Tucked into a cozy little corner of a downtown Davis building on Second Street lies a great little secret: Hunan Bar and Restaurant, meaning “State of China.” Serving a variety of traditional and “Americanized” Chinese food, Hunan has been a Davis tradition for 20 years now. The small but inviting restaurant is indeed a family-owned and operated affair; in fact, the manager, Sau Ly, is the brother of owners Connie and Pamela Ly – two sisters who have been running the restaurant for the past 11 years. Guests of Hunan will instantly feel like the Ly family has invited them into their own kitchen. A glass wall set up in the middle of the restaurant separates the greeting area from the dining parties, and the faint sound of buzzing lights can be heard during Hunan’s quieter hours. However, once the dinner crew arrives, the restaurant becomes a vibrant hub of conversation and clinking glasses. Yes, they serve alcohol at Hunan, much to the delight of the UC Davis crowd.

A Perfect Fit

As a tourist town, Ly believes that Davis was perfect for a restaurant like Hunan. “We wanted to serve the people here,” he says. Ly has lived in the Sacramento area for the past 30 years, and is quite comfortable with his role as manager. In fact, the restaurant has grown to become his