Henry's Hunan Restaurant

I have been to this spot many times since they opened this location on Church Street with another branch of Henry's extended family restaurants in different parts of the city. Henry's has a well-deserved reputation built over several generations for serving good food and comes with good service. My most recent visit was for a take out order of things I had a craving for. I love the onion pancakes and theirs are light and delicate. They go well with the hot and sour soup which is a healthy thing to have when the weather is cold and damp like it is now. It helps with any congestion from colds or flu and makes your feel better like a good comfort food should. They smoke their own ham and they are perfect for the long green beans. The ham is a bit salty for some people but I have a condition that requires salty food so it's fine for me. The flavors remind me of the kind of food that I grew up eating when my grandfathers also smoked their own hams from their own hogs and cooked with the vegetables from their gardens. The style may be different but this is Hunan style soul food and if you like soul food, you will be reminded of the food your forebears ate and thrived on and stayed strong on through hard times like we are having now. Good value all things considered.

Outstanding customer service with excellent variety of authentic Chinese dishes a must place to go when in San Francisco. Owners are gracious and always attentive to your needs. Dumplings are the BEST!!

These guys know how to take care of you and it’s real authentic Hunan Chinese

Love this place, its in my neighborhood and we order often, always delicious and friendly

Never disappointed! The homemade chili sauce is smokey and goes with everything. Personal faves include chicken and string beans and tofu with meat sauce. The dumplings are a must. Service is also excellent; our waiter put all leftovers in the take away boxes. How often does that happen?

At Henry's, everything is done with quality, style, simplicity and care. The food is made with fresh ingredients and spices that equal delicious complex flavors with just enough spice so that the flavors come through nicely with the perfect amount of heat! Eddy served us with Joy, knowledge and kindness. Yum!!

Best hot and sour soup in San Francisco! I’ve tried hot and sour soup in many restaurants because it’s my favorite dish and this one ranks #1 all the times. Tasty food, good prices, friendly people… a hidden gem in the Dolores / Noe Valley neighborhood.

Pretty authentic, very good food. They have a Chinese menu and an English menu, which contain different items.

Jeff is one of the friendliest people I have ever met and it was my first time meeting him. Granted I was in good company but he bought me a free beer. I can't complain there - I was off to a great start. The food here is SO flavorful and they don't use MSG so you know you're getting quality you can taste. I have never had such fresh Chinese food before and I'm a big fan of Chinese. This is the only Chinese restaurant that I know of that has a Michelin star.

Great food, good portions, friendly service and a nice bright location off Church Street. My wife and kids really enjoyed their dishes as well. Henry's has a few locations in SF and I've had great food at each one I've visited.

Best chinese food east of the 134th meridian

Nicest people work here. Are always friendly to my pregnant wife, who needs everything gluten free. The smoked pork dishes are my favorite. I haven't had anything like the smoked pork anywhere else. Solid Chinese food right off the J-Church.

This place is incredible. The pork fried rice and pork chow mein are must haves with your choice of entrees. The soups are also great. This is Chinese food done right. Good portions, great flavor, satisfying meal, and good prices. Can't recommend enough. Not your typical Panda Express or subpar cafeteria style chinese food spot. The staff are very nice and friendly.

This is definitely one of the best Chinese (Hunan) restaurants we've ever been to in the San Francisco Bay Area. A lot of Hunan food out there tends to be greasy, with sauces or chili oil that taste artificial. But the food at Henry’s Hunan Restaurant is high quality, tastes great, and isn’t greasy at all. Be sure to try the hot and sour gizzards — they’re a must!

So delicious! We ordered the sweet and sour chicken and the Mongolian beef and it was amazing. The food is high quality and the menu is extensive with many appealing options. Already can’t wait to come back!

Henry’s Hunan is a SF institution that used to have locations across the city. COME GET DIANA’s SPECIAL!!! An invention of the founder and named after his wife. It is my favorite dish in the world and Henry’s is the only place you can get it. Everything is fabulous, from their homemade dumplings, to string beans w meat sauce, to chicken salad, to other entrees like Henry’s shredded pork. You can choose your spice levels, from mild to kick your butt spicy. I cannot recommend this piece of SF history enough.

The place is top notch as always! Got to see Jeff, the owner, today for the first time in a while. Plenty of table space for those lookin to sit down and relax, as most orders are pick up these days. #1 rec for anyone is Diana's Delicious Meat Pie!! The ground pork has the slightest hint of heat, then you get a familiar salty kick...PARMESAN CHEESE! Picks included...

Dishes were served Super slow, but worth the wait.

Great authentic Chinese food—this is a Bay Area legend always worth the trip. Get the Diana’s Special, dry sautéed green beans with meat sauce, and the dumplings.

One of the very best Chinese restaurant I have seen across the world. A must visit if you are in San Francisco, even if it is a little out of the way from the shopping and tourist attractions. Street parking is available in plenty, and it is on the tram route too. Quick and happy service seems to be their mantra for success...And combined with finger licking delicious food, it is simply irresistible. Their portions are quite large. If ordering soup, a bowl is good enough for four.

