The food is not as good as it used to be. I was not impressed with my meal at all. Too pricey. Don't waste your time or money.

3 different meals all three were nasty. Service horrible wait forever to order and another 40 minutes before pick up. Not sure of the owners now but it not like it used to be. Will not be going back again this was the second time we have given them a chance since reopening and but bad. read more

I came here once in awhile 20 years ago or so. when I lived on this side of town. I don't think it has changed since. Nothing has worn out, I'm sure it's been updated, but the feel is the same. Classic Chinese-American old-school restaurant. Cheesy muzak playing. Quiet, elegant. Pretty standard menu. Good service. I got crab Rangoon, which were pretty good, and came with hot mustard and and sweet-and-sour sauce. Also got mala lamb, which was excellent. Not super hot, I would say just medium heat, although I like heat. Tender, tasty lamb, and lots of it. Lots of fresh veggies. Very enjoyable meal. Definitely coming back. read more

We got carry out and we're so disappointed. First how do you get rice that is undercooked at a high end Chinese restaurant ? Appetizers were old and overcooked and it when on. So sorry to see this, we loved this restaurant back in the day. read more

I can't believe I've lived in Columbus basically my whole life, have driven by hunan lion so many times and yet my first visit was just last week. Maybe because it's on the corner of a strip mall and looks so unassuming. But lately I've heard so many people talking about it, I had to check it out. When I went on a Saturday night I walked in and there were a lot of people waiting, but I was told it would be only 15 minutes, and it was almost exactly that. I didn't realize there was a bar area, and it was pretty busy too. They were also doing a huge carry out service, so I figured the food would be delicious. At the table, after sitting for less than a minute the server came over and didn't greet us, just said "you ready?". Nope; just got here. This was pretty much how the service was the entire time- brusque and very unfriendly. My friend and I honestly wondered if we did something wrong, but then noticed that's how everyone was being treated. The food was delicious- I ordered the imperial scallops dish, not very spicy but great flavor, huge scallops and lots of them. and he ordered the mala lamb and loved it. We also shared a warm sake that was yummy. Service was unfortunate, but I'm probably be back for the food. It's a cute dining room area too. read more

Hunan Lion - Imperial Sea Scallops* - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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So glad that you guys reopened. Our food was delicious as always but my drink, woah. A cosmo is supposed to be a little tart, not crazy sweet (real cranberry juice is the key, not cranberry juice cocktail) and why did I get a toothpick with 3 olives on it? This stopped you from 5 stars. Work on the drinks guys. We are happy you're back and wish you well!!! read more

Food is amazing service was great. They were absolutely packed lines out of the door. They were all working together to make you have the best experience. This was our first time here but will definitely not be our last. The restaurant was absolutely beautiful and so relaxing even they were extremely busy. Can't wait to tell everyone about this restaurant. read more

The food was enjoyable here. I cannot comment on the ambience, as I had a takeout order, but the dining room looked fancier than I would have guessed from the outside. Lots of red, gold, lion statues, and fishtanks. The good: -The portions are really generous and easily make two meals. -Both the chicken and the beef were high quality and well cooked - not the rubbery mystery chicken that sometimes appears in chinese food. -They used lots of colorful fresh veggies. Did not skimp at all. This is rare in the days of disappearing portions. - They have a huge and diverse menu, that includes some popular Thai dishes. The bad: -Both entrees were marked "spicy" on the menu and neither one had any spice at all. Like a true 0 on the spicy scale. -The basil chicken was very light on the basil. -Both entrees, although very different, came in the exact same brown sauce. It was strange. It was a not very flavorful brown "house sauce." If they dialed up the spice and the flavor profile of their dishes, it would be great food. read more

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Adorable restaurant inside. It's decorated beautiful and so peaceful even when it's busy. The food was all delicious. We had a few appetizers, chicken, noodles, a beef dish and even shrimp. Everything was delicious. From my kids to my aunt, we were all stuffed and happy. And our fortunes were pretty good too! read more

Hunan Lion - Fortune! We all hope it comes true. - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Had not beep to Hunan Lion for years and it was my first visit since the renovation. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The renovation is beautiful and I really like the way they created seating areas to make it feel more intimate.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I had the crispy duck which was delicious and mixed vegetables as a side. I took home enough for another full meal. My vegetarian spouse loved the spicy tofu dish. Service was excellent. We will be back read more

Absolutely the BEST Asian restaurant in Columbus. We eat there at least once a week... [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great food, pleasant surroundings and staff was super nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

As good as it gets! There's a reason there is always a wait - on the phone or in-person!

