On a recommendation from my best friend, we had dinner here. Because my buddy has great taste in food, I knew it was going to be good. However, I was surprise that it exceed my expectation. Mr. Han's Restaurant is a humble and modest establishment, but the food they severe is like a 5-star restaurant. When it comes to Chinese food, I always judge how they severe their Peking Duck. Many restaurants prepare it different. The last time I had great Peking Duck was in San Francisco in the late 90's. My buddy knew I love Peking Duck so he ordered a dish. After the first bite, my taste buds experienced something they havent tasted in 15 years. LOL. The duck was prepared to perfection. Along with the duck, we ordered sauteed batchoy, house special fried rice, and house special lo mien. Just like the duck, each dish was fantastic. I love this place so much that I came back several more time. Each time was not a disappointment. I love this place so much that I would drive 2 hours from Orlando to eat here.
(5)
GT W.
Gainesville staple for probably 20 years now. Upscale Chinese, which is hard to find nowadays. You can have everything here from a fancy dinner party to just get a takeout order. The best thing on the menu in my opinion is the Peking Duck.
(4)
Dr Yolanda C Leon L.
Great Chinese Food. Reminds me of Chona Town in Chicago. Our server Jessica was efficient and had a warm smile. Will return soon!.....
(5)
Chansone D.
I was in town and had frequent this place back in the 80's when I was a student at UF. Surprised that there was no other people there for lunch. So was a bit apprehensive. We ordered off the Dim Sum menu for appetizers and off the regular(dinner). Every dish we had was excellent and ingredients were fresh and so tasty. I'm looking forward to going back!
(5)
Robert H.
The Peking duck was great! 2 zombies and I walked back across the street to the La Quinta and slept.
(5)
Ali A.
Mr. Han's is great for Dim Sum. I haven't been there for anything else, but I hear they have Peking duck and I will have to check that out soon. Their food is cooked to order, fresh, and warm. Sometimes they are out of items, but everything is delicious so it doesn't bother me. TRY THE GOLDEN DUMPLINGS. You're going to very happy with them. BBQ pork buns are delicious too. It's is a rather quiet place and you should dress nicer than just shorts and a t shirt. They also have large tables for parties.
(5)
Jackie S.
First time trying this place. I've definitely had better but fulfilled my craving. Shumai, shrimp dumpling and bbq pork bun was fresh but texture and flavor was not worth it. Recommend the fried shrimp ball and golden dumpling. Restaurant was not we'll lit and very dark. Service was good.
(3)
Marcelo D.
I think this might have been a great restaurant in the past but it has fallen pretty far. Everything is from the 80's or earlier. Carpet has holes, bathroom is pretty nasty. Service was great and attentive. Some of the best service in Gainesville. They bring you free tea too. This is not the best restaurant for vegetarians as the menu is limited to 4 vegi dishes. I tried the Chinese vegi mix and the mushroom with snow peas. Both were pretty bland, but the mushroom dish had more taste. The restaurant is over priced for the food and the decor.
(3)
Coty S.
Mr. Han just passed away over the weekend. This is very sad. After searching for dim sum in Gainesville over the years, Mr. Han's is the best. South Garden still has alot of catching up to do.
(4)
Melissa A.
I usually go the Mr. Hans for dim sum. It's not the best selection and they often don't have the crepes that are on their menu. Char siu bao (bbq pork bun) and luo bo gao (turnip cake) are delicious. Chicken feet are also worth a try. Sadly their peking duck is served with Chinese pancakes, and not buns :( so disappointed when I realized this. Duck also wasn't very crispy. The atmosphere around noon is usually pretty gloomy. Its dark and dusty. I usually wipe my plate and tea cup before eating/drinking from them. Servers are friendly. Will continue eating here when I need my dim sum fix, as we are in gainesville and good chinese food is hard to come by.
(3)
Michael W.
If you go to have Dim Sum on Sunday.. GO EARLY!!!!! But however their dim sum menu is lacking, they need more dishes ... and they are always out of some dish.... However, the service is not bad at all.. The atmosphere is very dark and set to be a like a classy old school restaurant. The building consist of two stories. First story is the club and second story is the restaurant. Overall, this place has potential to do better. They do serve Asian people with real chinese food. In addition, American-Chinese food to the white people too. Presentation food : 4 out 5 Texture - 3out of 5 Taste - 4 out of 5
(3)
Andrew C.
