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    Sam's Kitchen

    4.0 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Sam's Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Sam's Kitchen Photos

    SAM'S KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Sam's Kitchen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Spicy garlic teriyaki chicken plate with salad, mac salad and rice
    Danielle R.

    This is a little hidden and off the beaten path but man was it worth it. I was craving a Hawaiian bbq lunch and they delivered the goods. Not shown are the garlic fries that I devoured on my walk back to my resort. The mac salad is a potato mac, my favorite. Bright fresh and big portions. I was full the rest of the day! They also offer a order ahead and pick up option.

    Steak with original garlic sauce and shrimp
    Yvette L.

    I saw all the great reviews and took my son for lunch. The steak was very chewy and no good. The shrimp had good flavoring, but it was oily and soggy. We had to throw it away after a couple of bites. Luckily this was a food hall and we found him good ramen at Baikohken.

    Outdoor seating
    Tina N.

    We really enjoyed our lunch here. The seating area was so relaxing and quiet. Food was great and service was kind and attentive. I would absolutely return.

    Menu - February 2026
    Cheryl G.

    Quaint place and if you blink, you'd miss it. It's a bar situated at the hotel pool. It's a very divey feel but the bartender was super cool while we made a pit stop for drinks and a shrimp plate. I'd come here again.

    Garlic steak plate with add on garlic shrimp
    Kira K.

    I've been told this place is really good and I was so excited to try it! I ordered the garlic steak plate with add on garlic shrimp, and a guava iced tea (not pictured) Price was about $35-$40. But I was excited so I thought it would be worth the price STEAK: the best thing about the steak was it was very tender! The garlic was good for a few bites but some of the pieces were so salty it literally burned my throat SHRIMP: nothing to write about this.. just salty, and no where near as good as Giovanni's Weirdly, the best part of the meal was the guava iced tea lol Idk if I came on an off night, but it was super disappointing :( I might give it a try once more though to see if my bad experience was a fluke

    April S.

    Dave is the Bartender/Manager here. Excellent service! Super friendly quick on the pour, and eager to please! They just started opening up for lunch time about a month ago - something they haven't done before, and people have been attending! Sheva (Seven) - was my bartender today - very friendly super engaging and always quick to entertain with fun trivia facts! Beer prices are fairly priced, see the pics I posted to see everything. No price gauging on wine AT ALL!! (Other places charge $15 for a chardonnay, and vary the prices of the wine depending on the type; now granted if they going higher end and longer age in a barrel I can understand - but for a bottle cali wine you can get @ Target for the same brand at $15 - ya know there are some mark ups!) Anyhoooo.... Let's talk the food: belly so happy taking leftovers home! Alright so Step 1: Choice of protein: fish, beef, chicken, tofu, vegetables. I asked for half chicken & half vegetable combo (they were EXTREMELY accomodating on that request)!!!!! Step 2: Pick yer sauce! They have 5 main sauces, pic enclosed. I went with the Spicy Teri Garlic! (trust me foodies it fiiiiiire! Step 3/Final Step: Choose da sides (again on the menu pic) I went for the combo - salad, rice, and potato/mac salad! Now for specialty drinks: Their Bloody Harry (a unique Bloody Mary) is completely worth it! Uses a unique homemade infused vodka that hands down you will NOT find anywhere else on island! Glass is rimmed with salt AND peppercorns, again another unique feature to this beverage! There is also a new beverage called Wonka Lada, which looks very much like something you'd see out of Willy Wonka's factory and/or if you really geeking out making comparisons to Monster's Inc! And others have compared it to something out of Warcraft, I can't say anyone is wrong! Smoothy style especially for those needing a nice cold fix! Li ing mui on the rim. Gives all the piña colada vibes with a strong hit of ube! This is one of those that hits you afterward!!!! Great vibe there are tables all around and even a small hot tub/pool area to give more to the atmosphere look! So don't complain if plastic cups are used because hotel has a no glass policy around the pool. This establishment has been here since last November. And don't think yer gonna get bored sitting here! Bar top is really solid hard wood!! There are all sorts of decor that each time you come here it almost a game of find this item! Tribal masks from Africa, Traditional tiki faces, bonsai trees, Hula instruments, saddles, tapa style roofing, beware the lobsters running amuck! Hmmm maybe a promotion needs to be done where what item is new hiding amongst all the decor for a special prize or something? And yes for you folks who are die hard sports fans - there are 2 televisions - everything comes from streaming services - so treat them nicely with yer tips and maybe they can get more power to more of what u wanna see! (hint hint hint) Overall this place is a huuuge 100/10! So bring tyler gang here! Oh in case u asked the bar is inside the Bamboo resort (fun fact this building been here for 100 years!)! And don't worry super close to the bus lines so for those who need an extra lift yer covered! (unless you ubered or lyfted or drove, rode yer own bike/scooter/skateboard or did yer own two feet here! Yes your mouths and eyes are watering to get over here! So easy way to know yer in the right spot is to see the vintage Yellow Woody sitting out front! Just please don't climb in it for photo ops - that would really make everyone sad. Yes Yelpers I "will be back"! Enjoy and help support these local folks running the place!

