An excellent lunch - so why a 4 star? The meat quality / size. We had a chicken dish and a shrimp dish. Both were a great portion, fresh and flavorful. But the shrimp tasted like bulk frozen, the chicken tasted a lot like discard/scrap pieces. The service deserves a 10 star - our waitress was excellent. Speed of the food and drink delivery is best in the area.
(4)
Kristina H.
This was the best Chinese food I've had in quite some time and I had to come to Portland from the Seattle area to find it. The honey ribs were so good. I don't usually eat things like ribs when you have to eat it with your hands and get messy, but this was just that good. A definite recommend if you're in the area.
(5)
Tiffany L.
Good option for Chinese in Lake Oswego. We ordered pick-up and they had our order ready in 10 minutes. The lo mein and sesame beef were both good. The spring rolls were good, although they're very small and the horseradish sauce is pretty overpowering. Portions are generous and the customer service was good. I would return if I was in the area.
(3)
Darrin T.
I just love this place, from the classy staff to the wonderful food. So clean and never disappointed.
(5)
Omar A.
Great experience! Food was very good and our waitress Jenny was amazing! I would highly recommend this place for those that want to enjoy authentic Chinese food.
(5)
Michael B.
My friends and I used to go here all the time and the food was great, I haven't been there for a couple of years and wanted some good chinese food. I ordered lemon chicken, kung poa chicken, orange chicken and stir fried green beans. The green beans were soggy, the kung poa was bland, the orange chicken coating was falling off and there was only either breading or chicken, and I never got the lemon chicken. Instead there was some kind of breaded seafood that was so chewy it couldn't be eaten. The food is no where close to how I remember it and won't be going back. Also the food was not worth driving back to get the lemon chicken that I ordered which they mixed up with the chewy seafood dish. Very disappointing!
(1)
Kristy F.
I could write for days and days about Hunan Pearl's amazing food that I have had for years of eating here, but I would like to share more about the excellent service we received tonight. Tonight I celebrated my birthday at the restaurant with a group of over 20 people. Serving a group that large can be very complicated. The service staff did an excellent job of taking care of us. All of our questions were answered, all of our food was accurate, and they even offered to do separate bills so that our payments were easier to manage. Although I'm sure some of our picky requests were not ideal, all staff members at the restaurant that were working with us did so with a smile on their faces. I am very appreciative of the perfect birthday dinner they helped to create. Thank you- I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Kimberly E.
I have been here a few times and have loved everything I have tried. The hot and sour soup and pot stickers are amazing and highly recommended starters!
(5)
Aaron G.
Went here with local friends, came back on our own. Really tasty food, excellent service, and reasonable prices. We rather liked the hot wontons -- not really hot (more of a peanut sauce) but really tasty. Potstickers were lovely, portion sizes were great, and the soups were tasty. We will definitely be back!
(5)
J E.
How did I miss THIS in Lake Oswego??? Thrilled with the Chinese - it was like being back in New York City. They even have Cold Sesame Noodles which it is really hard to find out here. We got the Lunch Special - SUCH a steal, total in with an added Spring Roll Appetizer b/c we split it - yes sirrrreee folks - $11.00! How can you beat that? I can't WAIT to go back and try something else. We had the Orange Beef that was just delicious. The service was great, it's a lovely large place so it was quiet inside. This little gem was a find. I just never noticed the sign from the street. I am so glad we decided to skip Taco Del Mar and get something 'crunchy' I was craving at the Pearl. Thanks - and we'll be back - Do you have a Happy Hour ? :)
(5)
Astrid W.
The customer service was amazing! Our server was so sweet and polite, and really went above and beyond. The food!! The scallops were like butter melting in your mouth. My potstickers were home made, and they were literally the best I have had in my life, hands down! The lemon chicken sauce was delicately flavored and had a sweet note on the end. An amazing dining experience from a very unassuming little place!
(5)
Rich H.
Here to leave another mostly rave review for this Chinese eatery. We had 2 lunch specials which were excellent! Asparagus with chicken, beef, and shrimp in a tasty sauce. A bowl of white rice was included with both meals, not extra like some eateries! Only $9.50 for this yummy delite! I made 2 plates of food with my rice and was stuffed full. Good thing I'll be hungry in a couple hours lol! My sweetie had enough left for lunch the next day! NOW: I would have rated this place about perfect except for 2 things.1. Our waiter had a strong cologne on and it was overpowering. Yuck. 2. Our waiter never brought us our pot of hot tea even after being reminded of it! C'mon! Still the good food, good service otherwise, and nice ambiance would make us return for another go. AND some light jazz music was playing instead of the generic oriental stuff some places play. I mentioned both issues to the hostess (owner lady?) and was assured they would be taken care of. We heartily recommend this restaurant if you want good affordable Asian food!
(4)
Michael G.
Best Chinese food I had.. and the server was on point, she entertained my daughter n my wife. SUPER NICE..
(5)
Val P.
My husband just picked up their Wonton soup to go. There were no veggies, a couple pieces of beef in each container and the wonton wrappers were soggy and gross. The stuffing inside the wontons was hard and chewy. Ninety percent of the container was tasteless broth. It seemed like they gave us what was left at the bottom of the pot. Not impressed at all.
(1)
Richard B.
Still good. We reviewed it two years ago and gave it five stars. We have continued to go there and still recommend it.
(5)
Jessica G.
This place is the best. They treat you like family. My MIL has good allergies and they always make the food special for her. Only Chinese food we go to any more.
(5)
Nancy G.
We lost our favorite Chinese restaurant in downtown portland (Morgan's Alley), but heard about Hunan Pearl - and gave it a try Saturday. Service was attentive and friendly, and our food came fairly quickly. Asparagus, Buddha's delight vegetable dish in wine sauce, a chicken dish, Pot stickers and Garlic shrimp. All done to perfection. We've suffered So much crap chinese food over the past few months, it was a very pleasant surprise to find Hunan Pearl! Exceeded our expectations and we will definitely be returning , and soon!
(5)
Jeff S.
Oh Lake Oswego... Walking into this restaurant, you want to believe it's authenticity. It even has a giant Chinese flag hanging in the back. However the food was pretty terrible and inconsistent. What we had: 1. Pepper Squid ( I know, but the fiancee loves it...) 2. Sizzling Platter (I think the house special? With beef/chicken/etc) 3. Tofu plate with mushrooms. The pepper squid was basically caked in batter. It tasted like eating bread with squid inside. Terrible. The sizzling platter had no flavor. The tofu plate actually was more salty and had more taste. Which is funny cuz it's tofu... This was probably the only plate that was well done. Regardless, for the price, you gotta wonder why you would eat here. Cheap Chinese food is expected to be unabashedly bad. Filling, not that great, a little sickly, but, "Hey you get what you pay for!" On the other hand a restaurant that is a little more upscale, with upscale prices, you expect a higher level of quality. I mean, it is Lake Oswego...
(2)
Brett M.
I think this is my goto for Chinese takeout. I have had their General Tsao's Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet And Sour Chicken, Honey Ribs and Sesame Beef. My favorite is the Sesame Beef by far. What is amazing with them is the consistency is always there. I have yet to have a bad experience when other Chinese places in SW Portland are hit and miss depending on the day. I have ordered on week days once in and a while and it is still good. The only two bad things I could say is really not the restaurant's fault. The parking around here is crazy bad. There is never room to park on the weekends except farther away unless you get lucky and they are on a hill. And the other is they get very popular for takeout at times so once I had to wait an extra five minutes once I was there. But no big deal. The management and staff is incredibly friendly and efficient. They treat you nice and you are in and out.
(5)
Teala R.
I absolutely love the food here! Everything I've tried is super tasty. I especially love the General Tso's chicken, crab rangoons, and the hot and sour soup. The price is fairly high, but the quality is worth it.
(4)
Edward B.
Great food and service. Definately our favorite Lake Oswego area Asian restaurant. Seafood as fresh as it gets!
(5)
Charlotte F.
Delicious fried shrimp. Got the general tso chicken and the sweet and sour chicken. The service has been good so far.
(4)
Pete H.
The girlfriend had brought me some excellent Hot and Sour soup from here once when i was sick and it was delicious, so we were excited to try a whole meal. We weren't disappointed. The potstickers were pretty good. They were cooked right and had a good flavor and they brought the correct sauces without being asked, but they weren't super hot when they made it to the table. General Tso chicken had to be the best thing all night. Really good flavor and the outside was just crispy caramelized just right. we had them make it extra spicy and it was perfect. we also ordered sesame beef, which was also prepared the way I like it, with the white, almost cellophane noodles. And we rounded out the meal with a garlic eggplant dish. Summed up, it was a very good meal. The only complaint was that a couple dishes were not very hot when they came to table. The dishes were all done well, with the General Tso being excellent. And the service/ staff was all very nice and the place was clean.
(4)
Cristy B.
My favorite Chinese place in the area! Great food and service. Love the egg flower soup and Hunan pearl pork!
(5)
Sheila E.
Went here last night my BF last night for dinner - he LOVES Chinese; I like it, but my not in my top fav cuisines. Anyway, we wanted to give this place a try and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. There were only a few empty tables, so that was a good sign, and they were able to seat us right away. We ordered General Tsao's Chicken, Sesame Beef and Garlic Eggplant and everything was good, but the Sesame Beef was my fav dish. We also ordered Pot Stickers, and they were delicious. Service was excellent, and overall it was a really good experience. I would definitely go here again.
(4)
Rizzo S.
Love this place! I have been going here for years and it is always consistent. I have never had a bad meal here. The employees are always friendly which is a plus. Some of the best Chinese food in the Portland metro area.
(5)
Amme S.
Great fresh food!! Pot stickers, soup, orange chicken, general Tao chicken and a volcano cocktail for two to top it off. So yummy! Service was generous and they kept the table clean and drinks filled. We will be back soon!
(5)
Ramie M.
The Kung Pao chicken is good. The General Tsao's was probably one of the saltiest things I've ever had in my life, and I'm a fan of salt - it was practically inedible unless you had a glass of water after each bite. The Pot Stickers were flavorful, but kind of soggy. However, the lunch prices are very competitive and I think are a great value for the money. Dinner, not so much. Will likely return for lunch.
