Chinese : Hunan Home

by Tom Roberson

Date: 01/09/03
Location: Hunan Home Restaurant, 622 Jackson Street (at Kearny)
Attendees: Tom Roberson and Co.
Price: ~$98 (for 6 people)

Ordered:

• hot and sour soup for 6
• whole eel in black bean sauce
• pig's blood cake and intestine soup
• sizzling prawns
• ginger beef and tender green
• salt and pepper prawns
• steamed rice for 6
• 4 large bottles of Taiwan beer

Overview:

Hunan Home has always been one of my favorites. Despite the tourists, the food is actually very good, the service is superb, and the prices are excellent. R&G has better food, but overall, the dining experience (seating, table spacing, lighting) at HH is much more enjoyable.

Although my wife, friends and I have been here repeatedly, my most recent visit was for a work team celebration dinner. It's always more fun going to Chinese (and Indian) restaurants with big groups since you can order more dishes and taste a broader selection.

The menu is all in English, with exception to one dish: pig's blood cake and intestine soup. Two of the folks eating at our table were big fans of blood soup. Our dining took place after a Grant Street bar crawl and we all agreed to order it and be adventurous.

Dishes:

hot and sour soup:

• not as good as Little Beijing, but better than expected
• served very hot
• normal ingredients
• I WOULD order this again

whole eel in black bean sauce:

• most expensive dish
• basically, a de-boned eel, split into two, and served with a dollop of black bean sauce
• served luke-warm
• tasted like eel--more like unagi sushi than I expected
• too much eel (mouth-fulls of it)--I'd rather it be served in smaller portions like in sushi
• not as fresh as in a Japanese restaurant
• I WOULD NOT order this again

pig's blood cake and intestine soup:

• yes, I really did eat some of this
• most foul and retched
• intestine pieces, cut into layered rings:
  • tasted like how you would imagine a pig's dirty butt to smell--like shit
  • hard, chewy--something like what you would see on "Fear Factor"
  • I could bring myself to nibble at one piece
• the blood, served in sliced cubes:
  • I ate one piece, and immediately had to "chase it with rice"
  • tasted similar to the intestine, but not quite as strong
  • tasted different than anything I have ever eaten in my life
  • consistency of jell-o, leaving an odd tooth residue feeling after each bite
  • reminded me of having a bloody mouth (from a bloody-nose or mouth cut)
  • "WOLVERINES!!!" -- Red Dawn
• the broth was basically blood with clots in it--nasty
• I WOULD NOT order this again

sizzling prawns:

• my favorite dish in the restaurant, although it's very touristy
• very garlicky and hot
• the dish is prepared sizzling at your table, like when you order fajitas
• tourists will turn their heads, smile, and will probably ask you for the name of the dish (which will embarrass Jaa)
• I WOULD order this again

beef and tender green:

• this is also one of my favorite dishes
• great sauce!
• very fresh baby greens
• I WOULD order this again

salt and pepper prawns:

• crispy breaded prawns, fried with salt
• this was good, but not as good as R&G's salted scallops
• scallops have a better consistency and flavor for this dish
• I WOULD NOT order this again

Misc. Tips:

• Parking for Hunan Home is harder than R&G (which validates at Portsmouth Square), so it's better if your walking in on-foot.
• Try to get a booth, if you can.
• Don't get stuck sitting downstairs, in the back of the restaurant. Wait and get a table in the front room. Better service, better ambience.

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