Visit Date: 05.05.2010 One of the FEW dimsum places in Gainesville, this place is located in an old, generic, square building near the mall. As for the food, it tasted pretty good, and the prices were quite inexpensive. It's not the best dimsum place out there and it may not offer the freshest items, but for Gainesville it works well. Oh and dimsum is offered on weekdays, you just have to order by 2pm. Ordered the typical items: radish cake, fried taro, shrimp dumplings, roasted pork bun (chashao bao), and some beef chaofen (chowfun). I didn't like the fried taro that much though, since it came out greasy and over-fried, easily shattering apart. Also, there are English names for the dimsum dishes, which are quite accurate; I'm just not used to them.
(4)
Johnny L.
So I came to Mr. Han's a while back but from what I remember, it was decent enough. I went with a group of other Yelpers (the Gainesville Elite on our UYE) to dine at what is considered the best Dim Sum in Gainesville. Although this is the Best Dim Sum in Gainesville, I'm sorry to say that it would only be considered "A-OK" in my book (I'm comparing it against others I've had). It only got 4 stars from me because of one dish in particular (read below to understand).... The location is a pretty terrible one I would have to say. It's located behind some run down businesses and the supposed entrance wasn't even their entrance. (Saw a homeless guy taking a piss on the ground floor of their building). However, the interior of the place is very nice-looking (though it is very dark). The waitress we had was very friendly so no complaints here. However, the menu was pretty inconsistent and they were out of a lot of things. The things they did have tasted good. Definitely up to par with real dim sum items and closer to things I've tried elsewhere (South Garden had their own take on Dim sum, but tasted different). First things first...I had to try the shrimp dumplings (hargow). It's usually the one indicator in which I measure any dim sum place and well.....they were good. Not the best ever, but they were shrimp dumplings so I could have just eaten those for the rest of the meal and had been satisfied. The fried shrimp balls are HUGE. They were real good. The turnip cakes were good, but a little soggy from what I recall. The beef chow fun was great and very filling. We had several other items, but I waited too long to write this review so I can't remember exactly. (I wouldn't feel right commenting on something if I don't remember). BUT I do remember trying the Crispy Peking Duck. Damn that duck was good. When that waitress brought that duck to the table, I fought back the urge to consume that entire duck myself and to be able to share with others. (A fight I normally avoid by ordering one myself...) However, I wanted to try everything and so eating an entire duck by myself would have been awful (...and awfully good). The waitress offered to make our mu shu peking duck wraps. Traditional Cantonese dish with mu-shu "pancakes" (like flat ass tortillas) with green onions and hoisin sauce. The Duck was incredible. The skin was so crisp and the meat so tender. They rendered out the fat (which can be viewed as good or bad), so it wasn't too fatty. The taste was incredible (I mean, come on, I dedicated a giant paragraph to Duck). Overall, the place was good. Our waitress was great. The ambiance was nice and the food was good. Did I mention that the Duck was fantastic. It single-handedly made me change my mind from 3 stars to 4 stars. Just thinking about it.... Damnit....someone get me a towel ...I'm drooling again.
(4)
Chris T.
Besides their awkward location, this restaurant serves some of the best dim sum that I've had almost anywhere. You wouldn't guess Gainesville to have anything to do with good dim sum, but it is indeed true. They serve it every day until 2PM and they employ one of the nicest waitresses as well (try getting away with saying a "thank you" without a "you're welcome" in return, it won't happen). Their trick is that their dim sum is super fresh and everything is usually piping hot. I recommend their fried shrimp balls, shrimp dumplings, spare ribs, turnip cakes and sometimes beef chow fun. To be honest, I cannot comment on any of their items besides dim sum.
(5)
Brandon D.
I've eaten at Mr. Han's for nearly every birthday and life event since I was a child. Eric Han was the most interesting person I've ever known. His father, mother, wife, and son still run the restaurant- they are exceedingly friendly and respectful. The staff is also very friendly and attentive. Peking duck is my favorite food because of this restaurant. The pu pu platter never fails. The Singapore noodles are delicious. When they have the sea bass, it is amazing. The dim sum is great- especially the Turnip Cake (Law Bock Gow). Mr. Han's is a favorite of locals. If you are impatient or want to nitpick, maybe its not for you. If you enjoy a family run business that takes pride in serving wonderful food, you will love Mr. Hans.
(5)
Nicholette M.