(3)
Julia G.
Ok. I work near and come to this place quite a bit. It's mediocre. They add a lot of oil to their food. The most outrageous thing is they charge $1.75 for an ice cream scoop of brown rice. really. Really? If you aren't serving the white rice, is it really that much more for brown?
(2)
Timothy C.
This is my favorite Chinese Food restaurant. The food is excellent, and I have yet to find better Chinese anywhere.
(5)
John M.
This place is pretty good. More than exceeded my expectations. We had the Mongolian beef which was plentiful and flavorful. Also had the chicken and lettuce cups which were equally tasting. Egg drop soup very good as well. As Chinese restaurants go you can do far worse than the HP.
(5)
Stevilynn T.
My husband is Chinese and a Chinese food connoisseur. And the only thing that tasted good that we ordered was the tea and the wonton soup. We had the cashew chicken and general chicken and the flavors were awful. My husband was very disappointed to say the least because so many people talked this place up and the food tasted nothing like what it should. If we ever go back it would probably be just for the wonton soup. :(
(3)
Mat D.
Usually 5, but 2 when busy. Such nice people, but sub par food and service, not to mention not answering the phone when they are busy. Forgot our rice tonight in addition to below average quality. Surprising after many great experiences.
(3)
Aaron D.
They tolerate children nicely. Potstickers were best flavor I've had in years yet a bit small. If I was in the area again, I would go and say you should too.
(4)
Peter R.
Here's some "local knowledge" for you.: The Hunan Pearl is our favorite restaurant near Lake Oswego, OR, where we live. When we eat out, 90% of the time we go here. It's our "go to" place, our near "sure thing". There's an extensive menu and everything is good but our favorite dish is eggplant with garlic sauce. Fine food, reasonable prices for what it is (but not low end), good service, seldom crowded. HP also does a lot of "take out", which may explain why seating is usually available at this fine restaurant.. Lots of people just call in their orders and then show up to haul out big white bags full of delicious Chinese food.
(5)
Spencer G.
I really enjoy Hunan Pearl! I have been coming here for years, and wouldn't eat at another Chinese food restaurant if ever given a choice. The potstickers, minced chicken lettuce wraps and sesame beef are incredible, and just a few of my favorites! The service is always very good, and I usually get my food within 10 minutes of ordering it! The drinks are well made, too! Nothing is better!
(5)
Tim S.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the SW Metro area. I have tried several different dishes, and have found each to be be very good to excellent. I will say I have never had anything batter-fried, however. I am a huge fan of the potstickers -- I have not found better in the entire PDX area. The service has been consistently excellent, even though I usually am alone. It is hard for me to recommend specific dishes as I don't eat a lot of beef anymore, but I have enjoyed every pork, chicken and noodle dish I have ordered. Want something lighter? Try the lettuce wrap chicken or shrimp. Want to get a good deal? Come in at lunch and order off the lunch special menu. In any case, this is Chinese food worth coming to Lake Oswego for.
(4)
Shubhro R.
The best Chinese restaurant in Portland. I have been a happy customer for about 10 years now. I have tried several dishes. Every one of them is awesome. Staff is very friendly, service is quick - and food is always great.
We ordered "to go" tonight for a family dinner of 10. We have never been to Hunan Pearl before. We are so dissapointed with the other places in Lake Oswego (Szechwan Kitchen and Wu's) as they have both lost quality through the years. Our experience at Hunan Pearl was awesome. The manager (Mike) was so welcoming and helpful. Food was DELICIOUS and everyone we dealt with was cheerful. I highly recoommend Hunan Pearl. It is clearly THE BEST Chinese food in our part of town.
(5)
J L.
My hubby and I tried this place for the first time last night. I liked the food a lot. Not my usual place but I really enjoyed the fact that the food was not over sauced and all of the chicken we had in dishes were tender, and not dried up and over breaded. I also thought both the egg flour and hot n sour soups were better than some we have had. The wait staff were friendly as well. I noticed on a website we found that they deliver too. Next time may give that a try.
This is the best Chinese I think I've had. I used to work across the street from the Hunan Pearl downtown and the food always was superb. Then I found this one, which is even closer to home, and the food was just as good. I don't think I've ever had anything that didn't seem like top quality. No mushy noodles or flavorless soups or limp vegetables. Try their strawberry prawns...it sounds weird but they really are delicious. They also have a honey rib dish that is wonderful, although there isn't as much meat on the bones as I'd like. The sauce is very tasty. The fruits and veggies always seem quite fresh and cooked just enough to be slightly crunchy. Take-out service is blazingly fast, it always catches me by surprise when they're handing me my food barely 5-10 minutes after I request it.
(5)
Spencer W.
Easily some of the best Chinese food in the Portland Metro Area. Delicious cuisine, fast a and friendly service, full bar, top notch!
(5)
Tom d.
Decent. Good pot stickers. Good hot and sour soup. Mongolian beef was OK at best. Nice folks running the place.
(3)
Jay A.
I started my meal with a cup of lukewarm egg flower soup which was salted to death. I then had a Chinese chicken salad with a really bad peanut dressing. Service was fair and there was no ambiance. Sad to say the high point of my meal were the fortune cookies. Will I return here? Maybe in another life.
(2)
Bree C.
This may have been a whole different experience had I dined in. As it was, I was in charge of ordering chinese food for an office event. I read the reviews first, so thanks for steering me toward the Orange Beef and the garlic green beans. They were tasty. Everything else was about on par with most chinese places-bland but that's what you plan on for the most part. One of my co-workers is allergic to onions, Hunan Pearl promised that nothing would have any onions, and two of the dishes had mass amounts of onion. My main complaint is that the portions for take out, at least for lunch, are tiny. In general, you expect to get a lot for your money at chinese places, and here one meal was one tiny chinese container. That's half-way acceptable with meat dishes I suppose, although not very comparative to other chinese places where you could feed 2-3 people with one take out meal. Here, I ordered 10 lunch specials for 6 people, and it was all eaten up. Maybe the portions would be bigger eating in, but I'd expect one lunch special to fill up at least one person. I mean, I paid $7 for a container of broccoli that wasn't even full, and was about 30 cents worth of broccoli, about 1/4 pound. Same with the green beans, but at least they were good, and I will be replicating them at home. This place made me want to eat at home for every meal.
(2)
Veronica S.
Cold, cold, Oregon! It was a couple of days before Christmas and I stopped by Lake Oswego (a couple of miles from Portland) for dinner and I ended up at Hunan Pearl! My family and I were driving to Seattle (long-ass drive, my ass was numb in Hunan) and had to stop for some grub and ass circulation. I Yelped a few places and we were closest to this little strip where Hunan Pearl is. We got there at around 3:45-ish and a lady was waiting by the door...she came too early too. We parked right in front of the restaurant. "Chinese it is!" my kids and I chorused. This place was the earliest to open at this time and we're getting fed or it's froyo-next-door time. Fifteen super freezing cold minutes later, we went inside the warm restaurant and we were greeted right away. The lady that was waiting out the door earlier was there and apparently she was there to pick up a take-out. I'm nosy like that. Our attendant was an Asian lady who spoke really good English and gave us a cozy cubicle near the glass wall where we can easily check on my truck and my dog, who we left inside the vehicle. My sister and I immediately noticed the ambiance of the place and how the ceiling decors were creatively assembled to portray a Chinese dragon (yup, it spoke Mandarin LOL). We cannot help but turn our heads to and fro because of their interior decoration. Pretty cultural! I loved it. My choice of Chinese food is simple. House fried rice, beef with broccoli, chow fan (or fun?), tea and sharks fin soup. We ended up getting the Hunan fried rice - it was good enough by itself! Very tasty and very Chinese (meaning MSG-laden. Hehe. I love it.). I also ordered a cocktail that is pretty similar to a Mai Tai - I just forgot what they called it. Something like Maui something. After drinking it, I have never felt so warm inside. It works all the time. Our chamomile tea was good and the lady constantly dropped by to check if we needed anything else. Heck, it was warm in there, we didn't want to go back out. The man that greeted us at the door also checked on us...well we were the only customers at 4 in the afternoon. There's nothing else to do. Our bill was not bad at all. For the 4 of us, I paid less than $75, tip included. Clean and comfortable bathroom. Everything we ordered was gone in 60 seconds! Burp. An easy 5-star!
(5)
Rob P.
After seeing mostly positive reviews, my girlfriend and I came in for what will be the first of many visits. It was 5:30 PM on a Thursday and we were greeted immediately upon entering. We were offered either a booth or a table and we chose the latter. I immediately headed for the men's room to wash up and noticed the facilities to be clean. I considered this a good omen as I've found Chinese joints tend to have highly suspect restrooms. A few short minutes later I returned to our table and our waitress was pouring our hot tea. Perusing the menus, we found some of the meals to be a bit high on the prices but soon found the old standbys to be reasonable. We made our selections and calmly awaited our orders. My GF started us off with a side of potstickers and they came quickly. 6 fairly large ones showed up and disappeared lickety-split! Very good but not quite outstanding. Perfectly timed, our main courses were brought out. I went with sweet and sour chicken and my lady chose the Mongolian beef. We shared our portions which were both ample but not eye-popping. We agreed that both dishes were quite good and the beef dish in particular was excellent. Each was served with a modest amount of white sticky rice, also very good. Even better than the food was the service. Absolutely attentive and friendly, the service was among the finest I've ever encountered anywhere. Cloth napkins and a pleasant ambiance made for a better than expected experience, overall. All told, 4 stars and a return visit soon!
(4)
M M.
Some fabulous general tsao's chicken! They know how to make it so it doesn't taste like cheap, fried american food! The Moo shoo & BBQ Pork are also very good! A favorite place to eat!
(5)
Jessica G.
Great food, friendly and accommodating service! Our server took a photos for us, and check in with us to ensure we had everything we needed but wasn't pushy or overbearing. The Mongolian Beef was great--the beef was lean and the outside crispy (it can be mushy/soggy at other places). The lo mein was great; the chicken in the lo mein was sliced thinly so it went better with the noodles. I loved the "family restaurant" feel as well. I will definitely be going back soon!
