The food was delicious and was prepared nicely. We had the salted pepper fried shrimp, seafood tofu hot pot, lemon chicken, chow-fun noodles, sauteed snow pea leaves, war wonton soup. Food came out fast right after we had ordered, but service was a bit slow, as we had to flag one of the servers to take our order. We also had to flag down the servers to get refills on our drinks. The seating was spacious, and there were aquariums in the back with fresh fish to choose from. We would come back again, but will try the dimsum cafe. read more

It's been awhile since I last came here to get whole roast duck and crispy skin bbq pork. The place seems pretty much the same however the food has gone downhill a bit. The pork skin was not crunchy and the meat is too dry. The roast duck was not juicy compared to other places and meat was a bit chewy and tender. Maybe it's just me but I remembered it used to be better food here. Hope this is a one off. Their dim sum at the new cafe is great but that's a different location. Parking is not bad and inside is quaint like any to go places. Service is non existent and that's part of the experience. read more

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I am fond of beef with bitter melon and Sam woo has it in their lunch special menu.. A generous portion of tender beef strips (when we first tried dining at lunchtime many moons ago.). Then , on our subsequent visit, requested for more bitter melon and less meat and to my surprise, my request was granted! I also asked if I could have it cooked with shrimp and I had the best shrimp with bitter melon in black beans sauce! i Complimented the chef because i tasted the touch of garlic and infused ginger and for the first time, the waiter' returned with a smile. If you prefer to satisfy your cravings for Chinese cuisine, I suggest you try SWoo In Cerritos for large selection in their dinner menu of authentic dishes .. It will not disappoint. Happy dinning! read more

I've been coming to Sam Woo since I was a kid, especially their Jeffrey & Culver location in Irvine. Nowadays, the Cerritos location is the closest one to me, so I had to stop by for the nostalgia. My go-to comfort order has always been the Wonton Noodle Soup with BBQ Pork. Man... it's not quite the same as I remember, but the overall flavors still hit the spot. The wontons were packed with filling and had that nice bouncy, tender texture. They loaded the bowl up with bok choy, and the BBQ pork was soft with a pleasant chew, not overly sweet at all. The broth was a little on the bland side, so if you order this, I'd recommend adding some soy sauce. My only real disappointment was the noodles , they leaned softer than I would've liked. I was hoping for a chewier bite. Overall, still a nostalgic meal that satisfied the craving, even if it wasn't exactly how I remembered it. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Wonton noodle Soup - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

We always go to the sister cafe when craving some Chinese food and dimsum in the area but decided on this place one evening in an effort to get my picky toddler daughter to eat more meat (#toddlerproblems). Food (3/5): Coming from SGV, it's not great but it's not bad. You have limited choices when you're on the border of LA and OC, so this place scratches the itch. We ordered their crispy pork (suy yok), fish fillet with cream corn sauce and salt and pepper pork chops. It was more than enough for two adults and two toddlers with leftovers for another meal. Portion size was great and flavors were as expected. The pork chops were a hit, and I'm grateful my daughter proteined it up with that dish. My only complaint was that I expected the fish fillets to be crispier as they arrived somewhat soft already. I liked the complimentary taro tapioca dessert at the end that reminds me of family banquets and dinners. Service (4/5): Although not initially greeted by the older gentleman/manager(?) at the entrance, once he acknowledged us, he was kind and quick to get us seated. A youngish waiter was really attentive and gave our kids fortune cookies while waiting to order and answered my questions including how to say something in Cantonese since the proper term escaped me at the time. I appreciated his attentiveness and kindness to our family during our visit. I noticed other waiters were equally attentive with guests which was great to see. Ambiance (3/5): It's okay. It's definitely outdated but it serves its purpose. We came for dinner but I can see how there would be a lot of nice natural lighting coming into the place during the day With a lunch menu to die for also, I think we will definitely come here again in the near future (maybe even tonight?!) since I'm getting the cravings. Rounding up because these kinds of places bring me childhood comfort and feels for their canto goodness in food and vibes. read more

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Dining in: - food quality is good - food comes out fast - this place gets crazy busy - we ran out of water and had to flag someone down, they forgot, we had to ask someone else - had to flag someone down for the check, waited longer for the check than the food Take Out: - ordered salt and pepper pork chops but it was as if they fried the pork chop and completely forgot to season it - ordered chicken wings, they were burned read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Burned chicken wings - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

