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The food is excellent here! Things are really reasonably priced and the portions are fairly large. This is located in a big strip ball in the corner. It's a hustle and bustle place with a lot of other food eateries in the location. This is dim sum all day not just before 2 PM. The other menu items look excellent. I will definitely be back. Service was good and they were prompt.
Sam Woo Cafe is a dim sum restaurant in Cerritos and this cafe should not be confused with Sam Woo Seafood & BBQ located just across the street. [Parking]: Sam Woo Cafe is located in a popular plaza where Gerry's Grill is also located so finding an available parking spot can be difficult; however, our party got lucky and found a spot immediately at 7 PM on Sunday. [Atmosphere]: Casual dining atmosphere and our party was able to get a table immediately at 7 PM on a Sunday. The cafe was approximately half full. [Menu]: Each pot of hot tea = $3.95, but our party only got iced water. The dim sum menu is still available during dinner hours. There are no push carts here and customers need to write their orders on the colored paper menu (similar to Lunasia). Top Yelp highlighted items are Chicken Feet, Shrimp Har Gow, Steamed Rice Noodle Roll w/ Shrimp, and Siu Mai. Special dishes are available to order after 11 AM and the dinner menu is served from 5 PM to 9 PM. *** Recommended dim sum items: Pan Fried Turnip w/ Sausage Rice Cake ($6.50), Spareribs w/ Black Bean Sauce ($6.50), Chicken Feet w/ Black Bean Sauce ($6.50), Hong Kong Style Egg Waffle ($6.50) Mediocre dim sum items: Steamed Rice Noodle Roll w/ Shrimp ($8.50), Shrimp Har Gow ($7.50), Pork & Shrimp Shiu Mai ($7.50) Beef Chow Fun w/ Soy Sauce (dry style - $18.95): Passable, but not super impressed. *** Overall I still like the dim sum at Lunasia much better than dim sum from Sam Woo Cafe, but Pan Fried Turnip w/ Sausage Rice Cake and Spareribs w/ Black Bean Sauce really stood out so the overall experience averages out to a 4-star for dim sum. Plus for not having to wait for a table.
This isn't your typical "roll around cart" dim sum spot but it sure was tasty! The interior was very bright, modern, and beautiful. Not to mention very clean! When you order, you'll check mark the menu they have ( with pictures might I add ! ) and they'll come pick it up and bring out your order fresh and pipin' hot. We came on a busy day with plenty of people ahead of us in line, but because of the fast service we got in surprisingly quick. Although they were busy, every time we needed something they would bring it out right away but this is not the place where they would come check on you every so often. They know what they're doing and they do it efficiently. Here is a few must try items that we all loved! - Egg Tart - Scallop w/ Shrimp Dumpling - Fish w/ Sausage Balls - Fried Golden Shrimp Balls Definitely check this place out if you're looking for a good dim sum spot !
The service staff seriously need better training. While clearing dishes, several plates were dropped on the floor and shattered, sending pieces flying near customers, and nobody even apologized. Food was also brought out carelessly -- instead of placing it properly in the center of the table, it was almost tossed onto the side like they were in a hurry and didn't care. I really don't like spending money to be treated this way. Definitely not a place I would come back to. We had to call several times before anyone finally came over. I understand restaurants get busy, but customers are the reason employees get paid and receive tips too. No matter what kind of work it is, I think people should do it with a little more care and sincerity. The whole experience just felt disappointing.
This is my new favorite dim sum spot. We came on a Sunday after church, and there's always a line, but they do a good job of keeping it moving quite fast. The food was amazing 5/5). Everything we got was great, with perfect flavor. Everything was fresh and hot from the kitchen. If you're local to the Cerritos and Artesia area, this is a must-try spot. Service was top-notch; they did a good job of checking in throughout our meal, even with how busy they were. 5/5 on service!
I had a great meal at Sam Woo Cafe (not to the confused with the nearby Sam Woo BBQ). It is seldom that I get to enjoy Asian style dishes due to my gluten allergy, but there were several menu items that I could enjoy! It was very helpful to go with a friend who speaks the language and is familiar with the food items, because she was able to point me in the right direction. I'm not certain how I would have fared on my own, but with some Google Translate and a little bit of research, I think most with food allergies would be able to find at least a few new items to select from.