(4)
John O.
Expecting too much from too gushing Yelp reviews, we were very disappointed with the very Americanized food.
(2)
Jim W.
Well, Good fresh food, good price, looking forward to bringing the whole family there!
(3)
Stacey G.
Hot n Sour soup was very good. No spice on the Kung Pao? Beef n Broccoli was average as were the Buddhist veggies. Average Food Average Price. I should have gotten stuff not on the menu per the previous reviewer but alas I am not as familiar with the cuisine. I just know what I like and while I may try again I will probably drive further first.
(2)
Cheryle R.
Oh dear ... I don't consider myself an "expert" on good Chinese by any means, but I thought this was pretty tasty after a long day of travelling and airport food! I ordered the Shrimp with Garlic Sauce which was good when served, however, I didn't care for it reheated as much because the sauce congealed into a gelatinous fatty glob that made a disturbing noise when I turned the container upside down on my plate. I also tried some of my dining companion's Sauteed String Beans, which were garlicky and delicious, and I thought the Hot & Sour Soup was one of the better I've had. Interesting side note: as we were leaving, I overheard another diner say that they were from New York City (Why must people from NYC always announce that fact? Like we give a shit.) and that this was the "best Chinese they've had outside the City". Whatevs. Anyhoo, plus three stars for the String Beans, Hot & Sour, and nice attentive waiter who kept our tea pot and water glasses full. Minus two for the congealing sauce and uninspired atmosphere.
(3)
Jackie S.
I can't say enough good things about this place!!! Food is very high quality and very reasonably priced. I have not tried one thing I didn't like. I'm partial to the Kung Pao chicken- which is hands down THE best kung pao chicken i have ever had. Service is always wonderful, servers and owners are extremely polite and friendly. My ONE "complaint" is: I can't eat any other chinese food anymore!! Everywhere else I have been since is horrible in comparison to Hunan Pearl.
(5)
Vince W.
By far in of the Top 3 Chinese restaurants I've encountered in 37 states and 14 countries. Recommend the sesame shrimp, and Kung pao chicken. Wife loves the kiwi shrimp.
(5)
Melissa P.
Oh No, previous 1 star review! That sucks, Don B. I must concur that this place is somewhat of the bastardized Chinese variety, but holy moly.. the Braised Green Beans. I must capitalize because they are juicy, spicy, hot, and garlicky spears of divinity. I haven't had green beans like that befo. Average kung pao and general tso.. apps, etc. Soo, if you happen to find yourself in that weird I-5 217 turnpike confusion and don't want to go to Chevy's after filling up at the Shell, try the this spot. I haven't had the *flagitious* experiences of Don.
(3)
Susan U.
Stopped in 7/12/12 ordered to go. Mongolian beef ,gen Taos and the $12.00 appatizer platter. People very plesant. That ap platter was horrible and very scant. The rest was very good.
(3)
Rita S.
$6.00 for 8 pieces of lettuce! Nuf said!
(1)
Wen-Chi Y.
Personally.. I like this place. It is close to home & good Chinese. On the other hand, it also helps when I do read/speak Chinese as well. Their Ma po tufo was good, w/ extra spicy. Pan fried noodle & fired rice were both up to standard.
(3)
Sagar S.
We had lunch yesterday and the food was great. The place was clean and service was ok. We would definetly be going back there. Perhaps might even consider to up our ratings if it consistently delivers the taste.
(4)
Richard Z.
Excellent food and service. Great at spicy requests. Full bar.
(5)
Max P.
I thought this place served some pretty good chinese food...it's not authentic chinese food...but it was still good. They have the best hot and sour soup and pot stickers i ever had! yummy!! I been here a few times, and I order the soup and pot stickers everytime! Their service here is good as well; the staff was nice and made sure everything was fine.
(4)
Doenene L.
I have been a customer of Hunan Pearl's since 2003. Generally tasty food, favorites are egg drop corn chowder, sesame beef and shrimp, combo rice, KP Chx, Chx asparagus. Our party dined there last night (first Friday night experience), and will now not go back for a in dinning experience. We were an 8 person group - four couples. We made reservations, knowing it would be busy, waited for 20 minutes for our reservation, the place was crammed so we stood in the bar area. Once we were seated the race was on we barely sat before they were pushing us to order. We ordered drinks, which we had to remind our server about 2x, we ordered a lot of food, 2 items never came, a second round of drinks, which again we had to ask for more than 2x, then they came so late were we almost done with our meal. They started pulling our plates (are you finished are you finished - I guess we were) before most in our party had finished nibbling, and then they tried to charge us for the plates we did not receive. As for the slamming of the plates - added to the annoyance factor. Really - I mean one or two of these issues OK, but seriously...Like the food - hate dinning there now - take out highly recommended.
(3)
C.J. M.
bomb
(5)
Michael S.
When eating there, don't expect to be blown away by the food. There are certainly great items on the menu (hot and sour soup) but overall the food there isn't anything special. When I went the service was alright. It was during the lunch hour and it was slow getting food but overall it's what you expect. Overall the food was alright, authentic, Chinese food. It's a not bad Chinese restaurant that is worth going to.
(3)
Monkey T.
Good food, great service, clean restaurant. Monkey do and looking forward to next visit. Came here at last minute before closing and very grateful to the staff for letting us sit and eat. We shall return much earlier to enjoy another great meal.
(4)
Mark S.
First glance as we walked in that is was clean and professional looking. Hot and sour soup was think and not watered down like some places. We thought the food and service was good for our lunch. I don't think I will go out of my way to eat here again but if I am in the area and wanting some Chinese food, I will try it again.
(3)
Eric G.
I like hot spicy food and if you do as well this is one place you should check out. I can handle really hot peppers so I thought I'd give this place a try. Again my Chinese co-worker and I went out for lunch and he said this place was just "ok" and not real authentic Chinese food but whatever I dug it. I got the Szechwan Chicken and General Tso Chicken and it blew my doors off on the Scoville Scale for sure. Tears were streaming down my face and it literally burned my mouth for quite sometime. It was loaded with garlic as well. Great place. Check it out.
(5)
Captain B.
Friendly, courteous welcome...loads of bowing...smiles. Food is fairly consistent...some standout dishes: orange beef, sesame prawns, pork in garlic sauce...reasonable pricing, in general. Most of the employees (cooks/managers) do NOT speak much English, so, any changes to the preparation of a dish do not necessarily translate very well to the kitchen crew. Complaints are handled poorly by western standards. If they make a mistake on the cooking of a dish, they will be apologetic with loads of sad looks and bowing...but, the management will not respond in any other manner...actually they seem to disappear until you've left the restaurant. You could spend your loot in more responsive establishments.
(2)
Bill B.
The decor was light and airy, nice without being pretentious. Staff were prompt and quick, which was great for eating with a buddy on a short lunch break. The food quality was good, though I was disappointed with the spiciness. I ordered the Szechuan pork, marked with the spicy pepper symbol, whose unique description billed it as "hot, hot, hot!" (cue music) since that's how I was feeling that's what I wanted; however, the result was only what I'd call Medium by most restaurant standards. So if you or your dining companions want tasty and mild, this is a solid spot; if you're "feeling hot, hot, hot" you'll either need to go down the road or make a special point of it while ordering.
(3)
Brian J.
I'm definitely a fan of Hunan Pearl. I've eaten there from time to time for over a decade. It used to be a place where my work-mates and I would go to for lunch. Good, extensive menu, and very nice atmosphere. Not the very best Chinese food that I've had, but probably the best in the area.
(4)
William B.
Between 4 and 5 stars, but their consistency tips me to 5. We have eaten here many times, and taken orders to go many times. I have had business meetings here and even hosted a small Chinese delegation here twice. ALWAYS the food is good, authentic, fresh. Friendly host and servers. Taking the Chinese delegation there tells you what we think of the place and how we trust Hunan to create great food. So many good plates and appetizers I will not start listing favorites...I have not run into a bad one, or one poorly prepared. Casual attire is fine, but you will not at all feel out of place in a suit or dressy-casual.
(5)
Dave R.
The secret here is to find what they are good at. I have had some so-so Chinese dishes here till I found greatness. The Orange beef is better than any other Chinese place around. It is crispy with a hot and sweet sauce and when I tell them to make it a bit hotter I have a great combination of taste and I end up getting sweat beads rolling off my bald head. Add some Braised Green Beans and tell them to spice it up even more and they may look at you like you are some kind of a idiot for wanting it so spicy but the garlic and the peppers mixed in the beans are just great. It comes with some rice and you have one hell of a great meal. The staff are friendly and most know us and what we want and how spicy I want it and they make sure my water glass is always full. You can get just about the same meal before 2pm for much cheaper if you are in the area for lunch.
(4)
Angie K.
I ate here for the first time last night. They are fantastic. The service was perfect - super friendly and accommodating and the food was incredible. Like the best Chinese food I've ever had!
(5)
Leah H.
When a friend suggested getting dinner here I was kind of torn. I figured a review from Don that was so strongly worded must hold some merit. Then again...I kind of wanted to see how bad this place could really be to earn such a review. I guess it is kind of like driving by a traffic accident...I just had to look. Generally speaking, I rate things based on what they are. So in the case of Hunan Pearl - which is clearly Americanized Chinese - I will evaluate it based on being that; not verses real Chinese food. That being said, the food at HP was simply not good. Hot and sour soup was not hot at all. Too much corn starch in EVERYTHING. The garlic broccoli had no hint of garlic and a strange taste. I didn't even know people could mess up a dish like that. The only tea they offered was Jasmine. That was a bit disappointing. My (previously mentioned) friend is all about the general tso's chicken. I tried it. I guess it was the best thing we had. But for the price of it all, this place is absolutely not worth going back to. I guess that is what you get in Lake Oswego. Lesson learned.
(2)
Amy H.
Sometimes I just want Chinese food and this is my go-to place. They have delicious food, a great location and the staff are super friendly and helpful. Try the combination meals.
(4)
David L.
Spend a week in Portland to visit some relative and was caught off guard by how good the food is here. Granted, it is not your traditional Chinese food, but if you know me, I am a big sucker for General Tsao's chicken. That is probably their signature dish here so it is a must try. Besides that all other dishes we are were really good. Definitely come back if I am ever visiting again,
(5)
Jim K.
