It wasn't that long ago that people were bemoaning the closure of Shiang Garden and Crown Cafe, the pillars of Hunanese dining in Los Angeles. Then new authentic Hunan style restaurants opened up and now I'm wondering how all these places can survive. The latest entries are both in San Gabriel, Hunan Mao Jia in the remodeled shopping center at the NE corner of Valley and New, and Fortune Bistro, aka Xiangmanlou Restaurant on Las Tunas between Mission and Santa Anita. Both have a full menu of spicy Hunanese specialties and it seems the food at Fortune Bistro (previously mentioned in passing on this board) is extra spicy, as even the few items not marked as spicy on the menu seem to have pepper lobbed in. (This is once place which will truly have to make it based on word of mouth, since both the name and the decor suggest Hong Kong cafe food.) Since I'm not particularly discerning as to Hunanese food I'd be interested in comments from true fans about these restaurants.
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