My favorite dish here is Beef Chow Fun with black bean sauce. Generous tender slices of beef. I bring my own Worcestershire Sauce. Truly traditional Cantonese food here. Every time I eat the same Beef Chow Fun you can see I posted another picture of what I was served. read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Beef Chow Fun with black bean sauce . $17.95 is my favorite dish on the menu. - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Sam Woo was basically my childhood. I grew up frequenting the 626 locations, and I was genuinely heartbroken when the Irvine location closed since it was so much closer to me. So imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon this one while wandering through 99 Ranch Market. Seeing that familiar sign felt like running into an old friend. I came in near the end of my work shift planning to grab a to-go box, but the hot serving line had already been cleaned up. The auntie at the register sweetly encouraged me to dine in instead and told me to have a seat. Honestly, who am I to say no to an auntie? Within a minute, she brought out a hot pot of complimentary tea, and it was exactly what my tired soul needed after work. Free hot tea feels like an endangered species these days, so that alone earned major points. The menu was a little steeper than I remembered, so I settled on the seafood juk (Cantonese rice porridge), which was only about $10 and seemed like one of the better deals. The auntie warned me it would be a huge portion, and I laughed and said I probably wouldn't finish it anyway. Then the bowl arrived. She wasn't kidding. This thing looked like it could feed a small family- or just me after a long shift. The shrimp were gloriously jumbo, there was a generous amount of fish fillet and squid, and my first thought was, oh yeah... this is going to hit the spot. Sadly, it did not. The very first spoonful was... lukewarm. Not warm. Not hot. Not "careful, you'll burn your tongue." More like, "Did this porridge take a scenic carousel spin through the microwave before being halted halfway through?" It was especially disappointing because everything in it looked so good. I did wonder if it was because I came in during the last half hour before closing, but even then, porridge is one of those dishes that practically begs to be served piping hot. Thankfully, the service made up for some of it. The auntie was incredibly kind from start to finish and even chatted with me a bit while I paid. Her warmth was, ironically, hotter than the porridge. Sam Woo will probably always have a special place in my heart because of the nostalgia alone. This visit didn't quite deliver the comforting experience I remembered, but I'm willing to chalk it up to bad timing. Next time, I'm hoping both the memories and the juk come out nice and scalding. read more

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It's been a while since I've been here so we decided to stop in for dinner. They have both a dining room and a to-go counter. As soon as we walked in we were seated right away. Tea came out piping hot followed by our waters. We had a few questions about the menu and the staff was very patient and welcoming while helping us decide. We ended up ordering the Roast Duck and Roast Pork over Rice, the Combination Crispy Egg Noodles, the Beef Chow Fun, and the Sam Woo Hot Pot. The roast duck and roast pork always do it for me. The meats were tender and flavorful just like I remembered. They also brought out duck sauce and chili oil on the side which made everything even better. My only complaint is that I wish there was a little more of that savory sauce over the rice because that's honestly my favorite part. The Combination Crispy Egg Noodles were another solid choice. I liked how the gravy slowly softened the crispy noodles while still leaving a little crunch. It came loaded with shrimp, fish, pork, char siu, and vegetables. I just wish the gravy had a little more flavor because it tasted a little bland. The Beef Chow Fun was easily the best dish of the night. The portion was huge and they didn't skimp on the beef. There were plenty of bean sprouts and green onions throughout. The noodles had that perfect chewy texture and everything was seasoned really well. I'd come back just for this dish. The Sam Woo Hot Pot was probably the only thing that didn't really do it for me. It had a lot of the same ingredients as the crispy noodles but served in a sizzling hot pot. I liked the mushrooms and tofu the most. Some of the meat and seafood felt a little dry which was surprising for a hot pot. This was a solid dinner. Nothing really blew me away besides the Beef Chow Fun but everything was satisfying and the service was great. read more

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Ordered to go a roast duck, roast pork, and char siu. Sam Woo is the best in town for these items. We love coming here for celebrations or ordering to go to celebrate at home. The char siu is a great balance of meat and fat parts, the roast duck is always flavorful and the roast pork has a great crunch. read more

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05/08/2026 -Shrimp w/ Green Pepper in Black Bean Sauce ($24.95) -- Tasty sauce and perfectly cooked shrimp, though the onion and green pepper weren't the freshest. -Deep-Fried Crispy Intestines ($19.95) -- crispy and full of flavor! -Rice ($2.00) Note: They offer complimentary hot tea, making them one of the few restaurants that still do. I had a wonderful early Mother's Day lunch here. read more