Ambiance: it's a trendy Cantonese restaurant located in a strip mall with ample parking, although you might need to parking far and walk a bit Service: upon arrival, you'll need to sign up at their kiosk to get in line, wait for the text message, and then see the host and get seated. They are very busy during weekend peak hours, every server is walking fast and helping multiple tables, you'll have to be patient placing the order and receiving food, and I think overall they're fairly efficient Food: classic dim sum menu and Cantonese style food Pork and Shrimp Shiu Mai - ***** 5pcs, tasty with pork, mushroom, and shrimp fillings, highly recommend Scallop with Shrimp Dumpling - *** 3pcs, broken sticky skins, average taste Steamed Sticky Rice with Sausage Balls - *** 3pcs, fillings of mostly rice, rare dry shrimps and shredded sausage Bean Curd Rolls - **** creamy sauce on top, and chewy texture of bean curd wrap with black fungus bamboo shoot and pork fillings, recommend Sesame Balls - **** crispy outside and sweet red bean filling inside, recommend Price: moderate portions and reasonable prices, expect $20+ for a decent dim sum meal
In the mood for dimsum, we headed to Sam Woo Cafe. During a prior weekend visit the wait was super long so this time we went on a weekday at 2PM and there was no wait. The interior is clean and sleek. You order off of a paper menu with checkboxes; there is no cart service. The waiters were cordial but not particularly friendly. Prices were fair with generous portions. Since all the dimsum was made-to-order, some dishes took some time to come out but they all were served piping hot. We ordered a lot of my favorites. The chicken porridge was a bit undersalted for me. All in all, a solid dimsum establishment, and they have other non-dimsum dishes on the menu as well.
A Dim Sum experience you don't forget and will come back to , time and time again. The waiters were busy that we had to be seated after a 5-10min wait period. The seating was very comfortable and calming. The art on the walls is very traditional and cute. The food is nothing short of spectacular! The food was booming and drinks were so good that you could order them to go by themselves! With so many food options, you will never run out of different things to try , over and over again. 10/10 for food and service ! (Pro tip, ask for the mustard if you can handle it. & make sure to park behind the building , there's plenty of parking there so you're not worried by front side parking).
I recently went to Sam Woo Cafe, and took my mom there. When I looked it up, I realized there were two Sam Woo locations very close to each other. She loves the Sam Woo BBQ in Cerritos, and would go often. So, we decided to go check out the one she hadn't been to. Evidently, it is a relatively new location that's opened up, and my mom was ecstatic as she loves to try new locations and make friends with everyone there. She is the original Yelp Elite lol. We went in, and it was still early enough that we were able to order dim sum. And of course, my mom made friends with the server, and everyone around us. The food was good - hot and fresh. You have to sign up on a wait list, and they call your name, and even though it was the middle of the day, on a weekday, we probably waited at least 30 minutes for a table. I would definitely go back.
We took my aunt here for her birthday since she loves dim sum. First time here and even though the place was packed our wait was not that long. My aunt's friend ordered a lot of food since this is also their first time. The food was good compared to the other dim sum places around the area.
as a certified dim sum lover, every dish from here really hit the spot! my friends and i came here pretty hungry on a saturday afternoon, so we ordered a lot from the menu and left super stuffed! the restaurant gets pretty crowded fast, so beware of at least 30 mins - 1 hr of waiting during peak times. favorite dishes: - baked sweet custard bun: i loved how flakey the exterior was and how warm and sweet the custard filling was! one of my favorite bites from my meal! - steamed rice noodle roll w/ shrimp: this is my all time favorite dim sum dish, and sam woo does it really well! we ordered like 2 of these since they're a crowd favorite hehe - baked BBQ pork buns: i'm usually not the biggest fan of these because they tend to be too sweet, but i really enjoyed how these ones were more savory and not overly sweet! also the meat to bun ratio was really good! - pan fried turnip w/ sausage rice cakes: also one of my favorite dim sum dishes, and they executed it well! i liked pairing this with the fried rice too - salted fish & chicken fried rice: a really solid fried rice! i liked how the salted fish wasn't too salty or fishy, and it was a great protein to have with the fried rice. other dishes ordered, all classic ones and nothing bad to say about any of them! - chinese broccoli w/ oyster sauce - baked egg custards - shrimp harrow - hong kong style sausage buns - pork & shrimp shiu mai we also got the sea salt cream green tea and it was alright, nothing special and the sea salt cream wasn't as salty as i would have liked. pretty refreshing still to have with the meal. overall, i really enjoyed my meal here! the food came out really fast after ordering. the servers were constantly running around but were still able to flag down easily. parking can get really busy since it is a super busy plaza, so you may need to park a little further and walk over. i think sam woo is definitely worth the crowd tho!
