Hunan Springs Chinese Restaurant
4939 Hamilton Blvd, Allentown, PA, 18106
Hunan Springs Chinese Restaurant Menu
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Address :
4939 Hamilton Blvd
Allentown, PA, 18106 - Phone (610) 366-8338
- Website https://www.hunansprings.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
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.
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Ben P.
I was a little confused as I was not expecting a pub style atmosphere for a chinese restaurant but it just kind of works for this place The staff is always friendly and attentive, Ive never once needed to ask to get a refill on any of my beverages and they continuously supply you with fried noodles and dipping sauces complimentary. I was most impressed with their foods as many of the options are upscale fusion recipes and or traditional chinese food. Personally Ive had a range of things i've tried Personally, and their dinner specials that change regularly seem to be the best value, they come with soup, salad and a small dessert cake and the entree is sized large enough to share. The Wonton soup is one of the top ive had from any chinese place with a rich chicken broth that is actually worth drinking after you finish your soup. I would strongly suggest giving the place a try at least once if you enjoy chinese.
(4)Jasmine V.
We were around the area and my husband really wanted some fish for dinner. With the help of Yelp, we found this restaurant and we were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food there. It was better than an average chinese restaurant. I liked how the other dishes taste, but we were not impressed with the fish which was also really expensive!
(4)Amina C.
Just got takeout here, but it really liked it and I don't usually like Chinese food in the US.
(4)Tara C.
Hunan Springs has become our go to place here. We sit at the bar with Mike. Great food every time. A list of the things we've had that we especially enjoy: 1. Spare Ribs (we get them every time) 2. Chef's Special Chicken (only shrimp is on the dinner menu, get the chicken) 3. Half Rack of Lamb, yes that's right, Lamb. Unexpectedly yummy. 4. Chicken Satay The only thing I've had here that I didn't like was the Shrimp lettuce wraps. My father is ill and craved them. I got them against my better judgement for him. He loved them. I prefer the chicken. We've also had many of the typical dishes - sweet and sour pork, pan fried dumplings, Kung Pow Shrimp, beef and broccoli - to name a few...all good!
(4)Miguel S.
This place is awesome. Overall, it's not entirely your typical Chinese cuisine (it's borderline Asian fusion), but the food & service are both excellent. The pineapple they serve along with fortune cookies to close out your meals is a nice touch. The Kung Pao Chicken is my favorite here. The lunch specials during the week are ridiculously affordable for the portions & quality. Service has always been good... we've gone fairly consistently since they opened it under this name & have always been very pleased.
(5)Jennie T.
Take out: 4 stars - basic chinese food offerings are best around (not saying much.) Dine In: 1 or 2 stars. Just never dine -in (we have been inside twice) and gotten carry-out 6 - 7 times.
(4)N M.
Very good experience for my first time. Price is reasonable, the service great, and good ambient. I recommend this place.
(5)Jason T.
Best Chinese food in the Lehigh Valley
(5)JoAnn C.
It takes a great deal for me to leave five stars. This was our first visit and everyone in our group of four found lunch to be first rate. Atmosphere was relaxing, clean and inviting. The service was great. The food was the best we had in the area, head a shoulders above any other Chinese restaurant we have eaten at. The lunch was a good deal. The chicken and garlic sauce was excellent, as was the pepper steak. Soups were not salty, with lots of flavor. 4 lunches came to under $30.00. I will definitely return and try dinner. Highly recommended!
(5)Peter H.
I like the food. And one of the waiters has a great sense of humor. But the decor is pretty strange. I would give it 4 stars, except for the decor.
(3)Jeffrey M.
Only have had take out and it is very good. Really like the jalapeño chicken and order it extra spicy. Kids like the sweet and sour chicken.
(4)Paul G.
Great lunch specials. Family owned with super high service. If your looking for top Chinese in the Lehigh Valley I would highly recommend.
(5)Mike M.
Great atmosphere, great food!!
(5)Yong H.
This is from someones who eats chinese food his whole life's perspective, but this place is really really bad. Obviously there's not that many chinese restaurants in Lehigh so I don't know how it compares but the food here is very bland, unoriginal, and unauthentic. Got the dried beancurd with bellpeppers, peking duck, and steamed whole fish - beancurd had no flavor, duck was tough, and steamed fish was the wrong kind of fish (catfish). When you eat steamed fish it has to be a fresh live fish, usually sea bass - they used frozen catfish so the meat was tough and fishy smelling, not to mention they charged 28 bucks or whatever for it (can buy a fresh live fish at most chinese markets for $6 dollars per pound). All in all, a terrible place that I would never eat at again.
(1)Kevin M.
Absolutely delicious. Authentic Asian influences excellently executed. Wide selection of food, and the addition of complimentary fried noodles and pineapple is a nice touch that will definitely be bringing me back for another round.
(5)PA S.
Good Chinese eggplant, and great complimentary oversized triangular fried noodles. Warm wooden accented decor, and the music was modern ambient. I think lunch would be the better choice.
(3)Emily B.
I don't think this is authentic chinese, since I've never had chinese food this good in Chinatown. But it is gourmet, delicious and something special. This is absolutely the best Chinese in the Lehigh Valley, pricier than your takeout places but totally worth a visit. I can vaguely remember the restaurant that was here before, the building itself is amazing. An old building restored and turned into a fine dining (sort of) Chinese food experience. Beautiful landscaping outside, and big wooden doors and frames. My favorite is the chicken and broccolli, it's served with this to die for white sauce, that I've never seen anywhere else. The servers are friendly and happy and the whole place is a great experience. This used to be a christmas eve tradition but I haven't been in awhile, can't wait to go back!
(4)K W.
Filthy dirty place! I wouldn't eat there again no matter how good the food may be...and I think it's nothing special, anyway!
(2)Kate F.
Not just the best Chinese restaurant in the Valley, but my favorite restaurant in the Valley. Unless you're getting the lunch special, the food isn't cheap, but it couldn't possibly be better. The moo shu is perfection, and the peking duck is great. Other popular American Chinese dishes such as chicken and Chinese vegetables, fried rice and so on are well made, steaming hot and have a very clean, fresh taste. MSG aftertaste here? Hah. Never. Stacks up favorably in comparison to well-reviewed expensive American-style Chinese restaurants in New York City with higher prices and a more exclusive locale. They even present you with free pineapple as dessert.
(5)Li Z.
When I was still in high-school, the kids in my class used to tell stories about the ghosts at old Widow Brown's Inn ( delcoghosts.com/widow_br… ). Imagine my surprise when this haunted inn was displaced by a Chinese restaurant (first called Ho Ho Inn, and renamed to Hunan Springs a few years back)! Maybe it's the big fat Buddha near the entrance or the mysterious swirling dragon ball, but the only thing haunting about this place now-a-days is the hot and sour soup. I've been coming to Hunan Springs since it first opened over ten years ago. The restaurant has certainly changed a lot since then (in fact, the owner's son now runs the place), but the experience has always been fantastic. The place might not look like a Chinese restaurant (with it's heavy-looking wooden door [actually very light] and the brick exterior), but it is probably *the* best Chinese restaurant in the 40-50 mile area around it. The nearest competitor (Golden City) is a 50 minute drive away in Bethlehem. My favorite dish here is definitely the Chef's specialty shrimp (battered with salt and pepper) ($16.95). It is certainly a real specialty, because I can't find anything comparable anywhere (even among all the diversity of NYC). Other dishes that I recommend are the Kung Pao Chicken ($10.95), the Sweet & Spicy Garlic Sauce Pork ($10.95), and the Scallions Beef ($11.95). The best bang for buck, though, is the express lunch, where you pay $7 to $9 bucks for soup, entree and optional spring roll. The service at Hunan Springs is always attentive and fast, and the free duck-sauce chips you receive when you sit down is a guilty pleasure. My only gripe about Hunan Springs is the rapid increase in prices over the years. In fact, the price of the Chef's shrimp has increased by ~60%, while the number and size of the shrimps have shrunken by over 30%! I guess such changes can't really be avoided with the increase in commodity prices. Overall, though, Hunan Springs is a great food experience and probably the *only* Chinese restaurant worth going to in the area.
(5)Karen R.
This place is wonderful! The food is outstanding and the service is exceptional. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable. My favorite Chinese food is here!
(5)wendy a.
Food is generally fairly good. The restaurant is a bit dark and the rugs appear dusty and worn. My 15 year son sucked a finger nail of some sort through his soda straw into his mouth while eating here. When we complained (admittedly that was pretty gross) the waiter offered to replace the drink, but said that it was impossible. Then he sent out the manager who confirmed to us that this is impossible. So they effectively called my son a liar. This happened a few months ago. My family used to go here regularly. No longer.
(2)Ethan A.