Have come here for many work meeting, and have always found the food to be reliably decent. Nothing out of the ordinary, just standard Chinese fare, but if you're looking for Chinese that will appeal to most tastes, this is a good bet.
(3)
Chris E.
We have been looking for a good place for Chinese take-out and I think we found it. We placed our first order here last week and it was a good experience. Kung Pao Chicken could have been spicier but I didn't specify when ordering. Took another reviewers suggestion and tried the Orange Beef. Very good. Service was quick and pretty affordable. We'd order from here again.
(4)
Ronnie F.
Great prices, great service, great food and family owned. I'm not a Chinese food expert and yes maybe Hunan Pearl is a strip mall Chinese food place but, to me, this is the best Chinese food for the price that I've found in all of Lake Oswego. Coming from SE Pdx to L.O. I'm shocked at how many places use the zip code difference to charge insanely high prices for so little quality. Not at all the case with Hunan Pearl. We ordered appetizers, four alcoholic drinks, two main courses with a side and walked away with a bill less than $50. We also customized our orders to the right taste level for us (super spicy please!). The end result was a quality meal that tasted great with classic Hunan flavors. Beyond just being my go to Chinese food place, it's my go to place period. The quick and attentive staff and amazing drinks alone (the Scorpion is awesome!) make it worth stopping in. *Quick note: My four star rating is based on the quick service, the clean atmosphere, the good food quality, reasonable prices and ownership by locals which I always prefer to support over big chains. The only reason it didn't receive a five is due to a lack of any real ambiance. If you're looking for an all encompassing remarkable dinning experience this maybe isn't the right place. But, if you're looking to support local and for just a great simple place to eat in Lake O., then Hunan Pearl is one to try.
(4)
Alex J.
I use Yelp to help me find good restaurants (which is becoming harder and harder) and it's rare that I take the time to write a review. Tonight's dinner warrants the effort. I was in the area this weekend and Hunan Pearl was right by the hotel. Even after the 1star review by Don B. (sorry that free lunch isn't working anymore, but perhaps you should ask them to order something different - might be worth a try), I decided to try. That is, I decided to try takeout that wasn't even on the menu. The staff are all Chinese and are comprised of both Cantonese and Mandarin speakers. If you ask, they will do their best to oblige. I ordered: 1) salt/pepper spareribs 2) Hong Siu Tofu (Hong Shao Tofu) 3) oyster sauce gai lan (chinese brocolli) and 4) tomato beef chow mein (slightly thick noodle - they don't have thin egg noodle). *disclaimer* NY has great food and if you come from there - you generally know what qualifies as good food. That's the truth - deal with it. I am Chinese-American originally from San Francisco - I know my Chinese food - and I've eaten well in just about every asian country. I live in Seattle now (Chinese food is pathetic there) and I drive to Vancouver or fly to SF/LA for my fix. I will drive to Portland now if I'm heading south and I'll be more than happy to because of Hunan Pearl. /*disclaimer* I was hoping for the HK style of salt/pepper porkchops, but what I got instead, after being assured by the owner that their pork (in Chinese, pork chop and sparerib is virtually interchangeable) was very good quality. So it is - think of a baby back rib, cut in half, and you have pieces that are 2.5" long. I was thinking that I was going to get a flattened fatty pork chop. This is WAY better. Good amount of meat. Not greasy. The flavor is intense with white pepper, szechuan pepper oil, salt, soy sauce, garlic, and onions. I'm hooked. This is not on the Chinese-American menu. (I checked) You'll have to ask for it. Just tell the owner or either of the 2 hostesses in the front, that you want the salt/pepper ribs that Alex ordered to go. They remember my baby girl well. I would seriously go back just for the ribs - they're that note worthy. The tofu dish is pretty good on it's own, even though it's not exactly the same as what I was hoping for. The best part though, is their sauce - which is strong with garlic. The tofu is sliced about 1/2" thick and cut in triangles. I prefer 2-3" cubes of silken tofu deep-fried. But that's OK because the sauce really makes up for it. The gai lan/chinese broccoli was excellent. You get the intense flavor from the super hot wok, garlic, and oyster sauce. I asked for very little oil and the chef was spot-on. Very tender and sweet tasting. The gai lan in Seattle really sucks - something is just wrong with chinese produce in the 425/206/253. (I just don't get it) The tomato beef chow mein was not super, but very enjoyable. I knew ahead of time that I wasn't going to get crispy thin egg noodles and I was perfectly fine with fresh thicker noodles, Shanghai style. The sauce was not the common garlicky-sweet red ketchup sauce I was imagining. Instead, I got some fresh diced tomatos stir-fried with some nice tender beef, mushrooms, onions, scallions, garlic, and carrots. It wasn't too salty, no MSG, and definitely not the super sweet sauce that gives you a sugar high. I would get this again - it's good. So that's my off-the-menu meal. I can't vouch for their specialty items, like the scallop in the kiwi cream sauce (cringe). But I will tell and recommend to you their authentic ability to make tasty Chinese food. I was happy with their service and all four dishes came to $42 with tax. RIce was included too. That's a decent price, almost cheaper or comparable to Seattle prices. It is located in a strip mall, but the interior is very clean and comfortable looking. I hope this helps you if you are feeling adventurous. I took a chance and was very very pleasantly surprised. I'm coming back to Portland and Hunan Pearl - hope it's as good next time. Shoot, maybe I'll just get dinner there tomorrow too!
(5)
Mike S.
We ordered take-out after a long day of moving. Sweet and Sour Chicken for the kids and General Tso's Chicken. The S/S chicken was 90% breading. The chicken in the General Tso's was the worst quality I've eaten in a LOOoonnngg time. I'm not that picky about food like this - but this was really ridiculous.
(1)
serina t.
THe food is generally tasty. The hot and sour soup and general tsos chicken are favorites. However I have to give it two stars since the foods are always very oily though it comes with the territory with Chinese food but the oil is somewhat excessive when you can see the oil more than the sauce. Not good for health conscious people.
(2)
Kitty T.
As far as the food goes, Hunan was disappointing - I saw things in there I didn't recognize - not a good sign for chinese food. The service was terrible. Not that the woman didn't wait on us, but she was either distracted or did not want to be there. The waitress was rude and acted like everything we asked for was stupid or we needed to explain what we wanted. Which was interesting, because we ordered one-dish meals right off the menu - nothing could have been confusing. She was just rude for no reason. It was a disappointing event.
(2)
Rian F.
Good food, decent portions. Service was just SLOW on a Thursday at 1pm.
(4)
Don B.
OMG!!!! DON"T EAT HERE! This has to be the bottom of the barrel as far as Chinese food goes. I work near this place and the company I work for buys us food from this place about every 4 weeks or so. The only reason I keep eating it is because its free (but I am nearing wit's end with the place). I have tried a different thing each time and everything is pretty much nasty. The sauces are are just varying mixtures of sugar, salt, cornstarch and food coloring. The potstickers are all doughy (how do you mess up potstickers?!?). Everything is just bad. This place is the epitome of shitty americanized suburban strip-mall chinese. It's as bad as a buffet, but you only get one plate - so its not even worthwhile for those buffet junkies that like to get obese off of salty greasy noodles. Avoid this place at ALL COSTS. My coworkers and I are fomenting rebellion as I write this.
(1)
Melissa L.
Very friendly... they treat you like family. The food is delicious. I find it difficult to find decent Chinese food in the Portland area and this definitely makes up for it. I would eat here all the time if I lived closer.
(5)
Roy C.
I am conflicted about this place. The food here is good (yes, Americanized Chinese), but the service absolutely sucks. We are in an unenviable position because the service is so bad we are compelled to order take-out when we need our fix. Then the issue turns into takeout Chinese not being as good as eating at the restaurant. Well, I don't know if the service is consistently bad, but we had an experience that pissed me off enough to make me not want to confirm or deny my suspicions. To make a long story short, the waiter serving our table decided we were not important enough to interrupt his frequent conversations with a nearby table. Twice, in fact, he was on his way over with food for our table when he stopped and had a few laughs with his buddies. I could smell our food, oh, it smelled so good, while he was holding it in his hand while holding court. Plus he would just kind of throw the plates down on the table. I don't expect a graceful table delivery all the time, but please at least make an effort to show you care. But now to the food. There must be a reason why I gave this place a 3 instead of a 1 or 2, and a reason we still do take out here. They have an excellent Sesame Beef and really good Combination Fried Rice. In fact, mix those two together and toss in a little left over plum sauce from the also tasty Mu Shu Pork, and I am a happy man. We sometimes get the Honey Walnut Shrimp, which would definitely be better at the restaurant. The other items we have tried have been very good too, but we tend to stick to the Mu Shu, Sesame Beef, and Combo Fried Rice.
(3)
Jeremy W.
I've eaten here a few times now and it's been consistently great(ok, save for one time where it was good, but not great). The egg drop soup is savory (my mouth is watering now as I think about it) and the sesame shrimp and kung pao chicken so delicious. And it's not just the food that is so great---I have yet to encounter a cleaner facility and more attentive/kind/friendly staff for any restaurant at this price. Every time we've eaten here, just when I'm getting low on water, the server (or busperson) swoops in to fill my glass. The same goes with rice, etc. If anyone has any completely stellar Chinese restaurants for me to compare to, please LMK, but Hunan Pearl wins my vote and business.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Danny D.
An excellent lunch - so why a 4 star? The meat quality / size. We had a chicken dish and a shrimp dish. Both were a great portion, fresh and flavorful. But the shrimp tasted like bulk frozen, the chicken tasted a lot like discard/scrap pieces. The service deserves a 10 star - our waitress was excellent. Speed of the food and drink delivery is best in the area.
(4)Kristina H.
This was the best Chinese food I've had in quite some time and I had to come to Portland from the Seattle area to find it. The honey ribs were so good. I don't usually eat things like ribs when you have to eat it with your hands and get messy, but this was just that good. A definite recommend if you're in the area.
(5)Tiffany L.