Late afternoon (around 3pm) on a Saturday, I was craving dim sum, which can be hard to find at that time of day. Thankfully this spot serves dim sum all day. The parking lot was fairly easy at that hour, and I was a little surprised to see how busy it still was. Despite the large dining room with plenty of tables, many of them were occupied. After a short couple of minute wait, we were seated and quickly ordered by checking off the items we wanted on the menu. It's not a traditional dim sum setup with carts circulating the dining room, but more of a casual quick dining. We stuck with some of our usual dim sum favorites: siu mai, beef rice noodle rolls, beef tripe, and steamed BBQ pork buns. The siu mai were large and packed with a juicy, flavorful shrimp filling. The beef rice noodle rolls were soft and chewy without being soggy or falling apart. The beef tripe was also a pleasant surprise. At first glance it looked pretty plain, but it actually had a lot of flavor from the sauce. The only downside was that the pieces were quite large and could have been sliced a bit smaller for easier bites. The BBQ pork buns were classic with tender and sauced pork inside. Our only minor complaint was that it wasn't always easy to flag down a server to refill water or bring soy sauce. Luckily, the dishes themselves were flavorful enough that we didn't end up needing the soy sauce. Overall, it was a solid meal and I'd definitely come back for dim sum again. Everything we ordered was tasty and well prepared. It's easy to see why people are still dining here well into the afternoon.
Sam Woo Cafe: satisfying, flavorful, and worth the wait if you time it right. Love at first visit! Sam Woo Cafe in Artesia is order-from-the-picture-menu dim sum, not cart service. You fill out a short form at the podium (party size, name, phone) and join an electronic queue. Texts update your status, but stay close; tables free up in clusters after a long wait. Go early for lunch or expect a crowd. The dining room is bright and comfortable but gets noisy once full. I ordered: - Pork & Shrimp Shiu Mai (two orders of 5) - Scallop with Shrimp Dumplings (3) - Shrimp with Chives Dumplings (3) - Steamed BBQ Pork Buns (3) - Baked Egg Custard tarts (3) - Young Chow Fried Rice with added Lap Cheong (cured pork, +$2) Everything was good. Standouts were the scallop-shrimp dumplings and the pork & shrimp shiu mai. The Young Chow Fried Rice with the extra Lap Cheong was excellent. The baked egg custard tarts were textbook and remain a personal favorite since childhood. A neighboring older Chinese woman offered me a sample of the Pork Hame Sui Gok; it was outstanding and I will order it next time. I shared some of my extras with her in return. Service was attentive, Ricky was quick with food and drinks. The same woman had already told me "he's the best." I deliberately ordered extra for leftovers (dinner that night and breakfast before an early flight home to the Carson Valley). Will definitely return and have added it to my Long Beach Yelp collection. read more
Strip mall dim sum. I guess don't judge this place into you step in and try it. When I walked in and saw the outside I was wondering why my friends choose this place, it looked from the outside like a small shop, but when I walked in it was way bigger and authentic. Jokes on me. Ordered a bunch of dim sum dishes, everything came out quickly. They even have dessert samples in the front. In San Francisco they would never have dessert samples at a dim sum place so that was a plus for our group. Tea is around $5 a pot. Potstickers were a hit and so was the beef chow fun. Those were 5/5 The beef jook is a skip, kind of tasted runny like powder and no real flavor with weird small bits of beef that looked like bacon bits. 2/10 Other than that the dim sum was solid amd came out hot and fresh. Same with the Chinese broccoli. Skip the lemon iced tea. Tasted like it was from a packet and it was horrible. 0/10 Would definitely come back for their dim sum though. read more
Dim.Sum at Sam Woo Cafe. Many years ago there were a few good Dim Dum Restaurants (carts and all) in this area. Long gone after COVID. Nice to have one around. It is a seated service (no carts). I waa a bit thrown but the large menus behind the register thinking we would need to order first and then get seated. It's set up for take out! There were quite a few patrons partaking Dim Dum at 10:00am on a weekday. There was even a bery large group that shared a round table so definitely can accommodate larger parties. You are given a paper menu and you mark off the items you want to order, including tea; which is on the backside. The food comes put very qui key and not in any sort of order. The Dim Sum is solid. I was told their BBQ was amazing so a bit disappointed as our Boas had little stuffed inside and definitely average (as goid as I get at a local Asian market that sells hot food). Servers were pleasant and we were greeted and seated when we first arrived. read more
The food is excellent here! Things are really reasonably priced and the portions are fairly large. This is located in a big strip ball in the corner. It's a hustle and bustle place with a lot of other food eateries in the location. This is dim sum all day not just before 2 PM. The other menu items look excellent. I will definitely be back. Service was good and they were prompt. read more