I had to attend a work related dinner a few weeks ago at this spot. The whole week I kept hearing about how the location was really sketchy but the food was amazing. So yea, the location is very sketchy but the food is indeed great. We had 3 huge round tables that sat about 10 people at each. It was a special occasion so we were not allowed to order from the menu. Instead, they had a different dish come out like every 10 min. We were served lobster tails, green beans ( the sauteed ones that only the Asians can do with perfection), noodles, fried rice, steak tips, and a ton of other dishes. My favorite part about this visit was the very dim lighting in the dining areas, the old Asian decor, and the fact that the entire staff was over the age of 70 ( of course they knew how to cook). It had that old vintage " Big Trouble in Little China" feel to it. Oh yea, and there is a full bar located at the entrance. This is a great place to take a group of friends for a night out of affordable Asian cuisine, great decor, and well mixed drinks.
(4)
April O.
Eric Han, THE Mr. Han, was killed in a car wreck near Tampa yesterday. Condolences and best wishes out to his family.
(3)
Jeff N.
I have not eaten here since Eric Han passed away but I hope this place lives on. Eric was very nice and I wish his family all the best. Mr. Han's was a staple of my diet for over 20 years. Having eaten Chinese food all over the world, I can honestly say Mr. Han's is some of the best out there. Their Peking Duck is unparalleled, even compared to Beijing's best. Nobody can come close to their pan-fried dumplings. When eaten with their homemade chili pepper sauce it is an amazing experience. They have many other excellent dishes and Mr. Han is an extraordinary host. I no longer live in FL so only eat here a few times a year when I visit. I really miss this place!
(5)
Jason C.
4 stars for the Peking Duck and good service. I realize service can be inconsistent at any restaurant, so I'll give Mr. Han's credit this time. I admit to not being a connoisseur of Chinese cuisine, but I thoroughly enjoyed our meal. It's certainly more authentic than most places in Gainesville. Next time I'll try some other menu items. Now the whole night club aspect is a bit of a mystery to me. I didn't expect the club to be open at 7pm on Weds. night, and the only indication of a nightclub is the big door off to the side with 'Nightclub' over the door.
(4)
Richard S.
If I could just rate two items on the menu, aka the two items I order EVERYTIME, then Mr. Hans would be a hands-down 5 star restaurant. I give this place 4 starts because there are quite a few dishes on the menu are somewhat underwhelming (I know because other people I go with often don't heed my advice and can be a bit disappointed). I have been coming to Mr. Hans ever since I was a little kid and have eaten at chinese restaurants all around the country (San Fran, LA, New York, etc) and can confidently say they have the best duck around. I typically order the house duck which is roasted to perfection--the skin is sinfully good and they have a great gravy which they serve with it. I ask for the peking duck pancakes so I can make up the wraps. I simply prefer the house duck sauce to the plum sauce otherwise the duck is prepared the same way. If you are coming with a group, order the chicken sweet-corn soup. I havn't had anything else like it around and this too is really really good. You cannot order single portions of it but trust me, everyone will like it! My favorite time to go to Mr. Hans is a weekend afternoon. It is a fabulous highlight to a Sunday afternoon. Mr. Eric Han was lost in a terrible tragic car accident but the old Mr. and Mrs. Han continue to run their establishment and provide an authentic, homely experience. When Mrs. Han is there she always gives me a hug and comments how nice it has been to see me grow up. By far the best chinese food you will get in Gainesville and probably some of the best duck you will have anywhere around.
(4)
sherrie p.
I love this place. I think it's the best Chinese food in Gainesville. The won tons are great and I love the Peking Duck.
(5)
Richard O.
I just saw this and saw that Eric Han died in a car accident. When I was going to school from '78-'80 we went there often and Mr. and Mrs. Han were very gracious. We also knew their son, Eric, quite well at the time, so I am not sure if it is the son, Eric, who was in the accident or his dad as I do not know his dad's name. Anyway, what a shame! I can say that our saying at the time as grad students was, "Mrs. Han's Good Shrimp Cakes are better than sex." To this day I have no idea what she made them from other than shrimp, of course, but those along with what they called on the menu "Sooteet Shrimp" were awesome, as were several of the other dishes that we loved. Sorry to hear about the accident, and next time I am in G'ville I will have to go by there. As far as comments here about authenticity, food in mainland China is horrible, so you might want to state what you base your "authentic" comment on. Chinese food in San Fran or NYC? Certainly not in China these days.
(5)
John L.
Unfortunately they did not have 50% of the dim sum menu; however what was offered was good. The steamed pork buns are especially "pillowy" and a perfect balance of sweet & savory in the deep red, pork filling. The open-topped dumplings (can't recall the name) and the "Canton" dumplings had the ideal dumpling wrapper thickness. I wish they offered a greater extent of their menu.
(3)
Daniel S.