I've been to Hunan Springs twice now. First was for lunch with a coworker, where I had the basil shrimp. It was delicious and a good portion of shrimp for the price. It was a tad on the cool side, though, which was a downer. Tonight, however! Oh, tonight was fantastic. My girlfriend and I decided to go out, and with Asia not open on Sundays, this was my second choice. We had the vegetable soup with bean curd for two and two vegetable rolls to start. The soup was very light, but nicely flavored. If anything, a dash more salt would've been nice. For our entrees, she had the scallops in garlic sauce, and I had the chef's specialty bean curd -- listed as "Lightly fried bean curd tossed in a salt & pepper blend w. fresh garlic, scallions and diced bell peppers", it intrigued me. Both were delicious from start to finish. The scallops were very nicely cooked, still tender, not rubbery. They were obviously fresh, as they weren't fishy at all. The garlic sauce was about the best I've ever had. It would have been nice to have some more veggies on the plate with it, but that's a small complaint. The bean curd was unexpectedly awesome. It was indeed salt and pepper. It was not really spicy, but it did warm the mouth as you kept eating it. The tofu was fried but still tender, and almost juicy when you bit into it. I think this is a new favorite dish of both of ours. Heck, I think both of these dishes are new favorite dishes. On top of all that, the waiter also jokingly suggested I order a zombie as my cocktail... so I did. I'm not sure what a "good" zombie is supposed to taste like, but this drink was one of the most deliciously strong cocktails I've ever had. I'd get another anytime.
(4)Steven P.
We've been coming here for about 15 years and it is consistently our favorite Chinese/Asian food in the area. The dining room is actually very nice and the service is always outstanding; I believe some on the wait staff have been here the entire 15 years! The lunch specials are very nice and reasonably priced. The Kung Pao Chicken is the best I've had anywhere and many of their others dishes are standouts. Even the most basic dish, Sweet and Sour chicken, is excellent at Hunan Springs.
(5)Dela P.
Great food, great location, great staff. The restaurant itself is very nice, decorations/ornaments are very interesting to look at. The food is wonderful. My favs are the General Tso's and the Peking duck. They actually seperate the skin from the meat on the duck, that way it stays crispy (and tastes awesome with the wraps they give you). I eat here very often and plan to as long as I'm in the Lehigh Valley. You can't go wrong with this place, and you definitely get what you pay for.
(4)Ann L.
Usually this restaurant is awesome but on Christmas Eve I was sorely disappointed. We had mad reservations in November for a large party. When we confirmed the reservations they did have it but told us we would get "squeezed" in. They certainly squeezed us in with terrible seating. Service was mediocre, food was mediocre. This was such an unpleasant experience that I will reconsidered ever returning
(2)Betty T.
This is Americanized Chinese food, but by Lehigh Valley standards, it's actually pretty good. I would say their best dish is the Peking Duck with the pancakes, scallions and plum sauce; it's first rate and is just as good as the ones in NYC's Chinatown. I would recommend trying the more exotic dishes and staying away from the standard ones like chicken and broccoli or lo mein. There's nothing wrong with those and they taste adequate, but this restaurant can offer dishes that the other local places don't and you'll miss out. The last time I was there, I ordered the Golden Shrimp dish from the Chef's Special menu. I wasn't too thrilled with this dish as I was expecting the shrimp to be shell free (they left the shell on the tails) and fried or sauteed. The shrimp was actually battered first which I was unaware of, and then sauteed in a honey sauce. Overall, it was just too sweet for my taste and didn't have the crispness my mouth was expecting after reading the food description. The inside of the restaurant is dim but cozy and very charming. The original exposed beams and stones of the building have been left intact and they have a very large fish tank in the middle of the restaurant which kids love to look at. My only complaint, other than the Golden Shrimp dish, is that the food is kind of pricey, but overall, I do like this place.
(4)George G.
Stopped by here on our way from Dorney Park as we were quite hungry. Friend called them and asked if there were still open - closed but since they still have patrons there they would accommodate take out. (This was around 9:30PM on a Sunday.) We also asked if they cook with MSG - nope. These are all good signs. Once we arrived there, took a while to pick what to order as they had quite a selection with lots of authentic options. In the end I settled on Kung Pao Chicken and my GF picked an eggplant dish. As we waited around we admired the interior aesthetics and wished we would have had the opportunity to eat inside. A customer on the way out pronounced "doesnt matter what you order, everything here is good". Think he was enjoying the beer from the bar they have which looked quite nice. Anyway, we eventually got our food and paid. It was around 25$ for 2 normal orders, a little higher than I am accustomed for take out Chinese. The food was really good. The Kung Pao Chicken was about 90% meat and spicy enough to make me happy. Next time I would have definitely asked for it to be more spicy. The dish was packed in the medium sized round plastic container and for 10$ would have hoped for a bigger container. Of course, they could have filled up the remainder of the space with broccoli, carrots, celery, etc, the usual veggies served with Kung Pao Chicken. However, the dish was very tasty and appreciated the abundance of meat since my GF is vegetarian. She liked her eggplant dish and tasting it in the car, it was quite good. If in the area again, would definitely stop by here again, however, would try to make it for lunch to take advantage of the lunch specials and eat at a table.
(4)Aaron M.
No, you're not stepping into Medieval Times, but that's the feeling I got when I walked into the huge, castle-like front door. Pretty neat. I had the Coconut Chicken Curry....delicious and only $10.95. The waiter was great and very attentive to soda refills, etc.... The place has a really neat ambiance...not Asian as one would think. I was impressed by the cool gemstones I saw as we walked to our table. Check out Hunan Springs!
(5)Brooke I.
I recently moved to the area and have been looking for a good chinese restaurant to fill that occassional craving. It has been almost a year and about 6 places of disappointment.. I finally found a place that wasn't the usually greasy thrown together low quailty ingredients. It had good taste and for the $ or two that I spent more, it was worth the trip.
(4)Kandy M.
Our food was excellent! 9 of us went and everyone was very satisfied and very full! We had a nice time!
(4)Marcus D.
I now understand the strange architecture and decor of Hunan Springs (thanks to the other reviewers). The exterior looks anything but a Chinese restaurant, with its brick and beam facade and gigantic church-like doors - there is a big sign so you can't miss it. The food was excellent and the lunch menu prices hard to beat. The dragon and phoenix was excellent. I didn't come here for a Chinatown experience, or to be wowed by the cuisine, but there's americanized Chinese and there's slop called americanized Chinese. The place to sit is either by the fish tank - which we did - or in one of the windowed booths. There was a small bar area off the entrance, one of those tiki, might be cool to grab a singapore sling at if I wasn't working and watch the Tiger Woods press conference (stop it, already! who cares!) It was definitely worth an afternoon spent traipsing about the Rust Belt.
(4)Hank W.
For those old enough to remember this was Widow Browns. Little has changed decor wise inside or out, and reminds one of an old rustic steakhouse. Anyway, that was a long time ago and now it's one of the best Chinese restaurants around. Prices are a bit high, but you will get excellent service and a much better presentation.
(4)M S.
I took my vegetarian parents there for Mother's Day and the waiter was able to recommend a tofu dish (Kung Pao) and a noodle dish (Veggie spicy Chow Fun-not on the menu) and I ordered the vegetable dumplings. Good recommendations. Don't forget to ask for the free Chinese tea. Hunan and Asia are my favorite sit down Chinese joints in the Lehigh Valley.
(4)Matthew K.
Amazing food. Helpful and friendly staff. This is the perfect place to go if your looking for quality Chinese cuisine and possibly a nice cocktail to go with it. Great spot for a family outing, a date, or to catch up with old friends. I have no complaints about Hunan Springs. Check it out for yourself!
(5)suenotto e.
I ordered the $20 sizzling seafood last night. It contained shrimp, scallops and crab leg pieces. The shrimp were small and overcooked, the scallops were flavorless, the crab wasn't fresh, and the sauce was bland. This was a very disappointing meal.
(2)Thomas M.
By far my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Valley. Prompt service, delicious food and warm interior. Friendly staff and I think this place deserves the award for best Chinese in the valley.
(5)Benni A.
Another great Chinese place, generally more authentic than not, and the American-Chinese dishes are of much better quality than competitors. Slightly on the pricier side, though. Updated: The food still gets four-stars, but I agree with other reviews that if you are a couple trying to get seated on a busy night, it may not happen in a timely manner (I've previously dined here as part of a group of 4 or 6). Large parties without reservations do get seated before a party of two.
(2)Harry D.
A worthwhile stop.
(5)Todd H.
Wow, what a disappointment. We ordered spicy cabbage and pork soup for two to start and it was a bland, thin pork broth without any heat at all, shredded pork and cellophane noodles. I explained to the waiter we had ordered the "hot cabbage soup" and he said we had to ask for it hot! When I told him the soup had a little red pepper next to it on the menu like the "hot and sour soup" they sell, he said you have to ask for that to be spicy as well. Not. I ordered the shrimp and chicken with spicy back bean sauce and it came to the table with a white sauce absent of any black beans or spice! The waiter said he would ask the chef to fix it. It came back with an OK sauce but with four very poor quality shrimp, small and overcooked, My wife ordered the cilantro cicken with red and green peppers on a bed of crispy noodles. It was luke warm at best, salty, had four slivers of peppers, and was on a very small amount of fried cellophane noodles which quickly became soggy. The dish had no texture and was pretty disappointing. I think this restaurant is just passing off very mediocre Chinese food to an unsuspecting clientele.
(1)Derek N.
