I drove out to Columbus, Ohio to visit my daughter and put a fresh stain coat on her double tier deck. After a long day of work, I decided to take her and a friend to Hunan Lion for dinner. This upscale Chinese restaurant has been in business for decades but has recently reopened after a kitchen fire. With more than 200 reviews, they have a 4.8-5 STAR rating. I've always enjoyed their food, portion size, the ambiance of their interior and super service. What sets Hunan Lion apart is the chefs perfection of sweat and spicy sauces whose flavors profile are unfounded. The flavors are heavenly and unequalled by other restaurants in the area. I ordered the Mongolian Beef ($19.95, my daughter the Pad Thai ($19.95) and her friend the Sesame Beef ($18.95). Everyone enjoyed their dishes. The portion size allows for a second meal the following day. read more

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Went back to Hunan Lion tonight. Second time back since they reopened. Have to say very disappointed. We had: Phoenix and Dragon. Had great hopes from menu description. Disappointed to find out it was General Tso chicken on one side and Hunan Shrimp on the other. Not a true Phoenix and Dragon dish. Very gooey. Chicken was over fried hunks of General Tso doused in gooey sauce...just uneatable. Should be chicken breast meat and raw shrimp stirred fried in a clear spicy sauce. Panned Fried Noodles Combo. Good amount of beer, chicken, and shrimp with broccoli on top of thin egg noodles. Noodles were hardly pan fried and were really mushy. Ugh. Wor Sui Gai. Probably the worst I've ever had. It was sweet and sour chicken with a tasteless bland gravy on top. Since you can only find Wor Sui Gai in Central Ohio (because of the OG Cantonese Chinese families who settled here), this was a major disappointment. The only highlight of our $75 dinner were the Spring Rolls. Good shell, not over fried. Good cabbage filling and seasoned inside. I had great hopes that Hunan Lion might be the best Chinese food in Columbus. But for its high prices....not the quality you'd expect. The problem - the menu is too big. Different dishes made from the same base ingredients or fried foods but in different sauces. Sauces that are too gooey and overwhelming. I'd rather see less items and quality food than multi pages of menu. Bring back the Cantonese food of the OG Chinese restaurants of yesteryear. Only Wing's is left. No more Jong Mea, Rice Bowl, the Peacock Kitchens, Gam Long, the old Ding Ho. read more

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Can't find a better Chinese restaurant than Hunan Lion. 40 years in business. They write the book with their heavenly and pungent sauces. Their dumping is the best. Willow noodles are a must try. Spectacular servers never forget you. Wine menu rivals all top steak dishes menus. A family owned restaurant since it opened 40 years ago. read more

We only get to visit Ohio occasionally, but when we do a visit to Hunan Lion is essential. This restaurant has been around forever and always serves up the absolute best Chinese food. The spicy triple delight is my husband's absolute favorite and though we've tried for many years to duplicate the recipe, nothing comes close. So glad that this place is still kicking and busy! read more

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Haven't been here for a long time since they had their fire . The place looks very nice and the food was very good . They could use a better wine selection tho . My daughter had the Szechuan duck and was very good. I will be ordering that the next time . I had the Hunan combination with noodles which was also very good . Big servings , had enough to bring some home for another meal . We will be back read more

I wasn't sure what to expect, but understood that this is a beloved restaurant to many in Columbus. I don't have a history with it, but was eager to meet up with family for a midweek lunch. The host was friendly and we were seated quickly, which is saying something because nearly the entire (huge) restaurant was full. Full of very old people and zero diversity (always a bit sus). Our server wasn't great. He wasn't actively keeping eyes on the middle circle tables, so ordering was extremely slow and we had to wave him down for a soda refill. No one came to refill everyone else's waters. I watched an outside table be sat after us and ordered before us all full of "thank you sirs". I had to ask 3 times for chopsticks for a 4 top. He brought 2 and one had a dirty wrapper. Minus points. The servers all seem like old guard. One lady kept having to bump into my sisters chair and say a rude excuse me every time - like my sister put her chair in the way on purpose? We ended up physically moving our table over to make it stop. Minus points. I love a more authentic Chinese food. I also love spicy. You're not going to get either here really. I ended up with Szechuan Pork - it was a mild spice but cooked well and flavorful. The chicken with asparagus didn't come with all the veg it said on the menu, but was tasty for Chinese American food. Same with the Tso's though it was a bit on the sticky sweet side for me. The house/combo lo mein was really good. I'd probably get that again if I ever go back. It's all *fine* for very Americanized Chinese food. Leans bland for a bland palate so if you like that, you will probably love it here. So ultimately the food tasted good, but for the mid service and extra price, it was a GENEROUS 3 for me. FWIW It's pretty - the renovation after the fire was well-executed and feels like an old-school Chinese restaurant so that's something. Also: The guy who puts the white paper on the tables also let the paper drape and drag over the head of one of our party while passing our table. So weird. read more