Sam Woo Cafe is a dim sum restaurant in Cerritos and this cafe should not be confused with Sam Woo Seafood & BBQ located just across the street. [Parking]: Sam Woo Cafe is located in a popular plaza where Gerry's Grill is also located so finding an available parking spot can be difficult; however, our party got lucky and found a spot immediately at 7 PM on Sunday. [Atmosphere]: Casual dining atmosphere and our party was able to get a table immediately at 7 PM on a Sunday. The cafe was approximately half full. [Menu]: Each pot of hot tea = $3.95, but our party only got iced water. The dim sum menu is still available during dinner hours. There are no push carts here and customers need to write their orders on the colored paper menu (similar to Lunasia). Top Yelp highlighted items are Chicken Feet, Shrimp Har Gow, Steamed Rice Noodle Roll w/ Shrimp, and Siu Mai. Special dishes are available to order after 11 AM and the dinner menu is served from 5 PM to 9 PM. *** Recommended dim sum items: Pan Fried Turnip w/ Sausage Rice Cake ($6.50), Spareribs w/ Black Bean Sauce ($6.50), Chicken Feet w/ Black Bean Sauce ($6.50), Hong Kong Style Egg Waffle ($6.50) Mediocre dim sum items: Steamed Rice Noodle Roll w/ Shrimp ($8.50), Shrimp Har Gow ($7.50), Pork & Shrimp Shiu Mai ($7.50) Beef Chow Fun w/ Soy Sauce (dry style - $18.95): Passable, but not super impressed. *** Overall I still like the dim sum at Lunasia much better than dim sum from Sam Woo Cafe, but Pan Fried Turnip w/ Sausage Rice Cake and Spareribs w/ Black Bean Sauce really stood out so the overall experience averages out to a 4-star for dim sum. Plus for not having to wait for a table. read more
This isn't your typical "roll around cart" dim sum spot but it sure was tasty! The interior was very bright, modern, and beautiful. Not to mention very clean! When you order, you'll check mark the menu they have ( with pictures might I add ! ) and they'll come pick it up and bring out your order fresh and pipin' hot. We came on a busy day with plenty of people ahead of us in line, but because of the fast service we got in surprisingly quick. Although they were busy, every time we needed something they would bring it out right away but this is not the place where they would come check on you every so often. They know what they're doing and they do it efficiently. Here is a few must try items that we all loved! - Egg Tart - Scallop w/ Shrimp Dumpling - Fish w/ Sausage Balls - Fried Golden Shrimp Balls Definitely check this place out if you're looking for a good dim sum spot ! read more
The service staff seriously need better training. While clearing dishes, several plates were dropped on the floor and shattered, sending pieces flying near customers, and nobody even apologized. Food was also brought out carelessly -- instead of placing it properly in the center of the table, it was almost tossed onto the side like they were in a hurry and didn't care. I really don't like spending money to be treated this way. Definitely not a place I would come back to. We had to call several times before anyone finally came over. I understand restaurants get busy, but customers are the reason employees get paid and receive tips too. No matter what kind of work it is, I think people should do it with a little more care and sincerity. The whole experience just felt disappointing. read more
This is my new favorite dim sum spot. We came on a Sunday after church, and there's always a line, but they do a good job of keeping it moving quite fast. The food was amazing 5/5). Everything we got was great, with perfect flavor. Everything was fresh and hot from the kitchen. If you're local to the Cerritos and Artesia area, this is a must-try spot. Service was top-notch; they did a good job of checking in throughout our meal, even with how busy they were. 5/5 on service! read more
2 months ago
I had a great meal at Sam Woo Cafe (not to the confused with the nearby Sam Woo BBQ). It is seldom that I get to enjoy Asian style dishes due to my gluten allergy, but there were several menu items that I could enjoy! It was very helpful to go with a friend who speaks the language and is familiar with the food items, because she was able to point me in the right direction. I'm not certain how I would have fared on my own, but with some Google Translate and a little bit of research, I think most with food allergies would be able to find at least a few new items to select from. read more
Ambiance: it's a trendy Cantonese restaurant located in a strip mall with ample parking, although you might need to parking far and walk a bit Service: upon arrival, you'll need to sign up at their kiosk to get in line, wait for the text message, and then see the host and get seated. They are very busy during weekend peak hours, every server is walking fast and helping multiple tables, you'll have to be patient placing the order and receiving food, and I think overall they're fairly efficient Food: classic dim sum menu and Cantonese style food Pork and Shrimp Shiu Mai - ***** 5pcs, tasty with pork, mushroom, and shrimp fillings, highly recommend Scallop with Shrimp Dumpling - *** 3pcs, broken sticky skins, average taste Steamed Sticky Rice with Sausage Balls - *** 3pcs, fillings of mostly rice, rare dry shrimps and shredded sausage Bean Curd Rolls - **** creamy sauce on top, and chewy texture of bean curd wrap with black fungus bamboo shoot and pork fillings, recommend Sesame Balls - **** crispy outside and sweet red bean filling inside, recommend Price: moderate portions and reasonable prices, expect $20+ for a decent dim sum meal read more
