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    Sam's Cafe

    4.1 (237 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese, American
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Sam's Cafe Photos

    SAM'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Sam's Cafe

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    BLT
    Jocelyn E.

    A hometown staple for me honestly. Can't beat coming in here for breakfast and my most usual a BLT. Love supporting local family owned business. It's very family friendly everyone's welcome.

    Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs, with Hashbrowns and a  Waffle

    The food here was good, and so was the service. I felt that this was an average experience. I would say the prices were decent for the amount of food you get.

    Menu December 2022
    Kyle B.

    I thought this "Sam's Cafe" was similar to the one in Ceres CA which is a staple of my hometown but unfortunately it was not. Portion sizes were very small but the food was decent. The Asian American boasted restaurant feels extremely plain and the service feels "forced" versus "welcoming"

    Corned beef...
    Lydia T.

    Good for a quick breakfast. Servers were nice. Service: 9/10 Food: 5/10 Their corned beef was very salty, i would not order it again. My husband said their iced tea didnt taste good too.

    Tanya T.

    Love the nostalgic feel and friendly, efficient service. I also love the rice option. The food was decent with veggies and I added my own seasoning and salt. I did not however enjoy the biscuits and gravy. I did not enjoy the serving plate used to serve my salad nor was I too fond of the price. I wont be coming back anytime soon but so happy to see the community flock to it in droves to support and enjoy.

    David L.

    Sam's Cafe has been a fixture at the North end of the Miracle Mile (Pacific Ave) for as long as I remember. If we are in town, we make it our Sunday morning go to for an early breakfast. There are a lot of regulars who come weekly as well. The decor is pretty simple, there are three booths, counter seating and six to seven tables down the side. The owners/staff are friendly and will stop to talk, if they are not running their backsides off serving folks. The food is your simple breakfast fare (I've not been here for lunch), I usually order a omelette and my wife gets the veggie scramble. Comes with potatoes, hashed browns or country style and toast. Coffee, water, iced tea, hot tea and orange juice are some of the standard drinks offered. One day I have to take a picture. Meals for two run in the $35-$45 including tip. Can be a little noisy when full.

    Store front
    Jonnita W.

    This was a great choice to have breakfast this morning. We were able to sit outside and have the scenery amongst us. All of the ladies working here were great! Our food was tasty and cooked to our requests. You can tell the food is good here based on the customers that showed up. Some seem to be regulars Located in the east of Stockton on Miracle Mile

    Menu
    VJ M.

    This cafe has outdoor seating. Family owned and operated by the owner. As soon as you walk in they seat you right away. The food comes out right away. This is the best place to get a waffle it's delicious.

    Pam K.

    What a friendly, little cafe. The owners are so sweet and old but full of energy. I ordered a simple plate of corned beef hash with rice and eggs over easy and that came with biscuits and gravy. This place is super mom n pop, I loved it. It's pretty small inside so it probably gets very busy. They even had a sign up saying to come in twos when it's busy.

    So good

    Sam's coffee was incredible! Very friendly people, good food, fine service. Of course there are people who would bring fault in Buddha, or anybody...but it was a real good meal.

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Well never eat here again! They serve you spoiled veggies. Scramble eggs is cooked horrible. Not worth eating here again.

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    7 years ago

    Hands down the best breakfast spot in Stockton! They have the best customer service and Waffles!

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    9 years ago

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    5 years ago

    This place is terrific! Their food is delicious and everyone is very friendly. Try their strawberry pancakes; they're so good.

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    Page 4 of 6

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    Garlic Brothers Restaurant

    Garlic Brothers Restaurant

    3.3
    (882 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$
    Delivery during COVID-19
    Established in 1995

    Rachel has the best customer service! I appreciate her patience and professionalism. she made my…read morefamily and I feel comfortable and wanted at the restaurant. she's very sweet and kind. #TeamRachel