I've been here only once, the food was good, and the service was OK. There were several Chinese customers there, so that tells me they make authentic food and not your usual American-Chinese dish.
(3)
Howard L.
i hate to write bad reviews, makes me look like the bad guy, but at least im honest. Okay first off i'm chinese, review justified and finished. sike j/k. Came for dinner and tried the FAMOUS PEKING DUCK. i dont know why its so famous, guess people would have to try "real famous" peking duck to know the difference. The duck meat is dry and not tender and juicy. The hot and sour soup is watery from being left in a soup pot all day with the lid on so the steam drips back into the soup. Try fresh hot and sour soup sometime and you will definitely notice the difference. My rice was soggy, and i prefer my peking duck with buns. lets see, what did i like about this place. Very nice decor, TOO DAMN DARK, oh wait i was talking about what i liked. actually, not really anything. I ordered the sea bass and it was a tiny fillet and that was horrible. Oversteamed so the texture was extremely firm, or maybe it was just cheap frozen sea bass. The long beans was fried too long so they was wrinkly and absorbed the oil instead of crisp. Im a foodie, and my job is to say it like i see it. this is how i saw it.
(2)
James B.
One of the few authentic Chinese restaurants in G-ville.. The food is so-so. The only thing good I've had was their crispy peking duck. The soups and most of their other dishes seem to use similar ingredients resulting in similar flavors, so it gets boring quick. Their dim sum menu is lacking and inconsistent. One of my orders of shrimp dumpling was fine, but the other was undercooked - disgusting. Nothing else was really memorable, but I did like their stuffed taro. After returning once again to celebrate Chinese New Year, we ordered a total of 8 dishes (big group, of course). The most standout dish was surprisingly the fresh steamed fish. It had great flavor, was very fresh, and very light. The peking duck was still good. The Special Soup du Maison is kinda like a seafood soup, and its tasty but at $14 it is quite expensive (about 4-6 bowls). I did not fully enjoy the eggplant dish (it was wok stirred and too soft), the silver dollar chicken (chopped chicken with vegetables?!), and the somewhat slow service. Well, usually they have very little business but last night they were SWAMPED with tables. Everything tasted at least decent, but I'm sure Gainesvillians will really love it as it is the closest thing you can get to authentic Chinese. Dark, romantic-inspired decor. I hope they get more businesses so they can have fresh ingredients and maybe step it up a notch. 2.5 stars!
(2)
Belle C.
The food is a few steps above the "mall Chinese" that is so pervasive in Gainesville, but it's still pretty average. Terrible, inattentive service. The server disappeared halfway through our meal and when he finally showed up, he brought the check without ever asking if we wanted to order dessert.
(2)
Dharbigt M.
So-so entrees. For the most part, the food lacked the essential flavors and was kind of dead. The family seems to have some kind of name here, but I don't think that has much to do with the chef's work, and I don't really like having people at neighboring tables conspicuously asking to see Mr. Han or Mrs. Han. Other reviews say its the "only authentic Chinese restaurant in town" which is just absurd. It's no more authentic than the others and considerably less so than others.
(2)
Tu-van L.
The only place you can get dim sum in Gainesville, but with the small crowd and questionable freshness of the food, I recommend hitting up the more popular places in Orlando. I can only imagine how hopping this place gets at night.....
(3)
Jorge U.
Average food. Average wine list. Below average service. I'm not impressed when I order a bottle of wine & they bring it already opened.
(3)
Stephanie N.
Again - literally the only reason i've gone to this place is because they're the ONLY place that serves dim sum... and its honestly not that impressive. the decor of the place is nice - albeit dark. Each table has a bud vase w/ an orchid. There are quite a number of celebrities who pass through Gainesville and stopped to dine here - can you check out the celebrity photos w/ the owners on your way in to be seated.
(3)
Logan f.
Only authentic Chinese restaurant in town. Their food is decent but not the best I had. Their dimsum is decent. Its a shame that they are not busier, or in a better location.
(4)
Heather S.
It's the only place to enjoy dim sum in town but you have to ask for the dim sum menu. Go there between 11:30 and 1:00 pm any day of the week. Awesome turnip cakes, dumplings, lo mai gai, and shumai. Bring as many people as you can with you so you can sample a little bit of everything. It's a mix of fancy and comfortable inside. Get a table by a window.
(4)
Arjun C.
When I was a kid (25 years ago) I wanted to open a restaurant called Mr. Arjun's largely because Mr. Han was so nice to me. This place introduced me to dimsum and chicken corn soup both of which which I am still addicted today. For that I owe him a lot. Isn't there a nice and big version of the restaurant near Ocala?