    spicy garlic shrimp plate
    Kaje Y.

    Sam's is tucked away in the back, but has enough decor near the street to find it. The first time I went, was a bit off hours afternoon time frame. I walked to the back and there was no one there, I was unsure of what to do, so I went to the bar and asked if it was Sam's. Sure enough the bartender gave me a menu and I ordered to go. Note that the menu is a little confusing. You need to order things as a plate to get the rice, salad, and potato/mac salad, or else I guess its considered a la carte? I enjoyed it so much that I went twice and seriously considered going a third time in the span of a few days. They are also open late! They do have plenty of seating there but I opted to eat back at my hotel. Online ordering is not available for this location, despite what te menu says. On the first visit, the potato salad was such a sad small scoop, the second time I went, I asked for an additional a la carte side of it for 2.50 and the scoop I got with the plate was also much bigger this time. (See pictures) Overall, really enjoyed the food and would definitely return.

    Mai Tai
    Suzie V.

    A must stop when coming to Hawaii! The bartender makes a great Mai Tai and the spicy shrimp is my favorite. There's a little bit of a wait but that's to be expected with good food. Such a hidden gem! Definitely in my top 3 of food spots in Waikiki.

    Rei K.

    I came here for garlic shrimp after finding this place on someone's blog. The entrance was quite hard to find--at first, I thought it was just a food truck. When they asked if I was dining in or taking out and I said dining in, they guided us inside to a stylish open-terrace space surrounding a pool. While we were there, we found out from the staff that a famous Japanese idol group had actually filmed a music video here. Apparently, fans used to visit for that reason, but when we came, although there were other customers, nobody seemed to be there specifically for that spot. There were two of us, and since it was around 5 PM and not crowded, we were seated at the big table used in that MV. As for the garlic shrimp--I ordered the spicy version because I love spicy food, but that was a huge mistake. It was so incredibly hot that my mouth was burning, and I couldn't really taste the actual garlic shrimp flavor. I tried my friend's regular one, and it was truly delicious--actually better than at other places I've tried. I definitely recommend going with the regular! I'm not sure about the takeout prices, but dining in with drinks came to about $26 per person. Service depends on the staff, but overall, the atmosphere was great and we left very satisfied.

    Peter L.

    Finally tried the new location at Bamboo Hotel. Sad to say the orig flavors of my beloved Sam's Kitchen is now gone. The garlic shrimp was drowned with too much butter, the previous version was more dry with better seasoning & popped in the mouth. The garlic steak was good but again no longer the same. The potato salad was descent, but the previous legendary version is also no more. New location is at the back of Bamboo Hotel next to the pool, ambiance was nice. But i miss the orig Sam's Kitchen at the alley

    Menu
    Winnie C.

    The restaurant is located in the Bamboo Hotel in the center of Waikiki Beach area. We stopped by for a quick bite. They have a small menu with limited options. We ordered ahi with French fries and steak with side of rice, salad and potato salad. The food came in tiny portion and the price was insanely high. For $50/2 ppl, we were half full. The dishes were also very salty and barely edible. Asked steak to be medium well and came out medium rare... The waitress we had had a attitude and kinda intimidating. Although the staffs here who served us last night were nice.