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Wouldn't let me order just the 1 combo plate orange chicken and side of green beans had to get a 3 item combo plate instead. It was the MUSHIEST orange chicken I've ever had, unfortunately. The whole plate was ladened with oil. You can't pay be credit card either . I took a few bites but ended up throwing it all away, unfortunately. Don't recommend this place if you have a sensitive stomach to a ton of oil. read more

CRISPY. JUICY. ADDICTIVE. If you're craving legit Hong Kong BBQ... this spot hits DIFFERENT At San Wo HK BBQ you get: Crispy roasted pork (perfect crackling!) Juicy soy sauce chicken BBQ pork that melts in your mouth Portions = generous Prices = super reasonable Flavor = 100/10 This is the kind of place locals don't want you to know about... but I'm telling you anyway San Diego hidden gem Would you try this?? https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8gY94CX/ read more

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This was our grocery run at one of my favorite Asian supermarkets in San Diego, so of course I was so happy we finally got to try San Wo Chinese Restaurant first. My husband ordered the roast duck lo mein, and I was craving something warm and comforting, so I got the preserved egg with pork porridge and beef stew. We loved everything! I've missed Chinese restaurants so much, and this stop was 100% worth it before grocery shopping. The food was absolutely delicious, it is bigger enough for me and have a to-go (well... my husband finished it) and the servers were super nice. Such a good spot, definitely worth it! read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Been here many times already , this Chinese restaurant located inside the 99 Ranch in Clairemont . The Staff here is surprisingly still the same since 2011 we have been visiting this place, and surprisingly the staff here seems to not aged, they all look the same as before :D Their food here is always freshly made and comes in big portion, everything here is tasty, there's no Bad food here that we had. The food we mostly get here is their Three Flavor Chow Mein noodles, Salt/Pepper Crunchy Squid , Turnipand Beef Stew Hot Pot, Fried Rice, and sometimes their Salt/Pepper Fried Chicken. They also have a section of Food to go only if you don't have the time to dine in. Also, they accept cash-only payment here. This is located inside the 99 Ranch market . Parking is always busy here, but they have parking on the front lot and back lot too. read more

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Came here for dinner and was immediately seated. I ordered the Chow Fun with chicken. It was cooked perfectly, tasted good and it was a large portion. I also enjoyed the bbq pork. Took a while to get the bill but very much enjoyed the food. read more

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Best Chinese/Cantonese food in San Diego. Very reasonable price. Very generous portions. Very friendly staff. Very likely I'll come back again and again! read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Duck Noodle Soup, Shrimp veggie & cashews, Water spinach, BBQ pork, Fish w/peppers w/black bean paste, Chinese donuts, Pork Congee. - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

One of my favorite Chinese food in San Diego. It's hard finding good Cantonese food in San Diego, so if you're trying to find Cantonese food this is the place to be. It's located inside the 99 Ranch so you can get some grocery shopping done afterwards. We got the mapo tofu, beef chow fun, salt fish and chicken fried rice and wonton soup. My favorite is the salt fish and chicken fried rice because they give a good amount of salt fish in it. We enjoyed all of the dishes. Note, this place is cash, Zelle or Venmo only. No credit cards. read more

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This place sadly changed ownership and the prices of the food has gone straight up. The inside is small, but there are plenty of tables to sit at. Service was quick and friendly. However, the prices of the food was definitely not worth it compared to the other options in the area. Would still get there to go box lunches though. read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Three combo bbq - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Used to come here every week with my family but haven't been back since COVID. I'm happy to say the delicious food, great prices and friendly staff are the same! It was pretty busy when we came for an early Sunday lunch. I also like that they still have lunch specials even on the weekend which come with rice and soup of the day. My favs are still the fried rock cod fillet with spicy salt and pork chop with spicy salt which were crispy, nicely seasoned and not too salty! They were part of the lunch special along with the beef with string beans which were flavorful and the string beans were nicely crunchy. The crispy seafood chow mein was more soggy and a bit bland than I remember. Big portions and good prices, we all were stuffed and had leftovers. Service was pretty quick and nice. Solid Cantonese food, one of my favs in SD, I'll be coming back! read more

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Classic Chinese food my family has loved since I was a child. We used to come every week but haven't been back much since COVID. Was pretty bustling when we came for lunch on a Sunday. I'm happy that the food and friendly staff are still the same, reminds me of good memories! My favorites are still the salt and pepper pork chop and squid, and fried cod fish fillet. The crispy noodles were soggy and less flavorful than I remember. The beef and string beans were also flavorful and the string beans have a nice crunch. Big portions for a good price and they have lunch combos which also includes rice and soup. We'll keep coming back, and their takeout section is great too! Cash/Venmo/Zelle only read more