Best Chinese food in the Lehigh Valley! I can't look at any other Chinese take-out place again. The food is awesome and the staff very friendly. I like it because the prices are good and it is casual dining, they have a full bar, clean restrooms, and a big fish tank! From now on whenever someone offers Chinese for dinner I'm going to Hunan Springs!
(5)Tim W.
I've been passing this restaurant for years and it always looked full. Finally tried it and am very happy we did. Food was excellent and service even better. Was greeted at the door by a young man that made you feel immediately comfortable. This is my first experience where the waiter actually ran around doing his duties. The food is excellent. We had lettuce wraps, "famous" chef special shrimp, wings with Generals sauce, sesame chicken and house lo-mein. No one disappointed. A little more expensive than the usual Chinese joint, but it isn't usual. Decor is great- comfortable and roomy with not a Chinese calendar or paper lantern in sight. A+ for us.
(5)Mister T.
Their General Trang's Chicken is OFF THE HOOK! You have to eat in though... Carryout just doesn't taste as fresh...
(5)Jackay C.
To many people living in the area, saying that Hunan Springs serves the best Chinese food really isn't saying much. However, I think that if you order the right thing, Hunan Springs is pretty damn good. It might even be better than some of the Chinese restaurants I've eaten at in LA. I would've given it a higher rating if not for its price. Went there for the first time with some friends and ordered the string beans in garlic sauce, chicken and broccoli, sizzling steak and the crispy pan fried noodles (I'm not sure of the exact name on the menu, but thats how I described it to the waiter) I love love love crispy fried noodles and try to order it wherever I can. It's basically thin egg noodles that have been pan fried till a crisp and then smothered with meat and veggies that have been sauteed in a light brown sauce. It's quite hard to do crispy fried noodles just right -- the noodles can be soggy, the oil rancid, the meat and veggies bland -- but Hunan Springs does it perfectly. The chicken and broccoli was also delicious. A surprise, really since it is such a simple dish. One wrong move and it can either taste too bland or too salty, but the dish was full of flavor but yet light. The string beans in garlic sauce was standard. Not good, not bad. My roommate told me that the best food she had at Hunan Springs was ordered "off the menu", so the next time I go, I'll see if they can cook dry sauteed string beans for me. It's another one of my favorite dishes to order in a Chinese restaurant. The sizzling beef was uneventful. A little worse than the string beans. And the sizzling makes your hair smell like cow and onions. The decor in the restaurant is a little strange. I think they took over some Bavarian restaurant and decided to leave the beer and bratwurst fixtures on the wall. The fish tank in the middle of the room, however, is great. Try and get a seat near there if you can. Its really soothing, a great conversation starter and the perfect distraction if someone starts an argument at the table -- which incidentally happened at my table when we went there!
(4)Kc S.
This place is the coolest and best chinese food you can find. They have everything you could possibly want and it's all amazing. The atmosphere is great, it has huge medieval doors, a beautiful fish tank and so many other great decorations. Once you try this place you'll be back for more.
(5)Steve F.
I remember when this Trexlertown location was a restaurant called Widow Brown's. But since it opened as Hunan Springs um-teen years ago, they've been serving 1st rate Chinese food to the Lehigh Valley. This ain't no spare rib and pepper steak joint. This is pretty much authentic Cantonese cuisine. My family comes here at least once a week and when I join them it's nice when all the staff know us and even know what food and drink to bring out. We've had birthdays and all kinds of happy events here. Everything's delicious, but be sure to get the whole sizling fish.
(4)Melissa M.
Nice atmosphere. I usually love their food but last time my fried rice tasted burnt...but thats not enough to keep me away. Clean, friendly staff, overall good food.
(4)David B.
The food is always of good quality. The impressive front door and lobby set a great tone. It has a unique feel to it. It's not the same old chintzy Asian decor -- it's a style all their own. We regularly get the take-out and have never had a problem. They even bent over backwards for us when my wife called in an order to a DIFFERENT restaurant, then I went to pick it up and insisted they screwed up! Highly recommended.
(4)Sherry E.
Awesome place to eat at. The food is always delicious and service great. My favorite dishes include the Chefs Specialty Shrimp and Thai Delight. No wonder they have been around for over 15 years!! They accommodate all special dietary needs and if you can't find your favorite dish on the menu just ask your server for it and the kitchen will make it. Best Chinese place in town!
(5)Tony P.
Always great food and friendly staff. We love the salt and pepper squid special and cilantro chicken
(5)Brandi E.
This is the best Chinese food in the Lehigh Valley after Asia. It was my favorite Chinese restaurant ten years running until Asia opened. It is definitely of the more Americanized variety but it is good. I've been coming here since it open and I keep coming back. The prices are reasonable and portions are decent. The menu has more options than the average Chinese restaurant. The staff is hit or miss. About half the staff is awesome and remembers you when you come in. The other half is not engaging and just average. The interior is very different than your typical Chinese restaurant. It has the feel of a wild west type steakhouse and the building it is in is over 100 years old. It had a long history as a pub and the inside hasn't changed minus an awesome salt water fish tank and a few flat screens. This is a great place to get takeout from and they have a full bar. There is lots of seating but it gets crowded at times. The lunch specials are a great deal.
(4)Olivia P.
my parents and i have been coming here for 10 plus years. its still kicking butt. yes of course its americanized chinese food..but they also have a chinese menu so make sure you ask for it! went here with the boy and we got the duck, spinach, and house lo mein. the duck is sooo good. although it is pricier (S30.00) than chinatown duck- i don't have to drive an hour for it and its the whole duck. if you want to try, make sure you ask for it- its not on the regular menu. waiters were nice and kept the water coming. fast and efficient. i'm planning on going here again before heading back down to dc.. am i a duck lover? siiiiiiiii.
(4)Vanessa W.
The best sit-down chinese restaurant in the area. Prices are a little higher than normal. Dress is nicer casual. Great atmosphere.
(5)Paula Y.
I've moved to the other end of the Lehigh Valley, but still drive all the way to Hunan Springs! Nothing else compares!
(5)Kevin F.
Cilantro Chicken - could have had more flavor, but my biggest gripe is the fact that the cilantro was chopped up stalks and all. Sesame Chicken - white meat is nice, but it was inconsistantly cooked. Steamed dumplings with pork were good, especially the sauce for dipping. We went in the early evening while it was still light; the place looks like it needs a good dusting Not really sure what all the hype is about..
(3)Megan W.
DEE-LISH. I had the mu shu pork. They make their wrappers from scratch and they were amazing. Perfect thickness...just thick enough so they won't break and just the right amount of chewiness. My family had the shrimp with lobster sauce and it was really really good as well. Throughout my many visits to this restaurant, I've also had the Hot and Sour Soup, Basil Delight, Kung Pao Chicken, Thai Curry Chicken, Egg Rolls, Egg Drop Soup, Crab Rangoons, all really really good. It was a little more expensive than other places I have been to in the area, but it's REALLY worth it. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the atmosphere and decor. It was pretty busy on a Monday night, which I thought was strange...but a good sign! Parking lot is big, bar is usually pretty busy (try the Atlantic Breeze cocktail if you like Coconut milk).
(5)Brooke C.
I was pleasantly surprised by Hunan Springs last week. After driving by many times, we decided to stop in after reading some positive reviews. I'm picky about my Chinese food, but every dish blew me away! Our out if town visitors swore it was the best lemon chicken they've ever had... And my husband and I loved the basics: sweet and sour chicken, fried rice, and beef and broccoli. Our waiter was great, prompt and attentive and full of energy, he really seemed to love his job. When we got the bill we recounted it a few times because it seemed so cheap for the massive amount of food we got (about 7-8 dishes). We will definitely be back again!
(4)Vivian L.
I've always had delicious food and pleasant experiences at Hunan Springs. However, the entrees prices have surged in recent years. Recent dining experience consisted of drinking more water due to excessive salt in the food compared to previous meals at this establishment. This is by far the best Asian restaurants in the area. I guess there is a price you pay for convenience.
(3)Jagadesan R.
Ma LA lamb .... Not so authentic and kind a sweet sauce in it. Overall it was OK. Good service and ambience.
(3)Corey S.
I am in agreement with a lot of the reviews. I wanted to give them a 4th star, but here's why I didn't: Lunch vs. Dinner. Lunch you get soup included with entrée, dinner you do not. Lunch egg role is $1.25, dinner $2.50. When it comes to the entrée same amount of food for both, but higher prices. Nevertheless the food has always been spot on. I will always meet colleagues for lunch, but always skip for dinner.
(3)Todd S.
I have to give this place the 5 star treatment!! The food is always good. Try anything and it is my belief that you will enjoy it. What really sets this place apart is the service and attitude of the stay! The kid at the door that seats you is on point! The hosting crew is top notch And they do it with a smile!! I'm serious, as the guy lays out the meal and departs, he smiles and give u a head nod... Refills of drinks... Timely! Impressive establishment. Oh, I left my polarized glasses on the table, the guy ran out and gave them to me at my car!!!! You do not find places like this often... I do not live in that area, but when I am there, I will eat here again and again!
(5)Gilbert N.
