I always enjoy some good seafood. But today I experienced bad service and I felt compelled to write this review. The line was long - they have good food and obviously not hurting for customers. But should you be rude to customers? While waiting in the long line I decided on exactly what I want: chowder, prawn wrap, and calamari. When it was my turn to order, that is the exact order I started to rattle off. After I said the prawn wrap, the cashier said, oh, sorry, we are all out of the wrap. Trying to think of what else I want now, I said the calamari. I decided on the always reliable shortie. I paid and immediately got the shortie and the chowder. While I was packing the food up into my bag I thought, wait, he didn't charge for the calamari! So I wait until the current customer at the window is done and then stick my head over there with a, hey, did you forget to order my calamari? I was not being rude in my tone or anything. But I got a "You never ordered the calamari." When I said I did, he said "No you didn't." First of all, I know I did. I said it to buy some time while trying to figure out what else I need to get instead so I can get out of the long line and let the next person order. I totally understand that outdoors, maybe you didn't hear me. But to rudely accuse a paying customer of lying, well, I guess because you are not hurting for customers, you don't care if you are rude to just one customer. read more

I'm a Fried Calamari addict. Every time and everywhere I get the chance to order it...I most definitely order a plate. Sam's Chowder Mobile is no exception. Surprisingly, they didn't have a line. Since I loved the restaurant last time I visited...I decided to try their truck. It didn't disappoint! The calamari was crisp but had a light batter! Not too thick but very crispy! And you definitely can taste the squid...no hidden seasonings. I liked how it was served piping hot with lemon, tartar sauce, & cocktail sauce. Honestly, it only needed some lemon! No need for the sauces...it's good on its own! I will pay a visit again in the near future. I want to try their other items such as the fish tacos and the chowder. I haven't been to the east coast but if it tastes like Sam's Chowder Mobile then I might have to think about relocating lol! read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Fried Calamari: Nice and crispy. ****drools**** - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Actually a 4.5 if I could. First time customer- at the treasure island party today. Ordered the lobster roll and the popcorn shrimp. The lobster roll was delicious- it came on brioche roll and was accompanied with slaw. Great flavor- moist and fresh. The popcorn shrimp was just OK- fresh and crispy but lacked flavor. It was not worth the calories. The chowder looked great and so did the fish and chips- next time..... The lines for this truck were very long- but that does say something... Food worth the wait! Also- 17.75$ for a lobster roll is up there...but you do get a good portion. The shrimp was $8.00- which was reasonable. A great truck- give these guys a shot - read more

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Wow. I got the lobster roll and fish and chips. I was very hungry helping out with the wildfires in Santa Rosa. I would highly recommend the food here. It was fast and tasted very fresh. read more

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Wondered into the Commons block party in SF. Sam's chowder mobile rocked! Had the lobster roll.....absolutely DE-lish!!!! Highly recommend!! read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Wondered into the Commons block party in SF. Sam's chowder mobile rocked! Had the lobster roll... DE-lish!!!! Try it! - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Seafood was not cooked. The garlic noodles and scampi are horrible. I will NOT recommend this place for anyone.

Decent enough lobster rolls, but at 20$ for a pretty small sandwich - and thats the larger option, i cant emphatically say its worth the money. In fact - it does not. read more

The last 4-5 times Sam's has shown up, the staff is different, the food quality is worse and the overall experience has really taken a nose dive. Let me try and be as fair and specific as possible -Fish and Chips The last few orders, the "Old Bay Fries" have been completely over-seasoned and so salty that I wasn't able to eat more than 10 fries. The fish itself was either over cooked, or the oil needed to be changed, as it was dark brown batter, and a chewy piece of fish on the small side. Fish and Chips are typically a favorite of mine from most seafood places, and comparing this to some other places with the same price, Sam's comes in well behind. Fish and Chips should be golden brown, and the fish should be flaky. You should not need a knife to cut a good fried/battered fish. I used to be a big defender of the Lobster Roll for $17.50. Unfortunately the last few times the amount of lobster seems to be much less than when they first started showing up and had different guys on the trucks. This is particularly interesting because the price of lobster in the U.S. was way down this year, but Sam's prices are the same, and the quantity is actually down. I don't think I'm the only one to notice because this truck used to have a line of 30 people deep for 2 hours at lunch when it showed up. The last few times I've gone there was no line at 12:30 read more