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Located inside 99 Ranch Market, San Wo (formerly known as Sam Woo) is your no frills Chinese spot for every dish you can imagine. While the menu is really big, you definitely should get some of their roast meats (duck, pork). Our server was friendly and food came out quickly. The Chinese Broccoli w/Oyster Sauce was nice and tender with the sauce adding a punch of flavor. You definitely need to eat this together with some rice or other dishes to balance out the saltiness of the oyster sauce. The BBQ Pork on Rice was our favorite dish! I love the flavor and the texture of the lean meat+fatty skin. With the excess sauce to enjoy on the rice, this is a must get. I also really liked the Roast Duck Lo Mein. The duck is much more fatty and oily of a meat and the flavor was great. Overall you won't be disappointed coming to San Wo! read more

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This place has authentic Chinese food. Food is delicious. We ordered two dishes: - Wonton noodle soup: Delicious. Wontons are made well and noodles are cooked properly. - Chicken with Salted Fish Fried Rice: Decent portion of fried rice. We can smell the fragrant of the salted fish and there are quite a bit of chicken in it Price is reasonable. The decor is very basic, nothing fancy. Service is so-so though. Don't expect much. We had to wait quite awhile for the waitress to pay attention to us from ordering, getting to-go boxes and even pay the bill. Removing one star for service. read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Chicken and Salted Fish Fried Rice - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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SAM WOO BBQ NEVER FAILS. FOR GOOD, CHEAP CHINESE, this is the spot. I love picking up a whole roasted duck for like $30 here. Crowd pleaser for any lunch gathering. Their BBQ pork is solid too. Even if you don't need to get a whole duck, their entire menu (which is MASSIVE) is delicious. You get SO much food for the price. My go to is the shrimp curry rice, and then roasted duck/bbq pork combo with rice. I think total it's about $25 and that lasts me at least a few meals. Leftovers are SOLID. OH! the chow fun is amazing too. I'm hungry writing up this review. Don't expect a fancy place/service here, it's a low frills restaurant with great food. read more

new items i tried: Pork Chop with Spicy Salt (10/10) it was crispy and good. i loved the flavor and taste of this dish. Mongolian Beef (10/10) i loved the veggies with it. the sauce and beef together was yummy. service: they seated our party on father's day and were nice! ambiance: wasn't too busy when we went but customers do come in. it's located in the 99 ranch store. read more

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My family & I love this place! The staff are quick & friendly. The food is so good! We get the chow fan plate & crispy chow mein noodles with vegetables. There are plenty of tables & booths. I totally recommend this place, delicious & affordable. We have been coming here for 15+ years. read more

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Got the roast pork on rice (very mid) and a two-item combo w/ noodles (the main dishes were fine, but the noodles were tasteless). Total cost was over $30, which is way more than this was worth. read more

The food here range from awful to marginally adequate with one exception: their marginally better-than-adequate plain congee and preserved egg with roast duck congee. Also, this business recently changed its name from "Sam Woo" to "San Wo" with no explanation. We live in a mysterious world! read more

I wanted to get a quick fix of some Chinese food so I stopped by Sam Woo ("Three Harmonies") BBQ Restaurant inside the 99 Ranch Market on Clairemont Mesa Blvd while heading back home. In hindsight, I should have ordered some grub from the full menu instead of choosing what was on display under the heat lamps. It was early evening, and they were going to be open for a few more hours, but the selections were already well picked over. My choices for the three-item combo were the Beef Broccoli, Orange Chicken, and Crispy Chicken Wings (4). I got a base of half fried rice and half lo mein noodles because the warming tray for the former was nearly empty. The food quality was better than the same items at Panda Express, however that's not much of a bar for a standard. Nothing was overly salty, and I didn't detect the use of much MSG, if any. The portion sizes were ridiculous as the worker heaped abnormally large amounts of food inside the styrofoam take-out container. For the most bang for the buck, it was hard to beat what Sam Woo provided. I am not a fan of their cash-only policy, but it's a trade off if you want bulk Chinese fare in large servings at cheap prices. I have not tried dining in at one of the booths, however the service seemed to be hit or miss based on the feedback from my Elite connections. read more

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I came here a few times to order food for take out. The portion of the beef noodles was huge but it had too much noodles and not a lot of beef. I also got roasted duck and oil chicken with rice. The duck flavor was good but the oil chicken didn't have much flavor. I'd say it's slightly expensive for the amount of meat that I got. They also have combo meals. They looked pretty good though. It seems like a busy place since it's inside the same building as 99 Ranch. read more