    Welcome to Garlic Brothers - my favorite garlic restaurant in Stockton. I would say my favorite…read moreItalian restaurant - but at Garlic Bro's, it really is all about the garlic. And I love it! Garlic Bro's is a not so hidden local favorite that has become much more popular through the years. It sits right on the Delta for a perfect water-front view for outside dining and those lucky enough to get the huge bay window seating on the inside. I can order a full meal just on the appetizers alone. Ive tried them all. The fried raviolis and the grilled duck wraps (in bacon) are among my favorites. Garlic Bro's has a unique selection of oven baked pizza's but when I come to Garlic Bro's, it's all about the entree's for me. My all-time favorite is the grilled garlic steak. It is the best rib eye steak in Stockton. I order mine blackened (crispy outside) with the brown mushroom gravy that comes in a side dish. For sides, I order the garlic mashed potatoes. They taste creamy good by itself but remember the mushroom brown gravy I ordered for the steak? It's really for my garlic mashed potato's. A perfect combo. Consider this a Pro Tip. My other side is the green death pasta. You have to request it (another Pro Tip). I've tried pesto pasta everywhere and it's only this delicious at Garlic Bro's. The honorable mention is the grilled pork steak. The best pork steak in Stockton. The grilled lamb chops are good - just not as great as the other two entrees....but I'm a very tough critic when it comes to lamb chops. One thing to know at Garlic Bro's is they don't water down the mixed drinks. You definitely get what you pay for. And the price tag is actually pretty reasonable. Garlic Bro's can get very busy so come early for good seats and parking - because they don't take reservations.

    Photos
    Kitchen where the magic is done
    Kitchen where the magic is done
    Dinner Salad
    Dinner Salad
    Beautiful sunset

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    Beautiful sunset
    The Kitchen at  StoneBrier

    The Kitchen at StoneBrier

    4.1
    (643 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$$

    Today was our 3rd time dining here. We brought our 21 year old daughter who loves steaks. She…read moredefinitely enjoyed her Prime Rib. It was cooked to perfection. Our host Danny was hilarious and gave a superb service. This place is really a hidden gem of Stockton. PS: Their clam chowder is the best!

    Father's Day dinner with my family and friends at StoneBrier. We ordered off their special menu and…read morecovered a lot of ground between five people. Some plates were worth it, others weren't, and at the prices they're charging the gaps were hard to ignore. The appetizers were the highlight of the meal. The deviled eggs were a hit at the table and went fast. The jalapeño on each one was a nice touch, though the heat varied depending on which egg you grabbed since it was just a thin slice. The salmon cakes were solid, nothing to complain about. My mom's ceviche tostada was loaded, the avocado was generous and fresh, but the ceviche itself lacked the acidity you expect from the dish and had very little shrimp in it. She said it felt more like a lunch item than a dinner offering, though two of them were filling. My mom's friend had the steak frites, which was the standout plate of the night: a lean cut with a rich mushroom béchamel, well cooked, and the frites were fried rather than what you might expect, but the flavor delivered. My dad's spinach salad was underwhelming, overdressed with a balsamic that was too sharp and overpowered everything else. My ribeye was the disappointment. At $65 I expected better. It was thin, closer to pounded than what you'd expect from the cut, came out medium instead of medium rare, and didn't feel substantial for the price. The baked potato was a basic side, sour cream and onion, nothing more. The broccolini arrived at room temperature, borderline cold, which was unexpected. The au jus on the side didn't add much for me. Service was attentive but veered into overdone territory, the kind of performative politeness that signals they want a good tip more than they're genuinely being warm. It was noticeable. Also worth knowing: if you're seated near the windows, the afternoon sun can be blinding depending on when you go. The atmosphere is genuinely nice and this place works better as a brunch spot than a special occasion dinner destination. I've had better meals here before, which is why I know they can do better. One practical note: if you're parking in the disabled spots near the leasing center next door, the sidewalk doesn't connect to the restaurant entrance. You'll need to go through the parking lot to get there.

    Photos
    Fireplace room
    Fireplace room
    Burrata
    Burrata
    Summer special

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    Summer special
    The Omelet House

    The Omelet House

    4.3
    (709 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Whenever I'm in town visiting my friend, this is the place where we love to grab brunch. The staff…read moreis always super friendly and the food comes out fresh / hot and in large portions. They have plenty of seating for small to large parties and even have seats up at the bar. It's got a small town cafe feel to it and I love it. I usually get the BLT sandwich with a side of fruit an an iced tea. Their BLT has to be my favorite because they load it up with bacon! I can't stand when you get a BLT and it lacks bacon, that surely is not the case here. My best friend loves to get their over medium eggs; the yolks are flawless, hash brown with cheese and toast. My other friend is a huge fan of their banana nut bread, it's a delectable breakfast item that feels more like a dessert and is dangerously addictive. I can't say enough positive things about this establishment, I will for sure be back again and again when in the area. There are plenty of other options. Please give them a visit and let them know what you think!

