What a great experience! I went there with my 2 year old and we both loved our dumplings and noodles. The tea was good too. The server was so sweet too. Can't wait to come back again. Very authentic. read more

My boyfriend and I come here every now and then after he gets off work around 8pm on Sundays, and it's become one of our favorite comfort food spots. So far, we've had the scrambled eggs with shrimp over rice, duck fried rice, shredded duck rice roll, and the XLBs, and everything has been consistently delicious. The scrambled eggs with shrimp are silky and comforting, the duck fried rice has great flavor without being overly greasy, and the shredded duck rice roll is something I find myself craving. The XLBs were juicy and flavorful too. One thing I really appreciate is how quickly the food comes out. Even when they're busy, service is efficient, so it's a great option when you're hungry and don't want to wait forever. The menu is huge, and there are still so many dishes I want to try. Based on everything we've had so far, I'm looking forward to working my way through more of the menu. I'll definitely be back! read more

Sam Wo Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was located towards the end of a street so it can be easily missed. At first glance, it looks pretty small but they took our party of 6 upstairs where they have more seating. The staff and servers were very friendly although it took a bit for them to return to our table to take our order. We had to flag someone down to help us but they were very gracious and helpful so it didn't bug us at all. The food came out super quick! Each item was fresh and delicious!! We noticed all the pork dishes we ordered (Bbq pork hand roll, steamed bbq pork bun, and sweet and sour pork) was so flavorful that it beats any Chinese restaurant we've had so far. We rate this 100/10!!! read more

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FAVORITE place in the Bay to eat Chinese food right in the middle of Chinatown! Everything was delicious! The only bad part--I didn't have a way to take my leftovers back to hotel because we had plans after we ate Service was great, we got to watch our food pretty much being prepared right in front of us. Inside the restaurant def gave mom and pop style-family vibes which is always a plus because I knew I was getting authentic food and not a chain-style plate. read more

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Ate at Sam Wonwith my husband and our two adult kids. The duck meat fried rice had a real good wok flavor. The wonton noodles were very chewy. We also eat string beans which was also very tasty. We went on a Saturday night - make sure to go early. There was a huge line when we were leaving . Service was efficient and good. read more

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We found this little gem while strolling around Chinatown. First of the service is incredible. My daughter wanted a specific food (salt and pepper fish) which was not on the menu, but they specifically accommodated and made it for her. AMAZING! The place is small but very cozy and clean. Thank you for making this first time trip to SF Chinatown such a memorable one for my family. read more

Sam Wo Restaurant - Amazingly delicious food. - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If you want a taste of "Old San Francisco," Sam Wo is a must-visit. Dating back to roughly 1907, it stands as one of the oldest establishments in Chinatown. ​The restaurant is split into two levels and is quite compact. ​Watch Your Head: The second floor has notably low ceilings. If you're tall or struggle with tight spaces (claustrophobia), it's something to keep in mind, though it adds to the quirky, historic charm. ​While the menu is smaller and more focused than your average Chinese restaurant, it hits all the nostalgic notes: ​The Legend: They are world-famous for their BBQ Pork Rice Rolls--a mandatory order. Instead of thin rice noodle rolls, this one is thick. ​You'll find traditional staples like wonton soup, savory porridge (congee), and various noodle and vegetable dishes. ​It's simple, no-frills, and steeped in history. Go for the rice rolls, stay for the century-old atmosphere. Overall the foid is just ok. It is the history that make it attractive for local and tourist. At last, don't expect a nice service. read more

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A lovely weeknight meal for some quick eats and WOW was this delicious. First off the ma po tofu was literally so good. Also loved the wonton soup. Bbq rice noodle rolls were obviously good as well. And just a walk away! It was cute and no-nonsense inside and all the food came out within 2 seconds. I can see why this place is famous. read more

Just when Sam Wo Restaurant closed its door for good, it reopened late last year! A small tea restaurant in the likes of Sam Wo lived up over 100 years. The rudest waiter in the world was never around, but the legacy he left behind breathes on. I'm glad to have the opportunity to dine in Sam Wo Restaurant this Sunday afternoon during the Community Street Fair. Less people with no long line; easier to spend time going for what I like to order from the menu. No need for tea since I had free glass bottle of water. Why? Because I was going to have Mapo Tofu with vegetables over rice, which was seasoned with Szechuan spices. I'm glad this type of spicy condiment wasn't overwhelming, so I got to enjoy every spoonful. Green Spinach Dumplings; they're filling, so I saved two of them to have my family try one. Next time I visit, I might other dim sum and dishes once I'm good and ready. If I were to visit Hong Kong one day, I'll only hope for a very pleasant 3 week round trip. But going to Chinatown in our big city by bus has been a smooth choice just as my parents go there every time for essential grocery shopping. read more

