The Lobster Roll I been waiting to take home will have to wait as I continue to explore what fresh seafood from Sam's Chowder Mobile have in stock for us. Let's see... I have a 12 oz cup of New England Clam Chowder, which sell like hotcakes, locally fresh from scratch. Deep Fried Calamari, fresh and easily chewy on day one. I once had those for dim sum, but they're a little bigger than its usual size. Having squid legs deep fried several years back was my first time that broaden my horizons. This time, I buy a modest amount of calamari only to consume in moderation before I get to share one with my family. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Deep Fried Calamari! - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Get a 12 oz cup of chowder $7.50 or a quart (32oz) $16 which is a better deal but only comes cold. The $7.50 smaller Cup comes hot. Fried shrimp poboy and fries meal was delicious. Food tartar or butter sauce in the po boy. Fried seasoned with old bay seasoning which to me tasted similar to Cajun seasoning Cash and card accepted read more

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I looked up the spot when I was visiting the Academy of sciences. Of course I came to Yelp. And let me tell you this spa is literally so freaking good. We got the lobster roll since we had ordered some tacos from the spot next to it to try it. However, the spot 100% beat the taco spot. The lobster roll was fresh and it was packed with lobster. I feel like a lot of places just don't give you any lobster or lobster rolls or it's generally not that good. This spot lives up to its hype. It is literally so good. The bread is buttery. The lobster is fresh and well seasoned. Service was kind of quick I mean we went to the food truck so it was just kind of an order and then you pick up your plate. They do have this food spot though like right by the academy of sciences, so it was really nice area with a really nice scenery. I will 100% be back and try this spot if I am ever around town again. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sam's provided a great mobile catering experience with selections of lobster, seafood, shrimp, clams, mussels boil was delicious. Andouille sausage and coleslaw yummy! Watermelon and lemon slices served. Highly recommend for catering. Friendly on-time service. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Lobster catering - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Sam's Chowder Mobile came to my apartment community and it was amazing. The guys working the counter were really nice and the truck itself was pretty cool. The food was great too! The Po'Boy was amazing and so was the Chowder! read more

So pricey but so delicious. The lobster roll was so good. Plenty of lobster and the bread was also buttery and delicious. Like so much lobster it kept falling out of my sandwich. The clam chowder was average. I got it because it's called Sam's CHOWDER so I was like I need to try. But I think it's skippable. The lobster roll is too expensive already so just cut your losses with the lobster roll only! I tried some of my friend's fries and damn they were delicious. Whatever seasoning went on the fries is amazing! read more

One of the rare food trucks in the Bay area that doesn't serve up the kind of slop that one might eat in a fever dream. Lobster rolls have gorgeously buttered bread, are generously portioned with sweet-tasting fresh lobster, with a lovely light dressing that doesn't overwhelm. Coleslaw is good. Old bay fries are lovely. If only it weren't so expensive... read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'd be happy following this food truck around because the food is just that good! Sam's Chowder Mobile seems unassuming from the outside - it's a simple red truck. However, the seafood is fresh, and the portions are generous. The service was really speedy despite the long line. I got a variety of dishes to try. Sam's Famous Lobster Roll is well-known for good reason. The buttery roll is heaped with loads of lobster. Every single bite is packed with butter, bread, and delicious lobster meat. The roll comes with a side of cole slaw, a fresh contrast to the rich lobster. The New England Clam Chowder is creamy and delicious - the chowder contains clams, potatoes, and bacon in every scoop. The Fried Calamari is beautifully crispy and comes with a good selection of sauces. Lastly, the fries are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I really consider Sam's to have some of the best seafood in the Bay. I'm looking forward to my next visit! read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Front to back: clam chowder, fries, lobster roll, fried calamari - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Shrimp and fish tacos both pretty bad. It's probably not their specialty though, I would consider trying lobster roll or chowder.

