Hunan
Hunan
Hunan is a Chinese restaurant where Calle de la Ballesta meets Gran Vía, opened in 2018 by Yanbo Li, who is from Hunan, with Felipe Zhou, to show Madrid the province's cooking: spicy, fresh and aromatic. Dishes such as Changsha-style tofu, braised pork belly and chilli-fried beef come in a plant-filled room split into three spaces, and it has become a meeting point for the city's Chinese community.
Social
From hunanrestaurant on Instagram
🇪🇸 🥢 Un plato sencillo que demuestra la riqueza de la cocina china. Nuestras judías verdes salteadas se preparan al wok junto a pimiento y aromáticos, consiguiendo una combinación de textura, aroma y sabor que transforma un ingrediente cotidiano en una propuesta con mucho carácter. 🇨🇳 Una forma d
🇪🇸 🥢 Dos platos nuevos, un mismo ingrediente con mucho carácter: la perilla morada. Esta planta aromática está presente en nuestra sopa de lubina y en el pepino salteado, aportando un aroma y un sabor muy particulares que realzan cada ingrediente y transforman por completo el plato. 🇨🇳 Dos formas
🇪🇸 🥢 La gastronomía china también se expresa en la delicadeza. Nuestra cazuela de lubina con perilla morada combina pescado, ajo, jengibre, hoja de perilla y pimienta en una preparación que busca equilibrio entre aromas, texturas y profundidad. Una propuesta para descubrir la riqueza de la cocina
🇪🇸 ESPAÑOL 🥢 El sábado pide una mesa con sabor a China. Una tarde de sábado es el momento perfecto para sentarse con calma, compartir platos y dejarse llevar por los sabores de Hunan. Ingredientes auténticos, cocina al wok y recetas que conservan la esencia de la gastronomía regional china. 🇨🇳 Ve
🇪🇸 🥢 Sencillo en apariencia, lleno de carácter en la mesa. Nuestro huevo salteado con cebollino chino se prepara con aceite de girasol, respetando la esencia de la cocina regional china. El resultado es un plato aromático, delicado y sabroso, perfecto para descubrir cómo ingredientes cotidianos pu
🇪🇸 🥢 Un clásico de la cocina china regional, servido a nuestra manera. Nuestro tofu a la cazuela combina tofu, carne picada, cebolleta y soja en un plato de picante muy suave, perfecto para quienes quieren acercarse a los sabores de la cocina de Hunan y descubrir una gastronomía china auténtica en
Background
About Hunan
The Story
Hunan's founder grew up in Hunan province and noticed that, popular as its cooking is across China, it was barely known abroad, so he set out to open a restaurant in Madrid to promote it. Yanbo Li, who created Hunan with Felipe Zhou, has said he was stunned by the Chinese food he found when he first came to Spain, and wanted a place where Chinese students, tourists and company staff would feel at home. It opened in 2018, and has since become a gathering place for the Chinese community as much as for Madrid diners curious about the real thing; even Chinese state television has featured its stir-fried beef with chilli.
The Cuisine
Hunan (Xiang) cooking, one of China's eight great regional cuisines, built on heat and fresh aromatics, with stewing, braising, smoking, steaming and frying as the main techniques. The house avoids showy plating in favour of home-style, traditional flavours and good raw materials: Changsha-style tofu, a braised pork belly said to have been a favourite of Mao (also from Hunan), chilli-fried beef, organic cauliflower and Chinese aubergine in clay pots, steamed prawns on fine noodles, and cold starters like shredded chicken with sesame and cucumber.
How to Order
The house suggestion is one rice or noodle dish per person and everything else shared from the middle of the table. Start with one of the few cold dishes, then work through a couple of clay-pot vegetables, a braise and a stir-fry; ask how hot things are, because Hunan food lives up to its reputation.
The Room
The space is full of plants and split into three: small informal tables by the door, a big communal table in the middle, and a more private corner at the back for groups. It's open every day for lunch and dinner, and tables can be booked by phone on 919 19 35 64 or through Google. There's takeaway too.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Hunan Ratings & Reviews
Professional Ratings
Diner Ratings
4.5
908
TripAdvisor
4.6
68 reviews
TheFork
4.5
Hunan ranks #421 of 1001 rated restaurants in Madrid. Diners rate it 4.6/5 on TripAdvisor (68 reviews) and 4.5/5 on TheFork.
Reservations
How to Book Hunan
Experience
Hunan Dining Experience
Modern and cosy, full of plants, with warm, efficient service. Expect a mix of Chinese diners and locals, couples at the small tables and groups at the communal one.
Navigate
Hunan Location & Neighbourhood
Address
Calle de la Ballesta 4, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Get directions→Getting There
Calle de la Ballesta 4, where the street begins just off Gran Vía, on the Malasaña side; Gran Vía and Callao are the nearest metro stations.
Nearby
Malasaña is where the city keeps its energy, a tight web of streets that turns over fast and stays up late. The eating is young and restless, with vegan kitchens, coffee bars and creative rooms wedged between places that have not changed in decades. It runs down to Gran Vía, and it rewards walking without a plan.
Nearby landmarks
Landmarks within walking distance of Hunan.
Nearby Restaurants
Where to stay nearby
Hotels we rank within walking distance of Hunan.
Details
Hunan Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00–16:30, 19:00–23:30 |
| Tuesday | 13:00–16:30, 19:00–23:30 |
| Wednesday | 13:00–16:30, 19:00–23:30 |
| Thursday | 13:00–16:30, 19:00–23:30 |
| Friday | 13:00–16:30, 19:00–23:30 |
| Saturday | 13:00–16:30, 19:00–23:30 |
| Sunday | 13:00–16:30, 19:00–23:30 |
Hunan hours verified 2026-08-10. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Good to Know
Questions
Hunan FAQ
What kind of Chinese food does Hunan serve?
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The cooking of Hunan province, one of China's eight regional cuisines, known for heat and fresh, aromatic flavours: Changsha-style tofu, braised pork belly, chilli-fried beef and clay-pot vegetables.
Who runs Hunan?
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It was created by Yanbo Li, who is from Hunan, together with Felipe Zhou, and opened in 2018.
Where is Hunan, and when is it open?
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On Calle de la Ballesta 4, just off Gran Vía. Every day, 13:00 to 16:30 for lunch and 19:00 to 23:30 for dinner.
How should we order at Hunan?
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The house suggests one rice or noodle dish per person and sharing everything else from the centre of the table.
How much does it cost to eat at Hunan?
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Under €25 per person.
Is Hunan dog-friendly and vegetarian-friendly?
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Yes to both, and it's good for groups.