiance is good with an earthy and modern look; a break from many Chinese restaurants with 'enter the dark world' look.

The new menu consists of 70 new dishes carefully curated by Jagdish M Menda, (Owner of Hunan Restaurant) and Chef Pema Takchung Lepchaand. The highlight of this healthy and interesting menu is that most of the dishes are gluten-free. Chinese food and gluten-free? That's something new to my palate in recent times. Gluten-free food means not all the cereals and sauces are off the menu. Hunan's new menu is having salads, steamed dishes, appetizers, main course and 'meal by itself' for single diners. It's difficult for me to choose a favorite dish from the dinner as the dishes served were really outstanding.

Menu for the night
Salads

Asian flavor Chicken salad

Thai Seafood and Rice Vermicelli Salad

If Asian flavor Chicken salad was burst of flavors with fresh ingredients like carrot, red cabbage, shredded chicken, spring onion tossed with peanut butter and vinaigrette dressing then Thai seafood and rice vermicelli salad was so perfectly made.

Starters

Chicken Hot Basil

Chicken Hot Basil - Finely chopped chicken with bird's eye chili, basil, garlic, and served in a lettuce cup. I just loved this crunchy and flavorful starter. It was not spicy enough for me who love bird's eye chili.

Shredded Pork Beijing Style

Shredded Pork Beijing Style - Crispy starter made of Beijing style bean paste shredded pork and served in a noodle basket. I will never get bored of this dish.

Fried Chili Prawns with Tamarind Sauce

Sugarcane skewered Chicken

Fried Corn Curd Chili Pepper

Salt and Pepper Silken Tofu

All the starters were outstanding and the dishes which blew my mind were - Salt and pepper silken Tofu, Fried Corn Curd Chili Pepper, Chicken Hot Basil, and Shredded Pork Beijing Style. Fried Chili Prawns with Tamarind Sauce and Sugarcane skewered Chicken were also done well with right amount of spices and flavors.

Steamed

Hong Kong styled steamed Seer Fish

Asian Style Stuffed Tofu with Chicken

Hong Kong styled steamed Seer Fish and Asian Style Stuffed Tofu with Chicken were served from the steamed dishes menu. Steamed Seer Fish and vegetables served with a ginger- coriander broth tasted extraordinary. You will get all the flavors in the fish in every bite. Tofu with Chicken was extra dose of protein but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Tofu was the softest one I have ever had in any of the restaurants.


Main course

Raw mango Chili Fish

Assorted Vegetables in Chili Oyster Sauce

Pork and Asparagus with Hot Bean Sauce

Lo Han Jai

After having the fantabulous appetizers our expectation was high for the main course. The main course served were all good especially Lo Han Jai, Raw Mango Chili fish, and the assorted Vegetables in Chili Oyster Sauce.


Meal by itself

Chicken Stew with Black Wood Ear

Chicken Peking Noodles

Chicken Peking Noodles was my favorite of all the main course. I love the combination of Chicken with Black Wood Ear but along with sticky rice it lacked flavors. So for me this was just an average dish.

Desserts

Chocolates

Red velvet cake

Tres Leches

Desserts were not part of the tasting menu and some of us believe no meal can complete without desserts. Along with some chocolates we were served two wonderful (or should I say beautiful) desserts - Tres Leches and Red Velvet Cake. Tres Leches, also known as 'three milks cake' was made of sponge cake soaked with three types of milk- evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream. This dessert was heavenly. Red velvet cake was moist and wonderfully done.

Drinks
Hunan doesn't serve alcohol, so they served us two refreshing drinks which were perfect for the evening - Iced tea and Cucumber Cooler.

Overall my dinner at Hunan was very different from my past dining experience at other Chinese restaurants. Hunan has won the 'Times Food Awards' for Best Chinese Restaurant and I felt they deserve this award every year. I can't wait to take my spouse to Hunan for a romantic dinner night :) The new menu will be available from the end of November, so head to Hunan for an unforgettable dining experience.

Address:
Hunan
#123, 1st Floor, KHB Colony
Opp California Pizza Kitchen,
Koramangala 5th Block, Bangalore

For reservations, contact 080-25520154

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