Hate to use a cliche, but this place is great for what it is. It's a good value with at least average quality and good quantity, especially if you get the lunch special. Good fast service too.
Reviewed by :
Rick F.
On:
1/18/2013 6:09:00 AM
Really, really cheap but really, really bad. The meat in both dishes were super fatty and tasteless, and it tasted like the fryer hadn't been drained/oil replaced in a month. Definitely would not go back unless I HAD to have Chinese and didn't care about a stomach ache.
Reviewed by :
Victoria W.
On:
11/24/2012 1:42:00 AM
This is a good value for (Americanized) Chinese food. Good for takeout/delivery night. Standard plastic menu, thick and (overly)plentiful sauces, large portions.
Reviewed by :
Cassie D.
On:
11/5/2012 10:26:00 PM
Best Chinese food around? No. Best Chinese food around at this price? By a long shot. And the egg rolls have flavor other than the peanut oil that they were fried in. Hooray!Seriously though, if you're in Evanston and want cheap Chinese food (great for hangovers or a lazy Friday night) go to Hunan Spring.
Reviewed by :
Erini S.
On:
10/3/2012 11:07:00 AM
This used to be my go-to Chinese place when I was living in Evanston.It's not completely Americanized/Cantonese-ized, so I really appreciate that.I was close enough to walk there when I lived in Evanston, and the wait times were never really that long (even if I didn't call in a head of time). Portions are good. One dish could feed one person for at least two meals. Given that I tend to order 2-3 items, I have food for the entire weekend.The string beans are a staple--I always get them. Learning to order a little hotter than I normally would. Mild had absolutely no heat. This last time I got the Shredded Pork in Peking sauce. It was pretty good, but a lot of bamboo shoots and not as much Pork.It's been about 3 years since I last ordered from there, but I remembered having a lot of good experience (and given that I kept ordering from there at that time, I knew it couldn't be that bad). Ordered through Seamless and things came pretty quickly. Given that Chinatown is a pretty long train ride, I think this place will remain my go-to restaurant for Chinese cravings. (Just wish they had salt & pepper ribs! Can't find them in the area at all.)
Reviewed by :
Brady R.
On:
8/31/2012 1:08:00 AM
Prices have gone up a little. Atmosphere could be better and wish they had fountain drinks.Try General Tso's chicken- It does have spicy peppers in it, but if you avoid those it is not spicy at all.Still think it is great food for a great price. Definitely still going back.
Reviewed by :
Danielle J.
On:
8/5/2012 6:57:00 AM
This place has consistently good chinese food. I'd recommend it, for sure, as I'm never disappointed, feel the food is good quality, and the service is professional and prompt. Have I had better chinese food? Yeah, but for this style of restaurant, it doesn't get much better. I've lived in various cities, with substandard chinese food and am happy we have Hunan Spring, which is reliably good chinese food.
Reviewed by :
Sean C.
On:
6/1/2012 1:58:00 AM
I live nearby, and I go to Hunan Spring a lot. While I've found some things are better than others, the food is always good quality. I'm a big fan of how they do their General Tso's chicken. It has a light, thin batter to it, so it's very crispy. The shrimp egg foo young is not only a generous portion, but very tasty. Classics like sweet and sour are good, and stay crunchy the next day. They're very quick and affordable. Check out the combination specials for good deals, or the lunch specials if you want a great deal midday. Sometimes there's a little too much oil, but that's kind of what I like about it. They deliver, so that's great. But I live so close by I just pick it up and it's ready when I get there.
Reviewed by :
John D.
On:
3/30/2012 4:30:00 PM
Hunan has passable food for an economical price. It's not a place you'll make a point to visit (it's seating appears to encourage take out anyway). Nor will you make a drive (past other Chinese places) just for Hunan's food.But for those who live in the neighborhood, it makes for an easy dinner solution (or dinner and a movie if you stop by Video Adventure next door).
Reviewed by :
Plenty F.