Everything but mainly the $14 Lobster Roll, I have one word to describe it, RIPOFF!!! Why do ppl continue to buy into this whole premium lobster Food Truck BS?! A friend of mine bought one and I took a bite. It is totally not mind blowing. Folks, my gf and her family buy 5-6 fresh and decent size lobster for $100 at a local distributer. Simple preparation of salt, lime/lemon and the key ingredient BUTTER is all you need. Butter on any roll of your liking will taste just like Sam Chowder's if not better. Fun Fact: lobster was once considered poor man's food. It was frown upon and served to prisoners and slaves. Some crafty schmuck market it in a way that the aristocrats started to believe it was a delicacy. I'm all for supporting local and small business, farms, breweries, fishermen, etc. but when you start inflating ridiculous prices, that's just wrong on all accounts. If ppl are willing to pay, ignorant or not, so be it. Sam's Chowder, I give you A+ for ripping ppl off. What a butter scam! read more

Found out there was a another small off the grid location off of Octavia on Thursdays I'm always driving by Octavia on my way home from Berkeley. Decided to stop by. Three trucks and one was Sam's chowder truck caught my eye. No line since they opened at 5pm and I got there at 5:05pm. Lol. Ordered the small lobster roll and fish chips. Total order came out to be $25 Pricey? Maybe but isn't all seafood pricey? If u see someone selling a lobster roll for $5 or less then they may have a quality issue or something. Lobster roll was delicious! I was surprised of the large chunks of lobster! Über goodness! Thank goodness I got the small because it was fulfilling! Plus the side coleslaw was pretty good. Shared fish and chips with my brother. Fish was pretty good. And the fries were chiptole -- nice surprised, considering Camelot fries weren't even that good. I prefer Sam's! If I had to choose to eat at any of the food trucks again I'll choose Sam's Chowder mobile! read more

Lobstah Roll! I know, summer is over but lobster roll cravings don't neatly fit into the seasons. Walkin' the dog in GG park after a great dog event at Sharon Meadow (our dog should be a Yelper, she is a TREAT CONNOISSEUR!) we found ourselves passing by Sam's Truck of Tempting Treats. Lobster roll - Solid "A". Huge chunks of sweet fresh lobster, dressed well, on the perfect roll slightly grilled in buttah. We also tried Sam's fish tacos and these were stand-up. Excellent fish, fresh and pretty healthy dressing and a finely chopped mango salsa and slaw. Very nice. Compares very favorably to the standing favorite for lobster rolls, Old Port Lobster Shack in Redwood City. Go see Sam! You'll be glad! read more

The lobster roll was tasty, over priced, and drowned in butter. The crab cake was tasty. So why only one star? Because after checking No Tip on the payment tablet, the server unilaterally added a $5.98 tip. I usually tip in cash after the meal, and would not leave such a large tip for an over priced take out order. The server's action is very disturbing. The process of getting a refund for the unauthorized tip was tedious and unpleasant. Not an apology in sight. So check your invoice before you leave the truck. And check your wallet and teeth as well. read more

I am not impressed. I got a short lobster roll and French fries. All came out to be around $21. The lobster roll was supposed to be 4 inches but it looked pretty big. The bread was warm and slightly butter and stuffed with lobster. It could have been great but there was NO taste. I didn't even finish it.... The Cajan fries were pretty good! I would not get this again. read more

Sam's continues to be one of my favorite food trucks. I love their clam chowder. It was bit peppery this time but still yummy. Good chucks of potato, clam and bacon. My friend had a lobster roll this time and she loved it. They do tend to always be running late and make you wait quite awhile before they start taking orders but then the food does come pretty fast. Previously I have had their fish & chips and shrimp Po Boys. It has always been good. read more