    Party of 5. We came in hungry and left disappointed. My…read morewife had steak and eggs, she ordered her steak medium and her food was Luke warm at best. They did redo her order and it was right that time. I ordered an omelette Greek style. It was good. The potato's were excellent. The others in our party liked theirs. The service. Our server was almost missing in action. One of the other servers actually helped us more than our server. The restaurant was very busy when we got there so I understand the server being busy as well. However it takes 2 minutes to check on your table.

    Photos
    Busy, busy
    Busy, busy
    Spicy Linguica Cheddar
    Spicy Linguica Cheddar
    Outside signage

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    Outside signage
    Fork It

    Fork It

    4.9
    (136 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    I'd been wanting to try this place for a while now, based on word of mouth. In order for the 2 of…read moreus to get maximum exposure to Fork It's quality, ordered 1 12" Cowboy with BBQ sauce on the side; 1 12" Clucking Bacon Ranch, 1 chocolate cream pie, 1 coconut cream pie and a single order of onion rings. My husband called in the order and I advised him to get there early as things have a tendency to sell out. 15 minutes later he arrived in the small strip mall off Don & Hammer, happy to find a disabled spot almost right in front. The area itself is a bit sketchy but okay during the abbreviated hours, mostly 11AM-4PM.. Closed Saturdays and most Sundays. The two big bags of wonderful smelling food cost $70, and I will describe and show photos of just what you will receive. A special note for the owner's son, Big D. The fact you noticed my guy was both elderly and disabled and offering help with the bags was beyond and above. He doesn't mention it but he's still a bit unsteady after hip surgery. My food rating is 4.5 but genuine kindness bumps it to a full 5! We started in splitting the chicken sandwich. I loved the fresh, lightly toasted bread and the fact this small business father and son team source locally. The roll was dressed with shredded lettuce and a couple ripe tomato slices. Two meaty slices of bacon added to the enjoyment, but what really knocked me out and made this such a fine value, 2 huge, (about the size of your palm and fingers), slices of breast with another half thrown in for good measure. The chicken benefitted from marinating then grilling just right. Missing in action? Any and all ranch dressing-I even looked for to-go containers but none to be found. Comparing notes with DH he said his bread was dripping with sauce to the point of being soggy...I guessed when the sandwich was upright on the drive home everything wet rushed to one side! Stuff happens. The size of these sandwiches is huge but we moved on to the Cowboy for dinner. Cut in two, I took the smaller side, closer to 5". I've deconstructed down to the point of separating out onions, mushroom and tri tip. We opted for Provolone for more of a cheesesteak vibe. Generous slabs of mild cheese helped hold the whole thing together. DH grilled tri tip and ribs for the Stockton Ports game for several years and knew what to look for. The consensus, fair amount of meat, cooked medium well, tender with good flavor. I specified BBQ sauce on the side, which was no problem. That way I could deconstruct my half Cowboy, could be a nurse thing! DH thought too many onions while I thought the ratio to meat was spot on. Sadly the mushrooms turned out to be 3/4ths of one button mushroom thinly sliced for my share. Both grilled onions and mushrooms add additional moisture and flavor. Adding the sauce, a molasses tomato blend with a small peppery kick made for a very enjoyable meal. The onion rings were about 1/2" thick and plentiful. Crispy on the outside while still being moist on the inside with sweet onion. The coconut pie was creamy with toasted coconut sprinkled over the whipped topping. The crust was of interest, buttery cookie instead of graham cracker or standard pie crust. Our chocolate cream pie was a chocolate lover's dream. A light mousse touch to the filling with heavier ganache brownie crust. We're still working on that one. So 4 meals, 2 happy campers and even our dogs give 4 paws up.

    1st time stopping in and OMG!!!! The service was great!…read moreWhen you walk in the door the smell of the Tri tip makes your mouth water! I had 'The Real Deal' ( Tri tip, grilled onions and cheese of choice), the garlic fries with Parmesan cheese and two desserts lol! The 'Brown Sugar Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake' and the 'Key Lime pie'! Once a month, they have pastrami sandwiches! Everything was delicious, will definitely be back to try more of the menu.

    Photos
    Fork It
    Coconut cream pie
    Coconut cream pie
    2337 Portola Ave

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    2337 Portola Ave

    Sam's Cafe - chinese - Updated July 2026

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