Hunan Manor — Restaurant in Highland Park

We stumbled upon Hunan Manor during a road trip and made a slight detour to Highland Park, NJ — and it turned out to be one of our best decisions. This Hunan restaurant has been around for years, and now we know why.

We ordered a spread that would make any Hunan local smile: Farmer-style stir-fried pork with green peppers (农家小炒肉) Stir-fried Hunan bean curd (小炒臭豆腐) Hunan brine rice noodles (湖南卤粉) Short ribs with quail eggs Stir-fried cabbage Fried yogurt sticks

Mid-meal, we realized the “stir-fried stinky tofu” was actually the Hunan-style bean curd. So we added a true Hunan stinky tofu — the black fermented kind.

The farmer-style stir-fried pork was exactly what you’d crave if you grew up in Hunan: spicy, oily, thinly sliced pork with fragrant green peppers. It delivered full nostalgia. The stir-fried bean curd was also on point — from the finely minced pork and pickled black bean curd (豆豉) to the pickled red chilies (剁辣椒) and scallions, every bite was authentic and well seasoned.

The short ribs with quail eggs, however, didn’t quite land. The ribs were okay, but forgettable, and the quail eggs had a texture that didn’t quite work. The stir-fried cabbage, on the other hand, was a sleeper hit: spicy, crunchy, juicy, and served bubbling hot in a stainless steel pot over a flame — a presentation you often find in Chinese dining.

The Hunan brine noodles were stellar, with fried peanuts in their red skins and tender beef shank slices adding flavor and richness.

The fried yogurt was a near win. The inside was warm, flowing, creamy — but the outer crust could have been crisper and richer.

As for the black stinky tofu, they made a sincere effort. It came with the classic garlic and pickled chili sauce and even had the signature slit cut into the tofu to absorb flavor — just like in Hunan. Still, the tofu texture was a bit too firm compared to the perfect crispy-outside, tender-inside balance of the original.

The interior décor is ornate and atmospheric, with velvet chairs, warm lighting, and elegant round tables — perfect for group dining. Service was incredibly fast — dishes started arriving before we even finished ordering.

It’s a bit on the pricier side, but the authenticity, speed, and flavor make it absolutely worth it. If you’re craving real Hunan food outside of China, this place deserves...

First time have had experience in restaurant.i ordered from Uber eat ，the delivery girl said the only passed this only bag food to her, and I checked ,the bag is unboxed,only have 4 small box white rice inside,so I call restaurant and the guy said they gave all food to the delivery girl ,I said maybe you forgot some food to pass to the delivery girl ,but he said he did ,but even I still not tell him the order number and all information, he very sure to say that . ,and said can’t make another food to me ,and didn’t see any food left In the restaurant. ， my order is $255,they only give me white rice.my family waiting 2hrs for this Christmas dinner, they only send me 4box white rice,and didn’t recognition. didn’t Take responsibility . I can hear he telling lies . And talking not nice at all . 我叫了Uber eat $255给家人的圣诞餐，收到了4碗白米饭之外什么都没有，外送的年轻女孩很可怜，说餐厅只递给她这个袋子，我看了一下，装子完好无损，没打开过的，只有4小盒白饭。餐厅不承认，也不承担。听电话里的男人说话，完全是假的，我还未告诉他订单号，和任何信息，他就说没有。不承认。 I understand what you saying,but the problem is in the first time I call back you guys said you don’t have any order left there ,and i said if u don’t have it any left there so can you make it and I can to pickup,you guys said no . U said can’t make it . I didn’t even tell you what order number and any information with the order . and my order not only just two bags ,255$,more than 10 orders in this meal .I think at lest 4bags .any Iwe. Have no food for Christmas yesterday because keep busy on this order no time to order new one . No time to order another restaurant.and this is the second time ordering same food because the first order I waited 90mins show me one the way still have 15min delivered.but next second show up the order was canceled.and I reorder it,waited another 90mins.so delivery 4boxes ehhite rice only ,wour camera have the video still have the delivery girl and me keep checking and talking why no food .she said you only passed this only one small bags to her . If u need the video I can show u . She keeps saying you only passed this one to her . And...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant once again, and just like every previous visit, the experience did not disappoint. From the moment we walked through the doors, we were greeted by the warm, inviting atmosphere that has become a hallmark of this place. The lighting was soft and ambient, creating a cozy and relaxing environment, and the background music was just loud enough to add energy to the room without being intrusive. The décor strikes a perfect balance between modern and rustic, giving the space a comfortable yet stylish vibe that makes you want to linger over your meal.

As for the food—once again, it was absolutely outstanding. Every dish we ordered was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. You can tell that a lot of thought and care goes into the preparation and plating. The ingredients tasted fresh and high-quality, and everything was cooked to perfection. It’s easy to see why several of my friends are such loyal fans of this spot. Whether you’re trying something new from their seasonal menu or sticking to a tried-and-true favorite, the culinary standards here are consistently high.

That said, there was one aspect of the experience that stood out in a less positive way this time around. The service, while efficient, lacked the warmth and enthusiasm we’ve come to expect. The waitstaff assigned to our table appeared somewhat disengaged and didn’t seem particularly happy to be there. They weren’t rude by any means, but their energy was noticeably low, and it slightly impacted the overall vibe at our table. It’s worth noting because in past visits, the service has usually been as delightful as the food itself.

Still, the overall experience remained a positive one. The exceptional quality of the food and the welcoming ambiance more than made up for the slight lapse in service. It’s the kind of place that always makes you feel like you’re treating yourself to something special, and I’m already looking forward to...