On:
2/13/2012 3:34:00 AM
3 stars.It's perfectly fine. Definitely not the absolute best Chinese food ever, but it's worth repeating.Here's what I enjoyed about my lunch today:-you get a choice of soup (a whole pint!) or an egg roll-crispy noodles are included with your soup-egg roll ain't too shabby-they sent me a menu-$2 SPEEDY DELIVERY!!!Here's what I could have done without today:-Ordered Kung Pao chicken, but it had celery and water chestnuts GALORE-having to pick out all the many, many, many pieces of celery and wc's that looked JUST LIKE THE CHICKEN...aarrrgh!-barely spicy food, will need to request xtra spicy next time-my lunch being interrupted, twice, by my colleagues - can't u see I'm tryin' to eat?Overall, my meal was alright. I paid $7, and I am full and sassified! (aka satisfied)I'll order again.
Reviewed by :
Scott H.
On:
1/18/2012 3:16:00 PM
It took me five years in Evanston to try Hunan Spring for the first time. Now I've been there twice in the past several weeks. The very friendly staff here serve solid Chinese-American standards, but nothing remarkable enough to set it aside from the average strip mall spot, IMHO. I'm a huge fan of Singapore Noodles with its thin lo mein noodles and medley of shrimp, savory barbeque pork, crunchy veggies and curry spices. Hunan's rendition was nice, but exactly as expected with nothing jumping out at me as unique. The Kung Pao chicken contained well-trimmed (not fatty) chicken a nice level of mild spice, but was just OK. Pot stickers were tasty and tasted homemade, but only made me yearn for the doughy fist-sized versions down at Wah Sun in Lincoln Square/North Center. My wife bases her love of a Chinese establishment on the quality of their Hot and Sour Soup. The first trip there it was just OK, but the second most recent visit (where the Hot and Sour was all I ordered) was spicier and much better. In fact, they had to whip up a batch for me as I waited since they had run out on this snowy 15-degree evening. It was nice of them to go through the trouble when it was late in the evening and they could've declined.I'll definitely head back and try some other selections as Hunan is close and convenient. Perhaps I'll ask what their 'specialty' dishes are next time as I know they've gotta have something extraordinary hiding in their menu!
Reviewed by :
Contributor
On:
In Short Most business at this north suburban fave is takeout, though there are more than a dozen small tables for those eating in. The extensive menu features a whopping 186 dishes in Hunan, Szechwan and Cantonese styles. ...?
Reviewed by :
electricluddite
On:
2006-09-03
I've been going to Hunan Spring for lunch for years now and they consistently have good, inexpensive Chinese food. Make no mistake, this place is not Mei Shung, or even Pineyard. However, as long as you're not expecting the best Chinese in ...?
Reviewed by :
Tashana Williams
On:
2009-07-06
I love the food it's really good but I would to say the one thing I dislike is the employees have a little hard time speaking and understanding English. Otherwise everything is good they have fast delivery. ...?
Reviewed by :
Anonymous
On:
2009-12-16
I'ma NYer and snobby about my Chinese food, and just about gave up on Chinese food in Evanston/Wilmette. I find that Pineyard and TsingTao (in Evanston and Wilmette respectively) overcook the vegtables and are mediocre. I really can't understand when my fellow Evanstonians rave about Pineyard ... I assume they've never had good Chinese food. That place would never survive in NY. This place is better than Pineyard and Tsingtao, and is cheaper and faster. They don't overcook the vegtables. Everything is fresh. You can hear the wok sizzling in the background right after you order. The sauces are good. The only problem: communicating with the staff. They do not speak English well. These guys do deliver also.?
Reviewed by : Mike S. On: 3/14/2013 8:40:00 AM
Reviewed by : Rick F. On: 1/18/2013 6:09:00 AM
Reviewed by : Victoria W. On: 11/24/2012 1:42:00 AM
Reviewed by : Cassie D. On: 11/5/2012 10:26:00 PM
Reviewed by : Erini S. On: 10/3/2012 11:07:00 AM
Reviewed by : Brady R. On: 8/31/2012 1:08:00 AM
Reviewed by : Danielle J. On: 8/5/2012 6:57:00 AM
Reviewed by : Sean C. On: 6/1/2012 1:58:00 AM
Reviewed by : John D. On: 3/30/2012 4:30:00 PM
Reviewed by : Plenty F. On: 2/13/2012 3:34:00 AM
Reviewed by : Scott H. On: 1/18/2012 3:16:00 PM
Reviewed by : Contributor On:
Reviewed by : electricluddite On: 2006-09-03
Reviewed by : Tashana Williams On: 2009-07-06
Reviewed by : Anonymous On: 2009-12-16