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Cyrus P.
On a recommendation from my best friend, we had dinner here. Because my buddy has great taste in food, I knew it was going to be good. However, I was surprise that it exceed my expectation. Mr. Han's Restaurant is a humble and modest establishment, but the food they severe is like a 5-star restaurant. When it comes to Chinese food, I always judge how they severe their Peking Duck. Many restaurants prepare it different. The last time I had great Peking Duck was in San Francisco in the late 90's. My buddy knew I love Peking Duck so he ordered a dish. After the first bite, my taste buds experienced something they havent tasted in 15 years. LOL. The duck was prepared to perfection. Along with the duck, we ordered sauteed batchoy, house special fried rice, and house special lo mien. Just like the duck, each dish was fantastic. I love this place so much that I came back several more time. Each time was not a disappointment. I love this place so much that I would drive 2 hours from Orlando to eat here.
(5)GT W.
Gainesville staple for probably 20 years now. Upscale Chinese, which is hard to find nowadays. You can have everything here from a fancy dinner party to just get a takeout order. The best thing on the menu in my opinion is the Peking Duck.
(4)Dr Yolanda C Leon L.
Great Chinese Food. Reminds me of Chona Town in Chicago. Our server Jessica was efficient and had a warm smile. Will return soon!.....
(5)Chansone D.
I was in town and had frequent this place back in the 80's when I was a student at UF. Surprised that there was no other people there for lunch. So was a bit apprehensive. We ordered off the Dim Sum menu for appetizers and off the regular(dinner). Every dish we had was excellent and ingredients were fresh and so tasty. I'm looking forward to going back!
(5)Robert H.
The Peking duck was great! 2 zombies and I walked back across the street to the La Quinta and slept.
(5)Ali A.
Mr. Han's is great for Dim Sum. I haven't been there for anything else, but I hear they have Peking duck and I will have to check that out soon. Their food is cooked to order, fresh, and warm. Sometimes they are out of items, but everything is delicious so it doesn't bother me. TRY THE GOLDEN DUMPLINGS. You're going to very happy with them. BBQ pork buns are delicious too. It's is a rather quiet place and you should dress nicer than just shorts and a t shirt. They also have large tables for parties.
(5)Jackie S.
First time trying this place. I've definitely had better but fulfilled my craving. Shumai, shrimp dumpling and bbq pork bun was fresh but texture and flavor was not worth it. Recommend the fried shrimp ball and golden dumpling. Restaurant was not we'll lit and very dark. Service was good.
(3)Marcelo D.
I think this might have been a great restaurant in the past but it has fallen pretty far. Everything is from the 80's or earlier. Carpet has holes, bathroom is pretty nasty. Service was great and attentive. Some of the best service in Gainesville. They bring you free tea too. This is not the best restaurant for vegetarians as the menu is limited to 4 vegi dishes. I tried the Chinese vegi mix and the mushroom with snow peas. Both were pretty bland, but the mushroom dish had more taste. The restaurant is over priced for the food and the decor.
(3)Coty S.
Mr. Han just passed away over the weekend. This is very sad. After searching for dim sum in Gainesville over the years, Mr. Han's is the best. South Garden still has alot of catching up to do.
(4)Melissa A.
I usually go the Mr. Hans for dim sum. It's not the best selection and they often don't have the crepes that are on their menu. Char siu bao (bbq pork bun) and luo bo gao (turnip cake) are delicious. Chicken feet are also worth a try. Sadly their peking duck is served with Chinese pancakes, and not buns :( so disappointed when I realized this. Duck also wasn't very crispy. The atmosphere around noon is usually pretty gloomy. Its dark and dusty. I usually wipe my plate and tea cup before eating/drinking from them. Servers are friendly. Will continue eating here when I need my dim sum fix, as we are in gainesville and good chinese food is hard to come by.
(3)Michael W.
If you go to have Dim Sum on Sunday.. GO EARLY!!!!! But however their dim sum menu is lacking, they need more dishes ... and they are always out of some dish.... However, the service is not bad at all.. The atmosphere is very dark and set to be a like a classy old school restaurant. The building consist of two stories. First story is the club and second story is the restaurant. Overall, this place has potential to do better. They do serve Asian people with real chinese food. In addition, American-Chinese food to the white people too. Presentation food : 4 out 5 Texture - 3out of 5 Taste - 4 out of 5
(3)Andrew C.
