Love this place!!! Great customer services and the pho is great but it's not enough noodles for a medium bowl!! That was the only downside!!! It was more of a small bowl. read more

Sam is super nice and friendly. He makes it his mission to make you feel like family. This is my go to spot for pho or kao soi

EDIT: Good thai food in Merced, place still ghetto, a paintjob will do wonders!

Good Pad Thai Sam is great, he's really friendly and will come up and talk to you, when I order I get it as spicy as possible but it's never enough for me luckily they have Sriracha at every table read more

Best Thai food in Merced... Sam is the man. That's all you need to know.

Went here for lunch today. Food was good I like the Combo Pad Thai and the extra spiciness to it added to the flavor. The thing that I hope is improved is customer service. Two individuals of our group had to wait for their food and supposedly they were "forgotten" and asked to "speak up". The server took their orders so the assumption is that they would get their meal at the same time as every one else. It makes absolute sense for the server to check up on the customers to see if everyone has received their meal. The restaurant was not even busy during the specific time I went. read more

The food here is excellent. The owners Sam & his wife are amazing people. They will make you feel like family. And Sam he speaks Spanish and he's Thai. You'd think he's half Mexican lol. If you go to this restaurant you won't regret it. Keep in mind this food isn't Americanized. It's true authentic Thai food. read more

Sam Cafe - Pad Thai with fried tofu extra pad Thai sauce spice level 7 extra peanuts! - Thai Near Me - Merced, California

This place is great! Not the greatest area, but the food is excellent. The pad Thai noodles, spring rolls, and chicken fried rice are delicious!!! I recommend this place! read more

Sama is great! I haven't been there for over a year, but I still crave it... Sam himself is one of the best things about this place! He makes your visits enjoyable and he is super friendly... He knows my favorite dish, spicy level, my name and even my relationship status. If only he knew when I'd find the right woman... He'd be perfect lol read more

We got takeout at Sam Cafe and it was really good! I had Chicken Prik King over steamed rice, which was a good amount of spicy for me. The sauce was a bit thinner than I would have expected, but the chicken was cooked to absolute perfection and really absorbed all the flavors nicely. The vegetable spring rolls we ordered were also really good, even though I was skeptical at first glance because they were thinner and less flaky than I am accustomed to, the flavor was perfect and they tasted lighter. The takeout was pretty quick and only took about 15 minutes from when we called in a large order. read more

I went here because of the reviews. Based on the reviews something is really wrong. Now the food is not terrible but it was not what I expected from a Thai place. My guess is the people who raved about this place have never had any other Thai food. read more

Basil shrimp was incredible, but they skimped on the spiciness even though I wanted an 8/10.....but I added house hot sauce and it was fine. Friendly staff, attentive on the drink refills. Took a while to get.the checks, but overall really good. read more

Food was just ok. I dropped in here from my trip back from Yosemite. Service is ordinary. I'd probably try another place next time to compare. Nothing special to bring me back to the same place. read more

Sam Cafe - View from inside. - Thai Near Me - Merced, California

I look forward to talking to Sam when I dine here. He usually cooks a few dishes and then walks around the tables, talking to the customers. The food is always excellent. The only complaint I have is that he uses bell peppers in almost every single dish; bell peppers, rather than a wide variety of vegetables, are the main veggie he uses. Other than that, every menu item is very well prepared:) Thank you, Sam:) read more

just ordered to-go during covid... best thai food i've had in america, tofu is perfect, combo pad thai was amazing, pineapple fried rice was delicious NOT TO MENTION the fresh crispy imperial rolls!! read more

Sam Cafe is a nice little place off the CA-59. Being a UC student, looking for fine dining at an affordable place is not only a challenge but necessary for survival. The food is excellent. The cooks behind Sam's doors definitely know their craft. From the rich flavors of the curry to the soul-warming soup to the burn-your-tongue-off-if-you-desire pan fried dishes, you really can't go wrong ordering if you had a blind fold and pointed to something. The atmosphere itself is less fine dining and more corner restaurant. The place itself is very clean, and generally isn't busy so waiting is never an issue. I believe the only times my party had to wait to be seated were for special events that Sam hosted for UC organizations. Service is very prompt, with my water never reaching the bottom third of the glass. Food comes out fairly quickly too, thus making this place also great for lunch breaks. The servers are very friendly, and are always helpful when asked for suggestions. Of course, no review of Sam's Cafe would be complete without mentioning the man himself. Sam shows great dedication to his craft, and it shows through his food. He is very friendly and always ensures that your dining experience is as good as it can get. In my opinion, the reason that a lot of people like this restaurant is simply because of Sam. Of course, with all this praise it's a wonder I didn't give it 5 stars. It's location is not the best for those of us living on the Northern side of Merced (where most of the UC students live). Also, unfortunately, the slight increase of prices makes this place less competitive with other restaurants of the same variety. Having said that, however, it is still a great bargain for anyone looking for a good dining experience for under 15 Dollars. read more

