Master Hu

Jess a month ago

Craving for some Chinese food? Master Hu is definitely a must visit. They specialize in Hunan cuisine which has bold and rustic flavors. My partner and I went there and ordered the Spicy Pork Trotters and the Hot Braised Firm Tofu. The trotters are first slow-braises until tender and then served with an abundance of dried red chillies, scallions and sichaun peppercorn. It's got a numbing savory flavor. It tastes amazing with rice! The Hot Braised Firm Tofu has a rich and savory thick Hunan brown sauce included with garlic and chili oil. I love that this also tastes super good with rice. The service was quick. We ordered our items and we were quickly able to enjoy everything afterwards. The ambiance of the restaurant was bright and everyone seemed really cheery while enjoying their food. Great visit!

Annie Tang 4 months ago

Was craving Sichuan but was happy to eat this adjacent Chinese cuisine, Hunan. Loved the flavor explosion without the mala numbing of Sichuan. I especially love that I finally found a crispy stinky tofu in Irvine. Crunch retained its integrity even by the end of dinner with sauce on top. Chicken gizzard rice bowl and the thickly seasoned beef ribs were chef's kiss as well. Service is not going to be at the level of American customer service (wait at you hand and feet with fake smiles) and some assumptions were made. They spoke to me in Mandarin (don't speak it) and then, probably because of that, asked my husband (Vietnamese) and me (Cantonese) if we needed forks and not chopsticks. We laughed at that but understood what happened. This is a very international Chinese place, but perhaps that's why it's so good.

yolanda Luo 6 months ago

Tried Hu Yi Nan in Irvine recently after hearing a lot about it. The restaurant has been very popular since opening, so we waited a while before coming. We ordered a few dishes including steamed sea bass, stir-fried pork with chili, dry pot cauliflower, and preserved pork with tea tree mushrooms. The flavors were strong and very aromatic, and you could really taste the wok hei in the stir-fried dishes. The place was busy the entire time we were there and takeout orders kept coming in. Overall a solid spot if you’re craving bold Hunan flavors.

manis 6 months ago

I used to come to this restaurant all the time when it was in San Gabriel, and I’m so happy they moved to Irvine. The new location has a much nicer atmosphere — cleaner, more spacious, and way more comfortable to dine in. The food, though, is still just as amazing as always. In my opinion, this is the best Hunan cuisine in the entire LA area. The stir-fried pork with chili peppers and the tomato scrambled eggs are absolute must-orders for me every single time. If you’re looking for authentic Chinese food with bold, real Hunan flavors, you really can’t go wrong here. Highly recommend!

Manis Lu 6 months ago

If it weren’t so far from my place, I would honestly come here every week! I was so surprised to find such delicious Chinese food in Irvine. We ordered steamed fish, stir-fried pork with chili peppers, dry pot cauliflower, and tomato scrambled eggs — every single dish was flavorful and perfectly cooked. Everything paired so well with rice, and we couldn’t stop eating. For three people, it was around $100 and we left feeling very satisfied. Great portion sizes, authentic taste, and excellent value for the price. Highly recommend if you’re craving comforting, home-style Chinese food in Irvine!