Visit Date: 05.05.2010 One of the FEW dimsum places in Gainesville, this place is located in an old, generic, square building near the mall. As for the food, it tasted pretty good, and the prices were quite inexpensive. It's not the best dimsum place out there and it may not offer the freshest items, but for Gainesville it works well. Oh and dimsum is offered on weekdays, you just have to order by 2pm. Ordered the typical items: radish cake, fried taro, shrimp dumplings, roasted pork bun (chashao bao), and some beef chaofen (chowfun). I didn't like the fried taro that much though, since it came out greasy and over-fried, easily shattering apart. Also, there are English names for the dimsum dishes, which are quite accurate; I'm just not used to them.
(4)Johnny L.
So I came to Mr. Han's a while back but from what I remember, it was decent enough. I went with a group of other Yelpers (the Gainesville Elite on our UYE) to dine at what is considered the best Dim Sum in Gainesville. Although this is the Best Dim Sum in Gainesville, I'm sorry to say that it would only be considered "A-OK" in my book (I'm comparing it against others I've had). It only got 4 stars from me because of one dish in particular (read below to understand).... The location is a pretty terrible one I would have to say. It's located behind some run down businesses and the supposed entrance wasn't even their entrance. (Saw a homeless guy taking a piss on the ground floor of their building). However, the interior of the place is very nice-looking (though it is very dark). The waitress we had was very friendly so no complaints here. However, the menu was pretty inconsistent and they were out of a lot of things. The things they did have tasted good. Definitely up to par with real dim sum items and closer to things I've tried elsewhere (South Garden had their own take on Dim sum, but tasted different). First things first...I had to try the shrimp dumplings (hargow). It's usually the one indicator in which I measure any dim sum place and well.....they were good. Not the best ever, but they were shrimp dumplings so I could have just eaten those for the rest of the meal and had been satisfied. The fried shrimp balls are HUGE. They were real good. The turnip cakes were good, but a little soggy from what I recall. The beef chow fun was great and very filling. We had several other items, but I waited too long to write this review so I can't remember exactly. (I wouldn't feel right commenting on something if I don't remember). BUT I do remember trying the Crispy Peking Duck. Damn that duck was good. When that waitress brought that duck to the table, I fought back the urge to consume that entire duck myself and to be able to share with others. (A fight I normally avoid by ordering one myself...) However, I wanted to try everything and so eating an entire duck by myself would have been awful (...and awfully good). The waitress offered to make our mu shu peking duck wraps. Traditional Cantonese dish with mu-shu "pancakes" (like flat ass tortillas) with green onions and hoisin sauce. The Duck was incredible. The skin was so crisp and the meat so tender. They rendered out the fat (which can be viewed as good or bad), so it wasn't too fatty. The taste was incredible (I mean, come on, I dedicated a giant paragraph to Duck). Overall, the place was good. Our waitress was great. The ambiance was nice and the food was good. Did I mention that the Duck was fantastic. It single-handedly made me change my mind from 3 stars to 4 stars. Just thinking about it.... Damnit....someone get me a towel ...I'm drooling again.
(4)Chris T.
Besides their awkward location, this restaurant serves some of the best dim sum that I've had almost anywhere. You wouldn't guess Gainesville to have anything to do with good dim sum, but it is indeed true. They serve it every day until 2PM and they employ one of the nicest waitresses as well (try getting away with saying a "thank you" without a "you're welcome" in return, it won't happen). Their trick is that their dim sum is super fresh and everything is usually piping hot. I recommend their fried shrimp balls, shrimp dumplings, spare ribs, turnip cakes and sometimes beef chow fun. To be honest, I cannot comment on any of their items besides dim sum.
(5)Brandon D.
I've eaten at Mr. Han's for nearly every birthday and life event since I was a child. Eric Han was the most interesting person I've ever known. His father, mother, wife, and son still run the restaurant- they are exceedingly friendly and respectful. The staff is also very friendly and attentive. Peking duck is my favorite food because of this restaurant. The pu pu platter never fails. The Singapore noodles are delicious. When they have the sea bass, it is amazing. The dim sum is great- especially the Turnip Cake (Law Bock Gow). Mr. Han's is a favorite of locals. If you are impatient or want to nitpick, maybe its not for you. If you enjoy a family run business that takes pride in serving wonderful food, you will love Mr. Hans.
(5)Nicholette M.
