Hunan Number One: The Granddaddy of them all?
3/28/10 • Categorized as DC/NOVA Happy HourA Public Service Announcement:
What possesses a man with an alarmingly minuscule paycheck and a seven-day work week to sacrifice valuable time and income on cocktails and appetizers? Why, a public service to the good people of the Commonwealth of Virginia (and the DC metro area), of course. Provision 3VAC5-50-160 of the Administrative Code of Virginia prohibits any establishment from advertising Happy Hour specials in the media. Furthermore, Chapter 20, Section 30 of the Administrative Code prohibits “any reference to or depiction of ‘Happy Hour,’ or references or depictions of similar import, including references to ‘special’ or ‘reduced’ prices or similar terms when used as inducements to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages” on the exterior of the licensed premises. A violation carries a seven day suspension and a $500 fine. So out of goodwill and unending devotion to the Commonwealth, I will assume the role of Happy Hour liaison to promote the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the drinkeries of Northern Virginia and DC. Without further ado, a review:
Hunan Number One: The Granddaddy of them all?
3033 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201 in Clarendon
- Happy Hour 7 Days a week from 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Highlights: Cheap liters of draft beer
- ½ off bottles of wine
- 8 sushi rolls for $3.50
- 8 specialty rolls for $6.75
All right, all right, plugging Hunan One as the granddaddy of all happy hours is a bit audacious for a first review. But where else can you find a liter (approx. 33 oz) of Stella Artois for $6.25 at 8 p.m. on a Friday night (aside from the mini fridge in your lonely basement)?
Hunan Number One calls itself a restaurant first and a bar second, but you’ll be pressed to find an abstainer in the house. Don’t let the golden dragon statues at the door or the cloudy lobster tank inside fool you—this joint is a bar that just happens to serve Chinese food and sushi.
I trot in for a casual Sunday afternoon beverage and am immediately absorbed by the syrupy synth of Owl City’s “Fireflies.” The dining room is empty, the bar populated by eight regulars. By early evening every industrial bar stool will be occupied while the speakers pump electronic dance music.
I’m greeted by a pleasant bartendress who compromises Hunan’s
authenticity with braided blonde hair, but adequately matches my palate with the Futo Komikaze: yellowtail, salmon, tuna, cucumber and cilantro in five stout rolls, sprinkled with sesame seeds. I also order the Alaska roll— eight pieces of salmon, avocado and cucumber arranged in a pyramid— and a pint of Yuengling, all for an economical $12.75. The presentation is simple—both rolls served on a single platter inscripted with the Hunan Number One insignia. Forks and plastic chopsticks sit in a can on the table beside smaller platters for sharing.
The Futo Komikaze pieces, about the size of silver dollars, challenge the dexterity of your jaw, but the satisfying kiss of cilantro makes the initial struggle worthwhile. The less imperial pieces of Alaska roll have only a subtle salmon flavor, but two satisfyingly distinct textures with each bite; the cucumber’s refreshing crunch contrasts the rich, creamy texture of the avocado.
The Chinese fare, at $7.95 per entrée, comes in smaller portions than typical Chinese offerings, which works in your favor if your ultimate goal is to slug more “House Light” (which tastes suspiciously like Bud Light) than Lo Mein. The thick General Tso’s sauce bites with a spicier kick than your run-of-the-mill takeout, and, if you’re inclined, is available on chicken wings.
The Verdict: Take Hunan Number One for what it is—a bar that offers beer aplenty on the cheap and enough food to help maintain sobriety (for a little while) without leaving you bloated—and you’ll stagger past the golden dragon statues satisfied without breaking the bank.
Article by our new columnist, Warren Ciabattoni. A special congratulations to Warren for winning last month’s competition. Warren’s article had over 100 readers!
