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    Sam Woo BBQ

    3.1 (329 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Sam Woo BBQ Photos

    Business Info

    SAM WOO BBQ ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Sam Woo BBQ

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    Chow mein
    Travis P.

    Sam Woo is always my go-to when I'm craving Chinese BBQ. They display a wide variety of items, and you can choose exactly what you want. I usually get the BBQ pork, and it's consistently pretty good. I asked for leaner cuts with less fat, and they had no problem accommodating that. $20 for 1.5 pounds of meat wasn't bad at all! I also got some string beans for $10, which were decent, and the chow mein was simple yet tasty. Overall, it's a great bang for your buck for some solid food.

    Nelson H.

    It's a typical Chinese BBQ with Sam Woo brand located on Rosemead over a decade and had been a several ownership... Surprisingly they sell their self-made Vietnamese coffee blend per pound per bag that it's pretty good!! And the price is very economy for $13 per pound!!! And I had typical roast duck n pork with white rice, the meats was BBQ enough and tasted tenderness. But the marinated pork n duck meat were kind of too sweetened...

    #11
    Diana H.

    January 16, 2026 Sam Woo BBQ in San Gabriel will always be one of those places we return to for comfort, familiarity, and classic Cantonese BBQ flavors. This visit was no different...our family came hungry and craving food that feels like home. We ordered two of the #11 Three Delicacies, choosing BBQ pork, BBQ intestine, and duck, along with another plate of duck, sausage, and crispy pork (with the additional $3 charge). To round things out, we also ordered walnut shrimp, deep-fried sole fish, and of course, a bowl of rice...just in case. When the order came out, I noticed the intestine had been replaced with sausage. I let the waitress know, and she immediately checked and came back to explain they were out of intestine (around 7 p.m. on a Friday night...understandable). She kindly asked if I was okay with sausage or wanted to substitute another meat. Honestly, I really wanted the intestine... but I do love their sausage, so no harm done in the end. The food itself hit the spot. The roasted duck was flavorful and comforting as always, the BBQ meats were satisfying, the walnut shrimp was crispy and sweet, and the fried sole fish was a solid addition to the table. Most importantly, the kids were happy and the parents were happy...which says a lot. That said, I can't help but miss the olden days, when it felt like there was more meat than rice. I also miss that deep sense of familiarity from when I was a little girl, sitting in a booth with my mom and siblings, sharing plates and memories. Things change, but the nostalgia still lingers. All that said, Sam Woo BBQ will always have a place in my heart. I'll still keep coming back and ordering their roasted duck, sausage, intestine (when available), and roasted pork...because some traditions are just hard to let go of.

    Th N.

    The worst BBQ place that I won't come back! - Food: Roasted pork is fine, prices more expensive than other BBQ places - Service: 0 star if I could, one of the rudest service a restaurant could give, they required $15 minimum payment on credit card and prioritize Chinese customers over others though I was there first, I even tried to tell her but she shut me down. The cashier didn't bother to say hello or welcome, just pure annoyance and rude - Atmosphere: It doesn't look much like a restaurant but a cafeteria where most people just buy to go food.

    Tammy T.

    I was craving roasted duck. What better place to get a whole roasted duck than Sam Woo? Don't let the exterior of this restaurant fool you - the interior actually looks 100x better & much more modern. The place is so clean!!!!! Service? 10000x better than the interior. Our server was so attentive. Loved her! We ordered a duck for $39, HK style Lemon ice tea ($2/each), small Fish Maw soup, and a side of bean curb Ong Choi (Veggie), all for under $80! I also love how they have two sizes of their family style dishes available (small for about $14 / large for about $18) - perfect for families with small kids or people like myself who usually loves to try a million things at the same time. I love this place so much that I'm already thinking about what to order when I come by next week. Thumbs up!

    Walnut shrimp
    Brian T.

    Would come here in my childhood but this place has fallen off. Food here is below average and was not good. Charge for rice after certain hours. Good service though and accommodated the kids. Started off with the minced beef with fried egg over rice but the sauce had way too much cornstarch. The sauce was very sticky and wouldn't slide off the spoon. The orange chicken was also on the stickier side. The chef cornstarch flurries too hard here. The honey walnut shrimp wasn't bad, but the walnuts weren't candied and was just walnuts. The deep-fried whole fish had a thick batter causing it to have a soggy layer between the batter and fish. Salt and pepper fish filet was crispy and has nice aromatics. Busy plaza and parking lot. Would not come back here. Plenty of better Chinese restaurants.

    Beef Chow Fun
    Crystal T.