I had to attend a work related dinner a few weeks ago at this spot. The whole week I kept hearing about how the location was really sketchy but the food was amazing. So yea, the location is very sketchy but the food is indeed great. We had 3 huge round tables that sat about 10 people at each. It was a special occasion so we were not allowed to order from the menu. Instead, they had a different dish come out like every 10 min. We were served lobster tails, green beans ( the sauteed ones that only the Asians can do with perfection), noodles, fried rice, steak tips, and a ton of other dishes. My favorite part about this visit was the very dim lighting in the dining areas, the old Asian decor, and the fact that the entire staff was over the age of 70 ( of course they knew how to cook). It had that old vintage " Big Trouble in Little China" feel to it. Oh yea, and there is a full bar located at the entrance. This is a great place to take a group of friends for a night out of affordable Asian cuisine, great decor, and well mixed drinks.
(4)April O.
Eric Han, THE Mr. Han, was killed in a car wreck near Tampa yesterday. Condolences and best wishes out to his family.
(3)Jeff N.
I have not eaten here since Eric Han passed away but I hope this place lives on. Eric was very nice and I wish his family all the best. Mr. Han's was a staple of my diet for over 20 years. Having eaten Chinese food all over the world, I can honestly say Mr. Han's is some of the best out there. Their Peking Duck is unparalleled, even compared to Beijing's best. Nobody can come close to their pan-fried dumplings. When eaten with their homemade chili pepper sauce it is an amazing experience. They have many other excellent dishes and Mr. Han is an extraordinary host. I no longer live in FL so only eat here a few times a year when I visit. I really miss this place!
(5)Jason C.
4 stars for the Peking Duck and good service. I realize service can be inconsistent at any restaurant, so I'll give Mr. Han's credit this time. I admit to not being a connoisseur of Chinese cuisine, but I thoroughly enjoyed our meal. It's certainly more authentic than most places in Gainesville. Next time I'll try some other menu items. Now the whole night club aspect is a bit of a mystery to me. I didn't expect the club to be open at 7pm on Weds. night, and the only indication of a nightclub is the big door off to the side with 'Nightclub' over the door.
(4)Richard S.
If I could just rate two items on the menu, aka the two items I order EVERYTIME, then Mr. Hans would be a hands-down 5 star restaurant. I give this place 4 starts because there are quite a few dishes on the menu are somewhat underwhelming (I know because other people I go with often don't heed my advice and can be a bit disappointed). I have been coming to Mr. Hans ever since I was a little kid and have eaten at chinese restaurants all around the country (San Fran, LA, New York, etc) and can confidently say they have the best duck around. I typically order the house duck which is roasted to perfection--the skin is sinfully good and they have a great gravy which they serve with it. I ask for the peking duck pancakes so I can make up the wraps. I simply prefer the house duck sauce to the plum sauce otherwise the duck is prepared the same way. If you are coming with a group, order the chicken sweet-corn soup. I havn't had anything else like it around and this too is really really good. You cannot order single portions of it but trust me, everyone will like it! My favorite time to go to Mr. Hans is a weekend afternoon. It is a fabulous highlight to a Sunday afternoon. Mr. Eric Han was lost in a terrible tragic car accident but the old Mr. and Mrs. Han continue to run their establishment and provide an authentic, homely experience. When Mrs. Han is there she always gives me a hug and comments how nice it has been to see me grow up. By far the best chinese food you will get in Gainesville and probably some of the best duck you will have anywhere around.
(4)sherrie p.
I love this place. I think it's the best Chinese food in Gainesville. The won tons are great and I love the Peking Duck.
(5)Richard O.
I just saw this and saw that Eric Han died in a car accident. When I was going to school from '78-'80 we went there often and Mr. and Mrs. Han were very gracious. We also knew their son, Eric, quite well at the time, so I am not sure if it is the son, Eric, who was in the accident or his dad as I do not know his dad's name. Anyway, what a shame! I can say that our saying at the time as grad students was, "Mrs. Han's Good Shrimp Cakes are better than sex." To this day I have no idea what she made them from other than shrimp, of course, but those along with what they called on the menu "Sooteet Shrimp" were awesome, as were several of the other dishes that we loved. Sorry to hear about the accident, and next time I am in G'ville I will have to go by there. As far as comments here about authenticity, food in mainland China is horrible, so you might want to state what you base your "authentic" comment on. Chinese food in San Fran or NYC? Certainly not in China these days.
(5)John L.
Unfortunately they did not have 50% of the dim sum menu; however what was offered was good. The steamed pork buns are especially "pillowy" and a perfect balance of sweet & savory in the deep red, pork filling. The open-topped dumplings (can't recall the name) and the "Canton" dumplings had the ideal dumpling wrapper thickness. I wish they offered a greater extent of their menu.
(3)Daniel S.