YCD

This is definitely one of the best Chinese (Hunan) restaurants we've ever been to in the San Francisco Bay Area. A lot of Hunan food out there tends to be greasy, with sauces or chili oil that taste artificial. But the food at Henry’s Hunan Restaurant is high quality, tastes great, and isn’t greasy at all. Be sure to try the hot and sour gizzards — they’re a must!

Kristin Gorge

So delicious! We ordered the sweet and sour chicken and the Mongolian beef and it was amazing. The food is high quality and the menu is extensive with many appealing options. Already can’t wait to come back!

Rowan Jones

Henry’s Hunan is a SF institution that used to have locations across the city. COME GET DIANA’s SPECIAL!!! An invention of the founder and named after his wife. It is my favorite dish in the world and Henry’s is the only place you can get it. Everything is fabulous, from their homemade dumplings, to string beans w meat sauce, to chicken salad, to other entrees like Henry’s shredded pork. You can choose your spice levels, from mild to kick your butt spicy. I cannot recommend this piece of SF history enough.

Hannah Jin

Dishes were served Super slow, but worth the wait.

LOKI

The place is top notch as always! Got to see Jeff, the owner, today for the first time in a while. Plenty of table space for those lookin to sit down and relax, as most orders are pick up these days. #1 rec for anyone is Diana's Delicious Meat Pie!! The ground pork has the slightest hint of heat, then you get a familiar salty kick...PARMESAN CHEESE! Picks included...

Rachel Jones

Great authentic Chinese food—this is a Bay Area legend always worth the trip. Get the Diana’s Special, dry sautéed green beans with meat sauce, and the dumplings.

Sumit Nath Mukerjee

One of the very best Chinese restaurant I have seen across the world. A must visit if you are in San Francisco, even if it is a little out of the way from the shopping and tourist attractions. Street parking is available in plenty, and it is on the tram route too. Quick and happy service seems to be their mantra for success...And combined with finger licking delicious food, it is simply irresistible. Their portions are quite large. If ordering soup, a bowl is good enough for four.

Nice hidden gem at the end of Church Street. Reasonable prices, great food, and ample serving size so you don't leave hungry. Casual atmosphere and not too crowded at dinnertime.

My childhood Chinese restaurant. Real good people and consistently good food. Very vegetarian friendly.

I always order out so can't comment on atmosphere. But the service is friendly and the food is great. It's my go-to when I'm too tired to cook.

Great food, clean dining room. Parking is decent (at least lunchtime). Nice passers-by... Price is great too!

Vinay Patel

My childhood Chinese restaurant. Real good people and consistently good food. Very vegetarian friendly.

Mike Young

Great food, clean dining room. Parking is decent (at least lunchtime). Nice passers-by... Price is great too!

Jennifer Fragomeni

I always order out so can't comment on atmosphere. But the service is friendly and the food is great. It's my go-to when I'm too tired to cook.

Mark Lillie

Nice hidden gem at the end of Church Street. Reasonable prices, great food, and ample serving size so you don't leave hungry. Casual atmosphere and not too crowded at dinnertime.

I ordered the house bean curd and prawn fried rice. Both hit the spot and there was enough to take home. I'm excited to try the rest of the menu.

Tasty & spicy food at fair prices. Good gluten free options, although the homemade dumplings (not gluten free) are great!

Service was OK but the food is good. You can ask them to use less spice.

From time to time, I visit this restaurant and I am always delighted that they remain in business. Maybe it's because I'm a longtime San Francisco resident and this brand has been around a long time. I started eating Hunan province style Chinese food back when it was in the Chinatown/Barbary Coast locations. They've been true to their original recipes going back decades, not succumbing to latest trends. And so, part of the allure for me regarding my fondness for this place is its continuity and consistency from the past. Yes, the food can range from "not-hot" to raging inferno, so be careful how you order your spiciness level. Their portions are generous, but they are also on the pricey side for Chinese restaurants. However, they are located in a section of town that's not hurting and pricing reflects that. While I do praise them for keeping consistent in their menu through all these years, they can be a bit of a hit & miss from time to time. Sometimes they're great and at times, they miss the mark, I'd have to say. All in all, it's a great place to support.

I was really hungry and didn’t eat all day. Early on the evening I wanted to have a satisfying dish as my first meal of the day to keep me going. On my way home the first place that I could find parking nearby was Henry’s Hunan, I parked and went in hoping to get a satisfying meal. The servers working this had a great attitude and took my order promptly, I was curious to know what the table next to mine was having, it looked like a dish prepared with green beans and scrambled eggs, I asked the server that I wanted to ordered the green beans dish, I was informed that the dish I was asking about was a dish made with jalapeño and scrambled eggs and is not in the menu but if I was interested they will gladly prepare it for me, I went ahead and ordered the jalapeño dish, a delicious variety of peppers, scallions with sliced onions expertly stirred fried, surprisingly enough not a very hot dish. I had to ordered another plate, I went for the smoked ham chow mein, noodles with sliced pieces of the smoked ham with very little vegetables. In the beginning i really wanted to take half of the order home with me but the food was giving me an emotional sense of comfort and I I felt that the righteous thing to do was to finish both dishes.