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I remember coming here a few decades ago and experiencing the rudest waiter in the world. I also remembered the food was good and rude waiter or not, we came back for the food. Happily, I was able to bring my adult niece to eat with me. I was pleasantly surprised that we didn't have to walk through the greasy kitchen to get a table, the configurations are now NORMAL. The entire place has been refreshed and very comfortable to dine in. Also, no more rude waiters :) We ordered a simple bowl of wonton noodles. The noodles were perfect and the wontons tasty. They only give you 4 lumps of wonton with your order. So, if you are a big eater, you better order more lumps. So much history in this restaurant. Everyone should dine here at least 1x in their life. YOLO! read more

Sam Wo Restaurant - Wonton noodles - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ouuuuu so good! The veg lo mein is awesome and they give you a great portion. I loved the egg custard bun they were soft and fluffy! The sesame chicken was good too. Friendly service, pretty quick, and clean restaurant read more

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Lunar New Year celebration dinner with hubby tonight. Sam Will Resturant - San Franciaco Chinatown Since 1909 Hot Sake Salt 'n Pepper Chicken Wings with fresh Japaleno Mongolian Beef With Jasmine Rice Sliced Fish Porridge, their 100 year old house recipe! Home style food and the new update decor with a touch of old fashion memories. You must visit, it a place of history! read more

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Sam Wo used to be a go-to late night dinner spot back when it was under the OG ownership. This was my first visit back under new ownership & unfortunately the food is just not the same. Our table ordered the beef chow fun, BBQ pork scrambled eggs over rice, BBQ rice noodle roll, XO sauce green beans, & sweet and sour chicken. Almost every dish was so salty, especially the scrambled eggs so thank goodness was there was rice underneath. The sweet & sour chicken was also so disappointing as it was mainly small bits of batter with almost no meat. Unfortunately, I don't see myself coming back if the quality of the food continues to taste like this. read more

Delicious food. Fast service. Had several dishes including sesame chicken, soup dumplings, fried rice and Mongolian beef. Would definitely go back again when I'm in SF! read more

It was my first time visiting this restaurant. It was a cold day, so I got a bowl of their wonton soup. The wontons tasted fresh. They were made with shrimp and pork. The soup also had bok choy in it. Delicious! I also saw the popular bbq rice noodle rolls on the menu & ordered a roll. It's enough for 2-3 people to enjoy. I was by myself and only ate 3/4 of 1 roll. Be sure to ask for some hot mustard to eat with them. (Beware this mustard is really hot, not spicy hot but wasabi hot. It'll definitely clear out your sinuses lol) It's a small and what seems like family ran place. There's tables on the main floor and more upstairs. (I didn't see what it looks like upstairs, so I'm not sure how big it is and how many tables are up there.) I will definitely be back to this spot! read more

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Sam Wo is one of those spots which has been around forever. There's lots of good options around Chinatown, and Sam Wo is among them. I'm glad it's open again! No issues with being seated straightaway for a party of 3 on a Wednesday night, though there have been times I've been on weeknights when the wait get to half an hour. The interior is fairly tight but there is another dining section upstairs for even more tables. Service is efficient and speedy: no frills. For this visit, my group got the chrysanthemum tea which came in a stylish and large pot, and we got plenty of pours out of it for three people. This place is definitely for family style, but there are "rice plate" alternatives for most items on the menu if you want to do individual dishes. We got the mapo tofu and beef with broccoli. Both were pretty good, and I would eat them again, but lacked a more flavorful profile which I would have enjoyed more/have found elsewhere. There was some confusion on the remainder of the order and we were almost given two other random dishes during our meal before getting our green onion pancakes. The pancakes were deliciously crispy and hot. Pay in cash to avoid the 3% credit card charge. They do have parking validation when you spend $45+. read more