One of the best Chinese restaurants I have eaten at. Definitely the best in the LV! They have the traditional Chinese-American menu items as well as a few unique dishes I have not seen in any other restaurant. My favorite is the cilantro chicken over fried noodles followed by the Peking duck.....good Peking duck is hard to find! Decent atmosphere, good service, and the aquarium is pretty cool to sit by while you eat.
(5)Needs A.
Visiting from DC where we have great Chinese food. I was pregnant and craving Chinese food and saw this place on yelp. It was sooo good! We had the egg drop soup, (Which my husband said was the best he had), the pork with fried bean curd (tofu) (which was really good), and the chicken Lo mein (which was solid). To top it off service was great. We'll come back again when we visit Allentown!
(5)Christian M.
Best Chinese food in Lehigh Valley. Reasonably priced, great atmosphere and excellent service. I recommend the Kung Pao chicken for spice lovers. They also have a wide variety of other dishes, all excellent.
(5)S G.
Called to make reservations for 2 on a Saturday night, was told to come on in and that we didn't need reservations. We get to restaurant in short order and were told 20-30 minute wait, also that they do not take reservations for parties of 2. We decide to wait as the food has been good in previous visits. While waiting several groups of 3-5 patrons without reservations (gave their name and were told same 20-30 min wait) are seated ahead of us. If you don't take reservations for 2 then don't seat larger groups ahead of groups of 2!! 45 minutes into the wait, and after a couple polite checkins to see how much longer the wait will be, a couple comes through the door and is immediately seated. Quite annoyed at this point I confront the host about why they were seated ahead of us. His first response was that they had put in a reservation. I explain that we were told parties of 2 couldn't put in a reservation. He immediately changed his story to that the couple were their neighbors and that they seat them immediately when they come in. You should not seat your friends first with the lobby full of patrons waiting for a table. I'm glad I confronted him as we were then seated next, had I not I'm certain we would have continued to watch groups of 3-5 be seated ahead of us. Food was good as always, but the terrible customer service from the host soured the evening. Moral of the story, if you're a couple, and you are told it's a wait at the door, just place an order for takeout. Much quicker and you don't get passed over for your table by the restaurant staff's friends, neighbors and preferential customers.
(1)Michael S.
I've eaten Chinese in some of the best places in Philly, DC, NY, San Francisco and Seattle, so I try to temper my expectations, but there is no excuse for some of the meals I've had at Hunan Springs. My wife really likes Chinese as well so we are constantly searching for a good place. For the infrequent flyer in the Lehigh Valley, I offer the following advice: the 4 and 5 star reviews for HS are a leap of faith at best. Simple dishes such as broccoli and chicken in a brown sauce are so darned easy to prep and serve fresh, I don't know how, in good conscience they can keep this on a steam table and serve it as the thick, gooey high fructose corn syrupy mess you can find in any mall. Ugh. My wife enjoys a brown sauce, I prefer a lighter spicy white. If this food was cooked in a hot wok with the minimum amount of care and expertise, it would be far superior to what I've been offered at HS. The soups are not bad so I start off with one but as far as they entrees go, every time I leave this place--a half dozen times over the past few years, I regret having let my wife convince me to try it one more time. I dunno, I realize that the Lehigh Valley struggles to compete with Chinatown in any city, but dinner is not necessarily cheap here, so there is that, combined with the fact that you can find fresh, crisp broccoli in just about any super market, there really is no excuse for overcooked, soggy vegetables. As a few other reviewers have indicated, perhaps the duck is good. I just don't have that kind of courage. A final note regarding the decor. Before this place became a Chinese restaurant, it served more typical American beef and potatoes style fare. The old barn feel was well suited to that. Converting it to something Asian could have been done by a skilled designer but that isn't what happened. Consequently, it has a very heavy, uncharacteristic presence that is somewhat symbolic of the half-heartedness of the effort that is tasted in the food as well?
(2)Sean R.
2 out of 3 times when I visit Allentown on business then I visit and eat lunch at this restaurant. It is extremely economical and provides a great ambiance for lunch. I usually order either Kung Pao Chicken or The Duck. The spice levels are perfect and the flavors are rich. Service is fast and the patrons are well taken care of. The food portions are also very generous. If you are in the area and are pressed for time (Lunch or dinner) however would still like a decent asian meal then this is the place for you. Hunan Springs has its own parking lot and is big enough to accommodate lunch and dinner customers.
(4)Christine A.
We absolutely love this place. The atmosphere is great and our server, David is so attentive. We've only had one bad experience with extremely slow service, but that is atypical. From soup, to appetizers, to the entrees, it's all excellent. Definitely the best Asian cuisine in the Lehigh Valley and beyond!
(5)Ashley O.
High Class Chinese Restaurant!! Love the atmosphere...very relaxing and the service is outstanding!!! The food is unlike any other Chinese food I have ever had in the Lehigh Valley....I would compare it to "Chin Chin" in Las Vegas, NV ( New York, New York hotel)...which is saying ALOT!!!! I always get the seafood in lobster sauce and its amazing! Excellent flavor and nice sized portions.
(5)Tyneisha M.
I really enjoyed this place ! I came here with the bf and a large party. It was one of his close friend's birthdays. We had reservations and the party was about 15- 20 people and still the service was superior. I loved the entrance way décor and the food was also very tasty. I ordered a wonton soup, sesame chicken with a side of white rice. The rice was sticky YESS!!! I love sticky rice and just have not taken the time to learn how to make it. Overall I had a great experience and would certainly recommend this place.
(5)Allen M.
Great service and great food what a combination! Nothing bad to say at all. Definitely coming back. ASK FOR Matt he was great! Great smile and awesome personality! Tell me Allen sent you :)
(4)Erika U.
Hands down the best Chinese food in the Lehigh Valley. The food is always hot and fresh and the service is prompt, courteous and professional. The restaurant provides a level of ambiance that is unparalleled at their modest price point. I typically get the General Tsos tofu and it is always delicious. The pineapples and fortune cookies at the end of the meal are a special touch.
(5)Samantha S.
This is not your typical Chinese restaurant. It is quite charming inside, the staff is delightful and the food is the best Chinese I have ever had. It costs a bit more but it is well worth it.
(5)Marc K.
The best Chinese food I've tried in the Lehigh Valley... The restaurant itself used to be a steak place named Widow Browns about 20 years ago before becoming Hunan Springs. My wife and I have been to Hunan Springs three times over the years and it's never disappointed us. The decor is like a rustic stone farmhouse, mixed with Chinese elements. They burn incense in the lobby area. The lobby has many Chinese statues and decorations. There is a large salt water fish tank in the main dining room, complete with fancy fish and a spiny lobster wandering around on the bottom of the tank. My wife and I wondered if the fish get annoyed with the lobster brushing his long antennae against the fish. ;) Many of the other reviewers on Yelp have complained that the decor of the restaurant wasn't authentic. For instance, they kept the stained glass lampshades from the Widow Browns days... I'm not bothered by that so much. My only real complaint about the decor would be that while the exposed beams in the dining room are all wrapped in Christmas lights, only about a quarter of the strands actually light up, which cheapens the look. They really should either pull them all down, or go to the trouble of fixing the non-working strands. Our most recent visit: After we placed our order, we were served a large portion of complimentary crispy noodles with the standard duck sauce and spicy mustard sauce. The noodles were much larger than the little strips they give you at "basic" Chinese restaurants. I wouldn't be surprised if they made them on site. They were the size of Doritos and triangular shaped. For an appetizer, we shared an order of vegetable steamed dumplings with a soy dipping sauce. We were warned when we ordered that they would take about 20 minutes to prepare. I think it actually ended up only taking about 15 minutes. They were served in a lidded steam pot. The dumplings were filled with chopped vegetables and minced tofu. While they were good, we weren't quite sure they were worth the $6.95 price for six dumplings. For entrees, my wife had moo goo gai pan and I had scallops with garlic sauce. The moo goo gai pan was very traditional, everything was cooked well, and the vegetables were crisp while still being properly cooked. White meat chicken, button mushrooms, fancy cut carrots, snow peas, scallions, Chinese cabbage and water chesnunts in a mild white sauce. Not every Chinese place has scallops on the menu and I had craving them for a while (not necessarily as a Chinese entree, just scallops in general). They use bay scallops and they're cut in half horizontally (probably for more even cooking with the other ingredients and to give the appearance of more meat per serving). Think of a scallop the size and shape of 5 quarters stacked on top of eachother and you get the idea. They were cooked well and not chewy at all. Other ingredients in my dish were carrots, green peppers, large onion petals, bamboo shoots cut in a fancy style, water chestnuts and scallions. The garlic sauce was quite flavorful. I would definitely order it again... Dinner entrees are served with white rice. My wife asked about pork fried rice and our server said that the only way to get that was to order it separately, which we did. The pork fried rice was a complete entree all to itself for $9.95, but it was a very large portion and quite tasty. The bill arrived with a cocoa flavored fortune cookie for each of us and a small bowl of canned pineapple chunks served with toothpicks. The bill was $45.37 including tax, not including a tip (Vegetable dumplings, three entrees, no beverages -- we had iced water to drink). We had leftovers that amounted to another dinner and a small lunch, or it could have been made into two lunches. We'd definitely go again, it's just not near our house or usual haunts...