Good option for Chinese in Lake Oswego. We ordered pick-up and they had our order ready in 10 minutes. The lo mein and sesame beef were both good. The spring rolls were good, although they're very small and the horseradish sauce is pretty overpowering. Portions are generous and the customer service was good. I would return if I was in the area.
(3)Darrin T.
I just love this place, from the classy staff to the wonderful food. So clean and never disappointed.
(5)Omar A.
Great experience! Food was very good and our waitress Jenny was amazing! I would highly recommend this place for those that want to enjoy authentic Chinese food.
(5)Michael B.
My friends and I used to go here all the time and the food was great, I haven't been there for a couple of years and wanted some good chinese food. I ordered lemon chicken, kung poa chicken, orange chicken and stir fried green beans. The green beans were soggy, the kung poa was bland, the orange chicken coating was falling off and there was only either breading or chicken, and I never got the lemon chicken. Instead there was some kind of breaded seafood that was so chewy it couldn't be eaten. The food is no where close to how I remember it and won't be going back. Also the food was not worth driving back to get the lemon chicken that I ordered which they mixed up with the chewy seafood dish. Very disappointing!
(1)Kristy F.
I could write for days and days about Hunan Pearl's amazing food that I have had for years of eating here, but I would like to share more about the excellent service we received tonight. Tonight I celebrated my birthday at the restaurant with a group of over 20 people. Serving a group that large can be very complicated. The service staff did an excellent job of taking care of us. All of our questions were answered, all of our food was accurate, and they even offered to do separate bills so that our payments were easier to manage. Although I'm sure some of our picky requests were not ideal, all staff members at the restaurant that were working with us did so with a smile on their faces. I am very appreciative of the perfect birthday dinner they helped to create. Thank you- I can't wait to come back!
(5)Kimberly E.
I have been here a few times and have loved everything I have tried. The hot and sour soup and pot stickers are amazing and highly recommended starters!
(5)Aaron G.
Went here with local friends, came back on our own. Really tasty food, excellent service, and reasonable prices. We rather liked the hot wontons -- not really hot (more of a peanut sauce) but really tasty. Potstickers were lovely, portion sizes were great, and the soups were tasty. We will definitely be back!
(5)J E.
How did I miss THIS in Lake Oswego??? Thrilled with the Chinese - it was like being back in New York City. They even have Cold Sesame Noodles which it is really hard to find out here. We got the Lunch Special - SUCH a steal, total in with an added Spring Roll Appetizer b/c we split it - yes sirrrreee folks - $11.00! How can you beat that? I can't WAIT to go back and try something else. We had the Orange Beef that was just delicious. The service was great, it's a lovely large place so it was quiet inside. This little gem was a find. I just never noticed the sign from the street. I am so glad we decided to skip Taco Del Mar and get something 'crunchy' I was craving at the Pearl. Thanks - and we'll be back - Do you have a Happy Hour ? :)
(5)Astrid W.
The customer service was amazing! Our server was so sweet and polite, and really went above and beyond. The food!! The scallops were like butter melting in your mouth. My potstickers were home made, and they were literally the best I have had in my life, hands down! The lemon chicken sauce was delicately flavored and had a sweet note on the end. An amazing dining experience from a very unassuming little place!
(5)Rich H.
Here to leave another mostly rave review for this Chinese eatery. We had 2 lunch specials which were excellent! Asparagus with chicken, beef, and shrimp in a tasty sauce. A bowl of white rice was included with both meals, not extra like some eateries! Only $9.50 for this yummy delite! I made 2 plates of food with my rice and was stuffed full. Good thing I'll be hungry in a couple hours lol! My sweetie had enough left for lunch the next day! NOW: I would have rated this place about perfect except for 2 things.1. Our waiter had a strong cologne on and it was overpowering. Yuck. 2. Our waiter never brought us our pot of hot tea even after being reminded of it! C'mon! Still the good food, good service otherwise, and nice ambiance would make us return for another go. AND some light jazz music was playing instead of the generic oriental stuff some places play. I mentioned both issues to the hostess (owner lady?) and was assured they would be taken care of. We heartily recommend this restaurant if you want good affordable Asian food!
(4)Michael G.
Best Chinese food I had.. and the server was on point, she entertained my daughter n my wife. SUPER NICE..
(5)Val P.
My husband just picked up their Wonton soup to go. There were no veggies, a couple pieces of beef in each container and the wonton wrappers were soggy and gross. The stuffing inside the wontons was hard and chewy. Ninety percent of the container was tasteless broth. It seemed like they gave us what was left at the bottom of the pot. Not impressed at all.
(1)Richard B.
Still good. We reviewed it two years ago and gave it five stars. We have continued to go there and still recommend it.
(5)Jessica G.
This place is the best. They treat you like family. My MIL has good allergies and they always make the food special for her. Only Chinese food we go to any more.
(5)Nancy G.
We lost our favorite Chinese restaurant in downtown portland (Morgan's Alley), but heard about Hunan Pearl - and gave it a try Saturday. Service was attentive and friendly, and our food came fairly quickly. Asparagus, Buddha's delight vegetable dish in wine sauce, a chicken dish, Pot stickers and Garlic shrimp. All done to perfection. We've suffered So much crap chinese food over the past few months, it was a very pleasant surprise to find Hunan Pearl! Exceeded our expectations and we will definitely be returning , and soon!
(5)Jeff S.
Oh Lake Oswego... Walking into this restaurant, you want to believe it's authenticity. It even has a giant Chinese flag hanging in the back. However the food was pretty terrible and inconsistent. What we had: 1. Pepper Squid ( I know, but the fiancee loves it...) 2. Sizzling Platter (I think the house special? With beef/chicken/etc) 3. Tofu plate with mushrooms. The pepper squid was basically caked in batter. It tasted like eating bread with squid inside. Terrible. The sizzling platter had no flavor. The tofu plate actually was more salty and had more taste. Which is funny cuz it's tofu... This was probably the only plate that was well done. Regardless, for the price, you gotta wonder why you would eat here. Cheap Chinese food is expected to be unabashedly bad. Filling, not that great, a little sickly, but, "Hey you get what you pay for!" On the other hand a restaurant that is a little more upscale, with upscale prices, you expect a higher level of quality. I mean, it is Lake Oswego...
(2)Brett M.
I think this is my goto for Chinese takeout. I have had their General Tsao's Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet And Sour Chicken, Honey Ribs and Sesame Beef. My favorite is the Sesame Beef by far. What is amazing with them is the consistency is always there. I have yet to have a bad experience when other Chinese places in SW Portland are hit and miss depending on the day. I have ordered on week days once in and a while and it is still good. The only two bad things I could say is really not the restaurant's fault. The parking around here is crazy bad. There is never room to park on the weekends except farther away unless you get lucky and they are on a hill. And the other is they get very popular for takeout at times so once I had to wait an extra five minutes once I was there. But no big deal. The management and staff is incredibly friendly and efficient. They treat you nice and you are in and out.
(5)Teala R.
I absolutely love the food here! Everything I've tried is super tasty. I especially love the General Tso's chicken, crab rangoons, and the hot and sour soup. The price is fairly high, but the quality is worth it.
(4)Edward B.
Great food and service. Definately our favorite Lake Oswego area Asian restaurant. Seafood as fresh as it gets!
(5)Charlotte F.
Delicious fried shrimp. Got the general tso chicken and the sweet and sour chicken. The service has been good so far.
(4)Pete H.
The girlfriend had brought me some excellent Hot and Sour soup from here once when i was sick and it was delicious, so we were excited to try a whole meal. We weren't disappointed. The potstickers were pretty good. They were cooked right and had a good flavor and they brought the correct sauces without being asked, but they weren't super hot when they made it to the table. General Tso chicken had to be the best thing all night. Really good flavor and the outside was just crispy caramelized just right. we had them make it extra spicy and it was perfect. we also ordered sesame beef, which was also prepared the way I like it, with the white, almost cellophane noodles. And we rounded out the meal with a garlic eggplant dish. Summed up, it was a very good meal. The only complaint was that a couple dishes were not very hot when they came to table. The dishes were all done well, with the General Tso being excellent. And the service/ staff was all very nice and the place was clean.
(4)Cristy B.
My favorite Chinese place in the area! Great food and service. Love the egg flower soup and Hunan pearl pork!
(5)Sheila E.
Went here last night my BF last night for dinner - he LOVES Chinese; I like it, but my not in my top fav cuisines. Anyway, we wanted to give this place a try and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. There were only a few empty tables, so that was a good sign, and they were able to seat us right away. We ordered General Tsao's Chicken, Sesame Beef and Garlic Eggplant and everything was good, but the Sesame Beef was my fav dish. We also ordered Pot Stickers, and they were delicious. Service was excellent, and overall it was a really good experience. I would definitely go here again.
(4)Rizzo S.
Love this place! I have been going here for years and it is always consistent. I have never had a bad meal here. The employees are always friendly which is a plus. Some of the best Chinese food in the Portland metro area.
(5)Amme S.
Great fresh food!! Pot stickers, soup, orange chicken, general Tao chicken and a volcano cocktail for two to top it off. So yummy! Service was generous and they kept the table clean and drinks filled. We will be back soon!
(5)Ramie M.
The Kung Pao chicken is good. The General Tsao's was probably one of the saltiest things I've ever had in my life, and I'm a fan of salt - it was practically inedible unless you had a glass of water after each bite. The Pot Stickers were flavorful, but kind of soggy. However, the lunch prices are very competitive and I think are a great value for the money. Dinner, not so much. Will likely return for lunch.
(3)Julia G.
Ok. I work near and come to this place quite a bit. It's mediocre. They add a lot of oil to their food. The most outrageous thing is they charge $1.75 for an ice cream scoop of brown rice. really. Really? If you aren't serving the white rice, is it really that much more for brown?
(2)Timothy C.
This is my favorite Chinese Food restaurant. The food is excellent, and I have yet to find better Chinese anywhere.
(5)John M.
This place is pretty good. More than exceeded my expectations. We had the Mongolian beef which was plentiful and flavorful. Also had the chicken and lettuce cups which were equally tasting. Egg drop soup very good as well. As Chinese restaurants go you can do far worse than the HP.