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Rarely do I review the same place twice, but since Sam Wo closed and reopened under new ownership, I thought it would be appropriate. I was excited to try the reopened Sam Wo, but I felt like my recent experience here was a bit underwhelming. We walked in on a Wednesday evening around 6:15 pm and it wasn't too crowded. We were seating in their upstairs area. I went with a large group (there were 8-9 of us total) so we were able to try a ton of different items family style. We got: BBQ pork handroll rice noodle roll ($9) Shredded duck handroll rice noodle roll ($10) Shrimp dumplings ($5) Crispy onion pancake ($8) Wonton soup ($13) Ja jiang minced pork noodle ($16) Kung pao shrimp ($19) Ma po tofu - pork ($18) Beef chow fun ($18) I know they're known for their bbq pork rice noodle roll, so that's what I was most excited for, but it was disappointing. I found the bbq pork a bit dry and bland, and the rice noodle roll it was wrapped in was too thick. I actually liked the shredded duck more. Most of the other items were pretty standard. Nothing really stood out with the exception of the beef chow fun, which was by far my favorite dish of the night. It had a really good wok hei flavor, so you know they cooked it over a high flame. read more

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I dropped my 5 stars to 3 stars because I ordered 3 rolls and they brought out a new plate of made rolls and gave me 2 that has been sitting at the counter and one fresh roll., I also ordered won ton soup and also gave them a tip. Not happy about what I saw. I want to support small businesses. Plus the 2 rolls that was sitting was not fresh so I threw them away. read more

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Yum! I honestly ordered way more than my stomach can handle but there were so many things I wanted to try! I really enjoyed the rice noodle dish - I've never had it with duck before but I really enjoyed it. I would recommend soy milk (if that's your think). It reminded me of Hong Kong. Our server didn't speak much English but he was very nice and tentative to our needs! read more

Sam Wo Restaurant - Tomato beef chow mein Soy milk + donut Fish congee Duck rice noodles - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Authentic delicious chines restaurant right in the heart of China Town! I had the sesame chicken and my husband had Mongolian beef. They were so fresh and tasty! We also ordered duck fried rice and wow that rice was the incredible! The service was great and attentive. We also tried the shrimp dumplings but I think that was not my favorite but my husband liked it. The restaurant was clean and decorated appropriately. We shared a jasmine tea and I actually liked it and went well with our meal. I recommend this cute little restaurant. read more

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Visited this place while walking around Chinatown and looking for the best Chinese food in the area. While searching yelp and looking for authentic restaurants and asking for recommendations we stopped here and so glad I did. The service was awesome and welcoming. Food came out at a good time and the entire experience was great! The ambiance is remodeled but old school Chinese restaurant that's been in business 100 years is pretty cool! Now for the food it was delish especially the duck fried rice which I've never had. The food was cooked well and perfectly flavored and really enjoyed a more authentic meal and food. Yes while still Americanized it was good and different compared to what I'm used to eating and would visit this place again! read more

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solid spot in chinatown! Service was quick and efficient. We didn't have to wait long for our food. Sesame chicken - i liked how they used smaller bits of chicken so more surface area to get crispy. well-coated in the sauce, very saucy! String beans - classic, solid string beans. It was delicious. good crunch. BBQ Buns - Ive never been a huge fan of bbq pork buns but these seemed run-of-the-mill (in a good way!) Egg yolk buns - I've definitely had better buns. it felt like a lot of breading compared to the filling. Also, the filling was a bit dry. I had a great experience at this restaurant. It was fun exploring chinatown and then stopping inside this spot. read more

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First off, it is good to see that they are back! It is historic, and it is modernized somewhat - whenever they did the renovations. They are also reliable being open a little later than others. Many people and groups arrived in the later hours of operation. The star rating is given with affection and actually means they are more legit. It is a classic, no-frills restaurant. The usual dishes were found - classics once again - HK style and American Chinese ABC style. However, in the later hours, they were out of their signature, 100-year old traditional rice rolls. Almost every table tried to order it, so it was popular. We ordered their noodles - either won ton noodle soup or beef stew lo mein. The beef stew was good and tasted really good. It's what makes it reliable. However, the noodles were so-so but at least not bad and available. We were overall satisfied that we got dinner at this historic place, but I would advise that people arrive earlier for their specialties before they run out. read more

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Sam wo is open again (September 2025). Please be patient as the restaurant has only 2 employees. The rice noodle rolls are the special items here. Ordered a BBQ pork roll ($9) I think the wrap is a bit thick compared to other rice noodles at dim sum restaurants, though it has a good chew. Get the green bean with XO sauce ($17), super crispy and delicious. Note that XO sauce does contain shrimp and scallop. The veggies were fresh and it is always good to eat veggies! Fried wonton ($12) is okay, it is only filled with shrimp. Duck fried rice ($18) had few duck chunks, it was flavorful. Glad to see the restaurant is restored and featuring their well known menu items. read more