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This was my first time at Hunan Lion restaurant. I came with a big party of 16 people in my family. This a Chinese American restaurant. They have your typical dishes you see at most Chinese restaurants. Just priced higher. My husband ordered an appetizer of dumplings and the sweetie and I shared some hot and sour soup. My husband shared his combination noodle dish with my sweetie. She ate a good amount. My husband politely asked my nephew for his vegetable dish to share so that my daughter could have her vegetable for the day. My family enjoyed their food here. For the price of the food, I'm not sure if it's worth it. Just an upscale Chinese restaurant with nice music and bar. I guess if your looking for an upscale Chinese restaurant, Hunan Lion is your best option in Columbus. read more

The space and ambiance is lovely. It was our first visit since the fire. The food was superb. Six different entrees one better than the next. Generous portions , great presentation just delicious meals! Orange chicken, Hunan Beef w vegetables, pineapple chicken, scallops and shrimp and lamb dish were delectable. Efficient servers, can't wait to go back. Don't miss it! Golden Margarita and cherry old fashion were awesome. read more

Hunan Lion is a Columbus institution and is a throwback to old school fine dining Chinese reataurants. I found the food to be just okay and mostly average. The Phoenix & Dragon is General Tso's chicken and Ginger Prawns. The Tso's was mall food court quality, not tender and juicy pieces I would have expected for the $22 price. The prawns were overpowered by too much garlic and onion. While the two dishes are separated, I found the entire dish a bit too much citrusy because of what tasted like orange juice used in the prawn sauce. The sesame beef was too sweet. Everything else we ordered (Hunan Shrimp, Hunan Tofu and even the spring rolls, hot & sour soup and crab rangoon) didn't blow us away either, especially considering the higher price point for their dishes. Service was good and attentive. read more

Hunan Lion - Sesame Beef - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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The food is fabulous, service is solid and ambiance is much nicer than most comparable Asian restaurants. Reservations highly recommended for busy times or large parties. Our favorite dishes include the Singapore noodles, garlic chicken, mala beans, pad Thai, lettuce wraps. read more

Consistent quality Have yet to be disappointed in over 14 years of patronage.Management & staff show a genuine appreciation for their customers read more

I ordered the chicken with asparagus but the sauce was to sweet. Our server took it back and had it made without sugar...so good. She told me next time just request no sugar. read more

Hunan Lion - Chicken & asparagus no peppers no mushrooms - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Got lunch today. The worsaigai was not as described on the website. The chicken was nugget like. Some of the chicken was hard or just chewy. The lettuce on the bottom was already brown. Will not going back. read more

Cannot say how truly excited I am to see this Columbus landmark open again. This remains one of the best Chinese restaurants in town. Even the simpler dishes are elegant and perfectly executed. Service remains amazing and the overall experience is delightful. read more

Tonight's meal was a disappointment to my husband and I. First off, the Sizzling Rice soup did not sizzle like in the past. We also ordered Sesame chicken with prawns and the entree was soaked in a way too much sweet sauce! The brown rice was good. Service was okay and seats well comfy. read more

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Love this place. Great ambiance and the food is excellent. I had great service even for a co party of 6.

Went for lunch a few days ago. Of course, they're crazy busy but we were only two people and had an easy order: two entrees and that's it. My friend ordered the Chicken & Eggplant and it came piping hot and she loved it. I ordered the Hunan Chicken ("Sliced chicken, fresh broccoli and mushrooms in a spicy hot pepper sauce") and it arrived lukewarm and NOT HOT AT ALL. When you forgot to add the spicy hot pepper sauce or seasoning or whatever to a Hunan dish, that's a serious flaw. It's just plain old brown sauce. Also, it would've been better to bring it out when it was done (and piping hot) rather than wait for the other dish to get done. By the time someone stopped by to ask how our food was, I was done eating. He did bring me a small dish of hot pepper sauce which I took home to use on my leftovers. read more