Great food and good service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very busy since their reopening.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Difficult to get reservations.

We got take out! It was hot fresh & delicious! I moved her 5 years ago & was going to go in and the next day it burned down! I was so sad because it always smelled good! I kept waiting & finally was able to taste what the rave was about. It was just what I wanted! read more

Hunan Lion and Hunan House used to be great places to get Chinese food - not the most authentic, but really good. Hunan House has since closed, and Hunan Lion is still open. The atmosphere of this restaurant is nice and almost elegant, and there were a decent number of patrons. The menu has a very good selection of typical Chinese and Thai fare. I ordered the Phoenix and Dragon, which was shrimp in ginger sauce and General Tso Chicken. The rice didn't seem very fresh and the sauces for the food were very heavy and sweet. Even the fortune cookie was thick and not appealing. The service was decent. There are plenty of better options at the same or less price point where you can get authentic and Americanized dishes. This used to be great, but now it is generous to call it average. read more

Hunan Lion - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

To start off, being Chinese-American, I can tell when Chinese food is authentic or not. I ordered the wonton soup for two. This soup had Savoy cabbage added, which I am not used to at all, but it was tasty. It even included fresh bits of ginger. The portion was more than enough. I ordered the Cantonese Pork Fried Rice, and it was ok, they tried. There weren't very many vegetables included. This was the only Cantonese dish on the menu. I must say, the portion was huge, so we ended up taking leftovers. The atmosphere is upscale and at the time we were there it seemed that 75% of the customers were seniors. The music was at a decent volume, but the style was boring. By the end of our dinner I did notice some families with kids, and it was quaint that the server cut up the child's order into smaller pieces. Aww! Will I come again? Maybe. read more

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We went to the newly reopened Hunan Lion tonight and were disappointed in the food. We ordered Sizzling Rice soup which we loved in years past. The rice wasn't added at the table, so no sizzling! The broth wasn't very hot, the rice was soggy and there weren't very many vegetables. The Pad Thai we ordered was not as described in the menu. No fresh slivered carrots, no fresh bean sprouts, no scallions, and no peanuts. Just noodles and shrimp and chicken. We had enjoyed this dish for years and we were looking forward to enjoying it. We will not be back. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The food was very good as was the ambience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We arrived on Friday night around 5:20 pm and were seated immediately. Within 20 minutes, people were waiting to be seated. read more

Our crew usually comes to Hunan Lion for Lunar New year. Sadly, this year, the dragon dance troupe that they invite has disbanded and they did not have a show (shoutout that they kept trying up until the Monday of - we called a couple of times and they had been calling around to try to get their show together). However, that doesn't mean you can't celebrate and have a fun night out! They are not the best to work with for groups. We were able to reserve 2 tables for a group of 14, a big round one for 10 ish and a smaller one for the rest. If you have a group and are paying with seperate checks, you'll have one server and they had us order everything - appetizers, drinks, meals, in one go. This does make sense, but you will need to be ready. Our big table had a lazy susan in the center and the server would announce the dish and slowly spin it to the owner, which was fun! I had the green apple martini, which is not my usual, but the menu mentioned Midori melon liquor and I'm a fan of that. You can taste the Midori in the drink, it was a fun color, and I like the glass it came in - a thick martini glass with a thick crooked stem. It was kind of like a Grinch drink! I followed this with the crab rangoons. They were chubby and you could really taste the crab, so were enjoyable. I ate about half and shared the rest around the table, using the lazy susan, of course. Finally, I chose the yellow curry with chicken. I could have used a bit more heat in this dish - the menu has the little flames by the curry, but it didn't have much heat. I chose yellow curry over my usual red because the yellow was advertised with green beans, bamboo and onions and the red did not have beans. This was a good choice, because the beans were crisp tender and very tasty in the yellow sauce with thin sliced chicken. The portion was quite generous. For a group of our size, the rice was served family style in big bowls that we, again, rotated slowly around the table (yes, we did it slowly, we were attempting maturity :) If you've got enthusiastic kids in your party, of either the large or small size, this could end poorly....). The place was hopping on a Friday night, with reservations, walk ins, and pick ups. Overall, a pretty solid American Chinese option. read more