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I came with some friends for Sam Wo's reopening, since I had heard so much about it before, and we waited about 30 minutes to be seated - the upstairs was having some AC issues and was unbearably hot so it seemed like there was a bit of a wait because of this. The first floor is definitely a little tight in space, and the tables are a bit of squeeze. We got the BBQ Rice Noodle rolls, singapore noodles and har gow. I was really excited about the BBQ pork rice noodle rolls since I had hard great things, but this came cold with some sort of hot mustard sauce, neither of which I was expecting, and the rice noodle itself was rather thick. The singapore noodles were good but not too memorable. Surprisingly the har gow were pretty good compared to the other two dishes we had. I'm not sure if I didn't order the right things, but Sam Wo didn't stand out to me. It was nice to try it after everything I had heard about it, but I'm not sure I'll be back any time soon. read more

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Food was very good. BBQ Pork Rice Noodle Rolls were amazing. I am glad this place reopened. The porridge and Chinese Donut were good. Service was fast and friendly. They also close later than before. Pay in cash for 3% percent discount. read more

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Sam Wo, A legendary 100+ year-old Chinatown staple that still delivers the classics Brought in my family visiting the Bay area to this historic spot at 713 Clay St in SF Chinatown and it was a solid throwback meal. The place has that old-school no-frills energy (refreshed but still feels authentic), quick service, and generous portions at prices that actually make sense in the city these days. Scrambled eggs and beef over rice was exactly what I wanted, with soft, fluffy eggs with tender beef slices in a light savory sauce over steamed rice. Comforting and hits that classic cha chaan teng vibe. Beef stew dry mixed noodle was another highlight: tender, fall-apart beef stew (including those melt-in-your-mouth tendon pieces) tossed with chewy noodles and just the right amount of sauce. Super satisfying and authentic. Mapo tofu brought decent heat and numbing spice with silky tofu and ground meat flavorful but could've used a tiny bit more punch for my taste. Still cleaned the plate. BBQ pork rice roll (cheung fun) lived up to the hype as one of their top signature dishes: bouncy rice noodle sheets stuffed with BBQ pork, egg, and cilantro, served cold with that sinus-clearing spicy mustard on the side. The mustard is still dangerous in the best way. It gets busy (lines can form, especially at lunch), parking in Chinatown is the usual nightmare (garage or circle blocks), and it's cash-friendly but they take cards now. Nothing mind-blowing or fancy, but that's the point -- reliable, old-school Cantonese comfort food that's been feeding SF for over a century. Worth the hassle to find parking for a taste of real Chinatown history. I have no doubt that I'll be back again soon. read more

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Well, we ate the before picture. Lol! Service was very quick once we ordered. The restaurant is small but there's roughly 12 tables between downstairs and upstairs. It's not the original 1906 decor. More recent update. It's very suited for a casual meal. Loved the rice noodle roll, green beans (delicious sauce), and scallion pancake. The tomato beef was a bit sweet for my taste but still very good. The beef was tender and a decent size for sharing. I will absolutely be back. read more

Sam Wo Restaurant - Up stairs to small dining room - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was abhorrent. Got the Szechuan chicken, which consisted of undercooked chicken thigh bits in a watery brown gravy. If not for the Szechuan peppers and handful of peanuts haphazardly tossed atop it, you would've assumed this was the entree de jour at the local county jail. Also got the salted egg yolk buns. This was the only thing keeping this review from being 1-star, and even these were 80% bun, 20% filling, 100% cost-cutting measure. Curse you, Sam Wo. read more

Great authentic and delicious Closed then reopened with new owners but same spectacular Ala cart Chinese tradition they've had for 12 decades!!! Go! Then go back when you want dumplings , pork rolls and killer won ton soup 16 read more

I found this spot from a TikTok lol. The Rice noodle Roll was super good and the pork was well seasoned inside, The Shrimp dumplings were only 3 for $8 which is really overpriced in my opinion. Also a can of Soda Pop was $3 each. The Fried dumplings were delicious and fresh. Overall enjoyed my DimSum but I in good conscious wouldn't pick this as a top spot with so many amazing options in China Town. read more

Had a craving for Bbq pork noodle roll and was in Sf. To my surprise the total order was $30.24 for 2 Bbq pork noodle rolls And 2 Chinese donuts! While it tasted good .. but sooo much higher in price - I'm tempted to try to learn how to make the noodle rolls. read more

