food is top-notch, and wide selection. mongolian food galore, and tasty too. the staff is very attentive, pleasant, and courteous... i bring friends to show how much i enjoy sum's bbq... so eager to eat, forgot my phone for photos... pleasant atmosphere for a bbq... read more

All You Can Eat-ish... Bar-B-Que... I was excited to find out there was a Mongolian BBQ in Auburn. For weeks, my coworker and I have been trying to get our schedules lined up so we can go try it out together. Finally, tonight was that night. We parked in a large parking lot around the corner and noticed it was not busy. One of the employees was sitting outside (outdoor seating is available) on his phone, but he was so welcoming and opened the door for us. He took us to a booth and gave us the run down. Sit. Order your drinks, and go get food. Go back for more, because it's ayce... Tony was really nice and had a great smile! He told us how it works - The server would be over to get out drink order. Then, she brought us some crispy wonton chips with some sweet & sour, a cup of soup each, and a small bowl of rice to share... although there are signs that say "do not share," lol. I'm not sure why you can't share if everyone is paying the same price and eating almost the same exact thing... especially, if it's ayce for everyone... It was exciting to see what they had to offer. After finishing the soup, we walked around the wall to fill your bowl with meats (choice of pork, chicken, beef, or lamb), noodles, vegetables, and at the very end, the flavorful liquid. These liquids make your dish. You can put on a simple teriyaki, but that will make it sweet. There is a house sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, wine, vinegar, and kung pao sauce. If you aren't sure what you like, there is a "Sum's Sauce Recommendation" recipe up for your convenience. **Be sure to tip the grill cooks!! The best way I have noticed to do this is to grab 2 bowls. One of for your food and the other, you will want to fill to the at least half way with your liquids. The saucier the better with me! I spoke to the cashier in the front... who told me it's $21 to dine in, and $17 to take it to go since the person taking theirs to go wouldn't be ayce.... (never mentioning the extra charge.) When we sat down, it felt like something in it was missing... maybe a little salt? Usually, I nail my own sauce recipes. Good amount of soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger... garlic, chili oil... a little kung pao... Since we weren't too happy with the flavor of our first bowl, and finished just over half... and this was an ayce... we decided to go back and tweak our creation. This one had better flavor (I added A LOT of soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil), but I seriously could still not taste the sesame oil and this trip, and I used a lot (is there such thing as sesame water?). Then, I wondered if they were using low sodium soy sauce (i asked, and it was regular). I'm wondering if all these sauces are watered down since the soy sauce and ginger sauce were lacking major flavor. The sesame oil couldn't even be detected... so either it is old or a not so good brand. I figured I would just take the rest home and fix up the flavor... and since I overheard a server offer to box someone's meal up...I thought that was neat that we were able to take out food home...turns out... we had to pay to take home the rest of our bowls(extra$9), or pay extra to not take it home... a "waste" charge(extra$8). When we first walked in and we asked how this Mongolian BBQ worked, they left out the part about paying for waste/ or taking home the rest of your food for a charge. If we had not gone back for a 2nd bowl, we would not have had to pay the extra charge because we would've just not finished it and left. I felt a little ripped off. Of course, after we were ready to pay, they pointed to the sign on the wall that we did not see... in fairness, we did ask how they operated and we were told to go get more... but we were not told about the extra charge. I felt cheated. Over all, it was not bad, it just was not good. It was edible, but definitely not worth the extra charge.. i didn't even want to bring it home, but with the extra charge, I figured I would fix it up at home to make it taste better. This brought our bill to close to $60... $30 split each. Not worth it. I feel like a great honest business that is confident in what they serve would have been up front about the charges before springing them on you in the end. They even brought us the bill without the extra charge when they noticed we were close to finishing, but then took the check back to add on the extra charge. The signs should have been pointed out. Service was great. Food was not anything to be excited about. Day after, I warmed up my food with a few drops of a sesame oil that I have.. it added 10 times more flavor than the 2 ladles of soy sauce and 3 ladles of sesame oil that I added at this restaurant. read more

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Food is always fresh, meats are delicious, and everything is always cooked to perfection! The staff is soooo friendly and kind!