    Before
    Sally K.

    I've eaten at Sam's Kitchen every time I visit Honolulu, and it has always been amazing until this visit. I came with my parents and was excited to see that the restaurant had moved to a better location. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. We were seated at 7pm, but our food didn't come out until 8. I had to walk up to a server (because no one came to check up after we ordered) to ask if our order had been placed, I was given a vague response with no explanation, which came off as dismissive. When the food finally arrived, the shrimp tasted great as always. But the beef was extremely chewy to the point where none of us could even bite into it. All three of us ended up leaving it untouched, which was very disappointing since I've ordered the beef couple times before. We still paid in full since we ate some of the rice, but between the long wait time and the inedible beef, I don't see myself returning on my next visit since there are many other shrimp trucks out there.

    Tiffany L.

    This restaurant is tucked behind the back of a hotel adjacent to the hotel's pool area. Its pretty casual outdoor seating that can be good for large parties with what looked like a full bar. I came here with a group of girls and we were able to seat at a large wooden table. I personally didn't feel like there were too many things to order so we all got different variations of the garlic shrimp plate. Originally I had wanted to do an A la carte order of the shrimp (4pcs) but the waiter said it could only be added on.. boo. I opted for the spicy garlic shrimp plate and I was quite underwhelmed. The shrimp is peeled except for the tail and it seemed breaded then fried which definitely felt too heavy. On top of it all, they were also kinda small. I was also a little upset that on the menu it said mac/potato salad but then I wasn't given a choice and was given a potato salad instead of macaroni. Next I thought the shrimp was just ok, but the cherry on top was that the rice was kind of dry. They have good happy hour prices, but the foods just okay. Especially the garlic shrimp is nothing to for them to brag about. But also not terrible.

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    8 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Great service and hospitality. The food was delicious. Highly suggest aloha chicken and plantation tea.

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    16 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Absolutely amazing! If you're looking for a nice quick, delicious, local Hawaiian spot this is the place for you. Garlic Shrimp to die for!

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    7 years ago

    great food & such a kind owner :) really cares about his customers. cute environment. would definitely come back!

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    Page 35 of 37

    Sam's Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sam's Kitchen

    Is this place truly open till 1am everday? I am getting back home late next week (11pm) and want to confirm I can grab something here!

    Sam's Kitchen is a great place to grab delicious garlic shrimp. Walking distance from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The hours of operations change based on local GOV restrictions but they do update the website and Yelp information often. However during… Read more

    How is the parking situation around the area? Can someone please recommend where to park? Also, is it walkable from the Hyatt Regency? Thanks so much!

    Parking definitely isn't great as it's located in the touristy area, highly recommend Uber and the bus as we didn't see any parking nearby here

    View All 4 Questions

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    Chao

    Chao

    4.4
    (390 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    Food was EXCELLENT. That calamari was one of the best I have ever had. It was crisp but not to…read morethe point where it hurt the inner of my mouth - super soft and tender. The cucumber was also perfect and it's amazing how everything was so crisp on the outside yet soft on the inside! The crab pasta was a standout. The flavors just melded together perfectly with the soft shell crab being an amazing garnish to the dish. It was tender and crisp. You can just eat it as is with the pasta and it just was absolutely delicious. They give you an option if you want some blue crab garnish on the pasta - make sure to say yes. The crab adds such a nice kick to the creaminess of the pasta. Did I also mention how big the portion was!? You could probably order the crab pasta and another entree to share with friends. Dessert was unique. The flan was rich and the lychee was a delicious side. The popcorn ice cream was very different than what I'm used to. The ice cream has a very grainy texture with the accents of popcorn. The butter mochi was standard but a good additional texture for the popcorn ice cream. Not too sure if I would order that again, but the flan was definitely my favorite dessert of the meal. Ambiance is a darker mood with dim lighting. It adds to the luxurious vibe of the restaurant itself. I noticed people came dressed up for their reservations as they walked in. Definitely a great spot to go with friends/family. Service was quick and helpful - very attentive with filling up our waters and making sure we were ok. Definitely a standout restaurant. I'm a fan!

