Getting Hai in Decatur
- Zay
- Apr 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Hai Chinese Restaurant
My Rating: 4.0/5
Neighborhood: North Decatur
Address: 2641 N Decatur Rd, Decatur, GA 30033
Website:https://www.haieat.com
The city of Decatur (not Decatur where it's greater, but unincorporated DeKalb County) actually has a lot to offer. There are hella restaurants just in the Decatur Square, which me and bae have been to a couple of those places already, and even more if you consider all of Downtown Decatur. But the place we went to this time was in North Decatur in the Suburban Plaza Shopping Center, adjacent to Walmart on N. Decatur Rd and it shares the same plaza as Louisiana Bistreaux and Smoothie King. The name of the restaurant is Hai (pronounced "hi") Chinese Restaurant. I was looking forward to this for a few reasons; one, because bae was leaving to go on his Spring Break cruise the next day so this was our last chance to be with each other for a week, two, because I hadn't had Chinese in a long time and I was super hungry and Chinese food always hits the spot.
There are plenty of parking spots, so there was no worry there. They already got some cool points for that. The second we walked in, I was enamored by the interior. Obviously the smell of the food was enticing. We were greeted by the host and immediately seated. There were a good number of people there, and we sat next to a family of six. I love that we didn't have to wait. The second we sat down we noticed how large the chairs were. They were very comfortable. JD already knew what he wanted the Grandma's Noodles ($9). He loves dumplings, so he also ordered some of those (I can't remember the name of them). The Grandma's Noodles are actually an appetizer, but again, it's still a LOT of food. My hungry self knew I wasn't going to be okay with just an appetizer. I wanted to try something new, of course, so I ordered the Scallion Bubble Pancake ($6). I don't like having to wait too long for my entree so I also put in an order for the Gold Mountain Chicken ($19).
The Scallion Bubble Pancake comes out in literal huge cornflower bubble served with curry sauce. We deflated the bubble then ripped off pieces of it and dipped the pieces into the curry sauce. The bubble by itself is just literal thin cornbread, but dipped in that curry sauce makes it sooo good! There were four servings of dumplings. They were brought out in a covered saucer because they were kept hot. I believe they were chicken soup dumplings because when you pop them in your mouth and bite into it, your mouth is flooded with hot soup. These were very good as well, but you have to eat them with caution because they are hot and they can be messy if you try to bite it instead of putting it directly into your mouth. Yes, I know this because this is what I did the first time and cot soup all over my freshly washed pants.
JD told me that I didn't get a true experience/taste of it because I tried to bite into it, so he corrected me and I tried again with another dumpling. It was so good! Gooey and warm. My mouth was flooded with flavor when I popped it in right! The Grandma's Noodles are long wide noodles w. fresh garlic, scallions, cilantro, vinegar & hot chili oil. They were a bit spicy from the chili oil, and I don't like food that's too spicy. But I feel like that was jus the right amount of spice. I am also not a fan of thick noodles, but this was flavorful from the vinegar that was used to sauce it, and the garlic gave it that extra kick. I don't think I would have enjoyed it without the garlic. Now to my order, the Gold Mountain Chicken. Thankfully, it was served with a side of steamed rice. I guess I should have assumed that by it being a Chinese restaurant haha. Usually, I just pour my bowl of rice onto the plate of chicken, but JD told me he mixes his meat into the bowl of rice, so I tired that this time.
Essentially, this was sweet & sour chicken with different name. If I could describe it in one word, I'd say tender. The scallions and the carrots are a great combination with the chicken as well as the sesame seeds. I will say to eat them while they are hot, because when they get cold it gets hard. And the flavor just isn't the same when it is reheated; it's crunchier and kind of stale. Before we left, I had to try a beer. I got this Thai beer called Singha. Honestly, it doesn't taste any different or any stronger than American beer. It gave me the same light buzz that a Coor's Light would give me. The service was exceptional. They were very prompt and there was very little wait time. The total bill for both of our meals came up to just short of $50. I left them a $10 tip.
Overall, Hai Chinese Restaurant in Decatur is worth it. It's definitely a hidden gem of Chinese restaurants. No wait time. Great ambiance, Exceptional service. Large menu with a range of options beyond what you would find at your typical neighborhood Chinese restaurant. If you are ever in Decatur, check it out. You won't be disappointed!
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