Clam Chowder - too salty Lobster Roll - they give you huge chunks of lobster tail/claw. That's why it's so expensive. I'm not a huge lobster fan, so I didn't find it special. The toasted bun has a LOT of butter. Fish & Chips - fries do not taste fresh, fish is whatever nothing special. Their cole slaw is good though. It comes w/ lobster roll and fish and chips. read more

Well Sam, you've finally priced me out of your lobster rolls. Way to go! Was craving one today, walked by the truck. $17.70! Decided I wasn't craving it that bad, walked away. Yes, I know the shorty is a little bit cheaper, it's also too small for the price at this point. I'll miss that delicious buttery sandwich, but I can only take knowingly being ripped off up to a certain point, and you have officially passed that point my friend. Let me know when you're prices drop out of the stratosphere and I'll gladly give you some more money. read more

I dont normally eat from food trucks but this one was quite good. I had the chower and lobster roll...OMG...so good. I also tried my friend's calamari and fish and chips and key lime pie..yes we almost ordered the entire menu...haha...all were good but the Lobster roll was super yummy. read more

I've been working on a food truck for a few years now and It always makes me happy when I see Sam's chowder rolling up. Their chowder is deliciously thick, creamy, and full of clams! Always hot, always delicious. Perfect for the recent cold front we've been having. Other than the chowder, I have had the lobster roll as well as the shrimp po' boy! Both were really good. Lots of lobster meat, juicy and sweet. But, the po' boy is what I always end up getting. I'm a huge fan for shrimp, it might be because I'm Chinese, but the po' boy has a grip on my soul! I find it to be an amazing blend of lightly fried shrimps with their "special" tartar sauce and really sweat tomatoes. All on a bed of lettuce inside of artisan bread with some kind of spread on it. I tend to get this whenever I can. Oh I almost forgot, I've also had the fish and chips, not the best I've had, but not the worst either. Definitely want to eat it before it gets cold. Overall I love the truck, and I'll probably be back every tuesdays at Serramonte! read more

Being on vacation can breed some general unawareness about the surrounding food options when inside Golden Gate Park and completely starving. It seemed like a present from above - a mobile venue affording us the opportunity to stay inside of the park, put what looked to be good food into our pie holes, and then continue our trek. We took the day after Christmas present and hit Sam's Chowder Mobile. When you have been to Maine and had true lobster rolls, you should know better than to have a lobster roll anywhere else, especially at a food truck in San Fran touting Maine lobsters. Instead of eating lobster fresh out of the water, you know you are eating something that has been frozen for a substantial amount of time. So, this is on me and my stupid stomach begging me to eat something. The lobster roll at close to $18 was way too expensive. The flavor and texture of the lobster was decent and the bun was buttered up as it should be, but it was just that - a decent attempt at recreating something that melts in your mouth in Maine. They don't skimp on the lobster, but it still doesn't justify the price. Our other option was one fish taco at $5.50, again overpriced for a food truck and for one taco, but they try to make it sound better by saying it comes with two tortillas - yay. The fish taco was decent as well, not too small and pretty flavorful, but again nothing to pen a letter home to your mom about. Sam's Chowder Mobile is an option if you are hungry. I doubt you will be horribly disappointed, even with the price, but I also doubt you will be tracking the GPS of the truck for a return visit. It served its purpose and it's on me for not looking for more when the truck was staring at me in between visits to the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Garden. read more

Four stars for chowder! I love clam chowder and this one was tasty. The texture was the right amount of thick and creamy, and there a good amount of substance - plenty of clam and not too many potatoes, and not too salty. I did take a bite of my friend's shrimp po' boy and have to say I wasn't blown away. But I guess they're not called the po' boy mobile. read more

This review is for the shrimp po boy only. I really wish they would put the shrimp po boy on a roll like the lobster roll. Everything falls out of the po boy as it is right now. It sits on top a regular round flat burger-ish type bun. The flavor of the shrimp and the aioli was good, but the bun was dry and a lot messier than it should've been. read more

Great chowder. I really liked it but I think I would have liked it to be a little thicker. Got this during the chowder festival in SF so it was super cheap at 8 oz for 1 ticket ($3). Really enjoyed, though. Get the lobster roll if you can, too. Very worth it. read more