    Ever since this place opened, my wife and I have been back numerous times! Very lovely set up…read moreinside, full bar, and an ambience that's great for any meal or date night. Our go to's are the chicken pho, and soft shell crab pasta. The pasta is so rich with a little spice and soft shell crab is crispy and light. Centered in town, it is easy to get too. Swing by now!

    Photos
    Interior dining room with bamboo-like lighting
    Interior dining room with bamboo-like lighting
    Fried Spring Rolls - Ch Gi
    Fried Spring Rolls - Ch Gi
    Ube Dream

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    Ube Dream
    Little Plum

    Little Plum

    4.5
    (277 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Little Plum offers a lively yet elegant ambiance over deliciously unique local Asian comfort food…read more Their Spicy Miso Eggplant was full of umami and flavor, and their Mushroom Jook was like nothing I've ever had before (and the shoyu egg on top was AMAZING). The Kalbi Shortrib Bao had melt-in-your-mouth shortrib with tangy kimchee inside, which made for the perfect little bite. My favorite was the Crispy Pork Belly, which was probably the best pork belly I've ever had in a long time. Vibe: The restaurant has many tables, perfect for get-togethers with family and friends or other celebrations. You can see the chefs cooking from most seating in the restaurant, which added a nice touch to the dining experience. The servers are all very attentive and friendly. Parking: Mānoa Marketplace offers lots of free parking in their large parking lot, although it does tend to get crowded during lunch.

    Returned this time for a brunch and it did not disappoint!…read more We ordered the Kalbi Bao, Miso Eggplant, Pork Belly, Catch of the Day (Opah), Mushroom Jook, and the Menchi Katsu. Everything was delicious but my favorites were the Kalbi Bao and the Pork Belly dish, which is more like a watercress salad with crispy pork belly. The service was top-notch. We ordered family style and each of the main courses we ordered came with rice and they brought out all of these out at the same time so that we could have it with all of the other dishes - great attention to detail. We were also celebrating a birthday so they brought out complimentary matcha lemonades with a candle for a birthday cheers.

    Photos
    Inside da restaurant......
    Inside da restaurant......
    Catch of the day
    Catch of the day
    Rock Salt Plum $16 - highly recommend

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    Rock Salt Plum $16 - highly recommend
    Eating House 1849 - Waikiki

    Eating House 1849 - Waikiki

    4.1
    (1.5k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Hooonanea ...very tasty…read more Golden pau hana also very tasty, esp if you like lemon. Very mello flavor. Service has always been great Very chill atmosphere, especially during the lunch time. Easy to enjoy your time off in the restaurant Although not the cheapest, definitely you get what you pay for. Will be back.

    We visited on a Saturday evening and were quoted a 15-25 minute wait without a reservation. What…read moresurprised me was that when we were eventually seated, the restaurant wasn't even half full. I'm sure there are factors behind the scenes that guests don't see, but it was a bit confusing from a customer perspective. Thankfully, our server more than made up for the rocky start. She was friendly, attentive, and offered great recommendations throughout the evening. We started with the BBQ ribs, which were very tender and flavorful, though slightly sweeter than my personal preference. For our entrees, we ordered three fish dishes, a burger, and some sushi. When we asked our server for her favorite fish, she recommended the Kampachi, so we ordered it prepared three different ways--grilled, sautéed, and steamed. About 15 minutes later, she returned to apologize and let us know they only had enough Kampachi for two orders. It was a little surprising to hear a featured protein was nearly sold out so early in the evening, especially at a restaurant in this price range. We adjusted our order and selected a different fish for my sister. Overall, the food was good and well-prepared, although a bit pricey in my opinion. The experience was somewhat of a mixed bag--from the initial wait and limited fish availability to excellent service and enjoyable food. In the end, the company, conversation, and outstanding service outweighed the negatives. We made sure to thank our server and left her a well-deserved 20% tip. As always, this review reflects my personal experience on a specific day and time. While there are plenty of other restaurants I'd still like to try, I wouldn't rule out returning in the future.