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SAUCY NO CASH CHINESE FOOD (3.8 stars) - FOOD: good - SERVICE: good - PRICE: affordable - AMBIANCE: Chinatown vibes Quick lunch. Inside 99 Ranch. Met up with other Officers from our ERG at work who were familiar and recommended this place for lunch - they said it's more Authentic Chinese when I said I wanted chicken mooshoo lol. Am I the only person who never ate at Sam Woo? Because it felt that way. What was I missing out on? One thing San Diego lacks is a Chinatown. Having lived in a more metropolitan city like San Francisco and Seattle there was always a Chinatown with restaurants similar to Sam Woo. Reminds me of restaurants I'd go to at 2-3AM with my friends after going clubbing. :: LUNCH SPECIALS :: Each, ~$15.95. They had affordable lunch plates that came (individual servings of) with tea, rice. soup, and rice plates of choice. We each ordered our own lunch special assuming they would be served individually. But since we sat at the same table - it came out family style which was ok but not the point of lunch special. Three servings of rice in a bowl for us to share, three servings of soup in a bowl for us to share, and each of our orders came on a plate to share - but we ordered lunch special (not to share) but end up sharing anyways. If that be the case we could have just ordered from the regular menu and do family style. :: ORDER :: CHICKEN WITH GARLIC SAUCE (lunch special $15.95) - nice saucy mix of bell pepper, bamboo shoots, onion, and very tender cuts of chicken. This paired when with plain white rice and mixing all the flavors together. But did feel is was a bit saucy... good flavorful sauce but overly saucy. The soup it came with was vegetable soup, think of egg drop soup without the egg and vegetables like celery. It was light and good, especially since it's been cold and rainy outside. Lunch plates here are the way to go! HIGHLY RECOMMEND PORK CHOP WITH PEKING SAUCE (lunch special $15.95) - Deep-fried pork chop coated in a sweet and tangy Peking sauce, typically includes onions. This was another item ordered at our tables. Again, saucy! Plentiful pieces served, thin, and tender. The pork chops were tender and easy to eat (with chopsticks) but they were also very saucy. RECOMMEND Another lunch special was ordered - I think it was a chicken and tofu dish. But I didn't try it as it looked similar to mine... saucy. I'll def be back after my 99 Ranch shopping. read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Chicken in Garlic Sauce - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Reliably delivers on wonton noodle soup whenever I am feeling sick, having a rough day, or just nostalgic for a childhood favorite. It's not my go to for Chinese food but their wonton noodle soups and variations of them (e.g. Cha siu wonton noodle soup, roast duck wonton noodle soup) always hits the spot. read more

Sam Woo is always busy, so the place can feel a bit messy at times. I usually go for takeout because of that. Their roast duck is really good and always hits. The wonton noodle soup wasn't my favorite since I'm used to a different Hong Kong style flavor, but the rest of the menu has been on point. read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Roast duck by Sam Woo. Veggies by me!!! - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

This is my usual take-out cantonese BBQ/charcuterie place I go to for roast duck. This time I decided to try their empress chicken. It was legit. It's cooked perfectly, lightly seasoned (like it's supposed to be), and extra tender meat. You can just eat it by itself with the scallion oil. I chose to put mine on noodle soup and it is so wonderful. Quick service, fair prices. Note: they only take cash, venmo, or zelle. They do not accept credit cards. This whole chicken was about $27 :) read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Empress Chicken - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

When we're in the mood for hot and sour soup, Sam Woo always comes to mind. It always hits the spot and never disappoints. My brother should have a VIP status bc he and his family are always here! It's a nice place for simple Chinese food. They must treat their staff well because the same ladies have been serving us for 20+ years. read more

Folks in the Facebook foodies group rave about Sam Woo. We checked it out. Portions are large and the food is tasty. The lunch is served with soup and rice. Lunch prices are reasonable. I was surprised that the lobster sauce had minced pork in it. The restaurant is no-frills in terms of decor. read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Shrimp with Cashew Nuts - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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It's still here, but now the sign has changed to San Wo. Same wait staff. They have been here forever. Food is authentic. The noodle dishes are the best--beef chow fun Singapore noodles, chicken chow mein. Black egg and salt pork jook is such a Chinese comfort food. Black bean fish, char sieu and roast duck or roast pig. Are all done very well in Cantonese fashion. This is not a place for service if you are looking for that. Rather, more reminiscent of the old Chinatown no nonsense, but you came for the great food and get right to business good eats. Oh, and one of the best wontons in town. All their shrimp dishes are the best. read more