In the mood for dimsum, we headed to Sam Woo Cafe. During a prior weekend visit the wait was super long so this time we went on a weekday at 2PM and there was no wait. The interior is clean and sleek. You order off of a paper menu with checkboxes; there is no cart service. The waiters were cordial but not particularly friendly. Prices were fair with generous portions. Since all the dimsum was made-to-order, some dishes took some time to come out but they all were served piping hot. We ordered a lot of my favorites. The chicken porridge was a bit undersalted for me. All in all, a solid dimsum establishment, and they have other non-dimsum dishes on the menu as well. read more
A Dim Sum experience you don't forget and will come back to , time and time again. The waiters were busy that we had to be seated after a 5-10min wait period. The seating was very comfortable and calming. The art on the walls is very traditional and cute. The food is nothing short of spectacular! The food was booming and drinks were so good that you could order them to go by themselves! With so many food options, you will never run out of different things to try , over and over again. 10/10 for food and service ! (Pro tip, ask for the mustard if you can handle it. & make sure to park behind the building , there's plenty of parking there so you're not worried by front side parking). read more
I recently went to Sam Woo Cafe, and took my mom there. When I looked it up, I realized there were two Sam Woo locations very close to each other. She loves the Sam Woo BBQ in Cerritos, and would go often. So, we decided to go check out the one she hadn't been to. Evidently, it is a relatively new location that's opened up, and my mom was ecstatic as she loves to try new locations and make friends with everyone there. She is the original Yelp Elite lol. We went in, and it was still early enough that we were able to order dim sum. And of course, my mom made friends with the server, and everyone around us. The food was good - hot and fresh. You have to sign up on a wait list, and they call your name, and even though it was the middle of the day, on a weekday, we probably waited at least 30 minutes for a table. I would definitely go back. read more
We took my aunt here for her birthday since she loves dim sum. First time here and even though the place was packed our wait was not that long. My aunt's friend ordered a lot of food since this is also their first time. The food was good compared to the other dim sum places around the area. read more
as a certified dim sum lover, every dish from here really hit the spot! my friends and i came here pretty hungry on a saturday afternoon, so we ordered a lot from the menu and left super stuffed! the restaurant gets pretty crowded fast, so beware of at least 30 mins - 1 hr of waiting during peak times. favorite dishes: - baked sweet custard bun: i loved how flakey the exterior was and how warm and sweet the custard filling was! one of my favorite bites from my meal! - steamed rice noodle roll w/ shrimp: this is my all time favorite dim sum dish, and sam woo does it really well! we ordered like 2 of these since they're a crowd favorite hehe - baked BBQ pork buns: i'm usually not the biggest fan of these because they tend to be too sweet, but i really enjoyed how these ones were more savory and not overly sweet! also the meat to bun ratio was really good! - pan fried turnip w/ sausage rice cakes: also one of my favorite dim sum dishes, and they executed it well! i liked pairing this with the fried rice too - salted fish & chicken fried rice: a really solid fried rice! i liked how the salted fish wasn't too salty or fishy, and it was a great protein to have with the fried rice. other dishes ordered, all classic ones and nothing bad to say about any of them! - chinese broccoli w/ oyster sauce - baked egg custards - shrimp harrow - hong kong style sausage buns - pork & shrimp shiu mai we also got the sea salt cream green tea and it was alright, nothing special and the sea salt cream wasn't as salty as i would have liked. pretty refreshing still to have with the meal. overall, i really enjoyed my meal here! the food came out really fast after ordering. the servers were constantly running around but were still able to flag down easily. parking can get really busy since it is a super busy plaza, so you may need to park a little further and walk over. i think sam woo is definitely worth the crowd tho! read more
Late afternoon (around 3pm) on a Saturday, I was craving dim sum, which can be hard to find at that time of day. Thankfully this spot serves dim sum all day. The parking lot was fairly easy at that hour, and I was a little surprised to see how busy it still was. Despite the large dining room with plenty of tables, many of them were occupied. After a short couple of minute wait, we were seated and quickly ordered by checking off the items we wanted on the menu. It's not a traditional dim sum setup with carts circulating the dining room, but more of a casual quick dining. We stuck with some of our usual dim sum favorites: siu mai, beef rice noodle rolls, beef tripe, and steamed BBQ pork buns. The siu mai were large and packed with a juicy, flavorful shrimp filling. The beef rice noodle rolls were soft and chewy without being soggy or falling apart. The beef tripe was also a pleasant surprise. At first glance it looked pretty plain, but it actually had a lot of flavor from the sauce. The only downside was that the pieces were quite large and could have been sliced a bit smaller for easier bites. The BBQ pork buns were classic with tender and sauced pork inside. Our only minor complaint was that it wasn't always easy to flag down a server to refill water or bring soy sauce. Luckily, the dishes themselves were flavorful enough that we didn't end up needing the soy sauce. Overall, it was a solid meal and I'd definitely come back for dim sum again. Everything we ordered was tasty and well prepared. It's easy to see why people are still dining here well into the afternoon. read more