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I love this place! Yelp has no love since only middling 3 star reviews. Went on a Sunday noon-ish couple weeks ago. Quite busy w a full lot. We were lucky there was one open table so seated fairly quickly. The ambience is your typical chinese restaurant; crowded, bustling. We all had the wonton noodle soup. Great broth flavor, it wasn't dark or too salty. Wontons were pretty big and tasted yummy. Noodles cooked just right. We shared a shrimp fried rice, what can I say, it was fried rice. It was good, nice sized juicy shrimp. Also had the duck, always on point. Although I got a rather chewy piece of leg, my dining partner said it was better than normal. Will def return and have done so but haven't written up on yelp til now even though I live in South OC. Irvine Sam Woo closed few years back. read more

Back again at Sam Woo Cerritos with the family and it was another great meal! The lunch specials ($12.50-$14.50) are such a good deal, big portions, solid flavors, and great value. We had 5 people and ordered 9 dishes, couldn't finish everything and took leftovers home. Everyone was happy and full! Favorites this time: Salt & Pepper Pork Chops, Chu Hou Beef Brisket, Salt & Pepper Squid, Scrambled Egg with Oysters, Braised Pork Belly, and the Shrimp dishes, all satisfying and well-seasoned. Perfect spot for family-style Chinese food when you want variety without overspending. Definitely coming back! Sam Woo Cerritos 19008 Pioneer Blvd, Cerritos, CA 90703 read more

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Food here is decent. I ordered a Yang Chow Fried rice which was amazing and a half roast duck and honey walnut shrimp. The Honey Walnut Shrimp was not the best. the roast duck was off and tasted strongly of iron. I mentioned it to the waiter and he was not very kind about it. Its going to be a hard pass for me on this plce from now on. read more

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To go section was fast. Great staff and excellent service. Would recommend. Delicious food.

After work, I came here to pick up a roast duck and beef chow fun for dinner. I Yelp for roast duck and Sam Woo Cafe popped up, when I first went there, I thought "Wow what a fancy place for Chinese BBQ " and as I walked in, I didn't see any of the roast duck hanging in the glass window and I asked the host lady if the lady had the roast duck, she pointed outside and said is across the street lol I went to the wrong restaurant. So when I went across the street, the restaurant has 2 separate sections, one for bbq and the other side is the actual restaurant for dine in, but is connected. I thought it was going to be quick but it took 30 minutes just for the 2 items, I asked the lady if she could save the 2 duck legs, meaning don't cut it into pieces and she forgot and cut it. And I thought I could choose the duck I wanted but no, she just grabbed the first one hanging there and chop chop chop. About 20 minutes past and I asked her if is going to take much longer, she says " big brother, the chef has to cooked your noodles, if they bring it out then is ready, I don't know how long that will be " geez, if I knew is going to take that long for 2 items, I would of went somewhere else. And I have to drive at least an hour to get home. So I just waited and see that it was busy, mostly is for pickup. So if you don't want me o wait like me, is best to call ahead and tell them exactly the time you're going to pick it up or else you going to wait for ever, it seems like lol and my total for 2 items was a little over $60, the beef noodles was like $19 and the duck was $36. Sam Woo duck is the best but I think I'll go to Rowland Heights next time. I hate waiting and I can't choose the duck that I want. I rather go somewhere else. The ladies are nice, they speak Cantonese and Mandarin so if you speak it, you'll get your orders more accurately, one of them do speak English too. They have their own parking lot and if you're in the area, maybe you can check them out. And the other place, Sam Woo Cafe, I'm not sure if they're the same owner but it seems like they cater to more of a dim sum type. Either way, Happy Eating! read more

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When they see a big group the service is especially bad because they know they will get their 18% and there is nothing you can do about it. The food and prices are good but the service is really bad. It has been so long since I have eaten here that I forgot that these places automatically add 18% gratuity if you have more than 8 to 10 people. They didn't even so much as come back to refill the tea or check to see if we need anything. That's how bad the service was but I had to give them $80 for the gratuity for service that didn't deserve a penny extra. read more

My family has been coming to this chain for a few years now, and you really can't go wrong with the food here. The portions are big, the quality is good, and the prices are fair. The staff was friendly and the food came out quickly. Only downside -- the restroom was a bit dirty. My family order: deep fried squid, 3 meat combo of chicken, bbq pork and roast duck, beef chow fun read more

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Good food. Excellent lunch special menu that applies to weekends. My go to is usually orange peel chicken and salt and pepper fish fillet. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Lunch special menu page 1 - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

