08/24/09

Sam Who is absolutely awesome!

by ALeUH

What can I say other than, “Sam Who is absolutely awesome!” This place is a true hole in the wall by definition. You have to walk through a kitchen an up a narrow stairwell just to get to the seating area, it’s an experience in itself.

Prices are ridiculously cheap, and portions are exceptionally large! For $10 you can feed two people with leftovers to spare. They are open until 4:00am EVERYDAY and about a 10 minute walk from North Beach. Seriously, if you are ever in Chinatown and looking for a dirty little whole in the wall with authentic Chinese eats, check this place out you will not be disappointed.

Oh, did I mention it is bring your own beer! How can you not love this place??

06/22/09

Funniest Place for Chinese food!

by peekagirl

We have been to Sam Wo's twice in the last 25 years. Once by accident and the other on purpose when we needed a fix from the surly, overworked waitress.

I know this does not sound like much of an endorsement, but if you go to Sam Wo's with a few bucks in your pocket and a hungry tummy, you'll get decent food for a low price.

If you go looking for high-brow service, stay away.

On our last visit, the harried waitress kept shreiking "broccoli chicken, who order broccoli chicken?" The smart patron eventually raised his or her hand and took the broccoli chicken even if it was not what they ordered, because who knows when you might get your actual order.

Go to Sam Wo's with a sense of humor and a lot of patience. We were chuckling and having a grand time as other patrons were leaving in a huff, not seeing the humor of the situation.

We paid for the dinner of two seriously broke Brits who chose the place for the low prices.

On our first visit umpteen years ago, the service was no better but our memories are just as clear, especially of the waitress who smacked my husband and then thought it hysterical.

We love Sam Wo's and you should too!

• Pros: The shreiking waitress, cheap eats
• Cons: Everyone gets broccoli chicken -- joking

02/12/09

ONLY GET THE WON TON SOUP AND PORK NOODLE ROLL!

by twagcalif

I have two things to say: 1) Pork Noodle Roll 2) Won Ton Soup. No other chinese restaurant makes pork noodle roll. It is sweet bbq chinese pork with cilantro rolled up into a cold rice noodle and sliced. You dip it into hot mustard sauce and it melts in your mouth. It is my most favorite treat in the world. They used to make it only for lunch so I would make any excuse to drive the 30 miles from Walnut Creek so I could get it. Now it is served anytime.

The won ton soup broth and pork won tons are the most delicious I have ever eaten. If you order shrimp won ton soup it isn't shrimp in the won tons, the shrimps are placed floating on top of the broth and pork won tons. All the won ton soups are the same broth and pork won tons it is just the specific thing you order that is put on top like bbq pork strips, shrimp, etc. There is no better won ton soup in the world.

If you go there don't get the lame spring rolls or other typical chinese fair you can get anywher get these two menu choices and you will become a believer too.

And when you leave tell the cooks how delicious it was!

twag

• Pros: Best Won Ton soup in the world, and NO ONE ELSE makes Pork Noodle Rolls!
• Cons: If you are an Armani bling bling freak don't waste your precious time there.

12/27/08

Most bizarre Chinese restaurant (and not in a good way)

by duke123456789

By far, it was the most bizarre restaurant we have ever been to. The ambiance is unpleasant and the food is borderline edible. It's really a miracle that this restaurant survived thus far. We were somewhat amused by the seemingly overworked lone waitress and would never come back unless there is a need to punish our children :)

• Pros: can't think of any
• Cons: just about everything about this place

07/08/08

Cheap, Edible and Oh-So-SF

by lindaode

This is Chinatown, and this restaurant is not a tourist trap at all!

I doubt that tourists would brave these conditions, it is far too funky for the Denny's crowd.

This is the place that late night North Beach beat/hip/poor/struggling/desperate and hungry types have frequented for many many years, just to stay alive! Where else can you eat for $3!

It's authentic beat/psychedelic/whatever as far back as anyone can recall. I have never seen any Chinese people eating there, however---never a good sign.

The wait people have always been a show unto themselves, gruffly telling you what to order: Roseanne- Barr- only- Chinese. These days the waitress/waiters are more mild mannered, but still quirky.

Order the shrimp and broccoli over rice, it's consistently good AND cheap. The won ton soup is pretty iffy the last several years. Never order anything beef, or sweet and sour anything. Avoid the dessert even if it's free. If you have plenty of $$ and want great food, go elsewhere.