I stopped by try their lobster roll and clam chowder and it was not so great... The lobster roll somehow it tastes like medicine and I'm not sure why?? The clam chowder was alright but it mostly consisted of celery and potatoes with minimal clams in it. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

A much needed respite after a great exhibit at the De Young museum. It was a bit pricy, but the food was excellent. We had the clam chowder and fish and chips. The chowder was the perfect consistency, not too thick, with plenty of tender clams and potato chunks. The fish and chips were delicious ( fish needed a little salt) but the coating was crispy and not greasy, and the fish flaked beautifully. Fries were nicely seasoned. A good lunch stop! read more

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This review is solely about the magnificent lobster roll drenched in butter, on a slightly elevated hotdog bun. I like the competing as well, but Sam's is more generous with the lobster meat. Usually a claw or two in there. Food slathered in butter? Yes, please. So why the side of slaw slathered in mayo? No thank you. Yeah, I'm a picky eater. Further proof: I know the truck says chowder, but I'm a strict Manhattan tomato base fan, so I'm not having it. I'm sure it's good. Three cheers for the lobster roll! Every time they're in Levi Plaza I'll be there. read more

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The truck was located in front of 100 van ness today where residents got $10 off We ordered the lobster rolls and they were huge with lots of lobster $33 total vs $53 was nice! We enjoyed them The guy working here today at register is not that nice read more

This truck comes by San Francisco General Hospital during lunch sometimes. I usually order the fish and chips which seem very fresh, crispy, and tasty. Today I ventured out and tried the spicy popcorn shrimp, and I was a little disappointed. The spice they put on the crispy shrimp was sprinkled on at the end and not well mixed. This makes the shrimp soggy with the pieces that were sprinkled with the hot sauce. The other pieces were pretty bland tasting. Although the shrimp is very plump and fresh, next time, I will go back to my old order of the two piece, fish and chips. This truck is pretty pricey but at least all the seafood is fresh read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Spicy popcorn shrimp - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

My fave item from this truck is the crab cake. Sam's crab cakes are all crab and minimal filler. I love that because I hate when crab cakes are mostly fillers. Items that are shareable for the price are the shrimp popcorn and calamari. The shrimp and fish tacos are huge. Unfortunately my fish tacos were bland as hell. The clam chowder is good and great on cold days. read more

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An amazing food truck that stops by Levi's Plaza every so often. They have the best Fish & Chips I've ever had. Very large pieces of fish and the fries are seasoned well. Their clam chowder is also pretty decent. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - 2 Piece Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sam's Chowder truck came by Delphine on Diamond tonight and served one of the best lobster rolls I've ever had. The clam chowder was thick and creamy and the cole slaw had a delicious onion-y flavor. Five stars definitely. read more

Sam's Chowder is fantastic! I have been down to their restaurant down the coast of Highway 1 on my way to Half Moon Bay. For Sam's to have a chowder mobile come up to the City is Awesome! They sell their classic New England clam chowder, fried local calamari, po'boys with choice of bay shrimp, chicken or kielbasa, Old Bay fries ($5), and more! Super easy to order at the window. Use a card and poof it's done (except you do have to sign the screen). The food is so heart warming! The cashier was sweet when I explained that I put my bag down on a bench, took the box of calamari out and then a gust of wind blew the bag to the ground. The Chowder was spilt and my mask were messed up :( Amazingly, after I shared this tale of woe, he gave me another cup of chowder! Definitely tip the truck staff! Another delicious meal from Sam's Chowder in Golden Gate Park! read more

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My partner and I went to Sam's chowder mobile because we got hungry and to our surprise, a very tasty lobster roll! The roll is PACKED with lobster and the bun is toasted perfectly with a generous amount of butter. We only visited 2x, but if it was closer to home, we would definitely go more often :) Maybe next time we can try the chowder! read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Just before COVID founds Sam's at Treasure Island on a very windy day. We had to hold onto our food boats to avoid having them fly away, the seagulls were having a feast! With all that we had some great seafood and an amazing view of the bay! Lobster was fresh and a good portion size, clam chowder warm and hearty and French fries had a Cajun type seasoning . With all the French bread I ate, whatever the babes didn't eat of the fries went literally to the birds! read more