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I went here on Friday dinner time at 6:00 PM. The food was pretty good. For the price point, it's worth it than up here in NorCal. The server can cheer up a little bit. One of them may seem as rude but maybe he's just nonchalant or having a rough day. The other server was very kind and helpful. He always smiled and even took our picture for us. Anyways, I wish I tried the dim sum. Maybe next time I visit I will. Food was 8/10. read more

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Never a disappointment always the best place to eat! A family place we always have to eat when out in Cerritos!! Love this place read more

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My daughter and I were craving some tasty Cantonese food. All three of our dishes were delicious- the braised tofu was so so soft, we like the tons of green onions with the oyster. The shrimp with egg over rice just hit the spot. Service was surprisingly very good and pretty quick. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Braised Bean Curd with veggies, oysters with ginger and scallions, Shrimp with Egg on Rice - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

Delicious authentic Chinese food as always! We always get the yang chow fried rice because it's a little on the lighter side compared to the regular fried rice. The tender greens with oyster sauce were perfectly cooked with the vegetables still having a nice crunch to the stem. We tried the brisket beef stew for the first time and it was magnificent. The brisket and tendons were pleasantly tender and soft. read more

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This restaurant serves truly authentic Cantonese cuisine. The fried pork was incredible, and every dish we sampled was flavorful and satisfying. Excellent service and a welcoming atmosphere made it a great dining experience. read more

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WARNING TO EVERYONE I've been going to this place for years, but please be careful now. Recently, I noticed that tips are being added or altered on receipts without consent. Even when the service is not good, the tip amount is being changed. Always double-check your receipt and bank statement before leaving. Stay alert and protect your hard-earned mone read more

I will give "dine in" 4 stars but "take out" 1 just because I can't give 0. Dine in service is old school that waiters all wearing white shirts black pants, and mostly very experienced, they try to fulfill customers' requests except the restaurant is always packed. Take out area is disaster, there was a couple of times I had to tease one employee that the store only hired rude people for that section and I really meant it, that lady (taller with short hair) screamed and yelled, like we were there begging for free food, every time when we asked any questions. Basically she just wanted customers to shut up, the way she talked to the customers definitely made anyone and everyone feel she LOOKED DOWN on you, when I told her that she didn't need to yell to me, instead she could just talk to me, she always said she was loud not yelling, holy cow‍believe me I could distinguish loud and yell rudely, she undoubtedly made this place Sam Woo take out area extremely low-level and I felt sorry for others employees in the dining area that work hard trying to make the place a nice restaurant. When I said they always hired rude people to run that area there was a foundation, for many years, that area was "run" by another lady who took order and operated cash register, she was no less rude or loud or yelling, comparing to the current taller short hair lady, so I was once wondering they were related and one of them must be the owner of the restaurant ‍ My husband told me just stop going, I said I would continue going and arguing if they are rude, so they will correct their attitude hopefully, actually that couple of times after I complained, I noticed that lady was nicer and not so rude to the customer after me read more

Sam Woo to go pick up meal for the win! Ordered a huge meal over the phone and was able to pick up 30 minutes later at the small to go shop. Highlights were the whole Peking duck, pan fried noodles with gravy, and honey walnut shrimp. Would come back again! read more

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My mom and I came here to get some items for my dad at the take-out area. We arrived about 10 minutes early to try and get our order in before the lunch crowd descended. When we got here, there was already a line as the staff was setting up inside. We got in line and waited. Once it hit 10, the line started moving... slowly. It seemed like a lot of people were there for the same items (that needed to be cut and weighed) so it took a while to get everything situated. Once it was our turn, we put in our order and waited for everything to be packed up and to pay. While we were there - two verbal fights broke out (one almost turned physical) about waiting in line. Apparently people were confused about whether there is one line for everything or two lines - one for the bbq items (that needed to be weighed and chopped up) and one for the ready made items (which quickly can be grabbed and packed up). As far as I know - there is no sign saying that there are two separate lines (I could have missed it) so it was a legitimate concern from the people in line. A sign posted somewhere would probably help with this issue and hopefully avoid future arguments. Or, maybe people were just grumpy in the morning waiting for food. The food was delicious once we got it. Prices are decent and comparable to other similar restaurants. I will probably be back, but the arguments did make us nervous while waiting in line as it was pretty heated. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

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The food here is tasty but the service is not that great. They are very busy and it seems there aren't enough waiters. It is hard to find parking and it gets very crowded and loud here. My dad loves their duck. read more