(5)David B.
The food is always of good quality. The impressive front door and lobby set a great tone. It has a unique feel to it. It's not the same old chintzy Asian decor -- it's a style all their own. We regularly get the take-out and have never had a problem. They even bent over backwards for us when my wife called in an order to a DIFFERENT restaurant, then I went to pick it up and insisted they screwed up! Highly recommended.
(4)Sherry E.
Awesome place to eat at. The food is always delicious and service great. My favorite dishes include the Chefs Specialty Shrimp and Thai Delight. No wonder they have been around for over 15 years!! They accommodate all special dietary needs and if you can't find your favorite dish on the menu just ask your server for it and the kitchen will make it. Best Chinese place in town!
(5)Tony P.
Always great food and friendly staff. We love the salt and pepper squid special and cilantro chicken
(5)Brandi E.
This is the best Chinese food in the Lehigh Valley after Asia. It was my favorite Chinese restaurant ten years running until Asia opened. It is definitely of the more Americanized variety but it is good. I've been coming here since it open and I keep coming back. The prices are reasonable and portions are decent. The menu has more options than the average Chinese restaurant. The staff is hit or miss. About half the staff is awesome and remembers you when you come in. The other half is not engaging and just average. The interior is very different than your typical Chinese restaurant. It has the feel of a wild west type steakhouse and the building it is in is over 100 years old. It had a long history as a pub and the inside hasn't changed minus an awesome salt water fish tank and a few flat screens. This is a great place to get takeout from and they have a full bar. There is lots of seating but it gets crowded at times. The lunch specials are a great deal.
(4)Olivia P.
my parents and i have been coming here for 10 plus years. its still kicking butt. yes of course its americanized chinese food..but they also have a chinese menu so make sure you ask for it! went here with the boy and we got the duck, spinach, and house lo mein. the duck is sooo good. although it is pricier (S30.00) than chinatown duck- i don't have to drive an hour for it and its the whole duck. if you want to try, make sure you ask for it- its not on the regular menu. waiters were nice and kept the water coming. fast and efficient. i'm planning on going here again before heading back down to dc.. am i a duck lover? siiiiiiiii.
(4)Vanessa W.
The best sit-down chinese restaurant in the area. Prices are a little higher than normal. Dress is nicer casual. Great atmosphere.
(5)Tyneisha M.
I really enjoyed this place ! I came here with the bf and a large party. It was one of his close friend's birthdays. We had reservations and the party was about 15- 20 people and still the service was superior. I loved the entrance way décor and the food was also very tasty. I ordered a wonton soup, sesame chicken with a side of white rice. The rice was sticky YESS!!! I love sticky rice and just have not taken the time to learn how to make it. Overall I had a great experience and would certainly recommend this place.
(5)Allen M.
Great service and great food what a combination! Nothing bad to say at all. Definitely coming back. ASK FOR Matt he was great! Great smile and awesome personality! Tell me Allen sent you :)
(4)Erika U.
Hands down the best Chinese food in the Lehigh Valley. The food is always hot and fresh and the service is prompt, courteous and professional. The restaurant provides a level of ambiance that is unparalleled at their modest price point. I typically get the General Tsos tofu and it is always delicious. The pineapples and fortune cookies at the end of the meal are a special touch.
(5)Samantha S.
This is not your typical Chinese restaurant. It is quite charming inside, the staff is delightful and the food is the best Chinese I have ever had. It costs a bit more but it is well worth it.
(5)Vivian L.
I've always had delicious food and pleasant experiences at Hunan Springs. However, the entrees prices have surged in recent years. Recent dining experience consisted of drinking more water due to excessive salt in the food compared to previous meals at this establishment. This is by far the best Asian restaurants in the area. I guess there is a price you pay for convenience.
(3)Jagadesan R.
Ma LA lamb .... Not so authentic and kind a sweet sauce in it. Overall it was OK. Good service and ambience.
(3)Corey S.
I am in agreement with a lot of the reviews. I wanted to give them a 4th star, but here's why I didn't: Lunch vs. Dinner. Lunch you get soup included with entrée, dinner you do not. Lunch egg role is $1.25, dinner $2.50. When it comes to the entrée same amount of food for both, but higher prices. Nevertheless the food has always been spot on. I will always meet colleagues for lunch, but always skip for dinner.
(3)Ashley O.
High Class Chinese Restaurant!! Love the atmosphere...very relaxing and the service is outstanding!!! The food is unlike any other Chinese food I have ever had in the Lehigh Valley....I would compare it to "Chin Chin" in Las Vegas, NV ( New York, New York hotel)...which is saying ALOT!!!! I always get the seafood in lobster sauce and its amazing! Excellent flavor and nice sized portions.
(5)Todd S.
I have to give this place the 5 star treatment!! The food is always good. Try anything and it is my belief that you will enjoy it. What really sets this place apart is the service and attitude of the stay! The kid at the door that seats you is on point! The hosting crew is top notch And they do it with a smile!! I'm serious, as the guy lays out the meal and departs, he smiles and give u a head nod... Refills of drinks... Timely! Impressive establishment. Oh, I left my polarized glasses on the table, the guy ran out and gave them to me at my car!!!! You do not find places like this often... I do not live in that area, but when I am there, I will eat here again and again!
(5)Gilbert N.
One of the best Chinese restaurants I have eaten at. Definitely the best in the LV! They have the traditional Chinese-American menu items as well as a few unique dishes I have not seen in any other restaurant. My favorite is the cilantro chicken over fried noodles followed by the Peking duck.....good Peking duck is hard to find! Decent atmosphere, good service, and the aquarium is pretty cool to sit by while you eat.
(5)Peter H.
I like the food. And one of the waiters has a great sense of humor. But the decor is pretty strange. I would give it 4 stars, except for the decor.
(3)Jeffrey M.
Only have had take out and it is very good. Really like the jalapeño chicken and order it extra spicy. Kids like the sweet and sour chicken.
(4)Paul G.
Great lunch specials. Family owned with super high service. If your looking for top Chinese in the Lehigh Valley I would highly recommend.
(5)Karen R.
This place is wonderful! The food is outstanding and the service is exceptional. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable. My favorite Chinese food is here!
(5)S G.
Called to make reservations for 2 on a Saturday night, was told to come on in and that we didn't need reservations. We get to restaurant in short order and were told 20-30 minute wait, also that they do not take reservations for parties of 2. We decide to wait as the food has been good in previous visits. While waiting several groups of 3-5 patrons without reservations (gave their name and were told same 20-30 min wait) are seated ahead of us. If you don't take reservations for 2 then don't seat larger groups ahead of groups of 2!! 45 minutes into the wait, and after a couple polite checkins to see how much longer the wait will be, a couple comes through the door and is immediately seated. Quite annoyed at this point I confront the host about why they were seated ahead of us. His first response was that they had put in a reservation. I explain that we were told parties of 2 couldn't put in a reservation. He immediately changed his story to that the couple were their neighbors and that they seat them immediately when they come in. You should not seat your friends first with the lobby full of patrons waiting for a table. I'm glad I confronted him as we were then seated next, had I not I'm certain we would have continued to watch groups of 3-5 be seated ahead of us. Food was good as always, but the terrible customer service from the host soured the evening. Moral of the story, if you're a couple, and you are told it's a wait at the door, just place an order for takeout. Much quicker and you don't get passed over for your table by the restaurant staff's friends, neighbors and preferential customers.
(1)Christine A.
We absolutely love this place. The atmosphere is great and our server, David is so attentive. We've only had one bad experience with extremely slow service, but that is atypical. From soup, to appetizers, to the entrees, it's all excellent. Definitely the best Asian cuisine in the Lehigh Valley and beyond!
(5)Ben P.
I was a little confused as I was not expecting a pub style atmosphere for a chinese restaurant but it just kind of works for this place The staff is always friendly and attentive, Ive never once needed to ask to get a refill on any of my beverages and they continuously supply you with fried noodles and dipping sauces complimentary. I was most impressed with their foods as many of the options are upscale fusion recipes and or traditional chinese food. Personally Ive had a range of things i've tried Personally, and their dinner specials that change regularly seem to be the best value, they come with soup, salad and a small dessert cake and the entree is sized large enough to share. The Wonton soup is one of the top ive had from any chinese place with a rich chicken broth that is actually worth drinking after you finish your soup. I would strongly suggest giving the place a try at least once if you enjoy chinese.
(4)Jasmine V.
We were around the area and my husband really wanted some fish for dinner. With the help of Yelp, we found this restaurant and we were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food there. It was better than an average chinese restaurant. I liked how the other dishes taste, but we were not impressed with the fish which was also really expensive!
(4)Amina C.
Just got takeout here, but it really liked it and I don't usually like Chinese food in the US.
(4)Tara C.