I've been here only once, the food was good, and the service was OK. There were several Chinese customers there, so that tells me they make authentic food and not your usual American-Chinese dish.
(3)Howard L.
i hate to write bad reviews, makes me look like the bad guy, but at least im honest. Okay first off i'm chinese, review justified and finished. sike j/k. Came for dinner and tried the FAMOUS PEKING DUCK. i dont know why its so famous, guess people would have to try "real famous" peking duck to know the difference. The duck meat is dry and not tender and juicy. The hot and sour soup is watery from being left in a soup pot all day with the lid on so the steam drips back into the soup. Try fresh hot and sour soup sometime and you will definitely notice the difference. My rice was soggy, and i prefer my peking duck with buns. lets see, what did i like about this place. Very nice decor, TOO DAMN DARK, oh wait i was talking about what i liked. actually, not really anything. I ordered the sea bass and it was a tiny fillet and that was horrible. Oversteamed so the texture was extremely firm, or maybe it was just cheap frozen sea bass. The long beans was fried too long so they was wrinkly and absorbed the oil instead of crisp. Im a foodie, and my job is to say it like i see it. this is how i saw it.
(2)James B.
One of the few authentic Chinese restaurants in G-ville.. The food is so-so. The only thing good I've had was their crispy peking duck. The soups and most of their other dishes seem to use similar ingredients resulting in similar flavors, so it gets boring quick. Their dim sum menu is lacking and inconsistent. One of my orders of shrimp dumpling was fine, but the other was undercooked - disgusting. Nothing else was really memorable, but I did like their stuffed taro. After returning once again to celebrate Chinese New Year, we ordered a total of 8 dishes (big group, of course). The most standout dish was surprisingly the fresh steamed fish. It had great flavor, was very fresh, and very light. The peking duck was still good. The Special Soup du Maison is kinda like a seafood soup, and its tasty but at $14 it is quite expensive (about 4-6 bowls). I did not fully enjoy the eggplant dish (it was wok stirred and too soft), the silver dollar chicken (chopped chicken with vegetables?!), and the somewhat slow service. Well, usually they have very little business but last night they were SWAMPED with tables. Everything tasted at least decent, but I'm sure Gainesvillians will really love it as it is the closest thing you can get to authentic Chinese. Dark, romantic-inspired decor. I hope they get more businesses so they can have fresh ingredients and maybe step it up a notch. 2.5 stars!
(2)Belle C.
The food is a few steps above the "mall Chinese" that is so pervasive in Gainesville, but it's still pretty average. Terrible, inattentive service. The server disappeared halfway through our meal and when he finally showed up, he brought the check without ever asking if we wanted to order dessert.
(2)Dharbigt M.
So-so entrees. For the most part, the food lacked the essential flavors and was kind of dead. The family seems to have some kind of name here, but I don't think that has much to do with the chef's work, and I don't really like having people at neighboring tables conspicuously asking to see Mr. Han or Mrs. Han. Other reviews say its the "only authentic Chinese restaurant in town" which is just absurd. It's no more authentic than the others and considerably less so than others.
(2)Tu-van L.
The only place you can get dim sum in Gainesville, but with the small crowd and questionable freshness of the food, I recommend hitting up the more popular places in Orlando. I can only imagine how hopping this place gets at night.....
(3)Jorge U.
Average food. Average wine list. Below average service. I'm not impressed when I order a bottle of wine & they bring it already opened.
(3)Stephanie N.
Again - literally the only reason i've gone to this place is because they're the ONLY place that serves dim sum... and its honestly not that impressive. the decor of the place is nice - albeit dark. Each table has a bud vase w/ an orchid. There are quite a number of celebrities who pass through Gainesville and stopped to dine here - can you check out the celebrity photos w/ the owners on your way in to be seated.
(3)Logan f.
Only authentic Chinese restaurant in town. Their food is decent but not the best I had. Their dimsum is decent. Its a shame that they are not busier, or in a better location.
(4)Heather S.
It's the only place to enjoy dim sum in town but you have to ask for the dim sum menu. Go there between 11:30 and 1:00 pm any day of the week. Awesome turnip cakes, dumplings, lo mai gai, and shumai. Bring as many people as you can with you so you can sample a little bit of everything. It's a mix of fancy and comfortable inside. Get a table by a window.
(4)Arjun C.
When I was a kid (25 years ago) I wanted to open a restaurant called Mr. Arjun's largely because Mr. Han was so nice to me. This place introduced me to dimsum and chicken corn soup both of which which I am still addicted today. For that I owe him a lot. Isn't there a nice and big version of the restaurant near Ocala?
(5)