An old gem in the heart of Old Town Auburn! I've been going here since I was a kid. I love the consistency of the food quality and the staff are very friendly. The environment is clean and they were very accommodating when I brought my little one with me. read more

Sum's remains the best Mongolian bbq I've ever had. I've been coming here since I was a kid, and my parents went here growing up too. It remains unmatched in flavor, quality, and value. Sum's is the best! read more

Generous portions, friendly staff, fun for family. Will definitely return to this classic restaurant

January 25, 2026 Update now of any my comments, try one thousand three hundred seventy seven! On the area Ask The Community, a person asks the prices. It for Sums Mongolian is now lunch $17.00. That is rounded off, people think saying $16.99 they saving money. If somewhere like state Oregon, no sales tax yes. For California and other states, no. Okay $17.00, with tax $18.23! May seem expensive however, is an All You Can Eat Place. If the person really can indeed do All You Can Eat, for him it be worth. For person such as I, I cannot do that as much anymore, but I do highly suggest to him if indeed he is able to do those All You Want To Eat restaurants. I will continue to wish this restaurant the best of luck, I will continue to wish the employees best of luck, I will continue to wish the volunteers best of luck! read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - They received green passing rate - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

Absolutely a must!!! Locals go there from childhood. All good memories. Cool relaxed ambiance. If never been I won't spoil . Buttt... It's a one of a kind. And u get soft served ice cream. Lunch is always filling. U want the full experience go for dinner. It's bomb . From ur steaming white rice to ur soup. The whole time is an experience and it will always be a huge supporter of there masterpieces. read more

I was in Auburn on business Tuesday 10/14 and decided to try this spot as it was within walking distance. It was cold and rainy, and I wanted something warm. Stephanie greeted me with a warm smile and a friendly spirit. The inside is very clean, all the food on the bar was fresh and the veggies were crisp. The atmosphere - family friendly, and a great lunch spot if you work nearby. I had 30 mins for lunch and I walked out within 15 min. The noodles are the thick ones, which I don't usually like, but these were yummy. I used the frozen meat to create a fence on the inside of my bowl, so I could pile the veggies high. I'm a bit greedy sometimes lol. I was also surprised by the chef's friendly personality and his warm invitation to come back. While he cooked up my bowl, Stephanie approached me with a complimentary cup of egg flower soup, as I couldn't make up my mind if I wanted a bowl to go when I was ordering. The soup was delicious and just what I needed on a cold day. The sauces were amazing! My noodles were hot, spicy, fresh and didn't disappoint. Don't skimp on the sauces. I added at least 8 scoops in total, because it sticks to the noodles as it cooks down. If you're in Auburn or passing through, this place is DEFINITELY worth the stop, and only about 5 mins from the freeway. I will DEFINITELY be back. Thank you Stephanie for being a warm light on a cold rainy day. You're the Best! read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Noodles, pork, chicken, beef, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, green & white onions and mushrooms - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

Their food is so good, very kind staff, fast and easy to make your bowl. Their beef is thin, tender not too chewy, and you can't go wrong with their house sauce. read more

Decided to try Sum's because I was in the area and have seen their good reviews. The service was great. The restaurant was very clean and we got a table fast. The food tasted great. I would have liked to have more vegetable options but other than that I really enjoyed it. read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

i have been coming here for years & the food & service has always been great! the staff are always friendly. there's a big parking lot next to the restaurant & the location is really good. read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - front - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

Love this local place It is a auburn staple been around for at least 35 years staff is so friendly they remember you coming in each time. Family owned business passed down genterations read more

Tonight was our families first time visiting Sum's. It's been recommended by a friend that's been coming here with their family for years. Soon as you walk in the smell of good food hits you. Accompanied with friendly smiles from all the staff who greet you. Stephanie who was all over doing everything took great care of us the entire time along with the other staff. They made accommodations for our families needs as well and have the best attitudes. The food was amazing. The service is top tier and the line for dinner moved quickly. Will definitely be back. Thank you so much for the experience! read more

Love me some Mongolian BBQ and Sum's delivers a great product. Fresh ingredients, talented chefs and great service. Give them a try. You won't be sorry. read more

One of the best and most well known places in Auburn. Food is always amazing! Always love coming here

Amazing food the best ever and I lost weight eating this daily, two meals a day. For six months

wow ! we had a wonderful experience, super fast service!! within 2 minutes we were seated, had a beer, got appetizers ~ soup great and it was busy during tree lighting event. staff professional and nice, food cooked fast and delicious. a most enjoyable experience and family owned feel just like Do It All Mechanic without food. read more

We just moved tot he area and Sum's was one of the first places we tried. The employees are all very nice and welcoming. The variety of ingredients is good and fresh. We love this place and it is becoming a weekly destination. read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

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Most delicious Mongolian bbq in auburn! Everything was perfect from the noodles and meat to the extraordinary staff! You have to try it! read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

Have been coming here 20+ years. It's always the same. Hot and delicious. Great service. Clean. read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Mongolian noodle bowl - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