In short, the place is so unique it warrants a visit. You'll never forget it! We never fail to go there when in SF, if only to reminisce about the 60's when we relied on Sam Wo for our very survival!

• Pros: bizzarre wait staff, super cheap
• Cons: marginally edible food

11/20/07

Very Traditional and Cheap!

by sleepypanda1029

This is the only place you will find it authentic... Why? They impressed me by continuing to use the very old and traditional northeastern Chinese restaurants' method of #1 Having the chef cooking right where you walk in, #2 Having waiters and waitresses communicating from the 3rd and 2nd floor where the customers sit, #3 Having the wooden tables and chairs that are nowadays replaced by the modern furnitures in most other restaurants, #4 They still use the robe elevators for sending orders down to the 1st floor and sending food back up with a ring of a bell. #5 They have the best beef thick rice noodles, the chef kept it very original and thats why I would order it every time I go. If you choose to sit on the 3rd floor, you pick the side window view, it allows you to enjoy the interaction of the busy chinatown street. I was born and raised in China, and it brings me back those old Chinese traditional restaurants... the memory of the childhood. P.S. They kept it traditional enough... that... they don't take any card forms... cash only!

• Pros: Service, Traditional, Cheap, Original of the food, Enhance your experience of Chinese culture
• Cons: Parking (Find a Garage), Noisy outside, Entrance is small (can be hard to find)

08/22/07

Open Late Night

by berkshiregirl

We were walking around Chinatown at 10:00 p.m. trying to find an open restaurant and stumbled upon Sam Wo's. What a trip. They say they've been open for 100 years, well I believe it from the condition of the restaurant. But who cares about the atmosphere if the food is good? And it was. And cheap. I was more amazed at the diversity of the customers; ranging from 20 somethings to senior citizens. Go figure that this no frills restaurant attracts so many different folks.

• Pros: Quick and reasonably priced.
• Cons: Uncomfortably small and noisey

05/18/07

Best chinese food in SF!

by luunick408

This place is a straight hole in the wall. You walk in through the kitchen and walk upstairs to be seated. The incredibly low prices is the first thing you'll notice when you open the menu. I would say that everything on the menu is good. The chow mein, chow fun, fried rice, meats, soups, noodle soups... you name it. It's all pretty good. It opens till 3 in the morning everyday. Very good spot to go to after the club. This is real authentic chinese food that is surprisingly not greasy as most other places. Do not come here expecting high customer service because you'll be disappointed. Highly recommended.

• Pros: Good food!
• Cons: Parking, service

11/10/06

Best Chinese food anywhere.

by athenaofamerica

What can I say about Sam Wo's? Only that it's the best Chinese food I've had anywhere in the U.S. It's a complete hole-in-the-wall, but well worth the hike through busy Chinatown. You walk in through the kitchen and upstairs to sit on short stools at a marble slab table. The atmosphere is crowded and noisy, but if you want an elegant dining experience you should probably be eating in another neighborhood. The food is unbelievably delicious and the prices can't be beat. Everyone should try the BBQ pork rice noodle roll at least once - while its appearance is less than appealing to those who are not accustomed to the slimy texture of the rice noodle (which is why my family calls them "slimeys"), the taste is extraordinary. If you're not a fan of vegetables, order them without the cilantro. Other delights include the chow mein, BBQ pork fried rice, and Chinese donuts (try them with or without sugar!). A group of 3-4 can eat for $25 or less. When you're done, walk up Washington Street to burn off your meal, if you so desire. An unbeatable San Francisco experience!

• Pros: Tasty food, great prices
• Cons: None!

11/01/06

Try to Pork Noodle Roll

by yummy1104

if you come to this landmark restaurant, you absolutely MUST try to pork noodle roll. my family likes to call this delictable treat "chinese sushi," as it is a wide rice noodle stuffed with thin bits of pork, and other various ingredients. dip it into the hot mustard to top it off. whenever i order this dish, chinese customers sitting by me always exclaim they are surprised an american would know to order this dish. i have never eaten something like this anywhere else and always make sure to stop by sam wo's whenever i am in chinatown, just so i can get my pork noodle roll fix.

• Pros: pork noodle roll, ambience
• Cons: none!