    I was so ecstatic to find out that this joint was open to dine in! This was a staple for our family growing up and now as an adult, the nostalgia it brought eating the delicious food. They really put in work to open back up again and the service was phenomenal. The waitress was very attentive and nice. The food came out fresh and hot. We will definitely be visiting again very soon. The space inside was nice and clean!

    Roasted Pork.  Kinda a  small portion.
    Seno C.

    I loved San Woo when they had one in Rowland Heights Then it closed. This is the first time I try at this place. First of all, the restaurant is clean, well lit and moderately spacious. They closed off about 25% of the area and use it as storage. Service is great. Friendly, efficient and helpful. Foods are almost the same as the other Sam Woo. But not as complete. I was looking for MEI CAI KOU ROU - STEAMED PORK BELLY W/ PRESERVED VEGETABLES ; they do not have it. Fried oysters, they do not have it too. The one that they do have, all taste delicious. The Cteamy corn soup with fish maws has too much corn starch. Almost gluey. Gluey is not the same as creamy. Otherwise, everything is great.

    Siamrath B.

    No frills just vibes. You come here for the classic canto-style foods like from their barbeque deli, we often get rice congee, ong choi (morning glory), salt and pepper fried pork chops, salty fish and chicken friend rice, we often get a whole duck, and depending we'll get the fried shrimp or fried squid. Service is very minimal. You get your food and then you'll likely have to flag your waiter down for the rest of the meal if you need something. Not much to complain about their food here has been a hit or miss so I guess it depends on the day you come. We've had some really good meals here and some days where everything was just salty or days or where everything was lacking.

    david C.

    Review is only for their whole roast pig. Easy to order, pick up took a while but not too bad. Better to pick up early if possible since the parking lot is super busy. They help load the pig to your car which is nice. The end product was really good, not burnt, inside was moist and tender. Slightly saltier inside than preferred but it was overall fine.

    Jennifer T.

    Have Breakfast Menu and Lunch variety sort of reasonable price $15 for minimum to charge to credit card before sales tax

    BBQ prices as of November 2021
    Penny P.

    They started serving breakfast, so we decided to try them out. We usually come for their BBQ to go and more or less, it's consistently good. Their breakfast on the other hand, wasn't as great as I was hoping. We ordered to go and when paying, we were told to pay in cash since the credit card machine doesn't work in the morning. Ok.... The staff never told us it's a common occurrence. Luckily, we did have cash on hand, but most of the time, I'm all credit cards and ApplePay. Food took a while to come out even though there weren't a lot of people waiting or dining in. What was ordered: - Beef Porridge (comes with Chinese Donut, Rice Noodle Roll, Soy Sauce Chow Mein, Drink) - Pan Fried Chicken Steak (comes with Corn, Ham, Egg, Toast, Drink) Overall, the food was very bland. I wasn't really a fan of any of them. Price wise, it's pretty decent since you get a good amount of food, but I found the taste to be a bit lacking. Credit cards would be accepted if the machine works, so go at your own risk, or bring backup cash.

    BBQ pork and roast duck
    Edward S.

    Sam Woo BBQ is a classic Cantonese BBQ institution. If you are in search of tasty Cantonese dishes, this is the spot. I grew up eating at Sam Woo and I have great memories from when my family would go to a Sam Woo after a road trip. Double Delicacy on Rice: This dish is 50-50 BBQ pork and roast duck. This is from the meat hanging in the display case at the front. The BBQ Pork (char siu) is thick and meaty, plump and tender, with a nice glaze. The roast duck is rich and seasoned with five spice powder. Cabbage on the side provides a nicely balanced meal. Wonton Noodle Soup with BBQ Pork: The wontons are plump and the wrappers are delicate. The pork fillings have plenty of fresh tender shrimp. On the first bite, the fragrant sesame oil flavor shines through. There are also crunchy little sesame seed bits in the filling. The egg noodles are perfectly thin, firm, and wiry. The BBQ pork is tender and tasty. The broth has a great balance between pork and seafood flavors. Dining area: The interior is modern with comfy booths and gold walls. Parking: The Lucky Plaza lot is large but swarming with circling cars.

    Roast duck wonton noodle soup

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    11 months ago

    Roast duck is so bad here. Dry & tasteless. My grandad chocked on it. Why????? But the other items are decent. Nice staff.

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

    Great food. Have been eating at Sam Woo various locations since the 1980's. Bring back Rowland Heights.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Sam Woo BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sam Woo BBQ

    Do they offer a Peking duck with crispy crispy skin?