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It's been a looooonnggg time since I've been to a Sam Woo's. The now defunct DTLA was my last run, and when I drove by and saw this, I vowed to make a stop someday. I had to make a quick stop at Cuzzo's house which happens to be nearby. I happen to be with another Cuzzo and Mom and Mom mentioned she was kinda hungry. I immediately suggested this place. They both said it's been awhile since their last Sam Woo run, too, so the suggestion was a good idea. Came through mid-afternoon on a Saturday, and being it a Thanksgiving weekend (plus the odd hour) we were surprised it wasn't full. We were seated almost immediately and were given plenty of time to look through their massive menu. We all decided to get our own rice dishes (to share) and a soup. MINCED BEEF WITH RICE VERMICELLI SOUP: My 2nd least favorite dish on the table. I wasn't sure what it was but there was a gamey taste to it which I didn't expect. There was also way too many peas and carrots fillers. Soup was seasoned well, as with the beef but it wasn't impressive enough for it to be a repeat order. ROAST PORK AND TOFU ON RICE: Mom's choice. My least favorite. Sauce was on point. Tofu absorbed a lot of the sauce's flavor. The pork - the supposed center of the dish - was tough and lacked flavor. (Yes! Even with the sauce!) I didn't have more than a bite. I much liked the tofu better. BEEF WITH EGG ON RICE: Cuzzo's pick. My second favorite! Beef was definitely the star of the plate! It was seasoned well and cooked tender. Delish! CHICKEN WITH CURRY SAICE ON RICE: My choice and my ultimate favorite out of everything we ordered. Chicken was cooked tender. The sauce is what does this dish in with the perfect flavor and seasoning - even the onions and potatoes tasted great because of it. This will be a repeat order! FOOD: 4. SERVICE: 3. Our server wasn't readily available and not as friendly. When he was walking by and we asked for water, he rudely told us to wait. But I understand: he was getting pulled from different directions since he was the only one tending to every occupied table. (Restaurant was about 1/3 full.) He took orders, delivered food, ran the checks and everything else in between. There's another who mainly cleaned up and reset tables who also helped taking food to tables. They were clearly understaffed. VALUE: 4.5. The servings here are massive! One plate dish can be shared with another, if not a third, depending on how hungry you are. PARKING: Private lot. OVERALL: 3.75. More than average first run. We saw a few tables order the salt and pepper pork chop (and it looked so good!) so we intend to return and try that - possibly other stuff as well. A second visit is definitely a good possibility. read more

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After a handful more visits over the last years I'm happy to say that I've failed to give Sam woo their flowers. How lucky am I to live in a city where we have these older authentic businesses bless us with amazing culture and food. Their homemade wontons in their wonton noodle soup is the best I've had. Good value too. My favorite part of the experience when eating here is seeing Asian, Chinese, Pinoy etc people seated at the tables going in on the shared family style dishes. I love seeing even the solo and couples share a dish or maybe just a bowl of soup. I hope you never close. Whenever I'm away from home or out of state I think about you lol. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - So good - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

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Our family has been going to Sam Woo for over ten years, and it's still a dependable spot for Chinese food. When our family of eight visited recently, the food did not disappoint. The parking situation, however, can be a bit of a hassle during peak times as their lot is quite small. We usually order honey walnut shrimp, fried rice, salt and pepper pork chop, steamed whole fish, and seafood chow mein. These dishes are consistently good and never fail to hit the spot. One downside is the service. If you visit, be prepared to flag down servers as they might not be very attentive. But let's be real--you don't come to an authentic Chinese restaurant expecting stellar service. Also, the place is a little cramped and restrooms are not the cleanest. Go for the food - we sometimes get delivery but food is best when freshly cooked. read more

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Sam Woo BBQ and Seafood This is a review for my experience for take out at Sam Woo BBQ and Seafood. My family and I are fans of Sam Woo! When we have family celebrations this restaurant is at the top of our list to order from! PARKING Parking can be difficult. They have a small lot, but there are other parking lots nearby. TAKEOUT/ORDERS The Aunties that are at the take out station, are remarkable workers! They are quick thinkers and whatever system they have in place, it works! Be patient! They are great at multi tasking! One minute I see them answering the phone, creating combo plates for the customers, and then they are right onto cutting a whole duck to perfection with a butcher knife. They are very generous with the portions and give iced tea to those who are kind and patient back to them! :) FOOD I love all of the rich flavors and every dish I have tasted is delicious! Our go to: 1. Peking Duck *** 2. Fried Flounder Fish *** 3. Chef Special Beef 4. Salt and Pepper Pork Chops 5. House special fried noodle chow mein-Seafood 6. Fried green beans 7. Honey walnut shrimp *I also have to compliment them on their sauces. I love their chili oil and the sauce for the fried fish pairs really well with your rice! If you're in the mood for Cantonese food or want to have a yummy meal with your family stop by Sam Woo! read more