The food is great. I always get the combo pad Thai. Sam is great but one of the waitresses is a little odd and last time we were in just kind of left us off in the corner, no drinks or anything. The food is always worth the wait here. read more

This place is a gem. The food is excellent- try the tom yum gai soup for something unparallelled in Northern California. I promise- I'm a thai food addict and have searched in vain for a good thai place that serves soup as good as this. To no avail. Sam is also always there, willing to make food exactly how you like it. The best restaurant in Merced for sure. I can't praise this place enough. He even spoke to me on the phone about how to replicate a recipe I really liked. read more

I have been to this place twice First time is my first day when I arrive in Merced This place is very authentic and look very similar to how they decorated in Thailand I didn't meet Sam (the owner) at the first time however I have been impressed with Pad Thai and spicy pork. My second time visit there, I was with my friends to celebrate their birthday Sam was here, he is very friendly and help choosing Thai dishes for my friends Waitress also help me surprise my friends with the cake , they are all very nice and friendly We all enjoy the food that we ordered (Pad Thai, Papaya salad, Galic chicken and curry), they are all very good Thinking of Thai food this place will not disappoint you read more

I love Love love this place! Now I get why merced locals rave about it! Everything is delicious and served promptly, unlike most other Asian restaurants the staff here is very friendly and accommodating! They go way out of your way to make you comfortable from making special dishes for you to just having casual-non intrusive conversation with you. When me and my husband went there the bar tender was off but we ordered a drink, the staff there didn't know how to make said drink but they went as far as googling it to properly make it for us and even gave us an extra one at no extra charge because they messed up the first time! Will definitely go back. I recommend their house friend rice and seafood pho! read more

Sam's Cafe is the best place for pad thai in Merced; hands down. Hes also one of the nicest people youll ever meet, especially in Merced! He makes it an effort to know all of his 'kids' aka students and just recently (last year or so), he brings his food to UC Merced on some days to sell during lunch time. Food has always been consistent and the pad thai flavor is just right. Id come over here more often if it were located in North Merced! read more

This place has the best Thai food in town. Everyone is so friendly and the food is so delicious. We keep coming back. The pad Thai is a Must try! read more

Its SAM CAFE. Its bomb food man. There is nothing else to say. Best Thai in town. Say hi to Sam. He whip you up some mean good food.

My sister goes to UCM and every time my parents go to visit her, they all go out to eat at Sam's Cafe. This is also the same place that delivers food to UCM once a week, I believe. Although my family has been here quite a few times, this was my first time going here with them. Sam, the owner, is a very welcoming and funny guy! He pulled up a chair to our table and was joking around with my little brother while we placed our order with him. We ordered the vegetarian Pad Thai, Pad Se Ew with chicken, the Yellow Curry with chicken, Chicken Satay, & Veggie Spring Rolls (fried kind). The Pad Se Ew, a favorite of mine at other Thai restaurants, was pretty bland. He didn't ask me how spicy I wanted it but despite that, there wasn't much flavor to it. I had to add soy sauce just so it has some flavor. However, the noodles were well cooked and there was a good amount of carrots, broccoli, and chicken in the dish. Would I order it again? Maybe. But if it didn't have any flavor again, then I wouldn't give it a third try. The Yellow Curry with Chicken was pretty good! There was a good amount of curry, which I like, because most places don't give a lot. The chicken was perfectly cooked. The potatoes and carrots in the curry were well flavored due to the seasonings in the curry itself. The Chicken Satay was also pretty good. Well cooked and large pieces of chicken. It came with peanut sauce and the sugary water dipping sauce. The Veggie Spring Rolls were not up to par. They were dry, bland, and almost empty on the inside. They didn't taste too fresh. I've definitely had better spring rolls before. Although it is in a very run down and sketchy part of Merced, I would still go here another time to give some of their other dishes a try. The food overall was okay and I've had better, but Sam really makes the visit worth it! read more

Never had duck before . Had Sam's roasted duck with the spicy pineapple sauce . Now my favorite meat . Never thought it could be so good . Roasted to perfection . Definitely give it a try if you like duck or are feeling adventurous . Won't be let down . I know I will be going back for it for sure . read more

I was first introduced to Thai food when my cousin married a woman from Thailand about 15 years ago. And all I can say is that Sam cooks exactly like she does. I never would have imagined I could find true, tasty, authentic Thai food in Merced, but Sam's is where it's at. Many people don't like the area where the restaurant is located, but just walk in the door, and you'll see that Sam treats every customer as if they are guests in his home. He spends time at every table, and ensures that you get exactly what you're expecting. And I find his spicy rating to be very accurate. My favorite dish is the chicken panang. I get a level 3 if I'm sharing with others; a 5 if I'm eating it solo. read more