For some of the most authentic Chinese food in San Francisco, head to this 100-year-old institution in Chinatown. Sam Wo has been around since 1908, and they're famous for these insanely delicious BBQ pork rice noodle rolls with hot mustard. This is honestly one of the best bites I've ever had in Chinatown. Just don't be like me... that hot mustard is no joke. We walked in for lunch with no wait, and food came out fast. We also tried the duck meat fried rice and the wonton noodle soup with tender stewed beef, both absolute hits. I can't wait to come back and try more dishes, If you only visit one restaurant in Chinatown, make it this one. read more

Saw on the news the other night that the Phoenix will soon be rising from the ashes. For now, the retired chef will be training the new staff on how to properly create 90% of the dishes that Sam Wo is known for. Let's hope that they can pull this off at reasonable prices! read more

I used to love this place when it was on Washington street. Decided I had to go back since hearing about the closure and reopening. The popular rice noodle roll that I used to get back in the day was always my go to dish. I would come here just for the rolls. They are different than the old master chef who used make this dish, close but not the same. read more

Sam Wo Restaurant - BBQ Pork Rice Noodle Roll - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great time here at Sam Wo! We were in China town and looking for a great local place to eat and stumbled across this restaurant. Upon entering, we were greeted by a nice employee who led us to our table. The table was very clean and the seating was nice. The workers are very efficient at making and taking your order, having taken our order under five minutes of sitting there, which they also made sure we were ready to order. I had gotten the Singapore Curry stir fried rice noodles. This was very delicious. The noodles were of great quality and the chicken and shrimp in there were very good. Throughout the time eating our food we were asked how it tasted and if we needed anything else, in addition to being refilled with water. Excellent service at Sam Wo Restaurant and I will be returning again when I'm back in San Francisco. read more

Sam Wo Restaurant - Singapore-Style Chow Mai Fun - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

At first, the restaurant looks small, but there's actually an upstairs! The restaurant is very clean, including the restroom, and there was a very minimal wait time. Make sure to try the hot mustard! read more

Sam Wo Restaurant - Beef Chow Fun - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sam Wo recently changed hands in ownership so it is definitely a name. My mom and I went there thinking they were closing permanently. The menu prices are quite different read more

This might really be the end of the line for Sam Wo! SF Chinatown's oldest restaurant has been slated to close multiple times in the past, but according to the latest, there's no one to take over once co-owner and chef David Ho retires! It was worth making one last visit to this historic Chinese American institution. The most iconic, unique dish was the BBQ Pork Noodle Roll, a thick sheet of rice flour dough wrapped around shredded BBQ pork, and served with their signature hot mustard on the side. Other items were more typical for Chinese American fare--the Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings were deep-fried and tossed with chopped scallions and jalapeños (but were a bit lacking in flavor). The Combination Wonton Soup came with wontons, beef slices, BBQ pork strips, shrimp, and bok choy in chicken broth; the Chicken with Bok Choy was stir-fried in a savory sauce; and the Singapore Noodles were rice noodles stir-fried with curry powder, BBQ pork, shrimp, egg, and bell peppers. Overall, the food here was super affordable though average in flavor and quality. Nevertheless, it was worth it to make one last visit and bid farewell to this iconic restaurant! read more

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Returned with my mom while at the Chinese New Year Flower Fair. Since it was the last Saturday that they were open for business and there was the street fair, it was very crowded. The wait wasn't too long though (~30 minutes) and this time we were seated at a two-top. Our order: 叉烧卷粉 B.B.Q. Pork Noodle Roll: $5.99 +Rice noodles were soft and not too thick. +Filled w/plenty of BBQ pork +Comes w/side of yellow mustard to add as needed -Rice noodles seemed haphazardly rolled: Lots of rips and tears -BBQ pork was cold. 牛腩幹撈雲吞麵 Beef Stew Dry Mixed Noodle ($11.99) +Consistent quality: It tasted the same as last time! 及弟粥 Pork Organs Jook: $10.50 +Jook was soft, fluffy, and comforting. +Good mix of organs that were cleaned and cooked well: None of that funk! +Scallions on top added color and fragrance. Side notes: 1.) Prices were higher than those posted online. 2.) Walking distance from Chinatown Station *Verdict: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Due to the large crowds, service wasn't as prompt as my previous visit. They were swamped with takeout orders as well. However, we received our food relatively quickly, and as usual portions were generous for the price. They've closed on Sunday, 1/26/25 but based on notices posted in the restaurant and on the website it seems like there might be a comeback... read more

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