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The Mom and I were in Auburn for a wedding weekend, most of the meals were handled between the wedding and the hotel, but one night we needed a dinner spot. My Mom and Dad introduced us kids to Mongolian BBQ back in the 1970s, so after seeing Sum's good Yelp reviews we opted for the obvious. It was easy to find and there was a sizeable parking area to the west of the restaurant. An easy 30 yard walk that even the 86 year old Mom did with ease. We saw right off that they had outdoor seating, people were out there with dogs, and they had indoor as well. It was in the 90s so we chose inside seating. We were greeting by the nicest lady when we entered, the hostess, who seated us right up front so we could watch the cooking happen. We made our pass through the line and loaded up a couple of bowls of meat, veggies and sauces of our own making. The two gentlemen at the cooking station were nice as they slopped our bowls onto the surface of the hot as the sun cooking dome. Steaming hot bowls in hand, our table was already adorned with rice, soup, and wonton chips. We sat and spoke very few words and as we just ate and enjoyed our creations. My first bowl was mostly beef and lamb with veggies. The Mom did mostly veggies with a little chicken. My second bowl was pork and chicken based. The hostess was a whirlwind to watch every second we were there. She never stopped moving! It was amazing to watch, and yet as busy as she was, she was always making sure we had everything we needed. For dessert they have a soft serve ice cream machine, which we tried. It was not the cheap, milk based stuff, you see sometimes. This was a quality soft serve. Vanilla only, but there were some toppings. Such a worth while place to stop for a meal, and rest assured next time we are in the area this is a must visit location. read more

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Food is pretty good, served hot. You get to make your own so you can't go wrong. Menu is basic, what you need, non complicated. Sit inside, all you can eat. Served with a fun delicious fried won ton with sauce, white steamed rice with meal and cup of egg flour soup. Service, is nice, but not in your way. Ambiance, very clean establishment, and is casual. Pricing is worth what you pay for the amount of food you get especially being all you can eat. Lunch is a few dollars cheaper than dinner, either way the cost is what you would pay for one dish alone in a Chinese restaurant so the value is here and worth the money you spend. read more

This is a family owned Mongolian BBQ. We have been going there for many years, then moved away four years ago. We recently went back and it's just like we were never gone. I showed one of the guys that wok the food a photo of him, my dad (passed away), my son and another wok guy. He remembered my dad quite well! The restaurant is not huge, but it works well. The food is always fresh. There are towels along the counter where customers leave messes, and the regulars wipe things to keep it clean in between the staff keeping the food stocked. Typical sauces and food, but again, fresh. Staff is always kind. Parking can be tricky with all the businesses, and the parking lot next door is on a slope so can be difficult with wheelchairs/walkers. At the very top of our "eating out"! read more

This is my new favorite place to stop on my way up to Lake Tahoe. Somehow I'd never been to a Mongolian bbq before so this was all new to me and I thought it was awesome. All you can eat anything normally grabs my attention but it was extra fun being able to build your own plate and then watch them grill it. To top it off, the entire staff is super friendly. They make it pretty clear at every table that they charge for leftover food, so be careful with how much you dish yourself. I think that's so smart. I hate watching people go to an all you can eat restaurant and waste food like it's worth nothing. This keeps people within their means and doesn't incentivize waste. I'd suggest starting off with a smaller bowl and follow the suggested sauce recipe. From there, you can go back and tweak the recipe with a bigger bowl. Also, bring a little cash to tip the people up front frying the food. read more

42 years ago I had dinner there. And many more lunches and dinners since. Today was another great meal. Grateful their still around. If you haven't been there before. Go ASAP and you won't be disappointed. read more

It's been years since I've had Mongolian Barbecue in years. My Wife and I decided to eat here a few months ago. I don't remember the occasion. But the food was great and the restaurant employees were friendly and polite. Will be coming back again. read more

Everyone should try this place at least once. Bring a date. Really experience the whole process.

Yummy, a Mongolian barbecue! The staff was friendly and we got seated right away. The options were plentiful. They give you a medium sized bowl to put the meats, veggies, and sauces in for cooking. Signs said not to push the ingredients down with your fingers or another bowl. While I understand that, if you didn't condense it, you wouldn't have much of a meal after it was cooked. The charges for the options of how much you get were kind of confusing, but we just did the one-trip. That was plenty, with some leftovers taken home for another meal later. It was tasty. read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - ows a table with a bowl of soup, a bowl of soup, a bowl of - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