Hunan Lion - Apple martini - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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We were delighted Hunan Lion was open again after a fire closed them for more than two years. So many others were also excited that we couldn't get in till 7 p.m. Three of us loved our dinners: Orange chicken, Kung Pao Chicken and Sesame Beef. There were a lot of "mmmmms" around the table! It had been too dang long. The fourth diner enjoyed his Lo Mein but felt like maybe he was missing out by our reactions. We all gave him tastes . Hunan was packed but not too noisy. We did have to wait a bit though we had reservations. We tried other restaurants while Hunan was closed and nothing quite measured up. Happy days are here again! read more

This place was delightful. First timer here, may have been a little underdressed. Ambiance was dim and elegant. Busy for a Tuesday night. The pad Thai and Kung pao chicken we're perfectly cooked, very flavorful and good spice. Thai egg rolls were a nice app. The kids enjoyed the sesame chicken, crispy. Washed it down with a refreshing Sapporo. Will be back, kudos to the chef. read more

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Please bring back Szechuan sesame noodles originally served when first opened in the 80's! They were the best. It had spinach and bits of pickled cucumber and a bit more garlicky, so good! read more

First time trying food from here. Take out order. The inside of restaurant is gorgeous and clean. Staff that I interacted with was very friendly. I ordered black pepper steak with added bean sprouts and crab rangoon. They also gave me a pint of free fried rice since it was my first time at their restaurant. The food was delicious and the beef very tender. I prefer sweet crab rangoon which it wasn't, but that's ok. When my health is better I am definitely going to go back and eat a meal at the restaurant, until then it'll be on my list for take out or delivery (if available). read more

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Went on Friday night for the first time to eat in. Didn't realize they take reservations. Waited about 30 minutes for table. This place was run like a well oiled machine. All the staff worked to get people in, taken care of and out without rushing. Boyfriend and I each started with a Spring Roll then he ordered Pad Thai and I ordered Kung Po Scallops & Shrimp. Large servings and very good. Wait staff was very nice and accommodating. The environment was very nice and relaxing even with the dining area packed. We will be back to try other dishes and next time make a reservation on the weekend. read more

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From the exterior, this place doesn't look like anything fancy, but don't be so quick to judge! The interior is quite nice and spacious! I was rather impressed. Our waitress was quick and hustled when taking orders, bringing food, and delivering checks. I appreciated this! I ordered the spring rolls, which were much bigger than I anticipated. It came with a sweet & sour sauce that was yummy and some sort of horseradish sauce which was REALLY strong. I'm not a fan of this sauce flavor, but I'm always open to trying new things. The rolls were delicious both alone and with the sauce. For the entree, I order the Hunan combination which came with steamed rice. It was exactly what I was craving. I loved the mix of proteins and how large the shrimp was. There was plenty of sauce to add with the rice, although I would have liked a little more rice than the small bowl provided. Bottom line, this was a great meal and I have a feeling this will be my new go-to Chinese food spot. Highly recommend! read more

Hunan Lion - Spring Rolls (2) - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Best Oriental foodd inM !in Columbus Ohio & suburbs!! My friend & I can hardle wait for their reopening date!!

Hunan lion has been a staple to the northwest Columbus area. If you're looking for a great place to get authentic Chinese and get your bang for your buck, look no further. During this pandemic, I would suggest everyone eat locally and save as many places as possible. My friend Bri and I got enough food for four people. I order the Kung po scallops and shrimp: 9.8/10 Seafood lo mein: 9.5/10 Triple chocolate cake: 8.9/10 Scale system 10/10 would be what I want for my last meal 9.9-9.3 driving out of my way to get this 9.2-8.0 love the place and would go back 7.9-7.0 I would come here again if it were presented and don't have anything bad to say 6.9 and below - thanks but no thanks after try one read more

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This is always a reliable restaurant for Asian food. Excellent hot and sour soup. The service is quick and the space is generally quiet so it is a great place for work lunches. I highly recommend the red curry chicken. read more

So, let's get something straight here. Hunan Lion is not an authentic Chinese restaurant. It's more of a classy Americanized Chinese restaurant, In that sense, it's more of a classic Chinese restaurant that used to be found in many American cities. I tried both the sweet corn and chicken soup and the sizzling rice soup. The sweet corn and chicken soup was okay, but I thought that the sizzling rice soup was excellent. I looked on the menu to find an authentic dish, and ordered the House duck with some trepidation. However, much to my surprise, the duck was quite good. Tender and basted in a tasty sauce. My friend who is vegetarian, got one of the tofu based entrees, which was also quite good. Overall: Great ambience, good service, and good American Chinese food with fresh ingredients. read more