    Photos
    Inside the restaurant. They have outdoor & indoor seating.
    Inside the restaurant. They have outdoor & indoor seating.
    Soufflé lava cake
    Soufflé lava cake
    Kale salad

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    Kale salad
    Carte Blanche

    Carte Blanche

    4.5
    (80 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Luxury

    Took our friend here for her birthday and what a hidden gem this place was. Tucked away in the…read moreheart of Kaimuki, Carte Blanche was definitely a delightful surprise! When our party first walked in, we were a tiny bit skeptical because of the empty room (which was beautifully decorated). However as each course came out, we were blown away and didn't know how the restaurant was not way busier for a Saturday night! Each dish/course was well thought out and prepared to perfection. We were all taken by surprise in a great way. The head chef Anthony was very passionate and excited about his work and that was very refreshing! Overall a wonderful experience and we will be back!

    If you're looking for Kaimuki's most romantic date night spot, look no further than Carte Blanche…read more We recently experienced their summer prix fixe menu (which changes twice a year), and it was one of those meals you remember long after the plates are cleared. The progression of dishes felt thoughtful and creative-- * Crispy Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin (the perfect starter crunch) * Soupe de Poisson (deep, comforting flavors) * Pina Colada Granita (a refreshing palate cleanser) * Pan Seared Scallops (my personal favorite--perfectly caramelized and tender) * Double Cut Rack of Lamb (succulent and cooked to perfection) * Lemon Crème Brûlée Tart (a sweet, bright finish) Every plate was elegant, well-executed, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere strikes a balance between sophisticated and welcoming. Dim lighting, intimate tables, and quiet elegance make you feel like you've stepped into a hidden gem in the middle of Kaimuki. Honestly, I felt like a celebrity dining here. Service was polished but never pretentious--our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the courses, and kept the pacing of the meal just right. For the level of creativity and execution, Carte Blanche feels like an affordable luxury in Honolulu's dining scene. Perfect for anniversaries, date nights, or anytime you want an elevated experience without flying to the mainland. Highly recommend booking a reservation--you'll want to savor every moment here.

    Photos
    Carte Blanche
    Carte Blanche
    Carte Blanche

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    Miro Kaimuki

    Miro Kaimuki

    4.5
    (417 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$$

    Been to Miro twice. I'm moving off island and it's the only place I want to visit again before I…read moreleave. The service was flawless, the food was the best i've ever had, and the drinks were stellar. Restaurant ambience is a little weird. I prefer the bar to the tables. But who cares - everything else is incredible. I'm booked in for this Wednesday and I can't explain how excited I am.

    Being a fan of this restaurants prix fixe, we were excited to try the à la carte menu. That way you…read moreget exactly what you want. We were seated right away, but it was kind of loud. I think it's where we were sitting, but still a surprise given the cozy vibe. Food was solid, but we were slightly disappointed with the caviar as it was explained that it was going to be like an egg salad Sammie. But it was just the caviar on a toast. Perhaps the server wasn't really sure how to explain it, but since caviar are essentially eggs, I guess it was a non traditional egg salad. We had finished almost finished our starters by the time I got my wine so that was disappointing. It was packed and it didn't seem like there was enough servers, but certain tables got extra attention. Like they didn't wait long for food or drinks. We ordered everything all at once but had to reorder the dessert because the server forgot to put in it. I wanted to end with some tea, but the server forgot. Overall, the food is solid, but the service leaves something to be desired.