This is good place to go. They only take cash, Venmo or Zelle. We went for lunch and they have special deal for soup, entree and rice. I got sweet and sour fish and it was very good. The sweet and sour balance together. My husband got the beef with sweet peas and mushroom and that were very good as well. Customer services is good. We just feel a little rush that they try to take the soup away. We try to save some to eat with the food later but they came at least 2-3 times asking to take the soup away. read more

Sam Woo Restaurant and Takeout Cantonese soups, noodle dishes & roasted meats dispensed in a not fancy simple setting. They are located in the 99 Ranch plaza in San Diego. Plenty of free parking in the lot. As their name implies, they sell Chinese BBQ, like roast duck, roast pork, and BBQ Pork (Char Siu)...and vegetarian dishes. Excellent, prompt service, low prices and CASH ONLY! There are several Sam Woo locations throughout the Los Angeles area. I frequented the Chinatown restaurant location with my late Dad and we liked the Chinese cuisine. This review is for the takeout area of Sam Woo which I had recently. With lots of selections to chose from I decided on vegetables: green beans with chili, spicy eggplant and Mapo tofu all togo. The staff spoke very little English but were courteous, efficient and nice. After a few bites of the bowl plated food, I liked the flavors each dish presented but like most takeout foods, it's not as good tasting if I had dined there and eaten the food freshly made, served and eaten immediately. Next time I'm in the area, I will have to dine in the restaurant. For now it was just okay but still merits a recommend. read more

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Just discovered the sit down restaurant at 99 Ranch OMG soooo good! It's cash Venmo or PayPal only we paid $35 on the lunch menu for roasted duck wonton noodle soup and so impressed with the broth and perfectly roasted duck!! Hubs had the eggs and shrimp equally as delicious!! The shrimps were huge! They gave us a soup and hot tea also. Can't wait to go back and try more of their food!!! Massive menu options also! Staff was super friendly also! read more

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Roast duck and char siu pork ribs are outstanding! Only place I get my roast duck in San Diego. Cash only, take it to go..... Note-service is nominal but the duck and char siu are worth it. read more

Best bang for your buck! When I crave a variety of chinese dishes, this is one of my go to spots! It's perfect for a quick and delicious meal. I usually opt for the green beans and seafood/tofu dish with noodles. The seafood/tofu dish includes tofu, shrimp, squid and fish filets! I think the noodles are lacking in flavor by itself, but ask for chili sauce at check out! It adds a little more flavor. The dishes aren't as oily as other places, and they fill up the plate! No skimping on portion sizes here. They also have a regular menu for dine in and bbq options including charshiu , duck, and chicken. Parking can be difficult since the lot is shared with 99 ranch and the spots are small! read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Sam Woo always pulls through for me when I'm in need of Chinese hot foods, wonton noodle soup or even when I want some savory zongzi. Their staff is always friendly and I'm always seated quickly if I choose to dine in. While the restaurant isn't the most fancy, they always have clean tables to sit at. Tasty and affordable- I feel Sam Woo is a staple for a reliable Chinese meal in the Clairemont area. read more

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If you like Chinese check out Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant their located in the 99 Ranch Market Plaza. Base on the availability of your time, know that you have some choices: you can seat down and order at a table, you can get in line and order from the menu and get the 1, 2, or 3 item combo togo, and/or Order online. I believe Sam Woo has reasonable prices, good size portions, and offer a verity of Cantonese dishes to choose from: Roast Duck, Roast Pork, Chicken, BBQ Pork, Noodles, Rice, Bean Curd, fresh seafood, soups, vegetables, and so much more. Anyway, don't forget the great selection of drinks and Teas to top-off each meal. I hope you have a great meal and a great eating experience at Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant. read more

Food is fresh, duck is good, we only get food at the take out area cons is if u buy there u can only use the 2 small table 2 seater only also at 2026 still they dont accept card only cash venmo or zelle. read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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My family in law thinks this is the best Chinese food in San Diego. They have very strong opinions about food so I trust them. Warning: if you are dining in be prepared for the servers to be rude. It's just part of the experience of going to an authentic Chinese food restaurant. I opt for takeout and the portions are massive. It's also great because sometimes the pork or duck is room temp and I want it to be HOT. I guarantee you will have left overs. The chicken fried rice was a generous portion, the egg rolls were fried to perfection, the green beans were delicious, and the pork was yummy. The beef chow fun disappeared so fast and was clearly the family favorite. The best part of Sam Woo (besides the food) is being able to do your grocery shopping at 99 Ranch before or after! read more

Sam Woo BBQ Restaurant - Egg rolls - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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