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Ive been going to this restaurant for ~10 years. This restaurant is always a good solid place to go to for chinese food. The garlic sauteed snow peas are also really good. The french styled beef is very tender (mostly, a few bigger pieces are a bit tough). We ordered the whole fish and eggplant for the first time and the portion was massive. The whole fried fish had a bit too much of the fried breading on it but was flavorful along with the eggplant. We ALWAYS order the 鸳鸯炒饭. I think its called Yin Yang fried rice in english but ive never ordered it english. This is a secret menu item as it used to be on the menu but isnt anymore. This is basic fried rice with two kinds of sauce - half bechamel sauce with shrimp // half tomato sauce with chicken and onion. It is the heartiest comfort food and I havent seen this on the menu at any other restaurant. I would solely go to this restaurant for this dish. read more

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My mom bought a whole roast duck here today and when we chopped it up, the duck was still raw. We live far so instead of returning it back we just end up recooking the duck again. They are also very stingy in giving us duck sauce, you only get one and if you want extra they charge. Won't be coming back, we will get our roast duck from Kim Tar instead. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

Authentic Cantonese Chinese food. The Spicy Salted and Pepper Pork Chop was crispy and delicious and was a popular dish ordered by several tables. If you like egg or rice noodles, it is good either in soup or pan fried. Considering it was a very busy Father's Day, the service was excellent and the food was flavorful. I love wontons and dumplings, so I wasn't a fan of the dark pink meat of the wonton. Other than that, everything was great. read more

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Love the food here! It's fast service and reasonable price. No waiting. Authentic Chinese food read more

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Terrible customer service. I came to pick up but the front was rude, and was very ignorant. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

Great place for some shumai and other dim sum. I also love the roast duck and crispy noodles.

It's ok we came kinda late, last people to leave, we ordered a lot its a family dinner date. We have corn soup, clam with ginger, Peking duck, soft noodles and we got dessert after. It's crowded but no wait, we got in right away, got the table, parking is ok, its a Friday night I bet its crowded on the weekends, my favorite is the sautéed string beans, its fine, not my favorite read more

The food were lot of oil. Waiter not nice at all, they ain't even care about costumers This was our bad experience and won't come back anymore read more

Best place for brunch! I love the noodles and porkchop it's delicious! The pork is crunchy on the outside and juicey on the inside!

First things first- I really liked the food here. I've heard about his place and seen this place while driving for a while and finally decided to try it. First impression, the restaurant is old and outdated. Parking is limited and the restaurant is packed. The servers seem really busy, and there to do their job- nothing more or less. We had a reservation for 7 and they seated us right away in the private room by the front counter. I think they had forgotten about us since we're kind of hidden because they didn't take our order for a while. We ended up having to go up to the counter and let them know we're ready. We ordered Lo Mein noodles, wor wonton soup, hot and sour soup, green beans, orange peel chicken, Mongolian beef, pork ribs, and rice. The food was delicious. If the restaurant was updated and the service was more attentive, I would have given it 5 stars because my family was impressed by the food, the portions, and loved that it was family style. The orange peel chicken was my personal favorite followed by the Mongolian beef. I would definitely order those dishes again. The dishes were also decently priced for feeding a family of 7. Plus, we had leftovers to take home! The free dessert at the end was a nice gesture... not sure what it's called but it was a lightly sweetened warm porridge. Overall, this place is great if you want a casual, tasty, family style, Chinese cuisine meal. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Lo mein, orange peel chicken, Mongolian Beef, Wor Wonton Soup, Hot and Sour Soup, green beans, Roasted Pork Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

I love going to Sam Woo in the SGV, and was excited to find this location in Cerritos after moving to the OC. This review is only for the takeout BBQ side of the restaurant: when you go in, join the line to get your order taken. The manager is a nice guy, but all the ladies there are very abrupt and rude. Even my dad who grew up in HK and is used to brisk encounters at super-busy HK restaurants thought the takeout ladies were rude and short with customers. The food is okay, nothing to write home about with SGV eats just a short drive away. There is a small parking lot at the back of the restaurant. read more

We did not go to the restaurant side. I was not aware that there's a takeout section which worked out great because all we wanted to do is taste the duck. The duck was OK but we still prefer the duck inside ranch 99 market. And the duck sauce, which was kind of like a pale yellow was not the greatest. Next time I will try the actual restaurant along with the soy sauce uterus. read more

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