Not sure what everybody is complaining about. I got a shortie lobster roll because it was supposed on the list for top 5 best sandwiches in the US for GMA? I was impressed by how much lobster they jam packed into it, so much that it was just falling out of my sandwich. The bun was nicely toasted and soft inside, and the only thing i could taste was butter overall. However, when I put some of the cole slaw on top-- omg, DELICIOUS! It's pricey, but not too bad. I also tried the baja style tacos, which I thought was pretty price at $5, but omg, no, this thing is HUGE! The tortilla is the size of almost my hand. Had some mango, battered fish, lettuce, and sauce on it. Tasty, but the lobster roll was better for me! read more

Outstanding. More lobster than I expected. Thanks for a yummy lunch that kept me full through dinner.

Ok I am really a fan of this place. I haven't gone wrong with it. So yes it's expensive, but when you look at what you are getting it's pretty reasonable I believe. The chowder is so so. The clams themselves are good but I think the cream broth is what is different. I still haven't liked clam chowder on this coast since I moved out here. The lobster roll on the other hand is solid. Not much if any filler, this lobster roll comes with just chunks of tender buttery lobster pouring over the top of the buttered roll. I feel like a savage when devouring this delicious beast. They sell a short roll for like 11 bucks and a large roll for 16. Now looking at their real menu for the real restaurant, they sell the roll for 22. I find that to be pretty awesome for some good lobster. The fries are delicious too. Covered in old bay so you get this awesome flavor with your meal. I saw the shrimp po'boy too. It looked delicious and while I can't claim so, my friend who also devoured it, exclaimed it was good :) I only wish their schedule was more predictable in SF and in upper SOMA more often. read more

Made a trip to SF from the east bay just for their lobster roll. Heard so many good things about it and I must say they were aaall true! They pack that roll with so much lobsta goodness that the drive, paying toll, traffic and fighting to the death for a parking spot was all worth it. $10 for the shortie, but it was pretty filling. The clam chowder was tasty, but the texture could have been thicker. Definitely need to actually go to their restaurant in Half Moon Bay to see what else they offer! read more

Generally food truck food are insanely expensive for what they give, so I don't normally rate them for their price. This goes the same for Sam's Chowder Mobile's lobster roll. It cost $17.75 for for a regular roll of 5.5" in length. The lobster is soaked in butter which is stacked on a butterly toasted bun. The lobster meat is mostly from the claw which had a texture of somewhat toughyness but not chewy. I can't really taste the natural flavor of the lobster since it's soaked in so much butter. I guess if you like to eat lobster roll for its texture and butter, then this is it. For me, not really. read more

$12 for a shortie lobster roll, when I spotted them in GG park next to the music concourse. Loaded with huge chunks of lobster, I thought it was worth the money. Hot and buttery, just the way I like it. The sad part was how bland it all was though... I don't know what was in all the other lobster rolls I've had, maybe just salt? read more

Just had calamari and fries at the new Foster City OTG first time I have been to an OTG thing Way to much salt I feel like I'm going to puke sad little band called the dirty little blonde's was playing- thought the food truck appeal was to discover fresh new foods different from the usual generic muck served up by the local restaurants around here. (try the Fish Market if you really want to get ripped off) Anyway $30 bucks lighter and much the wiser read more

Great lobster roll! I lived in Boston for several years, so I've had my fair share of awesome lobster rolls and Sam's does all the right things: plump, juicy, succulent pieces of lobster, soft bread and a sauce that isn't overwhelming. read more

Lobster Roll - Tried this at Off the Grid, but it was delicious! Lots of claw meat, but would have loved to have a tad more seasoning. Otherwise, this was a pure and simple lobster roll. read more