Delicious food! And the boss was so nice.But be careful, the spicy scale is a little confusing.. We ordered pad Thai for scale 2 and Tom Tum Goong for scale 6, but the pad Thai was crazy hot! The boss gave us another plate of pad Thai and no recharge, which I am very appreciated. One of their waitress is very unpleasant. She put the menu on the desk next to us for 10 minutes, and they were supposed to be ours. Then we said "thank you" when she brought us the ice water, she replied nothing, even not looked at us. Reacted very slowly as well. No smile during the meal, the boss took the responsibility and was so nice. I would like to pay tips for the boss. And she is the reason why I can't rate 5 stars. read more

Worst Thai food I've ever had, the soup made my fiancé sick and I tryed a little bit of it and it made me sick too. The pad Thai wasn't bad it was just overly spicy but not like any of the Thai restarants I usually eat at. The service wasn't very great either. By the reviews I would have thought this place would be excellent but not true at all. read more

Always a safe bet. Combo Padthai is the way to go. Offers varied spice level...1-10. Also does take out which is good for a busy professional. read more

The staff was super helpful for us. We were pretty high maintenance since we had a small child and we initially ask for everything to go. But they were very accommodating and the food was delicious as well. I really enjoyed my broccoli beef dish and my companion enjoyed her beef salad and pad thai as well. read more

I had a great experience eating here at Sam Cafe! It was my first time eating at a Thai restaurant and Sam Cafe was a wonderful first impression. The owner was VERY friendly, and there was a great, friendly atmosphere. Also, the food was delicious! The combo pad thai was very well-seasoned and I highly recommend it. read more

All in All, not bad. Place is a bit dark and out of date inside, but I usually dont care when the food is goo. I had the Panang Beef. It was tasty and lean... sauce was good, service friendly. I would say a slightly above average. I would go back when i'm passing by again. .. but may try another :-) read more

Food was amazing, but the service wasn't. They were nice and friendly, but the waitress taking our order literally forgot 2 of the main dishes we ordered, and gave us the wrong type of curry (they gave panang, instead of green like we had ordered.)But regardless of all the ordering errors, whatever actually came out was very very good. Flavors were on point, and the curry was thick, not watery like a lot of other thai spots. read more

Okay 2 stars just because of the amazing service. I'm probably going to be hated by a lot of fans of Sam Cafe, but I'm going to be bluntly honest and say...I go to restaurant to enjoy good food and mildly a good atmosphere vs. an AMAZING friendly atmosphere. The food in my opinion, is way too salty. I never want to say anything because they are so nice that I just deal and try to eat it along with downing tons of water. The way they cook their food is nothing really special to me, sometimes it's too spicy that I can't taste anything or it's just off setting. Their Pho is not good nor should they label it Pho because it's nothing close to it. Lucky Pho (use to be Rice Bowl) is the best in Merced and T-Asian Bistro would be next on my list and they aren't even Vietnamese like Lucky Pho is. Sam Cafe should just renamed their dish so people don't misinterpret it as Pho. I really dislike the lighting in this place and location. It's too dimmed and the surround places around this restaurant makes it seem less appealing. The decor, is alright. I think people come here because of the great and friendly service vs. the food. read more

A very friendly staff and tasty food made this a great place to warm up after working in the rain all day. The red pork and sticky rice was awesome. The combination Pad Thai was great too. If you like spicy, they sure as heck can make your food as hot as you like!!! The staff was very attentive and wanted to make sure we enjoyed our food. read more

The pad thai is delicious. I'ts all super affordable. Plus the chefs super friendly to UC students.

I got the pad thai, because of all the reviews. The noodles are excellent, taste really good, but like sticks together and clumps together for some reason. Honestly though the combo pad thai says it has chicken shrimp, and beef. There is shrimp in it, but the chicken and beef is like non-existent, rarely any in it. The amount is not that much. For the price, the amount is lacking. Those are the only two problems I have with the dish, the amount of food and the amount of protein in the food. Otherwise the owner Sam is a terrific host. Extremely Friendly, and talkative. Very nice. read more

Great food made to order. They even made me a few items that were not on the menu. Very spacious and clean. We went in for lunch were seated, ordered and served quickly and the owners very attentive. Give it a try. I look forward to coming back soon. read more

Use to love sams. But honestly something has changed. It just doesn't have the same Sam flair anymore. I mostly eat it at the uc campus now which is bland and oily. I can only hope the restaurants quality hasn't been compromised as well... things to try though: panang. Pad thai. And get it spicy read more

cool little place on the other side of the tracks. it's seldom that we venture this far south, but sam's cafe is like a diamond in the rough (aladdin reference). this is the only thai place i've been to where i asked them to make my pad thai as spicy as humanly possible and i was seriously melting in my seat from the heat. first time in my life where i said, "wow, this is actually too spicy." i somewhat believe that it's also due to the fact that i am not as young as i used to be, so bouncing back as quickly as before is out of the question. the only the thing really urked me a bit was that it took them over 30 mins just to ask us what we wanted to order to go. luckily, i had my buddy with me and we were playing games on his iPhone. that little device still amazes me. is there anything it can't do? anyways, this place is worth checking out if you ever have a hankering for thai food. if you don't want to drive that far south, there's always thai cuisine. read more