Hunan Lion - Chili sauce - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Hunan Lion is one of my favorite restaurants to go to. It's always busy but has enough seating accommodate, the service is outstanding, and the food is always delicious. The staff is very helpful and helps you with any questions you may have. The ambience is rather relaxed and inviting. I've always had a good time eating here. If you're in the area, definitely worth giving it a try. The food always comes out hot every time. read more

Atmosphere -vintage Chinese American style decorations with soft piano music playing. Quite classy considering the location. Don't be afraid. Chicken lettuce wraps mild...super delicious. Loved the presentation, the flavor of the sauce and texture of the minced chicken. Slight flavor of peanuts...would be a great meal by itself. Tom yum gai...very lemony, lovely tender chicken and bamboo shoots. Crispy sesame chicken. Not breaded but still has a nice chewy crunch to it. Sweet and tangy. Perfect amount of sauce. Delightful! Spicy Triple Delight- beef tenderloin, chicken and shrimp. Spice level about 3-4 out of ten. Almost tasted like a spicier version of the lettuce wraps. Meat was tender and savory. Perfect amount of sauce. Had a lovely wok hei flavor. Portions are good sized and high quality. Service was great...very friendly! read more

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They're back open, beautiful, and delicious as ever. All 6 of pur meals were delicious with portions large enough for left overs. The decor is absolutely stunning with vases and wall art that made me want to walk around the whole restaurant read more

I was excited to see Hunan Lion reopen and had an opportunity to eat lunch here. Business was brisk for a lunch service. The refurbished decor was nice and the way the space is divided up keeps noise down. The service was prompt and friendly. I started with a bowl of Hot and Sour soup. A good amount of spicy warmth but not much flavor. Skimpy amount of pork and tofu. Just lots of bland broth. The soup was disappointing. There were two in our party. We ordered Crispy Orange Chicken and War Shu Chicken. Both added fried rice at $3.00 extra per serving. The War Shu Chicken came with descent sized chicken pieces in a flavorful gravy sauce. The Crispy Orange Chicken tasted very good with the flavor of orange perfectly delicious. But the chicken pieces were slivers that ended up being mostly batter. You can see this in the photo. It looks to me like Hunan Lion is sacrificing quality for higher prices to make up for lost time? This is unfortunate when they had such a homerun before. read more

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Nice relax atmosphere. Might not be the quickest place but the food is fantastic. Servers are friendly. Can also purchase gift cards for gifts or future use. read more

Went back after their reopening. There was a kitchen fire and they have been closed two years. We got the Hunan pork, beef and broccoli, and pad Thai. The pad Thai could have been spicier (maybe that's on me- might have not been the best place to order Thai food), but the beef was good and the hunan pork was stellar. read more

Way overpriced and incredibly bland. Definitely not Columbus's best Chinese restaurant.

The food is good, but the service left our table wondering if our waitress woke up on the wrong side of the bed. We barely sat down and she was pushing us for our orders already. Some of the plates were dirty, and asking for soy sauce came with an eye roll. The only time we got a glimmer of a smile was when she handed us our checks. We were there around 4:15 on a Sunday, so it wasn't like she was super busy yet, or at the end of a long shift. This was my first time at the restaurant, and I can honestly say I loved the food, but not the poor attitude and service. read more

Never been here before but since it reopened been hearing great things. Definitely recommend having a reservation as they are still quite busy. I found the restaurant to be quite lovely and spacious. My party and I were seated promptly and our server was great. We ordered several appetizers and each one was delicious. For my entree I ordered the sweet and sour chicken. Very generous portion size and I loved the variety of vegetables included. I found everything delicious and wi definitely be coming back. read more

Hunan Lion - Appetizers - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Consistently delicious food, efficient and friendly service, and definitely worth the price because you can easily get another meal out of your order. We eat here every couple weeks and have ordered many dishes... never disappointed. read more

It just reopened today! It is super busy, but all past customers have been waiting for this day! It is worth the wait. Best Asian food in Columbus! Kid friendly, wheelchair accessible, vegetarian options! read more

This restaurant was a great restaurant for us for almost 25 years. We were regular guests there. Then a couple of years ago there was a kitchen fire and it was closed for almost 18 months. It reopened a couple of months ago. Unfortunately the quality of the food has gone down significantly. It is not the same. It could be a new chef. There is so much oil and starch in the food. For example the crispy orange beef hardly has any beef, it is all starch. All in all the quality of the food has gone down. Two stars because the ambience is the same. read more