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This spot's bangin'! I had it tabbed for a pre-festival meal (Dry Diggings Fest) before arriving Nevada City. However, I ditched the event, but still made it here. Pleasantly surprised, despite the 105° Auburn, CA heat that day. Really nice owners, who welcomed me--a solo diner--into the restaurant warmly. Small, family-owned business in downtown Auburn. Their bowls here are pretty generous-sized. I actually made--get this--3 meals from 1 take-out bowl, all for $14. Can't beat that deal! AYCE is a few dollars more. I came during lunch pricing hours before 4:30. They close for a half-hour then, and at 5 dinner prices start. Meal includes soft-serve ice cream too! They have the real thick yellow egg noodles I like also. Very pleased to see the proteins (meat) here of decent quality...like most Mongolian places used to serve before nearly everyone started cost-cutting. 'Bout the only thing that woulda' really put it over the top would be if they had shrimp at the toppings bar. But, for the price, I def. wasn't complainin'. You could get SO FAT eating here, lol. I would eat here everyday if I lived nearby! Also accepts plastic (cards) for payment, not always a given with small mom n' pops like these. Pretty easy on-off access to the nearby I-80 Interstate. Looking forward to repeat visits when passing thru frequently to Reno and the Greater Sierra Nevada area. Topps! Great Place, but Constructive Criticism: Witnessed the fry cook transfer my cooked food from the grill back to the (unrinsed) bowl that previously held my raw ingredients, before transferring the food to my to-go container. That could be an issue with raw food cross-contamination? read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Huge take-out portion.Makes 2-3 meals actually for $14. Bargain. - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

Phenomenal experience, excellent food, kind staff with great customer service! I'd recommend this to anyone with an insatiable appetite, as it's all you can eat and you get to decide how much you get of everything. Highly recommend going bananas on the kung pao sauce read more

Where oh where should I begin... For over 20 years I have been frequenting this fine establishment. When I was a wee lad, I used to go in here and spend the few dollars I had to get a fine bowl of delicious delicious food. As I became older, I continued to make the most amazing Mongolian Bbq food combinations I could dream of. Some even say I am very good at packing bowls. I do not take this talent for granted, for it is because of years of hard work and dedication to quality bowl packing that I am where I am now in my life. I always wish to pay it forward when other people ask me how I pack such a good bowl. It says a lot for any restaurant to be open for 30 years and it is my honor to say that I will be with them for the next 30 years. The food: No matter what kind of mood I am in, there's always a special type of Mongolian BBQ food that will quench my hunger. My favorite is the lamb and beef meat mixture. I like to use some noodles but mostly vegetables and a fine helping of sauces, including the spicy sauce and jalapeños . Gluten-free people, don't worry! You can go without noodles and only get meat and veggies and it is super tasty! The ambience: One thing that I love about Sun's Mongolian Bbq is that they have always had the same decorations and this makes me feel like I'm going in a little time capsule that never changes. The staff is super friendly and kind and always want to do what they can to make your experience the best. read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

Everything about this place is amazing. Food, Customor service, and overall vibe. this place is truly a gem in downtown Auburn

Love this place!!! It's a gem in auburn for sure. Family owned for multiple generations. I love making my own spicy noodles and I've gotten quite good at it lol. I for sure love the experience of picking my own ingredients and watching them get cooked in front of me. Major skills!!! Don't forget to tip the cook!!!!! Ingredients: FRESH I love the wonton chips as simple as they are I can't get enough. Best part is soft serve ice cream at the end. read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - My spicy creation - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

Great place to eat! You choose what you like to eat and they cook it to perfection! Been going there for years! I would recommend you try it! read more

Such good food and nice people. An Auburn gem love to see the high school kids come in for lunch.

LOVE THIS PLACE Been coming here since I was super little and it's always been my favorite. Everyone is always so kind and the food is super yummy :) read more

We used to eat here often when living in the area, but the price has increased significantly. One of the main reasons for only giving two stars was that we went during their lunch menu and their selection of veggies was very minimal and only included the cheapest veggies, such as onions, shredded carrots, green onions, sprouts, and tomatoes, and some mushrooms. We asked where all the other toppings that you would find in a regular Mongolian restaurant were- such as pineapple, water chestnuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, and different types of hot chilies, and they told us the only way to get those was to pay the dinner menu price. We've never been to a Mongolian barbecue that does that and it makes the food very bland when you take out the flavorful options. We have no complaints about the service, It was very good. But we can't justify the price and the lack of options to go back again, especially when several other Mongolian barbecues are cheaper and have 20 or more toppings including lunch or dinner. read more

Have been going here since I was a kid 25 years ago and every time I visit family in Auburn, Sums is a must-visit. I don't know if it's the fat noodles, combination of sauces, or the old school 90's decor that reminds me of my childhood... but its worth every calorie and quite addicting. Went back in April 2021 during less restrictive Covid rules and you have to eat outside and no soup or ice cream. You fill out a checklist of what you want and they'll make it for you. Not quite as fun but still tasted the same! They still have lamb and pineapple which aren't on the list... secret menu? :) read more

Sum's Mongolian Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Auburn, California

The best post run joint in Auburn. Big portions perfect for after run carb dump after trail runs around beautiful Auburn Trails. Miss this place. All the best for CIM!! Happy Thanksgiving read more