Henry's Hunan Restaurant

Doesn't Recommend

Adit

Joined 3 years ago

Henry's Hunan on Natoma St.. I was disappointed after eating at this restaurant. There is really nothing to recommend it apart from the fact that service is fast and food is relatively cheap. The food was clearly not prepared fresh and it showed in taste. The ambiance is also so-so and the staff is just barely friendly. I am not going back to this joint again.

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ed94105

Joined 4 years ago

Spicy Chinese Food. Henry's Hunan is one of the best Chinese restraunts in the city. You will love it if you like your food spicy. They are always packed at lunch. They offer speedy delivery.

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invidia

Joined 5 years ago

Hunan On Autopilot. For two years I've lived in Shanghai, China, the city that gathers the best chefs from the China's provinces at its highly competitive dining scene. I had low expectations for this restaurant. Hunanese do not emigrate; predictably, staff at Henry's spoke Cantonese and the whole venue seemed well past its prime and on autopilot.

Food was plentiful and dull. No other spice touched Henry's Special Shredded Pork except for soy sauce it was sauteed in. Spicy & Hot Cod Filet was larger than you ever get in China (but that's how you try many dishes in one meal) and devoid of any complexity. In Shanghai this would be called 'home-style' and served in street canteens at 4-5 dollars a plate. Unless San Francisco has a secret gem of authentic cooking modestly glowing somewhere in Chinatown, I'll save my appetite for Chinese food till next visit to China.

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bam924

Joined 5 years ago

Best Hunan Food in SF - Period!!. I am a native San Franciscan, so I don't say this lightly: Henry's is THE BEST Chinese food in the City, Hunan or otherwise. My favorite meal, that I might request on my way to the gas chamber, is Garlic Chicken over white rice. I have taken dozens of friends and colleagues to Henry's on Natoma over the years and have never heard anything other than rave reviews for every dish on the menu. The dumplings are also out of this world. Just try Henry's once and you will be hooked.

By the way, the service must have improved since these other reviews because the restaurant is family owned and run and the service has always been good for me. They have a busy lunch crowd because they have earned it with incredible food. To avoid the crowds, go for lunch or dinner on Saturday or Sunday, or order take out.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Spicy and sour, the traditional Hunan dishes at this Chinese mini-chain have a faithful following in each of five SF locations.. Being closer to the hustle and bustle of downtown, this location is a busier lunchtime spot than, say, the Noe Valley venue. But the menu that's made Henry's an SF classic stays on par: giant plates of noodles, smoked meats (made on premises in the traditional regional style), stir-fried veggies and braised fish all doused generously in garlic, salt and spice--the little flecks of chili seeds dotting almost every plate. Spice-sissies need not worry though, as even the hottest dishes are not unbearable, and almost everything can be ordered mild or medium on request.

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dan_rather

Joined 7 years ago

The Michael Jordan of Hunan Cuisine.. I don't even know how to begin. Henry's Hunan is by far, the best chinese (hunan style) food in SF....and probably the U.S. How am I so confident? Every single visitor, friend, acquaintance, boss, wife, mistress have all confirmed my belief. The food is spicy and tasty. Healthy, I don't know about all that. Service? Ask for Eddie. Dish? Kung Pao Chicken & Henry's Special. Should Henry pay me for these fabulous reviews? Yes, but I would decline the monetary reward and simply request buckets of the Kung Pao to dump over my head.....ahhhhh.....the good life. On a serious note, visit this place and find out for yourself. Again, ask for Eddie. Lunch crowd is wayyyyy crowded (hence the negative reviews). Go for dinner and go for the food....it's not Asia de Cuba.

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resren

Joined 7 years ago

Call ahead at lunch. The single only complaint at lunch time is that it's too popular. Call ahead if you're in a hurry and order. They'll fax you a menu. I can't think of a single other negative thing to say. The hot/sour soup is simply the best, the tastes are alive and fresh and Jeff, the owner, will do anything for you that you ask. IF you're bothered by bare bones ambience then order and do take out. We bring in their food regularly for our clients and they rave, rave, rave about it.

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ronaldreaganruinedusa

Joined 8 years ago

Greatest Hunan Cuisine in USA. Phenomenal Food. Great service. Staff treats regular customers like family. The first restaurant my out of town relative seek out when visiting SF is Henry's. You have to like spicy food to appreciate Henry's. If you do-there is nowhere better. Simple things like potstickers-"dumplings" on Henry's menu-are made to perfection. Smoked Ham dishes are great as is everything on the menu.

Doesn't Recommend

ishen

Joined 11 years ago

Wasted my lunch hour, starving. I like the food at the place, but the service was pretty terrible. I wasted my lunch hour waiting there with a friend and then left an hour later hungry.

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robertsandler

Joined 10 years ago

tasty. excellent, tasty, and spicy hunan food. go later - you'll wait a long time for a lunch table.

also, go with a group because portions are huge and you'll want to share.