Henry's Hunan coming to Noe Valley

[Xiao Yang]

Noe Valley denizens jonesing for Chinese food will have an alternative to Eric's soon. According to this week's Tablehopper Newsletter, Henry's Hunan will be opening an outlet in the former Pescheria space (1708 Church at 29th) around the beginning of June.

http://www.tablehopper.com/newsletter...

[finchycocoa]

Has the Noe Valley branch of Henry's opened yet?

[Calvinist]

it was not open the last time i drove by. Looks like it's close but from the outside you can't really tell.

[wineguy7]

I was at the one on Bryant St. this week. Jeff told me they are going to open on Church Street on November 22.

[Xiao Yang]

Tablehopper just confirmed this date.

[bigwheel042]

Update: after months of passing by this location with mail piled up in the entryway, I finally saw some signs of life this week here. There is a Henry's Hunan sign out front.

Strangely, it looks like they've replaced the old "Joey and Eddie's Pescheria" awning with an awning that's decorated with what looks like chili peppers. It reads "Jeff and Eddie's."

[srr]

There is, in addition to the "Jeff and Eddie's" sign, a "Henry's Hunan" sign.

[Calvinist]

If that's the Jeff who has run the Bryant St branch in recent years, it couldn't be a nicer guy.

[EileenPearl]

And maybe that is Eddie from the Natoma Street location? He is so very nice. Always asks about my kids, brings over orders of dumplings ASAP, etc. Yay!

[Calvinist]

Likewise w/ Jeff and my family.

[Windy]

Yeah, I ate at Bryant St every week for years. Went back after a long absence, and there was Jeff, like I'd never been gone.

(who was Henry?)

[Robert Lauriston]

Henry and Diana Chung opened the original Hunan on Kearny St. in 1974.

[Kenois]

Yes, and I believe New York magazine proclaimed it the best chinese restaurant in the US a few years later. Favorite dishes: curry chicken, spicy and hot rock cod filets, shredded pork with hot bean sauce... I could go on and on...

[Xiao Yang]

Tony Hiss's review in the New Yorker appeared in late 1974 (December?) There is a photostat of it in the window of Henry's Sacramento Street store.

[susancinsf]

this good news was briefly mentioned in another thread....and as I commented to hubby after I heard it: finally, decent to good Chinese within walking distance of home...hubby however, remains skeptical, since in his opinion Henry's has gone down hill in recent years...still, even if only some dishes are good , it will be most welcome. Smoked ham, yum!

[farmersdaughter]

I saw that too and was happy to see it, because Eric's is just not good, and I think must have been sold in the past year or two as I have noticed a decline in the past year or two from slightly above average to below average.

What is good to get at Henry's Hunan? I've never been.

[david kaplan]

Anything with smoked ham, and also harvest pork.

Check out this amazing tour of the menu (not by me). It'd dated but thorough.
http://greasepig.com/henrys/

[mariacarmen]

meat pie. hunan house bean curd - addictive. shredded pork (with scrambled eggs) - just add a little chili oil to spice it up.

[NoeMan]

Shredded pork and celery, I ask for very hot. Also Diana's Meat Pie

[CaitlinC333]

Noodles with Henry's special meat sauce.

[tomatoaday]

If you are referring to the noodle dish with cabbage that is served only at lunch, I agree. I would love to have that recipe ~ it is not in his old cookbook. If anyone has a close facsimile, would they post on the home cooking board?
I think the hot and sour soup at the branch by Third & Howard is excellent and I like the dumplings with hot sauce, chow mein with shrimp and the shrimp, napa cabbage and tofu dish (not the one with meat sauce) at the Sansome location.

[dinnerout]

I love the noodle dish with the cabbage and the hotter sauce. It is on the lunch menu, but I often order it in the evening for take out from the Broadway/Sansome location and they don't even bat an eye (at least not any more!)

[tomatoaday]

Good to know, thanks for the tip!

[weem]

I'm addicted to the hot and sour chicken.

[mdg]

Another vote for the hot and sour chicken! But the smoked pork is really good too. I'll have to try some of the other dishese recommended here.

Michael

[NoeMan]

Terrific news, hope they can break the location jinx and maybe deliver as well.