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"He was generous with the lobster," said I. "He was generous with everything," replied my wife. She then observed that Sam was underselling himself: although he may well have excellent chowder, he has many other offerings of the highest quality for a food truck. That is all to say we were glad we partook, and we will stop by once again if we happen to see him. We had taken the dog for a walk in Golden Gate Park. It was as crowded as to be expected on Sunday. After a bit more than a mile of strolling, we returned to the area where Sam's and two other vendors were parked, doing brisk business. Before we set out, we had wondered what we would do for a late lunch, having had breakfast only at 9:30am. A big band was busking. I am not sure that is the right phrasing. A big band seems too sizable to say was busking, since they probably needed a special permit. Many were dancing to the music, the lindy and the jitterbug. I had had my eye on the lobster roll. My wife was deciding between fish tacos and fish and chips. She likes the former, but she went with the latter. The quantity -- she is petite, under 100 pounds -- was so much I knew I could have some fries (you know that scene in Diner?) -- and she still had leftovers sufficient for lunch the next day. The lobster, a full size serving, was falling out of the bun. I even had a bite of the fish and chips, which were better than available at a nearby restaurant (which is fine, I hasten to add). We are lucky. We tell ourselves that. I remember being a kid and looking at what others had, which my family could not afford. Our house is walking distance to this magnificent green space in my favorite city in the world now. Whenever we have a family outing such as this morning, I remind myself of my good fortune, whatever travails I will face on Monday morning. Sam's Chowder Mobile was a nice break. A small business such as this, I am pleased to support. I would say we are privileged to able to have our repast on a park bench, and I am most grateful. read more

Alright, I've heard of Sam's before and some folks had mentioned they had good lobster rolls, so when they finally rolled around downtown SF I finally was able to give them a try. Based off looks alone it was better than I expected. One of the things I like about Cousins and other lobster roll spots is you can tell they use smaller lobsters. Smaller lobsters=better flavor and easier to get an even cook. Sam's uses larger lobsters which means bigger meat chunks at the cost of less flavor and a little more chewy. They also absolutely drench these rolls in butter, which I'm not too mad at, as it also makes the celery not so crunchy. The bread they used was okay, but apart from that. I would not try this again. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Regular lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sam's Chowder is so good. I gravitated to this truck because it was cold and i wanted something warm so chowder was the answer. Let's talk about it. I ordered three things... Po Boy Shrimp Sammy - This sandwich is a famous New Orleans sandwich. Sam's was able to capture this in their's as I enjoyed every bite. This has battered shrimp on a bed of greens and tomatoes. Special sauce spread on the tasty special artisan bun. The buns are soft and can be eaten alone imo (so good) nice and sweet complimenting the sandwich. This is a 4/5 sandwich, some room for minor improvement. I wish they wrapped it in foil to hold it together as the sandwich fell apart completely when trying to pick it up, needing me to wipe my hands constantly and pick up the food off the tray and place it back on the Sammy. Comes with a bed of bay fries which has some cajun spice on it. excellent combo. Lobster Roll - You can never go wrong with lobster, coming from half moon bay, this always hits the spot. The lobster to bun ratio is crazy!! But what to expect when your forking over $23+ for a Lobster Sammy which is reasonably priced btw. This roll is sweet, savory, and filling. One is good enough. 5/5 Clam Chowder - The main reason we came here. The famous clam chowder. The consistency of the perfect balance of creamy/liquid is there. The texture of this chowder is perfect than most. I like my chowder to have lots of stuff in it and Sam's doesn't play when including other ingredients like potatoes, bacon, cream, and of course little neck clams. After eating this last I would say This dish can be a stand-alone and suffice. Not to filling not to light. Comes with crackers and hey for $6.50, Why Not! read more