Menu lets you know they can accommodate most items as gluten-free. No dedicated fryer, but the food was good as well as the service.

Emilio

I was really hungry and didn’t eat all day. Early on the evening I wanted to have a satisfying dish as my first meal of the day to keep me going. On my way home the first place that I could find parking nearby was Henry’s Hunan, I parked and went in hoping to get a satisfying meal. The servers working this had a great attitude and took my order promptly, I was curious to know what the table next to mine was having, it looked like a dish prepared with green beans and scrambled eggs, I asked the server that I wanted to ordered the green beans dish, I was informed that the dish I was asking about was a dish made with jalapeño and scrambled eggs and is not in the menu but if I was interested they will gladly prepare it for me, I went ahead and ordered the jalapeño dish, a delicious variety of peppers, scallions with sliced onions expertly stirred fried, surprisingly enough not a very hot dish. I had to ordered another plate, I went for the smoked ham chow mein, noodles with sliced pieces of the smoked ham with very little vegetables. In the beginning i really wanted to take half of the order home with me but the food was giving me an emotional sense of comfort and I I felt that the righteous thing to do was to finish both dishes.

Danelle

Menu lets you know they can accommodate most items as gluten-free. No dedicated fryer, but the food was good as well as the service.

The Henry’s Special I had yesterday was very dry and much too salty. On a previous visit I had the smoked ham chow mein and it was delicious.

i like the food in Natoma St better, they are more authentic Chinese food. This one is more of American Chinese food. But overall is fine. Staff here are nice. No wait as well

Alexander Mitchell

Service was OK but the food is good. You can ask them to use less spice.

Jeffrey Lofthus

The Henry’s Special I had yesterday was very dry and much too salty. On a previous visit I had the smoked ham chow mein and it was delicious.

Sunny Lin

i like the food in Natoma St better, they are more authentic Chinese food. This one is more of American Chinese food. But overall is fine. Staff here are nice. No wait as well

Very small portions, but it’s a cheap

Everything tasted ok but was lack of any unique flavors. Nothing seems authentically Hunan. The meat pie was confusing and a little greasy. Dishes were not cheap either.

I went there on a rainy Saturday evening to take my friend Matt and his daughter Xena to dinner. Because of the weather, the restaurant was nearly empty, and the staff entertained Xena. However, the food was just ok, because three of the dishes tasted the same, despite what our waitress insisted. The appetizers, potstickers and an onion pancake were good. However, the Hunan Shrimp, House Special and another dish had the same taste. I doubt if I will return.

Jingyi Xu

Everything tasted ok but was lack of any unique flavors. Nothing seems authentically Hunan. The meat pie was confusing and a little greasy. Dishes were not cheap either.

Don’t get takeout, portions are extremely small for the price. And very little meat

Not a good experience. Had the won ton soup and curry chicken. The taste of both entrees were in my opinion were sub par. The were not fresh and most likely not made at the restaurant. The broth had a taste that was not so great. I did finish the soup but still felt it lacking. The chicken was worse. The taste was bland and the only way they were able to hide it was with a heave portion of spicy flakes that over powered the chicken. The flakes were still hard and feel like I was eating something solid that shouldn't be there. I will not go there again unless the management has been changed. The service was good. I normally don't post unless I was am shocked at the quality.

They overcharged us by almost 4 dollars, and when we asked, the waitress kept interrupting and saying "it's the tax!" (We calculated — it was not the tax). Later she came back, tossed two dollars at our table, and said "I'm busy." Weird, and I hope they don't make it a habit of overcharging customers! Wonton soup was super yummy; hot and sour beef was barely spicy, even after we asked for spice. Also, no chinese on the menu?

Jingyi Wang

They overcharged us by almost 4 dollars, and when we asked, the waitress kept interrupting and saying "it's the tax!" (We calculated — it was not the tax). Later she came back, tossed two dollars at our table, and said "I'm busy." Weird, and I hope they don't make it a habit of overcharging customers! Wonton soup was super yummy; hot and sour beef was barely spicy, even after we asked for spice. Also, no chinese on the menu?

shocked by the good reviews. the food was tasteless and the portions sucked. spicy dishes had no spice nor even any seasoning. waiter made us share a rice bowl despite charging us for two.

The most tasteless Chinese food I’ve ever eaten. The fried rice was as white as the container it was in and 0 flavor. Noodles were bland. The kung pao medium spicy was like lightly sauced vegetables with no flavor. The green beans were the best of the lot but just average. All items ordered vegetarian and medium spicy.

Manish Parekh

The most tasteless Chinese food I’ve ever eaten. The fried rice was as white as the container it was in and 0 flavor. Noodles were bland. The kung pao medium spicy was like lightly sauced vegetables with no flavor. The green beans were the best of the lot but just average. All items ordered vegetarian and medium spicy.

Samuel Gerstein

shocked by the good reviews. the food was tasteless and the portions sucked. spicy dishes had no spice nor even any seasoning. waiter made us share a rice bowl despite charging us for two.