This would be a 4 star review but the service was awful. We had a party of 6, the place was busy but not overly crowded. Our waiter came after a 15 minute wait to take drink and appetizer order. Once those came we didn't se him for another 30 minutes to take our food order. After getting our food in a timely manner we never saw our waiter again. Never got a drink refill, never asked how the food was just vanished from our table. We saw him interact with other tables just not ours. Food is good but service leaves a lot to be desired. Will most likely give it one more shot but that's it. read more

Straight to the point to not bore ya... hanging with my 90 year old Grama, she had her hot bath now wants dinner so we decide amongst the 3 of us she wants to treat us to dinner want her Asian quasine so off we did. Service was absolutely amazing. Food as always is above perfection. Atmosphere beautiful!! read more

2 stars because the ambiance was very nice - big tables, tables cloths, quiet. - Food was not tasty or prepared well at all - undercooked pork appetizer, overcooked pad Thai noodles, my boyfriend's fried rice was awful and usually he'll eat anything - it honestly all tasted reused and microwaved - quantity over quality - suburban clientele that may not know what real Chinese food tastes like, or may not know what quality American-Chinese food tastes like. Not to sound harsh but it's kinda obvious from the reviews and everyone we saw at the tables. - If you have a discerning palate or are well-traveled, try authentic Chinese and Thai places instead read more

Still features several flagship dishes after all these years as an Asian eatery staple in Cbus. Though, in my eyes, the overall quality of this one-time Ameri-Chinese monarch has gone down while prices have gone up, Hunan Lion remains fairly consistent in terms of customer expectations. It also probably is one of if not still the #1 fanciest "classic old school" chinese restaurant environments to dine-in, albeit now rough around the edges somewhat with age. With the loss of family related restaurants Hunan House and more recently Joey Changs, however, I'm really hoping the Lion continues to prowl for years to come read more

Hunan Lion - Vegetable Lo Mein - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I have eaten for years, but the food quality and lack of service has ruined the experience. I do not recommend this place anymore. The server maybe over worked, but when asking for soy sauce or hot oil, comments under her breathe were made. Forget about asking for a drink refill. But the kicker is the fly traps next to the tables! The prices have gone a decent amount. read more

Hunan Lion - Fruit fly trap - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

H Always my "go to" place when I want the best in Chinese cuisine. Best Hot & Sour soup in town! The spring rolls are a real treat and I could go on and on about the deliciousness of their entrees! For special occasions there's nothing like celebrating at Hunan Lion! The Dining room is lovely and the wait staff see to every need of the diners. read more

Always excellent food and the service is outstanding. Please come back!! When you come back please add an online ordering system.

We love the hunan Lion we're hart broken when we found out on our way there that they were closed. We are anxious for them to reopen. I hope it's soon. read more

Friendly servers. Hostess (likely owner) seems rude and hangs up on people...not a people person. Do not order the Peking Duck. Save your money and get a BBQ duck at the local Asian grocery stores. Duck came out dry and overdone. Chow mein and seafood dishes are good portions. Ambiance is dark and upscale, pretty buzzing for a Fri pm. If you like fried dishes like sesame beef,, you will probably be fine. read more

Hunan Lion - Peking duck - Chinese Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Was there for Dinner. Mala lamb was rubbery and chewy, informed the waiter that lamb is chewy and he said that's how it will be. Weird!! Didn't expect that response. Quantity of food for Appetizers is very less for the price they charge. Taste was mediocre for the hefty price tag. Wanted to try them once, may not go back again. read more

We ordered the mango chicken and expressly said "no peppers" (due to an allergy condition). The meal came out with red and green bell peppers. The waitress told us to just remove the peppers. We told the waitress that we could NOT have the peppers because of an allergy condition, nothing cooked with peppers. She took the plate away and came back 3 minutes later. I asked if this was a new meal (amazed that it was ready in 3 min) but she assured us that it was a new meal, prepared without peppers. When we began to eat the meal we found a red pepper. Clearly they merely removed the peppers that they could see and missed one. Totally disregarding the medical limitation that we explained to her. We will NEVER go back here. Hunan Lion? More like Lyin' Hunan! read more