I'm a big fan of food trucks. They're super convenient and usually provide some great food. Sam's Chowder Mobile is no exception to that rule. I had been to Sam's before, about 6 years ago, so my memory of their food was foggy at best. Recently, I had their fish and chips from the food truck. I was craving something warm but without dairy (I'm lactose intolerant and hadn't brought my lactaid). I ordered their fish and chips, which is basically the only way you'll convince me to eat fish. I was impressed with how quickly the food came out, and also how it was nice and hot, which meant that it was straight out of the fryer. The food overall was very tasty and filled me up while lasting for a while. I was comfortable with how much I spent, given that nicer food trucks are known to be somewhat pricey, and that this was fish, not a quesadilla with no protein. The fries were tasty with a little bit of heat, which was unexpected but nice. I will definitely return and make sure to bring my lactaid so that I can have some of that delicious chowder that I've heard so much about! read more

The lobster roll is nothing to write home about. The quantity of lobster is a ton, so you get good bang for your $20. However, the lobster didn't have much flavor (even though it looked like it had seasoning on it). I really liked the coleslaw though. read more

Tried the cup of chowder and popcorn shrimp. The chowder was acceptable, but the popcorn shrimp was very disappointing; both going in and coming out. The shrimp itself tasted like frozen food section quality. The batter was light which I appreciate, and topped off with Cajun seasoning. Now, I am an avid spicy food eater, so my stomach can take a pounding, but the shrimp just did not agree with me and was like magma coming out. The truck only had 2 workers, which resulted in our total wait time being roughly 20 minutes or more. You'd think for a $15-$20 meal per person they'd be able to afford an extra hand, but hey I don't do the budget. I won't be going back and I'd advise others to look elsewhere. read more

One of my favorite summer things to do in SF is head over to the Music Concourse on Sunday and watch the Golden Gate Park Band, but sometimes those stirring Sousa marches can cause one to work up quite an appetite! Luckily Sam's Chowder Mobile parks right behind the band shell. I loves me some delicious New England clam chowder and Sam's is one of the best I've had. Very flavorful, lots of potato and clams. Not too thick, but just right. It is a sad Sunday if they run out and I have to settle for a hot dog down the way, but that's only happened once. Thankfully! They actually have other dishes on the truck, but I'm really just a chowder fan. So you'll have to read other reviews for the rest of their menu. read more

Have spotted these guys in Golden Gate park on a couple of weekends and decided to check it out before heading into the museum. Clam chowder = 2.5 - 3stars Not creamy or thick, but decent amt of potato and bacon chunks for around $5. Fish Taco = 2.5 - 3 stars Looked promising...wish they had more sauce that they used on the shrimp po boy. 1 taco for around $5 Shrimp PoBoy = 5 stars Awesome sauce and generous amt of shrimp with fries as a perfect side. 10/3 = 3.3 stars. Reading the reviews I wouldn't have minded trying the calamari, fish and chips, or lobster roll! read more

Sam's in Half Moon Bay isn't so easy to get to when you need a lobster roll fix, but Sam's Chowder Mobile is! They're at Golden Gate Park on Sundays with a limited menu, but all the good stuff worth having. Shrimp tacos, lobster rolls and seasoned fries are a must! Take your goodies and find a nice bench to sit by, enjoy the scenery and people watch! read more

Sam's Chowder Mobile - Lobster Roll & Seasoned Bay Fries - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

This review is for the truck in the Presidio. The clam chowder is what you should order as their name would suggest. The clams are tender as they should be. The lobster roll was a disappointment though. You get nice and big knuckle meat, but mine was rubbery/over-cooked. For 14 bucks I expected better quality. read more

Wow. Just wow. This is perhaps the best chowder I've ever had, and I lived in Boston for 8 years. Really nicely spiced, thick and rich and loaded with clams and clam flavor. I could've eaten three bowls of it. It's that good. Also had lobster roll which was brimming with lobster and little else. There was so much yummy claw meat it fell out of the roll. The only downside was the fries that were undercooked, but who cares about fries when the rest is this good? read more

Have been wanting to eat at Sam's Chowder House/Mobile for a long time. At last the stars aligned & I got to try the S.C.M at StrEat. Had the lobster roll & it was exceptional. There isn't much more to be said that hasn't already. The roll was full of chunky lobster bits. They definitely do not skimp on the succulent juicy lobster meat. The fries were ok. Nothing special & maybe a little lacking. Thus, the star drop. read more