7 months ago
Be careful not to mix this place up with the Sam Woo Restaurant like we did LOL Came on a busy, busy Sunday afternoon and waited 45 mins for a table. We ordered a variety of dishes to do family style. The Pork & Shrimp Shiu Mai was the star of the show! It is the #1 dish I usually get to see if their other dishes will be as delicious and they were. The staple dishes were as expected and there were also items I haven't seen anywhere else. Our total bill was so high because we wanted to try everything! Service was attentive and quick. When we ordered Iced Vietnamese Coffee and they gave us Iced Thai Tea, they brought out the correct item no charge! I'm glad to find another dim sum place aside from my go-to Seafood Cove 2 to try out. Definitely will be coming back! read more
6 months ago
TLDR: It's probably the best dimsum you can have in OC, at the cost of having to pay more. I'd go here for special occasions. Pork and Shrimp Shiu Mai: It's one of the better shui mai's in OC and it's the only one I know that jacks up the price to have an excuse to give you 5 pcs. It's meaty, they didn't skimp on the shrimp, and the extenders are few and far between. I wouldn't call this a luxury, but coming here every day would break the bank. Shrimp Har Gow: A har gow's quality is based on the skin's thickness and how much shrimp is in the dumpling. This place's skin is around the right thickness, and you can see how they went about balling these during prep. The shrimp flavors were there and it's a good dimsum staple. Hot and Sour Soup: Not too hot, and not too sour. Chinese food is generally oily, fatty, and salty, so having something cut through the fat and oil is good. Scallop w/ Shrimp Dumpling: You're getting this because you think the scallop is gonna be very good and the dumpling looks cool. It's fine, okay to try, but not good enough to enter a rotation. Spareribs w/ Black Bean Sauce: Fatty, salty, and goes amazing with white rice. It doesn't stray too far from other spareribs, which is a good thing. Shrimp Rice Noodle Roll: I notice they always serve this first. It's a good way to start the meal because it's not too heavy. The rice roll isn't too thick, and the sweet soy sauce adds an extra layer of flavor that I enjoyed. Hot Prawn Salad: It's deep friend shirmp with mayonnaise. What's not to like? Beef Chow Fun: Surprisingly weak. The cook on the noodles and beef were fine, but the flavor profile was kinda flat. Shrimp Fried Rice: It's good. They didn't skimp on the shrimp size, and it goes well with a lot of their dishes. Ambiance: Imagine a standard Chinese restaurant where some people might complain about the cleanliness. Now, remove the cleanliness issue. This place gives a vibe of a 2nd generation owner who took the flavors of the 1st, but understands the ambience needs of American diners. Service: You get the same stereotypical Chinese restaurant service but scaled down a bit. read more
Parking was easy, and I was seated right away since I arrived after lunchtime. The restaurant was practically empty, with only a few other diners inside. You order by writing the quantity you want on the order sheet. The dim sum was pretty good overall. I ordered the chicken feet, siu mai, har gow, char siu bao, beef tripe, cheung fun, and a pot of Tie Guan Yin tea. Everything was solid, though they did forget our order of the sweet rice cake. Service was attentive for the most part, but it did take a while to flag someone down to pay the bill. The space itself was clean, cozy, and casual. The music wasn't too loud either, which made for a comfortable dining experience. read more
8 months ago
This place would have gotten a 1 Star if it wasn't for the food. I wish I could give them a 0, but I have to give credit when it's due. The recipes for these dim sum dishes are better than most dim sum restaurants I've encountered in the area. So here's where things went wrong. My wife and I went there on a Sunday (12/21) morning, primetime lunch hour at 11 am, and went inside to put our name on their waiting list. We heard great things about this place, and I am usually a sucker for 4-star Yelp restaurants, so, of course, we want to check it out for ourselves. We were waiting for about 45 minutes in front of the entrance where everyone else was waiting, so I went to check in to see the status of our queue with the host. The older gentleman, who could be the manager or owner, asked for our name and said, "I haven't paged you yet; wait until I call you," in an irritable tone, as if I had done something wrong. I thanked him and continued to wait outside. Another 5 minutes passed, and I saw several parties of 2 being seated in front of us. I didn't think much of it because they could have been waiting there longer than we had, but then another 15 minutes passed, and more groups of 2 were being seated. I double-checked my phone and haven't received any notifications other than the first one that told us we had checked in for our queue. So I went inside and asked the same host about the status of our queue. When I asked him the second time, he looked utterly lost, as if my name had never been on the list. He asked me for my name again, and I told him that I was 3rd in line when you had checked about 20 minutes ago. Then he said, " You're next." Not even a single apology or an ounce of remorse for making a mistake, for somehow failing to page my number because it was not on the list anymore. We were seated within the next 10 minutes. When we were seated, we didn't know what to expect or what to do, since it was our first time there. There was a girl server wearing a black mask who tended to our table, but her customer service was 0 to none. We had to ask for water, straws, extra napkins, and a sate container to be refilled, since it was empty when we arrived. The customer service at this dining establishment is horrendous. Luckily, the food came out fairly quickly. 