Hunan First
140 Bon Air Center
Greenbrae, Marin County
415.461.8822
I drove by Hunan First about 546 times before I decided to take a chance and go inside. I was hesitant because it’s located in the Bon Air shopping center in Greenbrae, off the San Anselmo exit of 101 North. Storefront restaurants are not usually my favorites. Especially with Chinese food. I had a feeling it was going to be goopy and predictable. With so much great competition in the city, I just didn’t want to chance it.
But one day the kids and I were getting some stuff at the drug store close by, so I figured, what the heck—let’s try it. I’m glad we did.
Hunan First is a tiny restaurant: about seven tables inside and a few outside. Sometimes they ask you to share a table if you are alone. I always pray they will seat me next to a tall dark handsome executive; but so far, no go.
The atmosphere is non-existent except for some children’s crayon pictures on the wall and an oriental screen blocking the bathroom. The service is so fast that you definitely get the feeling they are making way for the next customer. But you also get your food right away, which I like.
And the food! Even without the intro of my life story, Hunan First’s food is good!
I always order the same thing when I go, so I may be biased, but that’s okay. I go for lunch and order their dry string beans with chicken ($4.25). All the lunch specials come with fried rice, steamed rice or chow mein. The portions are generous and the food is spicy and fresh! Not goopy! Not predictable!
I confess I have occasionally ordered other items like the chicken lettuce blossom ($6.50). It is an appetizer, and more expensive than a whole lunch, but it is a lesson in yum-ology. Served with lettuce leaves to wrap up the diced and spiced chicken, the appetizer can serve as a light meal in itself.
The kids order Mongolian beef ($6.25 for dinner portion) and Hunan chicken ($6.25 for dinner portion) and gobble down every bit.
There are about a million choices for the lunch special and the most expensive one is $4.75. They also serve great dinners, although the prices go up for larger portions of the same dishes. And, being in Marin, there is, of course, a vegetarian section of the menu.
No big, fancy dishes like Peking duck or crab; this is more a fast food diner sort of Chinese restaurant. Not for date night. Great take-out food. Like my last boyfriend:
hot, fresh, and fast. Go there. Hunan First, 140 Bon Air Center, Greenbrae, Marin County, 415.461.8822. No MSG; Restaurant and Take Out, No Delivery. Monday through Saturday 11:30am –9:30pm; Closed Sunday.
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