Hunan Springs has become our go to place here. We sit at the bar with Mike. Great food every time. A list of the things we've had that we especially enjoy: 1. Spare Ribs (we get them every time) 2. Chef's Special Chicken (only shrimp is on the dinner menu, get the chicken) 3. Half Rack of Lamb, yes that's right, Lamb. Unexpectedly yummy. 4. Chicken Satay The only thing I've had here that I didn't like was the Shrimp lettuce wraps. My father is ill and craved them. I got them against my better judgement for him. He loved them. I prefer the chicken. We've also had many of the typical dishes - sweet and sour pork, pan fried dumplings, Kung Pow Shrimp, beef and broccoli - to name a few...all good!
(4)Jennie T.
Take out: 4 stars - basic chinese food offerings are best around (not saying much.) Dine In: 1 or 2 stars. Just never dine -in (we have been inside twice) and gotten carry-out 6 - 7 times.
(4)Paula Y.
I've moved to the other end of the Lehigh Valley, but still drive all the way to Hunan Springs! Nothing else compares!
(5)Kevin F.
Cilantro Chicken - could have had more flavor, but my biggest gripe is the fact that the cilantro was chopped up stalks and all. Sesame Chicken - white meat is nice, but it was inconsistantly cooked. Steamed dumplings with pork were good, especially the sauce for dipping. We went in the early evening while it was still light; the place looks like it needs a good dusting Not really sure what all the hype is about..
(3)Miguel S.
This place is awesome. Overall, it's not entirely your typical Chinese cuisine (it's borderline Asian fusion), but the food & service are both excellent. The pineapple they serve along with fortune cookies to close out your meals is a nice touch. The Kung Pao Chicken is my favorite here. The lunch specials during the week are ridiculously affordable for the portions & quality. Service has always been good... we've gone fairly consistently since they opened it under this name & have always been very pleased.
(5)N M.
Very good experience for my first time. Price is reasonable, the service great, and good ambient. I recommend this place.
(5)Jason T.
Best Chinese food in the Lehigh Valley
(5)JoAnn C.
It takes a great deal for me to leave five stars. This was our first visit and everyone in our group of four found lunch to be first rate. Atmosphere was relaxing, clean and inviting. The service was great. The food was the best we had in the area, head a shoulders above any other Chinese restaurant we have eaten at. The lunch was a good deal. The chicken and garlic sauce was excellent, as was the pepper steak. Soups were not salty, with lots of flavor. 4 lunches came to under $30.00. I will definitely return and try dinner. Highly recommended!
(5)Michael S.
I've eaten Chinese in some of the best places in Philly, DC, NY, San Francisco and Seattle, so I try to temper my expectations, but there is no excuse for some of the meals I've had at Hunan Springs. My wife really likes Chinese as well so we are constantly searching for a good place. For the infrequent flyer in the Lehigh Valley, I offer the following advice: the 4 and 5 star reviews for HS are a leap of faith at best. Simple dishes such as broccoli and chicken in a brown sauce are so darned easy to prep and serve fresh, I don't know how, in good conscience they can keep this on a steam table and serve it as the thick, gooey high fructose corn syrupy mess you can find in any mall. Ugh. My wife enjoys a brown sauce, I prefer a lighter spicy white. If this food was cooked in a hot wok with the minimum amount of care and expertise, it would be far superior to what I've been offered at HS. The soups are not bad so I start off with one but as far as they entrees go, every time I leave this place--a half dozen times over the past few years, I regret having let my wife convince me to try it one more time. I dunno, I realize that the Lehigh Valley struggles to compete with Chinatown in any city, but dinner is not necessarily cheap here, so there is that, combined with the fact that you can find fresh, crisp broccoli in just about any super market, there really is no excuse for overcooked, soggy vegetables. As a few other reviewers have indicated, perhaps the duck is good. I just don't have that kind of courage. A final note regarding the decor. Before this place became a Chinese restaurant, it served more typical American beef and potatoes style fare. The old barn feel was well suited to that. Converting it to something Asian could have been done by a skilled designer but that isn't what happened. Consequently, it has a very heavy, uncharacteristic presence that is somewhat symbolic of the half-heartedness of the effort that is tasted in the food as well?
(2)Sean R.
2 out of 3 times when I visit Allentown on business then I visit and eat lunch at this restaurant. It is extremely economical and provides a great ambiance for lunch. I usually order either Kung Pao Chicken or The Duck. The spice levels are perfect and the flavors are rich. Service is fast and the patrons are well taken care of. The food portions are also very generous. If you are in the area and are pressed for time (Lunch or dinner) however would still like a decent asian meal then this is the place for you. Hunan Springs has its own parking lot and is big enough to accommodate lunch and dinner customers.
(4)Needs A.
Visiting from DC where we have great Chinese food. I was pregnant and craving Chinese food and saw this place on yelp. It was sooo good! We had the egg drop soup, (Which my husband said was the best he had), the pork with fried bean curd (tofu) (which was really good), and the chicken Lo mein (which was solid). To top it off service was great. We'll come back again when we visit Allentown!
(5)Christian M.
Best Chinese food in Lehigh Valley. Reasonably priced, great atmosphere and excellent service. I recommend the Kung Pao chicken for spice lovers. They also have a wide variety of other dishes, all excellent.
(5)Yong H.
This is from someones who eats chinese food his whole life's perspective, but this place is really really bad. Obviously there's not that many chinese restaurants in Lehigh so I don't know how it compares but the food here is very bland, unoriginal, and unauthentic. Got the dried beancurd with bellpeppers, peking duck, and steamed whole fish - beancurd had no flavor, duck was tough, and steamed fish was the wrong kind of fish (catfish). When you eat steamed fish it has to be a fresh live fish, usually sea bass - they used frozen catfish so the meat was tough and fishy smelling, not to mention they charged 28 bucks or whatever for it (can buy a fresh live fish at most chinese markets for $6 dollars per pound). All in all, a terrible place that I would never eat at again.
(1)Kevin M.
Absolutely delicious. Authentic Asian influences excellently executed. Wide selection of food, and the addition of complimentary fried noodles and pineapple is a nice touch that will definitely be bringing me back for another round.
(5)PA S.
Good Chinese eggplant, and great complimentary oversized triangular fried noodles. Warm wooden accented decor, and the music was modern ambient. I think lunch would be the better choice.
(3)Emily B.
I don't think this is authentic chinese, since I've never had chinese food this good in Chinatown. But it is gourmet, delicious and something special. This is absolutely the best Chinese in the Lehigh Valley, pricier than your takeout places but totally worth a visit. I can vaguely remember the restaurant that was here before, the building itself is amazing. An old building restored and turned into a fine dining (sort of) Chinese food experience. Beautiful landscaping outside, and big wooden doors and frames. My favorite is the chicken and broccolli, it's served with this to die for white sauce, that I've never seen anywhere else. The servers are friendly and happy and the whole place is a great experience. This used to be a christmas eve tradition but I haven't been in awhile, can't wait to go back!
(4)K W.
Filthy dirty place! I wouldn't eat there again no matter how good the food may be...and I think it's nothing special, anyway!
(2)Kate F.
Not just the best Chinese restaurant in the Valley, but my favorite restaurant in the Valley. Unless you're getting the lunch special, the food isn't cheap, but it couldn't possibly be better. The moo shu is perfection, and the peking duck is great. Other popular American Chinese dishes such as chicken and Chinese vegetables, fried rice and so on are well made, steaming hot and have a very clean, fresh taste. MSG aftertaste here? Hah. Never. Stacks up favorably in comparison to well-reviewed expensive American-style Chinese restaurants in New York City with higher prices and a more exclusive locale. They even present you with free pineapple as dessert.
(5)wendy a.
Food is generally fairly good. The restaurant is a bit dark and the rugs appear dusty and worn. My 15 year son sucked a finger nail of some sort through his soda straw into his mouth while eating here. When we complained (admittedly that was pretty gross) the waiter offered to replace the drink, but said that it was impossible. Then he sent out the manager who confirmed to us that this is impossible. So they effectively called my son a liar. This happened a few months ago. My family used to go here regularly. No longer.
(2)Li Z.
When I was still in high-school, the kids in my class used to tell stories about the ghosts at old Widow Brown's Inn ( delcoghosts.com/widow_br… ). Imagine my surprise when this haunted inn was displaced by a Chinese restaurant (first called Ho Ho Inn, and renamed to Hunan Springs a few years back)! Maybe it's the big fat Buddha near the entrance or the mysterious swirling dragon ball, but the only thing haunting about this place now-a-days is the hot and sour soup. I've been coming to Hunan Springs since it first opened over ten years ago. The restaurant has certainly changed a lot since then (in fact, the owner's son now runs the place), but the experience has always been fantastic. The place might not look like a Chinese restaurant (with it's heavy-looking wooden door [actually very light] and the brick exterior), but it is probably *the* best Chinese restaurant in the 40-50 mile area around it. The nearest competitor (Golden City) is a 50 minute drive away in Bethlehem. My favorite dish here is definitely the Chef's specialty shrimp (battered with salt and pepper) ($16.95). It is certainly a real specialty, because I can't find anything comparable anywhere (even among all the diversity of NYC). Other dishes that I recommend are the Kung Pao Chicken ($10.95), the Sweet & Spicy Garlic Sauce Pork ($10.95), and the Scallions Beef ($11.95). The best bang for buck, though, is the express lunch, where you pay $7 to $9 bucks for soup, entree and optional spring roll. The service at Hunan Springs is always attentive and fast, and the free duck-sauce chips you receive when you sit down is a guilty pleasure. My only gripe about Hunan Springs is the rapid increase in prices over the years. In fact, the price of the Chef's shrimp has increased by ~60%, while the number and size of the shrimps have shrunken by over 30%! I guess such changes can't really be avoided with the increase in commodity prices. Overall, though, Hunan Springs is a great food experience and probably the *only* Chinese restaurant worth going to in the area.
