Authentic Hunan Food, Approved by a Hunan Native｜Ye Lai Xiang 🌶️✨

After work today, I visited Blue Willow (Ye Lai Xiang), a Hunan restaurant in Midtown with a lovely retro‑chic vibe — more elegant than your average Chinese spot, perfect for a nice dinner date. We started with Husband and Wife Lung Slices — spicy, aromatic, and just like the version back home. Among NYC’s Hunan options, the flavors here rank near the top. Their Stir‑Fried Pork with Chili featured wok‑kissed pepper strips and thin slices of pork belly — incredibly fragrant and totally rice‑worthy. 🍚 The Mao‑Style Braised Pork Belly was tender, well‑balanced, and served over Shanghai greens 🥬 soaked in savory sauce — so satisfying. We also tried Salt‑Egg Yolk Lobster 🦞 — crispy, golden coating over juicy lobster meat. Dessert was Taro Balls, which reminded me of a classic Hunan dim‑sum treat. Their cocktails 🍹 are creatively garnished — one even came with a fresh chili pepper 🌶️, staying true to the Hunan spirit! 📍 Address: 40 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019 The ambiance is warm and stylish — great for after‑work hangs or a memorable date. 📦 On HungryPanda, you can even get $14 off your order! #NYCFood #HunanCuisine #BlueWillowNYC #YeLaiXiang #SpicyFoodNYC #NYCRestaurants #DateNightNYC #ChineseFineDining #NYCEats #ComfortFood #FoodieNYC #PandaPromo #NYCLife #EatLikeLocal