(5)Stevilynn T.
My husband is Chinese and a Chinese food connoisseur. And the only thing that tasted good that we ordered was the tea and the wonton soup. We had the cashew chicken and general chicken and the flavors were awful. My husband was very disappointed to say the least because so many people talked this place up and the food tasted nothing like what it should. If we ever go back it would probably be just for the wonton soup. :(
(3)Mat D.
Usually 5, but 2 when busy. Such nice people, but sub par food and service, not to mention not answering the phone when they are busy. Forgot our rice tonight in addition to below average quality. Surprising after many great experiences.
(3)Aaron D.
They tolerate children nicely. Potstickers were best flavor I've had in years yet a bit small. If I was in the area again, I would go and say you should too.
(4)Peter R.
Here's some "local knowledge" for you.: The Hunan Pearl is our favorite restaurant near Lake Oswego, OR, where we live. When we eat out, 90% of the time we go here. It's our "go to" place, our near "sure thing". There's an extensive menu and everything is good but our favorite dish is eggplant with garlic sauce. Fine food, reasonable prices for what it is (but not low end), good service, seldom crowded. HP also does a lot of "take out", which may explain why seating is usually available at this fine restaurant.. Lots of people just call in their orders and then show up to haul out big white bags full of delicious Chinese food.
(5)Spencer G.
I really enjoy Hunan Pearl! I have been coming here for years, and wouldn't eat at another Chinese food restaurant if ever given a choice. The potstickers, minced chicken lettuce wraps and sesame beef are incredible, and just a few of my favorites! The service is always very good, and I usually get my food within 10 minutes of ordering it! The drinks are well made, too! Nothing is better!
(5)Tim S.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the SW Metro area. I have tried several different dishes, and have found each to be be very good to excellent. I will say I have never had anything batter-fried, however. I am a huge fan of the potstickers -- I have not found better in the entire PDX area. The service has been consistently excellent, even though I usually am alone. It is hard for me to recommend specific dishes as I don't eat a lot of beef anymore, but I have enjoyed every pork, chicken and noodle dish I have ordered. Want something lighter? Try the lettuce wrap chicken or shrimp. Want to get a good deal? Come in at lunch and order off the lunch special menu. In any case, this is Chinese food worth coming to Lake Oswego for.
(4)Shubhro R.
The best Chinese restaurant in Portland. I have been a happy customer for about 10 years now. I have tried several dishes. Every one of them is awesome. Staff is very friendly, service is quick - and food is always great.
(5)Alice P.
Service is AMAZING! Very courteous and prompt! Food really good! Timing was perfect when ordering appetizer, soup and entrée.
(5)Mary Jane S.
We ordered "to go" tonight for a family dinner of 10. We have never been to Hunan Pearl before. We are so dissapointed with the other places in Lake Oswego (Szechwan Kitchen and Wu's) as they have both lost quality through the years. Our experience at Hunan Pearl was awesome. The manager (Mike) was so welcoming and helpful. Food was DELICIOUS and everyone we dealt with was cheerful. I highly recoommend Hunan Pearl. It is clearly THE BEST Chinese food in our part of town.
(5)J L.
My hubby and I tried this place for the first time last night. I liked the food a lot. Not my usual place but I really enjoyed the fact that the food was not over sauced and all of the chicken we had in dishes were tender, and not dried up and over breaded. I also thought both the egg flour and hot n sour soups were better than some we have had. The wait staff were friendly as well. I noticed on a website we found that they deliver too. Next time may give that a try.
(4)Chrisi B.
A colleague of mine who moved away after two decades living in Lake Oswego first recommended Hunan Pearl to me, saying, "order the pot stickers, they are the best you will ever taste." I did, and she was correct! And let me tell you, was she ever envious. I have been back 4 or 5 times since. She always wants to know in detail what I ate so she can oooh and aaah. Hunan Pearl has the feel of fine dining, but with a brisk pace perfect for lunchtime clock-punchers. It has a pleasant atmosphere without the usual bustle of a Chinese restaurant, and a polite, professional wait staff. The place is always near full but even at noontime I've always been seated immediately. I noticed for the first time today that they have a space in back for larger parties, when a group of businessmen filed out after a presentation. I saw they were each on separate checks, lined up at the register, and the smiling hostess seemed to have no problem keeping the process organized. My favorite dish there is the Kung Pao Beef. They have a white board out front with daily specials, which are also printed and handed out at your table (very helpful). One of the recent specials was sautéed green beans with shrimp, chicken and beef. My friend ordered it and offered me a taste - quite good. We've christened Hunan Pearl our go-to place for special occasion lunches and are already planning to meet there again before Christmas. Parking is a definite problem, so if you have a schedule to keep I'd recommend going at least 15 minutes early to circle until you find a spot. Tip: there are sometimes streetside spots on Bangy Rd around the corner, which could save you some frustration.
(4)Francine T.
This is the best Chinese I think I've had. I used to work across the street from the Hunan Pearl downtown and the food always was superb. Then I found this one, which is even closer to home, and the food was just as good. I don't think I've ever had anything that didn't seem like top quality. No mushy noodles or flavorless soups or limp vegetables. Try their strawberry prawns...it sounds weird but they really are delicious. They also have a honey rib dish that is wonderful, although there isn't as much meat on the bones as I'd like. The sauce is very tasty. The fruits and veggies always seem quite fresh and cooked just enough to be slightly crunchy. Take-out service is blazingly fast, it always catches me by surprise when they're handing me my food barely 5-10 minutes after I request it.
(5)Spencer W.
Easily some of the best Chinese food in the Portland Metro Area. Delicious cuisine, fast a and friendly service, full bar, top notch!
(5)Tom d.
Decent. Good pot stickers. Good hot and sour soup. Mongolian beef was OK at best. Nice folks running the place.
(3)Jay A.
I started my meal with a cup of lukewarm egg flower soup which was salted to death. I then had a Chinese chicken salad with a really bad peanut dressing. Service was fair and there was no ambiance. Sad to say the high point of my meal were the fortune cookies. Will I return here? Maybe in another life.
(2)Bree C.
This may have been a whole different experience had I dined in. As it was, I was in charge of ordering chinese food for an office event. I read the reviews first, so thanks for steering me toward the Orange Beef and the garlic green beans. They were tasty. Everything else was about on par with most chinese places-bland but that's what you plan on for the most part. One of my co-workers is allergic to onions, Hunan Pearl promised that nothing would have any onions, and two of the dishes had mass amounts of onion. My main complaint is that the portions for take out, at least for lunch, are tiny. In general, you expect to get a lot for your money at chinese places, and here one meal was one tiny chinese container. That's half-way acceptable with meat dishes I suppose, although not very comparative to other chinese places where you could feed 2-3 people with one take out meal. Here, I ordered 10 lunch specials for 6 people, and it was all eaten up. Maybe the portions would be bigger eating in, but I'd expect one lunch special to fill up at least one person. I mean, I paid $7 for a container of broccoli that wasn't even full, and was about 30 cents worth of broccoli, about 1/4 pound. Same with the green beans, but at least they were good, and I will be replicating them at home. This place made me want to eat at home for every meal.
(2)Veronica S.
Cold, cold, Oregon! It was a couple of days before Christmas and I stopped by Lake Oswego (a couple of miles from Portland) for dinner and I ended up at Hunan Pearl! My family and I were driving to Seattle (long-ass drive, my ass was numb in Hunan) and had to stop for some grub and ass circulation. I Yelped a few places and we were closest to this little strip where Hunan Pearl is. We got there at around 3:45-ish and a lady was waiting by the door...she came too early too. We parked right in front of the restaurant. "Chinese it is!" my kids and I chorused. This place was the earliest to open at this time and we're getting fed or it's froyo-next-door time. Fifteen super freezing cold minutes later, we went inside the warm restaurant and we were greeted right away. The lady that was waiting out the door earlier was there and apparently she was there to pick up a take-out. I'm nosy like that. Our attendant was an Asian lady who spoke really good English and gave us a cozy cubicle near the glass wall where we can easily check on my truck and my dog, who we left inside the vehicle. My sister and I immediately noticed the ambiance of the place and how the ceiling decors were creatively assembled to portray a Chinese dragon (yup, it spoke Mandarin LOL). We cannot help but turn our heads to and fro because of their interior decoration. Pretty cultural! I loved it. My choice of Chinese food is simple. House fried rice, beef with broccoli, chow fan (or fun?), tea and sharks fin soup. We ended up getting the Hunan fried rice - it was good enough by itself! Very tasty and very Chinese (meaning MSG-laden. Hehe. I love it.). I also ordered a cocktail that is pretty similar to a Mai Tai - I just forgot what they called it. Something like Maui something. After drinking it, I have never felt so warm inside. It works all the time. Our chamomile tea was good and the lady constantly dropped by to check if we needed anything else. Heck, it was warm in there, we didn't want to go back out. The man that greeted us at the door also checked on us...well we were the only customers at 4 in the afternoon. There's nothing else to do. Our bill was not bad at all. For the 4 of us, I paid less than $75, tip included. Clean and comfortable bathroom. Everything we ordered was gone in 60 seconds! Burp. An easy 5-star!
(5)Rob P.
After seeing mostly positive reviews, my girlfriend and I came in for what will be the first of many visits. It was 5:30 PM on a Thursday and we were greeted immediately upon entering. We were offered either a booth or a table and we chose the latter. I immediately headed for the men's room to wash up and noticed the facilities to be clean. I considered this a good omen as I've found Chinese joints tend to have highly suspect restrooms. A few short minutes later I returned to our table and our waitress was pouring our hot tea. Perusing the menus, we found some of the meals to be a bit high on the prices but soon found the old standbys to be reasonable. We made our selections and calmly awaited our orders. My GF started us off with a side of potstickers and they came quickly. 6 fairly large ones showed up and disappeared lickety-split! Very good but not quite outstanding. Perfectly timed, our main courses were brought out. I went with sweet and sour chicken and my lady chose the Mongolian beef. We shared our portions which were both ample but not eye-popping. We agreed that both dishes were quite good and the beef dish in particular was excellent. Each was served with a modest amount of white sticky rice, also very good. Even better than the food was the service. Absolutely attentive and friendly, the service was among the finest I've ever encountered anywhere. Cloth napkins and a pleasant ambiance made for a better than expected experience, overall. All told, 4 stars and a return visit soon!