(5)Megan W.
DEE-LISH. I had the mu shu pork. They make their wrappers from scratch and they were amazing. Perfect thickness...just thick enough so they won't break and just the right amount of chewiness. My family had the shrimp with lobster sauce and it was really really good as well. Throughout my many visits to this restaurant, I've also had the Hot and Sour Soup, Basil Delight, Kung Pao Chicken, Thai Curry Chicken, Egg Rolls, Egg Drop Soup, Crab Rangoons, all really really good. It was a little more expensive than other places I have been to in the area, but it's REALLY worth it. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the atmosphere and decor. It was pretty busy on a Monday night, which I thought was strange...but a good sign! Parking lot is big, bar is usually pretty busy (try the Atlantic Breeze cocktail if you like Coconut milk).
(5)Brooke C.
I was pleasantly surprised by Hunan Springs last week. After driving by many times, we decided to stop in after reading some positive reviews. I'm picky about my Chinese food, but every dish blew me away! Our out if town visitors swore it was the best lemon chicken they've ever had... And my husband and I loved the basics: sweet and sour chicken, fried rice, and beef and broccoli. Our waiter was great, prompt and attentive and full of energy, he really seemed to love his job. When we got the bill we recounted it a few times because it seemed so cheap for the massive amount of food we got (about 7-8 dishes). We will definitely be back again!
(4)Aaron M.
No, you're not stepping into Medieval Times, but that's the feeling I got when I walked into the huge, castle-like front door. Pretty neat. I had the Coconut Chicken Curry....delicious and only $10.95. The waiter was great and very attentive to soda refills, etc.... The place has a really neat ambiance...not Asian as one would think. I was impressed by the cool gemstones I saw as we walked to our table. Check out Hunan Springs!
(5)Brooke I.
I recently moved to the area and have been looking for a good chinese restaurant to fill that occassional craving. It has been almost a year and about 6 places of disappointment.. I finally found a place that wasn't the usually greasy thrown together low quailty ingredients. It had good taste and for the $ or two that I spent more, it was worth the trip.
(4)Ethan A.
I've been to Hunan Springs twice now. First was for lunch with a coworker, where I had the basil shrimp. It was delicious and a good portion of shrimp for the price. It was a tad on the cool side, though, which was a downer. Tonight, however! Oh, tonight was fantastic. My girlfriend and I decided to go out, and with Asia not open on Sundays, this was my second choice. We had the vegetable soup with bean curd for two and two vegetable rolls to start. The soup was very light, but nicely flavored. If anything, a dash more salt would've been nice. For our entrees, she had the scallops in garlic sauce, and I had the chef's specialty bean curd -- listed as "Lightly fried bean curd tossed in a salt & pepper blend w. fresh garlic, scallions and diced bell peppers", it intrigued me. Both were delicious from start to finish. The scallops were very nicely cooked, still tender, not rubbery. They were obviously fresh, as they weren't fishy at all. The garlic sauce was about the best I've ever had. It would have been nice to have some more veggies on the plate with it, but that's a small complaint. The bean curd was unexpectedly awesome. It was indeed salt and pepper. It was not really spicy, but it did warm the mouth as you kept eating it. The tofu was fried but still tender, and almost juicy when you bit into it. I think this is a new favorite dish of both of ours. Heck, I think both of these dishes are new favorite dishes. On top of all that, the waiter also jokingly suggested I order a zombie as my cocktail... so I did. I'm not sure what a "good" zombie is supposed to taste like, but this drink was one of the most deliciously strong cocktails I've ever had. I'd get another anytime.
(4)Steven P.
We've been coming here for about 15 years and it is consistently our favorite Chinese/Asian food in the area. The dining room is actually very nice and the service is always outstanding; I believe some on the wait staff have been here the entire 15 years! The lunch specials are very nice and reasonably priced. The Kung Pao Chicken is the best I've had anywhere and many of their others dishes are standouts. Even the most basic dish, Sweet and Sour chicken, is excellent at Hunan Springs.
(5)Dela P.
Great food, great location, great staff. The restaurant itself is very nice, decorations/ornaments are very interesting to look at. The food is wonderful. My favs are the General Tso's and the Peking duck. They actually seperate the skin from the meat on the duck, that way it stays crispy (and tastes awesome with the wraps they give you). I eat here very often and plan to as long as I'm in the Lehigh Valley. You can't go wrong with this place, and you definitely get what you pay for.
(4)Betty T.
This is Americanized Chinese food, but by Lehigh Valley standards, it's actually pretty good. I would say their best dish is the Peking Duck with the pancakes, scallions and plum sauce; it's first rate and is just as good as the ones in NYC's Chinatown. I would recommend trying the more exotic dishes and staying away from the standard ones like chicken and broccoli or lo mein. There's nothing wrong with those and they taste adequate, but this restaurant can offer dishes that the other local places don't and you'll miss out. The last time I was there, I ordered the Golden Shrimp dish from the Chef's Special menu. I wasn't too thrilled with this dish as I was expecting the shrimp to be shell free (they left the shell on the tails) and fried or sauteed. The shrimp was actually battered first which I was unaware of, and then sauteed in a honey sauce. Overall, it was just too sweet for my taste and didn't have the crispness my mouth was expecting after reading the food description. The inside of the restaurant is dim but cozy and very charming. The original exposed beams and stones of the building have been left intact and they have a very large fish tank in the middle of the restaurant which kids love to look at. My only complaint, other than the Golden Shrimp dish, is that the food is kind of pricey, but overall, I do like this place.
(4)Mike M.
Great atmosphere, great food!!
(5)George G.
Stopped by here on our way from Dorney Park as we were quite hungry. Friend called them and asked if there were still open - closed but since they still have patrons there they would accommodate take out. (This was around 9:30PM on a Sunday.) We also asked if they cook with MSG - nope. These are all good signs. Once we arrived there, took a while to pick what to order as they had quite a selection with lots of authentic options. In the end I settled on Kung Pao Chicken and my GF picked an eggplant dish. As we waited around we admired the interior aesthetics and wished we would have had the opportunity to eat inside. A customer on the way out pronounced "doesnt matter what you order, everything here is good". Think he was enjoying the beer from the bar they have which looked quite nice. Anyway, we eventually got our food and paid. It was around 25$ for 2 normal orders, a little higher than I am accustomed for take out Chinese. The food was really good. The Kung Pao Chicken was about 90% meat and spicy enough to make me happy. Next time I would have definitely asked for it to be more spicy. The dish was packed in the medium sized round plastic container and for 10$ would have hoped for a bigger container. Of course, they could have filled up the remainder of the space with broccoli, carrots, celery, etc, the usual veggies served with Kung Pao Chicken. However, the dish was very tasty and appreciated the abundance of meat since my GF is vegetarian. She liked her eggplant dish and tasting it in the car, it was quite good. If in the area again, would definitely stop by here again, however, would try to make it for lunch to take advantage of the lunch specials and eat at a table.
(4)Marcus D.
I now understand the strange architecture and decor of Hunan Springs (thanks to the other reviewers). The exterior looks anything but a Chinese restaurant, with its brick and beam facade and gigantic church-like doors - there is a big sign so you can't miss it. The food was excellent and the lunch menu prices hard to beat. The dragon and phoenix was excellent. I didn't come here for a Chinatown experience, or to be wowed by the cuisine, but there's americanized Chinese and there's slop called americanized Chinese. The place to sit is either by the fish tank - which we did - or in one of the windowed booths. There was a small bar area off the entrance, one of those tiki, might be cool to grab a singapore sling at if I wasn't working and watch the Tiger Woods press conference (stop it, already! who cares!) It was definitely worth an afternoon spent traipsing about the Rust Belt.
(4)Kandy M.
Our food was excellent! 9 of us went and everyone was very satisfied and very full! We had a nice time!
(4)Matthew K.
Amazing food. Helpful and friendly staff. This is the perfect place to go if your looking for quality Chinese cuisine and possibly a nice cocktail to go with it. Great spot for a family outing, a date, or to catch up with old friends. I have no complaints about Hunan Springs. Check it out for yourself!
(5)suenotto e.
I ordered the $20 sizzling seafood last night. It contained shrimp, scallops and crab leg pieces. The shrimp were small and overcooked, the scallops were flavorless, the crab wasn't fresh, and the sauce was bland. This was a very disappointing meal.
(2)Kc S.
This place is the coolest and best chinese food you can find. They have everything you could possibly want and it's all amazing. The atmosphere is great, it has huge medieval doors, a beautiful fish tank and so many other great decorations. Once you try this place you'll be back for more.