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Their food is ok. The fish in their tacos lack flavor. I do like to buy their tub of to-go chowder, I can reheat and eat it at home. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Sept 2022 menu - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sam's Chowder mobile comes to Oakland a couple times a month next to my office. I usually find food trucks to be overpriced and they serve skimpy portion sizes. But I must say after trying Sam's truck today, the quality of food and portions make it one of the better food truck options available. Also everything on the menu is something I'd want to eat. They have a Shrimp Po'boy, Lobster Roll, Crabcakes, Calamari, etc. But today I tried: Lobster Roll: the amount of Lobster was sufficient for the split toast provided. It's about as cheap as a lobster roll will get these days at $18.50. It's still pricey but if you like lobster it's worth it. Calamari: this is must for me if I eat from this truck again. Fried Calamari is a great dish in general and Sam's makes a good one. Overall Sam's is one of the better trucks. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Lobster roll for $18.75. It's decent. - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We've been getting take outs from Sam's for over a decade. We've always enjoyed the food and loved the option of sitting out in the park. Every so often, especially since the pandemic, we noticed that the price of their items would increase $2-3 every few months. However, today we noticed that the price of our favorite go to item, 3 pc fish & chips, increased from $17.50 to $26, that's 50% increase. Even by the Bay Area restaurant standard inflation rate, that's outrageous, and sadly, Sam's will no longer be a go to food truck for us! read more

I am a serious sucker for lobster rolls and whenever Sam's is in Oakland, I come running. The food truck menu boasts a variety of seafood- lobster rolls, shrimp po boys, crab cakes, calamari, clam chowder, Baja style fish tacos, fish and chips. My appetite wanted it all! I got the short lobster roll ($14.00) and a clam chowder ($5.25). The lobster roll was amazing. Tender, warm lobster in a buttery toasted bread. The clam chowder was flavorful but I like the one at Spud's crabshack better. I polished off the whole meal and was very satisfied. It was not a cheap lunch but if you love your seafood, you gotta splurge a little. I would try the other options but that lobster definitely got my hooked. I would need to negotiate some sharing with my coworkers next time! read more

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Brilliant concept. Delicious food. Dedicated service. Perfect for a large party gathering. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Lobster oysters colslaw watermelon - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great fish tacos have been so hard to find until now!!! I just happened to be invited to a 60th birthday party in Marin and much to my surprise, Sam's mobile was there catering it. The best fish tacos I have ever eaten! I also ordered the fried chicken sandwich and it was delicious! The bun was so soft and yet it held up and didn't fall apart. The fries are so crispy and abundant! Looking forward to more of this delicious food!!! read more

I stopped by General hospital and seen this truck i decided to order. The fish was not seasoned at all and the fries was over cooked.

I really like the food in Half Moon Bay and previously at the truck. This time they did something inexcusable and lost a loyal customer. The hand-held credit card machine FORCED me to leave 18%. I'm loyal so of course I would have tipped, but NO OTHER BUTTONS WORKED. I pressed "other amount", "no tip" (just to see), and another option. No matter how many times I pressed the buttons, nothing worked, EXCEPT of course the 18% which worked just fine. That's so ugly. It's sleazy. OK, they got an extra $.60 out of me yet they lost a loyal customer and now I'm telling others. Was it worth $.60? Also, both guys in the truck could not have been more UNFRIENDLY. I initially waited to order until the first guy got off his phone. They also added chili powder to the fries- something I didn't ask for and they didn't do it last time. FORCING tips they think they deserve, talking on the phone, being unfriendly, and screwing up the order? These guys are jerks! Too bad. read more

***3.5 Stars*** Super hearty chowder and their decadent lobster roll are the primary draws at these always busy food trucks. This New England-style seafood mobile food truck done up in East Coast nautical style, enhanced by "spectacular" ocean views at the "tourist"-friendly original in Half Moon Bay - but the drawback to some people is that it's "overpriced for the portion"; I don't agree. Also, I judge on quality and taste, not portion size. ...who wants a big portion of crap food anyway?? BTW, Sam's Chowdermobile makes stops around town. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Off the Grid - Presidio (April 14, 2019) - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