(4)M M.
Some fabulous general tsao's chicken! They know how to make it so it doesn't taste like cheap, fried american food! The Moo shoo & BBQ Pork are also very good! A favorite place to eat!
(5)Jessica G.
Great food, friendly and accommodating service! Our server took a photos for us, and check in with us to ensure we had everything we needed but wasn't pushy or overbearing. The Mongolian Beef was great--the beef was lean and the outside crispy (it can be mushy/soggy at other places). The lo mein was great; the chicken in the lo mein was sliced thinly so it went better with the noodles. I loved the "family restaurant" feel as well. I will definitely be going back soon!
(4)John O.
Expecting too much from too gushing Yelp reviews, we were very disappointed with the very Americanized food.
(2)Jim W.
Well, Good fresh food, good price, looking forward to bringing the whole family there!
(3)Stacey G.
Hot n Sour soup was very good. No spice on the Kung Pao? Beef n Broccoli was average as were the Buddhist veggies. Average Food Average Price. I should have gotten stuff not on the menu per the previous reviewer but alas I am not as familiar with the cuisine. I just know what I like and while I may try again I will probably drive further first.
(2)Cheryle R.
Oh dear ... I don't consider myself an "expert" on good Chinese by any means, but I thought this was pretty tasty after a long day of travelling and airport food! I ordered the Shrimp with Garlic Sauce which was good when served, however, I didn't care for it reheated as much because the sauce congealed into a gelatinous fatty glob that made a disturbing noise when I turned the container upside down on my plate. I also tried some of my dining companion's Sauteed String Beans, which were garlicky and delicious, and I thought the Hot & Sour Soup was one of the better I've had. Interesting side note: as we were leaving, I overheard another diner say that they were from New York City (Why must people from NYC always announce that fact? Like we give a shit.) and that this was the "best Chinese they've had outside the City". Whatevs. Anyhoo, plus three stars for the String Beans, Hot & Sour, and nice attentive waiter who kept our tea pot and water glasses full. Minus two for the congealing sauce and uninspired atmosphere.
(3)Jackie S.
I can't say enough good things about this place!!! Food is very high quality and very reasonably priced. I have not tried one thing I didn't like. I'm partial to the Kung Pao chicken- which is hands down THE best kung pao chicken i have ever had. Service is always wonderful, servers and owners are extremely polite and friendly. My ONE "complaint" is: I can't eat any other chinese food anymore!! Everywhere else I have been since is horrible in comparison to Hunan Pearl.
(5)Vince W.
By far in of the Top 3 Chinese restaurants I've encountered in 37 states and 14 countries. Recommend the sesame shrimp, and Kung pao chicken. Wife loves the kiwi shrimp.
(5)Melissa P.
Oh No, previous 1 star review! That sucks, Don B. I must concur that this place is somewhat of the bastardized Chinese variety, but holy moly.. the Braised Green Beans. I must capitalize because they are juicy, spicy, hot, and garlicky spears of divinity. I haven't had green beans like that befo. Average kung pao and general tso.. apps, etc. Soo, if you happen to find yourself in that weird I-5 217 turnpike confusion and don't want to go to Chevy's after filling up at the Shell, try the this spot. I haven't had the *flagitious* experiences of Don.
(3)Susan U.
Stopped in 7/12/12 ordered to go. Mongolian beef ,gen Taos and the $12.00 appatizer platter. People very plesant. That ap platter was horrible and very scant. The rest was very good.
(3)Rita S.
$6.00 for 8 pieces of lettuce! Nuf said!
(1)Wen-Chi Y.
Personally.. I like this place. It is close to home & good Chinese. On the other hand, it also helps when I do read/speak Chinese as well. Their Ma po tufo was good, w/ extra spicy. Pan fried noodle & fired rice were both up to standard.
(3)Sagar S.
We had lunch yesterday and the food was great. The place was clean and service was ok. We would definetly be going back there. Perhaps might even consider to up our ratings if it consistently delivers the taste.
(4)Richard Z.
Excellent food and service. Great at spicy requests. Full bar.
(5)Max P.
I thought this place served some pretty good chinese food...it's not authentic chinese food...but it was still good. They have the best hot and sour soup and pot stickers i ever had! yummy!! I been here a few times, and I order the soup and pot stickers everytime! Their service here is good as well; the staff was nice and made sure everything was fine.
(4)Doenene L.
I have been a customer of Hunan Pearl's since 2003. Generally tasty food, favorites are egg drop corn chowder, sesame beef and shrimp, combo rice, KP Chx, Chx asparagus. Our party dined there last night (first Friday night experience), and will now not go back for a in dinning experience. We were an 8 person group - four couples. We made reservations, knowing it would be busy, waited for 20 minutes for our reservation, the place was crammed so we stood in the bar area. Once we were seated the race was on we barely sat before they were pushing us to order. We ordered drinks, which we had to remind our server about 2x, we ordered a lot of food, 2 items never came, a second round of drinks, which again we had to ask for more than 2x, then they came so late were we almost done with our meal. They started pulling our plates (are you finished are you finished - I guess we were) before most in our party had finished nibbling, and then they tried to charge us for the plates we did not receive. As for the slamming of the plates - added to the annoyance factor. Really - I mean one or two of these issues OK, but seriously...Like the food - hate dinning there now - take out highly recommended.
(3)C.J. M.
bomb
(5)Michael S.
When eating there, don't expect to be blown away by the food. There are certainly great items on the menu (hot and sour soup) but overall the food there isn't anything special. When I went the service was alright. It was during the lunch hour and it was slow getting food but overall it's what you expect. Overall the food was alright, authentic, Chinese food. It's a not bad Chinese restaurant that is worth going to.
(3)Monkey T.
Good food, great service, clean restaurant. Monkey do and looking forward to next visit. Came here at last minute before closing and very grateful to the staff for letting us sit and eat. We shall return much earlier to enjoy another great meal.
(4)Mark S.
First glance as we walked in that is was clean and professional looking. Hot and sour soup was think and not watered down like some places. We thought the food and service was good for our lunch. I don't think I will go out of my way to eat here again but if I am in the area and wanting some Chinese food, I will try it again.
(3)Eric G.
I like hot spicy food and if you do as well this is one place you should check out. I can handle really hot peppers so I thought I'd give this place a try. Again my Chinese co-worker and I went out for lunch and he said this place was just "ok" and not real authentic Chinese food but whatever I dug it. I got the Szechwan Chicken and General Tso Chicken and it blew my doors off on the Scoville Scale for sure. Tears were streaming down my face and it literally burned my mouth for quite sometime. It was loaded with garlic as well. Great place. Check it out.
(5)Captain B.
Friendly, courteous welcome...loads of bowing...smiles. Food is fairly consistent...some standout dishes: orange beef, sesame prawns, pork in garlic sauce...reasonable pricing, in general. Most of the employees (cooks/managers) do NOT speak much English, so, any changes to the preparation of a dish do not necessarily translate very well to the kitchen crew. Complaints are handled poorly by western standards. If they make a mistake on the cooking of a dish, they will be apologetic with loads of sad looks and bowing...but, the management will not respond in any other manner...actually they seem to disappear until you've left the restaurant. You could spend your loot in more responsive establishments.
(2)Bill B.
The decor was light and airy, nice without being pretentious. Staff were prompt and quick, which was great for eating with a buddy on a short lunch break. The food quality was good, though I was disappointed with the spiciness. I ordered the Szechuan pork, marked with the spicy pepper symbol, whose unique description billed it as "hot, hot, hot!" (cue music) since that's how I was feeling that's what I wanted; however, the result was only what I'd call Medium by most restaurant standards. So if you or your dining companions want tasty and mild, this is a solid spot; if you're "feeling hot, hot, hot" you'll either need to go down the road or make a special point of it while ordering.
(3)Brian J.
I'm definitely a fan of Hunan Pearl. I've eaten there from time to time for over a decade. It used to be a place where my work-mates and I would go to for lunch. Good, extensive menu, and very nice atmosphere. Not the very best Chinese food that I've had, but probably the best in the area.
(4)William B.
Between 4 and 5 stars, but their consistency tips me to 5. We have eaten here many times, and taken orders to go many times. I have had business meetings here and even hosted a small Chinese delegation here twice. ALWAYS the food is good, authentic, fresh. Friendly host and servers. Taking the Chinese delegation there tells you what we think of the place and how we trust Hunan to create great food. So many good plates and appetizers I will not start listing favorites...I have not run into a bad one, or one poorly prepared. Casual attire is fine, but you will not at all feel out of place in a suit or dressy-casual.
(5)Dave R.
The secret here is to find what they are good at. I have had some so-so Chinese dishes here till I found greatness. The Orange beef is better than any other Chinese place around. It is crispy with a hot and sweet sauce and when I tell them to make it a bit hotter I have a great combination of taste and I end up getting sweat beads rolling off my bald head. Add some Braised Green Beans and tell them to spice it up even more and they may look at you like you are some kind of a idiot for wanting it so spicy but the garlic and the peppers mixed in the beans are just great. It comes with some rice and you have one hell of a great meal. The staff are friendly and most know us and what we want and how spicy I want it and they make sure my water glass is always full. You can get just about the same meal before 2pm for much cheaper if you are in the area for lunch.
(4)Angie K.
I ate here for the first time last night. They are fantastic. The service was perfect - super friendly and accommodating and the food was incredible. Like the best Chinese food I've ever had!
(5)Leah H.
When a friend suggested getting dinner here I was kind of torn. I figured a review from Don that was so strongly worded must hold some merit. Then again...I kind of wanted to see how bad this place could really be to earn such a review. I guess it is kind of like driving by a traffic accident...I just had to look. Generally speaking, I rate things based on what they are. So in the case of Hunan Pearl - which is clearly Americanized Chinese - I will evaluate it based on being that; not verses real Chinese food. That being said, the food at HP was simply not good. Hot and sour soup was not hot at all. Too much corn starch in EVERYTHING. The garlic broccoli had no hint of garlic and a strange taste. I didn't even know people could mess up a dish like that. The only tea they offered was Jasmine. That was a bit disappointing. My (previously mentioned) friend is all about the general tso's chicken. I tried it. I guess it was the best thing we had. But for the price of it all, this place is absolutely not worth going back to. I guess that is what you get in Lake Oswego. Lesson learned.