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    Miro Kaimuki
    WESTHOLME RIBEYE (16 oz).
    WESTHOLME RIBEYE (16 oz).
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    Hamachi. Sun-Dried Tomato. Cucumber.
    Morimoto Asia Waikiki

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki

    4.1
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    I WISH I COULD GIVE MORE STARS!!!! WORTH THE PRICE! FOOD AND SERVICE IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!…read more Okay seriously, I've been to a ton of expensive high end restaurants and none have impressed me like this Morimoto's. When I tell you everything that came out was amazing.... Holy moly it was SO TASTY. EVERYTHING! I was even impressed with the fried rice with how much they served and how much was in it. I personally loved the fish carpaccio, rib eye, hamachi kama, wok vegetables and malasadas for dessert. The orange chicken was my least favorite but it was still good. Oh and the STICKY RIBS...... you HAVE to get them. So crispy yet tender.... I loved how everything we had bursted in my mouth with flavor and was something I couldn't make to that level at home. Service was amazing like any other fine dining restaurant, but for the first time, I felt like this one was worth the money for how good the food was. I will definitely be back!

    My bad review is entirely based on how terrible the food was. For context, we ordered Tonkatsu…read moreramen and Tsukemen dipping ramen. Ramen, according to the server, was the most popular thing on the menu, so how likely could it get messed up? Tonkatsu: Rich, but lacked any salt or had very little. We requested some salt and that instantly made the ramen better. The noodles had enough salt to carry it, but the broth was not great. It tasted like the broth was watered down or reconstituted, however no seasoning was added to re-adjust the broth. Broth: Had little salt and lacked punch, umami, and was brown instead of white. Noodles: Had enough salt to taste good, but was slightly overcooked Pork: Extremely bland. Tasted like zero salt was added during cooking. Toppings: Greatly lacking in toppings Tsukemen: The Tsukemen had a lot of the same issues. Now being a dipping ramen, the broth should be even richer and more flavorful than any normal ramen. Tsukemen -- no matter where you have it in Japan, should be richer and saltier than most broths, but the broth here was severely lacking. For $26 a bowl this was worse than your DIY frozen ramen packs. Now I'm not asking for Japan-level of ramen mastery here, this is after all, just a tourist spot -- but if your Tonkatsu is the best selling item, you have to step it up. Our server did mention that some people complained about the amount of salt in ramen, so they adjusted it. But dare I say, instead of diluting the normal salt/seasoning amount for everyone, couldn't you just add a separate, flavor-light version for people inexperienced with ramen, instead of diluting the original for everyone else? If you're reading this Mr. Morimoto, I would highly encourage you to fly here and order the ramen. I think you and I would share the same opinions. P.S. I've also been to your other Morimoto spots and it was not this bad.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Black pepper beef
    Black pepper beef
    Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining

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    Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining
    Lucky Belly

    Lucky Belly

    4.2
    (2.2k reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    Lucky Belly has an amazing ambiance with warm wood, brick, bar seating, and a stylish but…read morecomfortable dining room. The service was phenomenal from start to finish, which made the whole experience even better. I ordered the Beast Bowl, and it was rich, hearty, and packed with flavor. The bowl comes with brisket, short ribs, and oxtail won tons, along with bean sprouts, wakame, sesame seeds, green onion, ginger, and a soft egg. The broth was savory and comforting, the meat was tender, and the toppings added a nice balance of texture and freshness. Definitely a satisfying bowl if you want something bold, warm, and filling. Great spot for ramen, drinks, and a relaxed meal downtown.

    I'll give this place a solid 4. We came early to have a light dinner before a show at the Hawaii…read moreTheater. I would have said 4.5 had I not noticed the large dead b52 on the floor near my seat when we were seated. Aside from that, the place looked clean. I mean.. we are in Chinatown. So.. We had the shrimp gyoza, lobster shumai, crispy duck tacos, smoked octopus, and wagyu steak cubes. Appy dishes come with 3 pieces each. The crispy duck tacos were my fave. Very flavorful. Loved the textures in that one. Lobster shumai and shrimp gyoza were good. The octopus was tender and flavorful. My Samurai X drink was yummy. My brother had the Midorikawa that was refreshing. I would come again.

    Photos
    Interior bar and dining room.
    Interior bar and dining room.
    Lobster Moco (Dec 2025 update)
    Lobster Moco (Dec 2025 update)
    Crispy Duck Taco (Dec 2025 update)

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    Crispy Duck Taco (Dec 2025 update)

    Sam's Kitchen - foodstands - Updated June 2026

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