When you are in the mood for a lobster roll and some clam chowder and you are trying to grab something quick to take back to your desk, Sam's chowder mobile does the trick. I typically order a shortie (or regular) plus the chowder. The chowder is about average - I prefer mine a little thicker and with more clam meat (at $5.25, it could have had more meat). The bread is the best part of their lobster roll (toasted, buttery, warm and delicious). The lobster meat itself didn't taste fresh to me but they give you a lot of it. The main drawback of this food truck is the price - a regular lobster roll plus chowder plus tax plus tip approaches about $30. That's a lot for lunch even in the SF Bay Area. Overall, I think this is about a 3.5 rating but I rounded down because of the price. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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More sauce was needed on the shrimp po boy. Also the shrimp need to be cleaned. I was really disappointed that most of my shrimp still had the vein. It really ruins the dish because of the sandy gritty taste given off by the vein. Has the potential to be a really good po boy. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

What I ordered: Shrimp po'boy and fries. Pretty big portion with plenty of shrimp. The buns are buttery, soft, and toasted just right. It could be a bit difficult to keep the shrimp from falling outside, but you can always use a fork to pick them back up from the plate. Fries were well seasoned and crispy. If you like slightly soggy fries, you might think these fries are a bit dry. Overall, although it's a deep-fried dish, the batter isn't overwhelming, so it's a good option for either lunch or dinner. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Shrimp po'boy with fries - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Our group was exploring the Mission Bay area, when we stumbled onto SPARK Social SF food truck park. Since it was lunch time, we decided to check out the trucks and get something to eat. Checked out the eight or so vendors and I narrowed it down to two trucks. Having tried the food from the other truck, I decided on Sam's Chowder Mobile. The menu here consists their Lobster Roll, Po Boy. Baja Taco, Grilled Shrimp Wrap, Crab Cakes Fish n Chips, Popcorn Shrimp, Fried Calamari, and Clam Chowder with sides of fries and dirty kettle chips. Having had some of their food at their Half Moon Bay restaurant, I went with the two piece Fish N Chips. The pollock was fried golden brown and it was moist. The order came with a good portion of crispy fries seasoned with Old Bay along with tartar sauce and coleslaw. Overall, the food was very good and would order it again. read more

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Having heard about the lobster roll we say a short line at the chowder mobile and impulsively stopped by despite having just eaten lunch. HUGE quantity of well-seasoned fries and the lobster roll was well buttered, fresh, and of a good portion. Worth the money and worth a stop on your drive up the coast! read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Lobster roll, old bay fries - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sam's chowder is in golden gate park today. Ordered a bowl of chowder, really yum. Well seasoned, with clams and golden potatoes. Lots of stuffs. Had to order one more after the first cup. Perfect weather for a warm chowder read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

I stopped by Winter Walk to grab lunch after doing some last minute shopping. I wanted something light, so Sam's Chowder Mobile caught my eye. I stopped by on Tuesday, December 20th around 1pm. After browsing the menu, I decided to get the New England Clam Chowder: little neck clams, yukon gold potatoes, smoked bacon and cream ($5.25). It was the light lunch that I was going for, but I like my clam chowder a little thicker. This was on the thinner side. Also, not much clams or potatoes. I typically like brothier soups, but with a chowder, I'm expecting something a little more substantial. The soup also came with Oyster crackers which I didn't eat. Next time, I think I'll try their lobster roll. But based solely on their soup, Sam's was just all right. read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - New England Clam Chowder: little neck clams, yukon gold potatoes, smoked bacon and cream ($5.25) - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

TL;DR - can't wait to find them again!! They did an event recently I attended. We got their crab cakes which came with fries, clam chowder cup, and a shortie lobster rolls. I was shocked at the lobster roll! It came with so much meat. The bread was delicious. The food came with coleslaw, which wasn't too dressed. This made it really easy to eat. The crab cake was worth it! Super crabby!! It sss well breaded and not overly salted. The clam chowder was unremarkable but that's ok. Everything else was great! read more