(2)Amy H.
Sometimes I just want Chinese food and this is my go-to place. They have delicious food, a great location and the staff are super friendly and helpful. Try the combination meals.
(4)David L.
Spend a week in Portland to visit some relative and was caught off guard by how good the food is here. Granted, it is not your traditional Chinese food, but if you know me, I am a big sucker for General Tsao's chicken. That is probably their signature dish here so it is a must try. Besides that all other dishes we are were really good. Definitely come back if I am ever visiting again,
(5)Jim K.
Have come here for many work meeting, and have always found the food to be reliably decent. Nothing out of the ordinary, just standard Chinese fare, but if you're looking for Chinese that will appeal to most tastes, this is a good bet.
(3)Chris E.
We have been looking for a good place for Chinese take-out and I think we found it. We placed our first order here last week and it was a good experience. Kung Pao Chicken could have been spicier but I didn't specify when ordering. Took another reviewers suggestion and tried the Orange Beef. Very good. Service was quick and pretty affordable. We'd order from here again.
(4)Ronnie F.
Great prices, great service, great food and family owned. I'm not a Chinese food expert and yes maybe Hunan Pearl is a strip mall Chinese food place but, to me, this is the best Chinese food for the price that I've found in all of Lake Oswego. Coming from SE Pdx to L.O. I'm shocked at how many places use the zip code difference to charge insanely high prices for so little quality. Not at all the case with Hunan Pearl. We ordered appetizers, four alcoholic drinks, two main courses with a side and walked away with a bill less than $50. We also customized our orders to the right taste level for us (super spicy please!). The end result was a quality meal that tasted great with classic Hunan flavors. Beyond just being my go to Chinese food place, it's my go to place period. The quick and attentive staff and amazing drinks alone (the Scorpion is awesome!) make it worth stopping in. *Quick note: My four star rating is based on the quick service, the clean atmosphere, the good food quality, reasonable prices and ownership by locals which I always prefer to support over big chains. The only reason it didn't receive a five is due to a lack of any real ambiance. If you're looking for an all encompassing remarkable dinning experience this maybe isn't the right place. But, if you're looking to support local and for just a great simple place to eat in Lake O., then Hunan Pearl is one to try.
(4)Alex J.
I use Yelp to help me find good restaurants (which is becoming harder and harder) and it's rare that I take the time to write a review. Tonight's dinner warrants the effort. I was in the area this weekend and Hunan Pearl was right by the hotel. Even after the 1star review by Don B. (sorry that free lunch isn't working anymore, but perhaps you should ask them to order something different - might be worth a try), I decided to try. That is, I decided to try takeout that wasn't even on the menu. The staff are all Chinese and are comprised of both Cantonese and Mandarin speakers. If you ask, they will do their best to oblige. I ordered: 1) salt/pepper spareribs 2) Hong Siu Tofu (Hong Shao Tofu) 3) oyster sauce gai lan (chinese brocolli) and 4) tomato beef chow mein (slightly thick noodle - they don't have thin egg noodle). *disclaimer* NY has great food and if you come from there - you generally know what qualifies as good food. That's the truth - deal with it. I am Chinese-American originally from San Francisco - I know my Chinese food - and I've eaten well in just about every asian country. I live in Seattle now (Chinese food is pathetic there) and I drive to Vancouver or fly to SF/LA for my fix. I will drive to Portland now if I'm heading south and I'll be more than happy to because of Hunan Pearl. /*disclaimer* I was hoping for the HK style of salt/pepper porkchops, but what I got instead, after being assured by the owner that their pork (in Chinese, pork chop and sparerib is virtually interchangeable) was very good quality. So it is - think of a baby back rib, cut in half, and you have pieces that are 2.5" long. I was thinking that I was going to get a flattened fatty pork chop. This is WAY better. Good amount of meat. Not greasy. The flavor is intense with white pepper, szechuan pepper oil, salt, soy sauce, garlic, and onions. I'm hooked. This is not on the Chinese-American menu. (I checked) You'll have to ask for it. Just tell the owner or either of the 2 hostesses in the front, that you want the salt/pepper ribs that Alex ordered to go. They remember my baby girl well. I would seriously go back just for the ribs - they're that note worthy. The tofu dish is pretty good on it's own, even though it's not exactly the same as what I was hoping for. The best part though, is their sauce - which is strong with garlic. The tofu is sliced about 1/2" thick and cut in triangles. I prefer 2-3" cubes of silken tofu deep-fried. But that's OK because the sauce really makes up for it. The gai lan/chinese broccoli was excellent. You get the intense flavor from the super hot wok, garlic, and oyster sauce. I asked for very little oil and the chef was spot-on. Very tender and sweet tasting. The gai lan in Seattle really sucks - something is just wrong with chinese produce in the 425/206/253. (I just don't get it) The tomato beef chow mein was not super, but very enjoyable. I knew ahead of time that I wasn't going to get crispy thin egg noodles and I was perfectly fine with fresh thicker noodles, Shanghai style. The sauce was not the common garlicky-sweet red ketchup sauce I was imagining. Instead, I got some fresh diced tomatos stir-fried with some nice tender beef, mushrooms, onions, scallions, garlic, and carrots. It wasn't too salty, no MSG, and definitely not the super sweet sauce that gives you a sugar high. I would get this again - it's good. So that's my off-the-menu meal. I can't vouch for their specialty items, like the scallop in the kiwi cream sauce (cringe). But I will tell and recommend to you their authentic ability to make tasty Chinese food. I was happy with their service and all four dishes came to $42 with tax. RIce was included too. That's a decent price, almost cheaper or comparable to Seattle prices. It is located in a strip mall, but the interior is very clean and comfortable looking. I hope this helps you if you are feeling adventurous. I took a chance and was very very pleasantly surprised. I'm coming back to Portland and Hunan Pearl - hope it's as good next time. Shoot, maybe I'll just get dinner there tomorrow too!
(5)Mike S.
We ordered take-out after a long day of moving. Sweet and Sour Chicken for the kids and General Tso's Chicken. The S/S chicken was 90% breading. The chicken in the General Tso's was the worst quality I've eaten in a LOOoonnngg time. I'm not that picky about food like this - but this was really ridiculous.
(1)serina t.
THe food is generally tasty. The hot and sour soup and general tsos chicken are favorites. However I have to give it two stars since the foods are always very oily though it comes with the territory with Chinese food but the oil is somewhat excessive when you can see the oil more than the sauce. Not good for health conscious people.
(2)Kitty T.
As far as the food goes, Hunan was disappointing - I saw things in there I didn't recognize - not a good sign for chinese food. The service was terrible. Not that the woman didn't wait on us, but she was either distracted or did not want to be there. The waitress was rude and acted like everything we asked for was stupid or we needed to explain what we wanted. Which was interesting, because we ordered one-dish meals right off the menu - nothing could have been confusing. She was just rude for no reason. It was a disappointing event.
(2)Rian F.
Good food, decent portions. Service was just SLOW on a Thursday at 1pm.
(4)Don B.
OMG!!!! DON"T EAT HERE! This has to be the bottom of the barrel as far as Chinese food goes. I work near this place and the company I work for buys us food from this place about every 4 weeks or so. The only reason I keep eating it is because its free (but I am nearing wit's end with the place). I have tried a different thing each time and everything is pretty much nasty. The sauces are are just varying mixtures of sugar, salt, cornstarch and food coloring. The potstickers are all doughy (how do you mess up potstickers?!?). Everything is just bad. This place is the epitome of shitty americanized suburban strip-mall chinese. It's as bad as a buffet, but you only get one plate - so its not even worthwhile for those buffet junkies that like to get obese off of salty greasy noodles. Avoid this place at ALL COSTS. My coworkers and I are fomenting rebellion as I write this.
(1)Melissa L.
Very friendly... they treat you like family. The food is delicious. I find it difficult to find decent Chinese food in the Portland area and this definitely makes up for it. I would eat here all the time if I lived closer.
(5)Roy C.
I am conflicted about this place. The food here is good (yes, Americanized Chinese), but the service absolutely sucks. We are in an unenviable position because the service is so bad we are compelled to order take-out when we need our fix. Then the issue turns into takeout Chinese not being as good as eating at the restaurant. Well, I don't know if the service is consistently bad, but we had an experience that pissed me off enough to make me not want to confirm or deny my suspicions. To make a long story short, the waiter serving our table decided we were not important enough to interrupt his frequent conversations with a nearby table. Twice, in fact, he was on his way over with food for our table when he stopped and had a few laughs with his buddies. I could smell our food, oh, it smelled so good, while he was holding it in his hand while holding court. Plus he would just kind of throw the plates down on the table. I don't expect a graceful table delivery all the time, but please at least make an effort to show you care. But now to the food. There must be a reason why I gave this place a 3 instead of a 1 or 2, and a reason we still do take out here. They have an excellent Sesame Beef and really good Combination Fried Rice. In fact, mix those two together and toss in a little left over plum sauce from the also tasty Mu Shu Pork, and I am a happy man. We sometimes get the Honey Walnut Shrimp, which would definitely be better at the restaurant. The other items we have tried have been very good too, but we tend to stick to the Mu Shu, Sesame Beef, and Combo Fried Rice.
(3)Jeremy W.
I've eaten here a few times now and it's been consistently great(ok, save for one time where it was good, but not great). The egg drop soup is savory (my mouth is watering now as I think about it) and the sesame shrimp and kung pao chicken so delicious. And it's not just the food that is so great---I have yet to encounter a cleaner facility and more attentive/kind/friendly staff for any restaurant at this price. Every time we've eaten here, just when I'm getting low on water, the server (or busperson) swoops in to fill my glass. The same goes with rice, etc. If anyone has any completely stellar Chinese restaurants for me to compare to, please LMK, but Hunan Pearl wins my vote and business.
(4)