Harden's survey result
Summary
“Tell Mr Peng what you don’t eat or like, and the courses will continue to come until you say ‘no thank you’”, at this family-run Pimlico veteran (founded in 1982), which has long been one of the best Chinese restaurants in London and continues to “nail it every time”. “There’s no menu” – they will just ask what kind of food you like, then “bring you a string of delicious little courses”; and “if you are into adventurous Chinese cuisine then it’s a magical experience, with superb dishes such as the spicy venison”. Service is discreet and the wine list is “exceptionally good and should cover any palate.”
Summary
“Be adventurous! There’s no menu but Mr Peng selects a fantastic array of dishes for you” at this Pimlico veteran (founded in 1982), which is still often acclaimed as “the best Chinese in London, bar none”. “It looks ordinary from the outside (and is nothing special on the crowded inside either!)”, but still diners “love the place” and the “entertaining” manner in which Mr P “treats you to a slew of scrumptious Chinese tapas of his choice, with some truly exceptional flavours… until you say you have had enough”. “The wine choices are excellent too”. All that said though, ratings here took a dip this year, dragged down by a small-but-vocal minority who feel the cooking risks losing some of its edge: “still love it, but the selection can be a little samey, albeit very nicely done”.
Summary
“Be adventurous! There’s no menu but Mr Peng selects a fantastic array of dishes for you” at this Pimlico veteran (founded in 1982), which is still often acclaimed as “the best Chinese in London, bar none”. “It looks ordinary from the outside (and is nothing special on the crowded inside either!)”, but still diners “love the place” and the “entertaining” manner in which Mr P “treats you to a slew of scrumptious Chinese tapas of his choice, with some truly exceptional flavours… until you say you have had enough”. “The wine choices are excellent too”. All that said though, ratings here took a dip this year, dragged down by a small-but-vocal minority who feel the cooking risks losing some of its edge: “still love it, but the selection can be a little samey, albeit very nicely done”.
Summary
“Truly one-of-a-kind” – the Peng family’s Pimlico stalwart “continues to surprise and tantalise with its amazing” cooking and is an “all-time favourite” for many reporters, as well as regularly topping the list of London’s best Chinese restaurants. “Don’t ask for the menu” – “let Mr Peng or his son Michael decide what you should be served with” – a never-ending stream of tapas-sized dishes (if you don’t like one, you won’t go hungry as plenty more will arrive). Typically results are “brilliant”, and there’s a “huge wine list that’s amazingly well-suited to spicy food”.
For 31 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Hunan?
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £54.80 |  |
|
|
|
| Dinner | £84.80 | |
|
|
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £32.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
51 Pimlico Rd, London, SW1W 8NE
Opening hours
| Monday | 12:30 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12:30 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12:30 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12:30 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12:30 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12:30 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Best Chinese restaurants nearby
Chinese restaurant in Belgravia
Malaysian restaurant in Chelsea
Chinese restaurant in Chelsea
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Italian restaurant in Belgravia
Italian restaurant in Kensington and Chelsea
British, Traditional restaurant in Belgravia