Great Restaurant, this has been our go to for years. We've visited twice since the re-opening. The Wor Shu Chicken has always been incredible, but now they switched from Chicken Breasts to the small round chicken used in sweet & sour chicken. Another favorite was their Chicken Fried Rice, it had a "clean" appearance, and tasted amazing, now it's similar to some store front cheap fried rice, with too much Soy Sauce, lacks appearance and we don't order either any longer. I was wondering if they have new chefs? I hope they get back to what made Hunan Lion great. read more

Food is great, can't wait for this place to open back up. Seems like it's been closed for 10 years. But I'll definitely be there when it reopens.. read more

Honestly heard about this place a lot!! However, my wife and I decided to give it a try. We usually like going to Ty ginger asian bistro or chilispot. So giving up our money here was a disappointment. We got the kung pao shrimp and scallops and sesame chicken. Never order the scallops here. They do not sear them and they don't know how to cook them at all. We only got 4 of them when it was $22 terrible. Sesame chicken was mid. This place is definitely overrated. We are not going to come back. If you're on the fence of spending your evening here don't. I'm not being salty I'm just trying to save your $40 for somewhere else. read more

Hunan Lion - Kung pao Kuns Po Scallops & Shrimp* - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

The Pad Thai is my favorite. The servers are quick and helpful. My favorite part of Hunan Lion is the ease of having a conversation with my dinner partner. read more

Wow , the food just isn't the same. Not especially tasty and the seafood rice seems to have made my husband ill. Sesame noodles-- why would they not mix them before sending them in our to go order. The spring rolls were undercooked-- I hate that. And $75 for two people is bit extortionate. I think we'll go elsewhere read more

Great atmosphere. Quick, attentive service, big portions. Very "Americanized" food. Ordered Thai rolls and they were little meat& vegetable sausages wrapped in tasty, crispy wraps. Peanut noodles were not spicy and skimpy ratio of cucumbers. I can only speak to my entree of crispy orange beef, which was good but couldn't imagine it traveling as it became flour/gummy as it sat. We took more home than we ate. Bill for 3 entrees and 2 appetizers was $108 w/out tip. Probably won't return. read more

You know what? This place is beloved! I ordered carry out and people were packed in the lobby like sardines. The process for picking up was a little confusing and someone cut in front of me because it wasn't clear what anybody was doing. I didn't mind, but it was definitely not organized. We had wonton soup and it was delicious, pretty different than other wonton soups I've had and you can tell that the wontons were homemade. YUM! We also had hunan chicken and triple spicy delight. They were good, but nothing extraordinary. They didn't give us much rice and that was disappointing. Oh well, for our family I think we will go back to our typical haunts. They definitely won't go out of business lol. read more

One of my friends loves Hunan Lion so I had to try it for lunch. The lunch deals are not bad! And it's a lot of food, which lasted me for days! Dinner is a bit pricier. No online ordering as of yet. You gotta call to place an order. Since one of the owners is Thai, I decided to try both a Thai dish and a Chinese dish. I got the red curry chicken and orange chicken. They both felt lacking. Almost like healthier versions. The curry didn't have much of a coconut flavor. The orange chicken did have a nice kick to it and orange rinds in it! Overall, it's just Americanized Chinese food. Not a bad thing. It seems its a popular place anyway. I saw lots of people dining in during the lunch hour. I will add that the thing to see here is the decor. Wow! I saw gold figurines of the zodiac. Looks like they have a lot of collectible items. Gorgeous! Parking is very easy. They have parking on the side of the building and in front. read more

Hunan Lion - Orange chicken - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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We've been going to Hunan House then Hunan Lion (same owner) for 30 years. It's the best there is. Needless to say we were so looking forward to their re-opening. Well, we went tonight, and it was as good as it ever was. Delightful, tasty, flavorful, spicy dishes. We had the sesame noodles (an all time favorite), Szechuan chicken and Thai red curry chicken. All were outstanding. We made a reservation and were seated right on time. The lobby was quite full of walk-ins. I recommend getting a reservation. Service was also very good. SO glad you're back!!!! read more

The food is awesome. Service leaves a little to be desired! It may have been a bad night for our waiter.

The food is always delicious! However, I requested Celebrate Peking Duck well ahead of my reservation for 11/22/25 and was told they do not do that!! It's on the menu and I saw many reviews for it on Yelp. What happened?? It requires 48 hours to prepare. I was within that guideline. read more