Trying Hunan Lion after its much-anticipated return
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Hunan Lion in northwest Columbus is back. Photos: Andrew King/Axios
Hunan Lion is back after two years, so I recently tried it for the first time.
Catch up quick: The Chinese food favorite in northwest Columbus closed after an October 2023 fire and reopened last month to crowds of exuberant fans.
The menu: Massive, and filled with every Chinese dish you can imagine.
- There are well over 100 items.
What I ate: Crab rangoon ($11) and sesame noodles ($14) with beef and broccoli ($19).
Best bites: These are some of the best crab rangoons I've tried in Columbus — I'll be back just for them.
- Ask for extra sweet and sour sauce for dipping.
- Beef and broccoli is a pretty entry-level Chinese dish, but I loved this version.
Caveat: The sesame noodles have a "🌶️" on the menu, denoting some spice.
- I detected no spiciness — the noodles were heavy on the peanut butter and very sweet-forward.
The verdict: This meal wasn't life-changing, but Hunan Lion will be at the top of my list the next time I'm craving classic Chinese.
- It's a little pricey, but portions are huge, the quality is obvious and it's a Columbus staple you can feel good about supporting.
Stop by: Various hours Tuesday-Sunday, 2038 Crown Plaza Drive.
🌎 Worthy of your time: This trip was part of our Eating Around the World series. Check out the other international foods we've mapped so far.