(5)M S.
I took my vegetarian parents there for Mother's Day and the waiter was able to recommend a tofu dish (Kung Pao) and a noodle dish (Veggie spicy Chow Fun-not on the menu) and I ordered the vegetable dumplings. Good recommendations. Don't forget to ask for the free Chinese tea. Hunan and Asia are my favorite sit down Chinese joints in the Lehigh Valley.
(4)Mister T.
Their General Trang's Chicken is OFF THE HOOK! You have to eat in though... Carryout just doesn't taste as fresh...
(5)Hank W.
For those old enough to remember this was Widow Browns. Little has changed decor wise inside or out, and reminds one of an old rustic steakhouse. Anyway, that was a long time ago and now it's one of the best Chinese restaurants around. Prices are a bit high, but you will get excellent service and a much better presentation.
(4)Melissa M.
Nice atmosphere. I usually love their food but last time my fried rice tasted burnt...but thats not enough to keep me away. Clean, friendly staff, overall good food.
(4)Thomas M.
By far my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Valley. Prompt service, delicious food and warm interior. Friendly staff and I think this place deserves the award for best Chinese in the valley.
(5)Benni A.
Another great Chinese place, generally more authentic than not, and the American-Chinese dishes are of much better quality than competitors. Slightly on the pricier side, though. Updated: The food still gets four-stars, but I agree with other reviews that if you are a couple trying to get seated on a busy night, it may not happen in a timely manner (I've previously dined here as part of a group of 4 or 6). Large parties without reservations do get seated before a party of two.
(2)Harry D.
A worthwhile stop.
(5)Ann L.
Usually this restaurant is awesome but on Christmas Eve I was sorely disappointed. We had mad reservations in November for a large party. When we confirmed the reservations they did have it but told us we would get "squeezed" in. They certainly squeezed us in with terrible seating. Service was mediocre, food was mediocre. This was such an unpleasant experience that I will reconsidered ever returning
(2)Jackay C.
To many people living in the area, saying that Hunan Springs serves the best Chinese food really isn't saying much. However, I think that if you order the right thing, Hunan Springs is pretty damn good. It might even be better than some of the Chinese restaurants I've eaten at in LA. I would've given it a higher rating if not for its price. Went there for the first time with some friends and ordered the string beans in garlic sauce, chicken and broccoli, sizzling steak and the crispy pan fried noodles (I'm not sure of the exact name on the menu, but thats how I described it to the waiter) I love love love crispy fried noodles and try to order it wherever I can. It's basically thin egg noodles that have been pan fried till a crisp and then smothered with meat and veggies that have been sauteed in a light brown sauce. It's quite hard to do crispy fried noodles just right -- the noodles can be soggy, the oil rancid, the meat and veggies bland -- but Hunan Springs does it perfectly. The chicken and broccoli was also delicious. A surprise, really since it is such a simple dish. One wrong move and it can either taste too bland or too salty, but the dish was full of flavor but yet light. The string beans in garlic sauce was standard. Not good, not bad. My roommate told me that the best food she had at Hunan Springs was ordered "off the menu", so the next time I go, I'll see if they can cook dry sauteed string beans for me. It's another one of my favorite dishes to order in a Chinese restaurant. The sizzling beef was uneventful. A little worse than the string beans. And the sizzling makes your hair smell like cow and onions. The decor in the restaurant is a little strange. I think they took over some Bavarian restaurant and decided to leave the beer and bratwurst fixtures on the wall. The fish tank in the middle of the room, however, is great. Try and get a seat near there if you can. Its really soothing, a great conversation starter and the perfect distraction if someone starts an argument at the table -- which incidentally happened at my table when we went there!
(4)Steve F.
I remember when this Trexlertown location was a restaurant called Widow Brown's. But since it opened as Hunan Springs um-teen years ago, they've been serving 1st rate Chinese food to the Lehigh Valley. This ain't no spare rib and pepper steak joint. This is pretty much authentic Cantonese cuisine. My family comes here at least once a week and when I join them it's nice when all the staff know us and even know what food and drink to bring out. We've had birthdays and all kinds of happy events here. Everything's delicious, but be sure to get the whole sizling fish.
(4)Todd H.
Wow, what a disappointment. We ordered spicy cabbage and pork soup for two to start and it was a bland, thin pork broth without any heat at all, shredded pork and cellophane noodles. I explained to the waiter we had ordered the "hot cabbage soup" and he said we had to ask for it hot! When I told him the soup had a little red pepper next to it on the menu like the "hot and sour soup" they sell, he said you have to ask for that to be spicy as well. Not. I ordered the shrimp and chicken with spicy back bean sauce and it came to the table with a white sauce absent of any black beans or spice! The waiter said he would ask the chef to fix it. It came back with an OK sauce but with four very poor quality shrimp, small and overcooked, My wife ordered the cilantro cicken with red and green peppers on a bed of crispy noodles. It was luke warm at best, salty, had four slivers of peppers, and was on a very small amount of fried cellophane noodles which quickly became soggy. The dish had no texture and was pretty disappointing. I think this restaurant is just passing off very mediocre Chinese food to an unsuspecting clientele.
(1)Derek N.
Best Chinese food in the Lehigh Valley! I can't look at any other Chinese take-out place again. The food is awesome and the staff very friendly. I like it because the prices are good and it is casual dining, they have a full bar, clean restrooms, and a big fish tank! From now on whenever someone offers Chinese for dinner I'm going to Hunan Springs!
(5)Tim W.
I've been passing this restaurant for years and it always looked full. Finally tried it and am very happy we did. Food was excellent and service even better. Was greeted at the door by a young man that made you feel immediately comfortable. This is my first experience where the waiter actually ran around doing his duties. The food is excellent. We had lettuce wraps, "famous" chef special shrimp, wings with Generals sauce, sesame chicken and house lo-mein. No one disappointed. A little more expensive than the usual Chinese joint, but it isn't usual. Decor is great- comfortable and roomy with not a Chinese calendar or paper lantern in sight. A+ for us.
(5)Marc K.
The best Chinese food I've tried in the Lehigh Valley... The restaurant itself used to be a steak place named Widow Browns about 20 years ago before becoming Hunan Springs. My wife and I have been to Hunan Springs three times over the years and it's never disappointed us. The decor is like a rustic stone farmhouse, mixed with Chinese elements. They burn incense in the lobby area. The lobby has many Chinese statues and decorations. There is a large salt water fish tank in the main dining room, complete with fancy fish and a spiny lobster wandering around on the bottom of the tank. My wife and I wondered if the fish get annoyed with the lobster brushing his long antennae against the fish. ;) Many of the other reviewers on Yelp have complained that the decor of the restaurant wasn't authentic. For instance, they kept the stained glass lampshades from the Widow Browns days... I'm not bothered by that so much. My only real complaint about the decor would be that while the exposed beams in the dining room are all wrapped in Christmas lights, only about a quarter of the strands actually light up, which cheapens the look. They really should either pull them all down, or go to the trouble of fixing the non-working strands. Our most recent visit: After we placed our order, we were served a large portion of complimentary crispy noodles with the standard duck sauce and spicy mustard sauce. The noodles were much larger than the little strips they give you at "basic" Chinese restaurants. I wouldn't be surprised if they made them on site. They were the size of Doritos and triangular shaped. For an appetizer, we shared an order of vegetable steamed dumplings with a soy dipping sauce. We were warned when we ordered that they would take about 20 minutes to prepare. I think it actually ended up only taking about 15 minutes. They were served in a lidded steam pot. The dumplings were filled with chopped vegetables and minced tofu. While they were good, we weren't quite sure they were worth the $6.95 price for six dumplings. For entrees, my wife had moo goo gai pan and I had scallops with garlic sauce. The moo goo gai pan was very traditional, everything was cooked well, and the vegetables were crisp while still being properly cooked. White meat chicken, button mushrooms, fancy cut carrots, snow peas, scallions, Chinese cabbage and water chesnunts in a mild white sauce. Not every Chinese place has scallops on the menu and I had craving them for a while (not necessarily as a Chinese entree, just scallops in general). They use bay scallops and they're cut in half horizontally (probably for more even cooking with the other ingredients and to give the appearance of more meat per serving). Think of a scallop the size and shape of 5 quarters stacked on top of eachother and you get the idea. They were cooked well and not chewy at all. Other ingredients in my dish were carrots, green peppers, large onion petals, bamboo shoots cut in a fancy style, water chestnuts and scallions. The garlic sauce was quite flavorful. I would definitely order it again... Dinner entrees are served with white rice. My wife asked about pork fried rice and our server said that the only way to get that was to order it separately, which we did. The pork fried rice was a complete entree all to itself for $9.95, but it was a very large portion and quite tasty. The bill arrived with a cocoa flavored fortune cookie for each of us and a small bowl of canned pineapple chunks served with toothpicks. The bill was $45.37 including tax, not including a tip (Vegetable dumplings, three entrees, no beverages -- we had iced water to drink). We had leftovers that amounted to another dinner and a small lunch, or it could have been made into two lunches. We'd definitely go again, it's just not near our house or usual haunts...
(5)