Hai San Restaurant — Restaurant in Ocoee

Been wanting to try this place based on the many positive Google reviews, including everyone who has said things like, "It's the best I've had since leaving New York (or Miami)," and similar raving comments. Well... I don't get it. I won't ever speak against anyone else's opinion, since they are just that, their opinions, as are mine. But the only thought that came to mind after trying the food today for the first time was... what part of New York did they COME from (definitely NOT NYC), and WHICH Miami... Miami, TX possibly?

Everyone who said don't judge by how it looks... spot on - the generic "Chinese Food" sign over the strip mall front door doesn't even display the name... but at least I knew I'd found the right place, thanks to others who'd posted pics (sorry, no pics today... Google keeps returning an unknown "error" every time I try to upload my pics).

This is definitely a 99.9% take-out place... just a few basic tables/chairs inside if you want to sit, but you're going to get your food boxed up to go regardless... no biggie. So let's talk about the food.

First - the positives... all of the food was piping hot (that's good!), but unfortunately, that doesn't mean it all tasted fresh. I ordered a typical combo plate - General Tso's Chicken, which came with pork fried rice and choice of Won Ton or Eggflower soup, or an egg roll... I chose the Won Ton soup. Portions are not an issue here... you do get a LOT of food for your money. Again, unfortunately, that isn't necessarily a good thing.

The soup was hot (and there was a lot of it for an included side on a combo plate), and the won tons were freshly made pork, and were quite tasty. The soup broth was... brown. I don't know what it really tasted like, but Won Ton soup wasn't the first thing that came to mind. I'll just leave it at that.

The included small side of white rice was actually quite fresh and tasty. But that's where the positives end.

The General Tso's was your typical generic breaded chicken doused with the sauce supposedly to identify it (in this case) as General Tso's... it seemed like, in watching the lady from the counter dropping it into the fryer, that the chicken is the same regardless of the dish, and just sauce/accompaniments are changed to fit the order. However, in this case, the chicken was chewy and mostly dry, like it had been pre-cooked and then re-fried to make it "fresh."

The food did not taste fresh to me. I had asked if I could change the included pork fried rice to shrimp fried rice - she said no problem, for a slight upcharge... I was fine with that. I was hoping, honestly, that besides preferring shrimp to pork, that it might get me fresher fried rice, since so many places seem to have it prepared and refried with the protein when ordered.

The fried rice was definitely... fried. And more likely re-re-re-fried. It was dry, and tasted old, save for the 4 tiny shrimp that was in a very large portion of rice (again, sorry the pics aren't working).

I also ordered a complete order of shrimp foo young, which, like the other food, came out piping hot. However, the 3 large egg pancakes were more like big, greasy onion frittatas, with a couple of shrimp thrown in each (and not those jumbo shrimp, just normal-sized shrimp). It was more like the shrimp swam through and a couple got left behind. And the sauce was a thin, greasy... brown... sauce. It was mildly salty, but otherwise, the foo young was completely flavorless, save the overly oily flavor. Not good at all. Really, none of it.

Wish I had gone to the smoothie place down the sidewalk instead. I...

In town on business from Dallas, found this place on Yelp. It does not disappoint! I have a $20 meal allowance so took advantage by ordering several things to try. Mixed veggies in spicy garlic Pan fried wontons in spicy sauce Hot & sour soup

Pros - everything is yummy with leftover-sized portions. The veggies are super fresh and chunky, cooked well and not mushy. The soup is chock-full of tofu, mushrooms, bean sprouts, green onion, I dunno what else. And the flavor is perfect. The sauce on the fried wontons is very addicting. Wish I’d have gotten an extra side of it.

Cons - I ordered to go but wasn’t given plastic ware. Thankfully the hotel had some. Steamed rice that came with the veggies is super sweet, tastes like butter and sugar rice. Wish I’d have specified fried rice. I asked for spicy sauce on the veggies and was disappointed in the spice level. So if you like a kick, be sure to tell him.

This place stayed busy the entire time I was there - both walk-in orders and phone (probably online too). The guy at the front was friendly and fast, and knew several repeat customers’ orders without them having to ask. This as authentic as you can get (orders are communicated to the kitchen in Mandarin(?) ) and bonus, he also knows Spanish because was taking orders in Spanish as well.

If you’re considering, just do it! You will not be...

I very seldomly if ever go out of my way to write a review... but this place is beyond exceptional. Not only are the staff extremely nice and energetic, but the food is amazing. This is the best chinese food I have ever had and now going back to my home on the coast, i feel bad because I dont think I'll ever be able to eat local chinese again. Truly amazing and high quality food. And large portions! Infact they gave us extra!! The dumblings are unreal and really tasty and taste fresh, on top of that they arent soggy and they put a good amount of meat in them. The chicken tastes fresh as well... honestly the only chinese place that hasnt given me a headache from so much lard and MSG, as they seem to use very little, only enough to cover and fry the chicken/meat. Sorry for the long paragraph but this had to be said, and mind you I never do this but Hai San is amazing and every chinese food lover must go!! Ignore the few negative reviews honestly I really think that those who have wrote them(after reading them) have either no idea what thier talking about, dont like chinese food, or never had chinese food.

P.s. to the clueless ppl who seem to never been to a chinese takeout place: Most chinese restaurants, especially small ones, ARENT DINERS AND WERE NEVER REALLY MEANT TO SAOD DOWN AND EAT, order your food and go ya snobs lol.

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