4/5 Shrimp Har Gow: Probably one of the better dishes I've had at any sum restaurants. The skin was neither too thin nor too thick, and there were large chunks of shrimp inside. Came out steaming hot and perfectly made. HIGHLY RECOMMEND 4/5 Pork & Shrimp Shiu Mai: The plump shiu mai were delicious. It had a shrimp-like porkiness, subtle sweetness, and savoriness. 3/5 Chicken Feet: Your typical chicken feet with black bean sauce. Gelatinous and bean-flavored feet. The skin just fell off the bones. 2/5 Crispy Shrimp Dumplings: The filling inside was filled with shrimp, but you can taste the old oil that they used to fry in. Not worth it at all unless you're into the crispy aspect of it since they use a big wonton wrapper for it. Overall, I would NOT go out of my way to return to dine here. But the food is worth trying if you're ever in the area and want to try some authentic dim sum. Just come in here with super low expectations, and you should be fine. read more
4 months ago
6 days ago
A great spot for very good quality dim sum. It can get very crowded, so make sure you go early if you do not want to wait. We arrived at around 11:45am on a Sunday and the wait was about an hour. The take out line was also 30min at that time. There's a good amount of parking in the lot, but many of the spots require a short walk to get to the restaurant. The location is all indoor seating. The service is very on par with regular Chinese restaurants. Everything is very quick and the service is direct/to the point. You fill out a paper with what you want to order and the food comes out very quickly. The quality of all of their items is very good. The noodles have a very good chew and they're generous with the amount of protein that they give. I enjoyed everything that we tried. The steamed rice rolls w/shrimp were my favorite. The outside was soft and there was a giant shrimp in each piece. I would definitely happily go back but closer to when they open. read more
First time here and it's 5/5. We got seated fairly quickly on a Sunday at 12:00pm. By the time our meal ended at about 1:10pm, it was much busier and their lobby was packed. We ordered 8 items (7 dimsum and 1 pot of tea) for our party of two adults and a toddler and it was the perfect amount. No leftovers. You order the quantity that you want off a sheet. Everything mostly came out quickly. One item was likely forgotten, and after 30 minutes I asked a staff member and she brought it out. It was an order of the Beef Meatballs. Despite this, the bulk of the experience was great. Service was good, and the food was tasty. I'd eat here again if I was in the area. read more
I came for dinner and the food was great! The bbq pork puffs are some of the best I've had from any dimsum place. The rest of the dishes we ordered were non-dimsum items. The beef was especially tasty and tender. There are plenty of tables, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is nice. It's clean, large, and has a few TVs. The only negative experience we had was the server, who was entirely apathetic: made no eye contact, barely spoke, and we had to go out of our way to get his attention to take our order. He served dishes as minimally as possible- just dropping them off at the edge of the table and walking away sluggishly. The other servers were not like this so our guy must've been having a bad day or something. read more
5 months ago
1. The dim sum was good and comforting! I really like how big the Shiu Mai were! 2. The spot has fun causal vibes! The interior is spacious! 3. There were only indoor seatings! There were a lot of tables! 4. The staff was friendly and timely with our order! 5. Parking lot is big! Spots can be compact! Note: There are restrooms available with multiple stalls! Photo: Pork Shiu Mai, Steamed Rice Noodle Roll, and Pork Wonton and Shrimps with Chili Oil read more
Was seriously craving dim sum, and this spot was the closest to my mother-in-law's place -- plus they serve dim sum all day, which is always a win! You can even see the chefs in the back making everything fresh -- love that authentic touch. We definitely ordered a lot -- the siu mai and har gow were classics and hit the spot. The restaurant was packed, every table full, and you could just feel the lively dim sum hustle. The spare ribs were a bit on the salty side for me, but still flavorful. Overall, a fun, satisfying dim sum stop -- fresh food, busy vibes, and totally hit that craving! read more
1 year ago
This was the second time grubbing here and I would definitely come back. I came as soon as it opened and it was packed, but they are fast and the wait goes by quickly so don't be alarmed if you see a line. The food though, sooooo good!! We ordered shrimp dim sum, pork bbq steamed buns, juicy pork dumpling. We were left wanting to try more but those 3 dishes filled us up (2 people). I plan on trying everything else on the menu slowly but as of now, these dishes were perfect, and would highly recommend. read more
As a night owl, I am almost never up early enough for dim sum at your traditional Chinese seafood restaurants. Therefore, I like coming to Sam Woo Cafe for my dim sum craving because this is the only restaurant I know that serve dim sum all day in all of OC. Unlike your traditional dim sum at the seafood restaurants, they do not have the ladies with the carts going around vibe. Instead, you're given a paper and pen to make your selections on the paper menu. I usually have no problem getting seats unless it's on the weekend. Per the food, it's your typical dim sum, nothing out of the ordinary. I usually get some xiu mai, chicken feet, and other dim sum dishes. I like to order the crispy salt and pepper pork chop because it's delicious, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. They also have many delicious dessert options. Overall a solid location for dim sum during the off hours! read more
11 months ago
The service is good and food come out fast as it should since its dim sum. The Ambiance is nice and its clean inside. Even though the restaurant is fairly new I am having a tough decision on whether I would give them another shot. The food is a hit or miss. What we ordered: Shrimp Rice Noodle - Noodle was overcooked and the taste was off. Shrimp Roll - Omg, this is not a dim sum shrimp roll that is thick and fat. Its like a Filipino shrimp Roll. I will give them credit for the crispiness, but its way to small. If you don't dip it in the sweet and sour sauce it does get salty. And they only give you 3 or 4 small pieces and you're charging me more than a pounds worth of shrimp! No way homie! Football: If you know dim sum, you know this the oval shaped stuffed with meat that is kind of chewy and sweet. This was a total miss! The batter was not fully cooked and it was more doughy. The ratio of meat to dough was off. It came with 4 pieces cut in the middle. Chinese broccoli is Chinese broccoli. If you messed this up, you need a new chef Beef Udon Noodle had taste but too much black pepper and beam sprouts. I would order it without both. Do not e pext it to taste like the Sam Woo restaurant down the street Salt & pepper Pork Chops. This was salty but I didn't disappoint. I would dip it in red vinegar. The texture and the way it was friend was great. Only complaint is that I had two pieces that were just all fat and no meat. Like why would you serve that. Wealso had shomai, salt fish& chicken fried rice, and pork spare ribs. I didn't even try to eat or taste those. read more
18 days ago
1 year ago
Best dim sum in Orange County! The service is attentive but wait can be long. Good thing is there are chairs and a class 302 close by for drinks while you wait. Dining area is clean and neat, but only with two or three big tables that can accommodate big parties. Portion Is big for the price. read more
Came here for dinner with family. The service was efficient and food came out quickly. Restaurant was clean. Shumai and hargow: 4/5- delicious and good value Pork Rice noodle: 2/5 - too salty for my liking Combo Chow mein: 3/5- a abit too grrasy and could have used more protein Salt and Pepper Porkchop: 3.5/5- good portion, some porck shops were saltier than other pieces Parking a bit of a struggle as we came during the busy time of the evening and is honestly expected in Cerritos. read more
I guess weekends is not the best time to go here. Long wait time and with less choices for Dim Sum in the Cerritos/Artesia area since the closing of Seafood Harbor, proper planning is in order or don't have dim sum on the weekends. The food still good, but orders to a little longer to come out which I'm sure are the effects of the weekend crowd. read more
Sam Woo Cafe offers delicious, authentic dim sum at great price. The classics (Ha Gow, Shiu Mai, etc.) were all solid and served hot. The staff provides good service and brought the food quickly. Ambiance is of a bright, clean and modern Chinese restaurant. Highly recommended! read more
2 months ago
7 months ago
Was craving dim sum and decided to try this highly rated restaurant! We visited during weekend lunch and had to wait 15-20 minutes. The inside was crowded with people and they have many tables. Once we were seated, we ordered the classic dim sum dishes like shrimp har gow, siu mai, and baked pork buns. The shrimp har gow was my favorite dish. The shrimp were plump and had a good bite to it. The siu mai looked juicy but the pork was too fatty. They used the same pork inside the buns and it also tasted low quality. The chow fun noodles were yummy. Overall, the dim sum was just ok. read more
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Ask the Community - Sam Woo Cafe
How many people does the Sam woo cafe automatically add tips?
No they did not automatically add tips for our party of 5.
Do they have outside seatings?
No outside seating. Only inside and they get really busy so I recommend you join the Yelp Waitlist.
Are reservations available?
No. This cafe (smaller) compare to restaurants do not take reservations. There are only 3 big tables that fits a party of 10. Upon arrival, there is a iPad to add to the waiting list.…
Forms if payments accepted at this location?
Do they have noodle soup with roast duck or roast pork?
Yes! You may want to let them know a head of time or when you order.
Is this "cafe" establishment related to the Sam Woo chain sit down restaurants or is the name just a coincidence?
Same owner of Sam Woo restaurant in Cerritos. Serves good dim sum all day.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
42 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
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Sam Woo Cafe - desserts - Updated August 2026
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