    Still doesn't accept credit card?

    This place has been accepting credit cards for months. The usual MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. No Discovery. The ATM is gone though.

    Does this place not take credit cards?

    Cash only but they have a ATM inside.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Newport Seafood Restaurant

    4.1
    (3.7k reviews)
    2.1 mi
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    Definitely a spot you come to on special occasions as it is pricey. We came with a reservation for…read more9 people, and they had everything ready for us when we arrived. We ended up getting a set for $168 this time, which came with 6 dishes. It's also $35 per lb for lobster, and I asked for the smallest one. Apparently, the smallest one was 4.8 lbs, which was another $168, so I'm not sure if they upsold me. Anyways, the food was fantastic and everyone enjoyed it. This is what I thought about the food we got. House Seafood Soup - Simple and clean soup. Good portion, and it was soothing to eat. Lots of squid. (4/5) Clams with Spicy Sauce - Large clams with tons of meat, and the sauce was fire. Always a good choice. (5/5) Crab with Salt & Pepper - Loved the seasoning, and the flavors were solid. (4.5/5) Thai Style Beef Stew - First time trying this, and it was good. A bit different, but the meat chunks were tasty and the overall flavors were good. (4/5) Sautéed Pea Sprouts - Nicely done vegetable dish. It's simple but refreshing with good flavors. (4/5) Fried Whole Fish - This dish was gone so fast because it was delicious. Nicely fried and not overly seasoned. (5/5) Signature Lobster - I feel like you have to get this here since it's their specialty. It's pricey, but in my opinion, it's the best and freshest lobster in town. Tons of green onions, seasoned well, fresh meat, and lots of lobster roe. (5/5) Service was good, and they didn't automatically add a mandatory tip for a large party. The total came out to around $364, which is pricey, but the food was phenomenal. Parking - Valet only, but they have street parking in front. I parked on the street since there were plenty of spots on a Wednesday, but I assume it gets busy on weekends.

    This is a good place if you want lobster plate! Their lobster plate comes with garlic noodles which…read moreis so tasty! I was actually not expecting it to be good but hey I was wrong! Other than lobster plate we ordered their walnut shrimp and salt and pepper pork. Everything is delicious. Service is fast too which makes dining easier.

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    Newport Seafood Restaurant
    Newport special crab on egg noodles
    Newport special crab on egg noodles
    House Newport Special Lobster

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    House Newport Special Lobster
    Henry's Cuisine

    Henry's Cuisine

    3.9
    (922 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    I celebrated my birthday here, and it was the perfect place for a special dinner! The restaurant…read morehas a warm, family-friendly atmosphere, and the seating feels private enough to enjoy your meal without feeling crowded. If you love lobster, this is the place to be. They offer several different styles of preparing their lobster, so there's something for everyone. No matter which one you choose, you can tell it's incredibly fresh and cooked to perfection. The flavors are rich, the meat is sweet and tender, and every dish is packed with flavor. It's easily some of the best lobster I've ever had! Everything we ordered was delicious, the portions were generous, and the service was friendly and attentive. They made my birthday feel extra special from beginning to end. Whether you're celebrating a birthday, having dinner with family, or just craving amazing Asian seafood, I highly recommend giving this place a try. I'll definitely be back to work my way through all of their lobster dishes!

    The food here was very good, especially for a large group. We came with about 13 people and ordered…read morea lot of dishes. That said, the experience before and during the meal was a bit frustrating. When we called in speaking English, the person who answered gave us a lot of rules for a large party. We were told they couldn't accommodate us together, that we would have to split tables, and that there would be a minimum spend for each table. However, when our parents called back and spoke in their native language, they were able to accommodate the large party without any minimum spend . During the meal, when we asked our waitress if we had ordered enough, she encouraged us to add significantly more food. I understand it can be hard to estimate for a big party, but we ended up with so many leftovers that it probably could have fed a party of 20 people. The service was okay overall, but there were a few frustrating moments. For example, when we asked for iced tea, she said they didn't have it. I had to specifically ask for hot tea with a cup of ice, which worked fine, but it would have been nice if she had suggested that option. Overall, the food was great, but the service and communication is LACKING

    Photos
    The famous gold painted crab shells. Martha Stewart would be proud.
    The famous gold painted crab shells. Martha Stewart would be proud.
    House special lobster on top of yee noodles
    House special lobster on top of yee noodles
    Ordered longevity noodle to go with the lobster - delicious

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    Ordered longevity noodle to go with the lobster - delicious
    Steam Fresh

    Steam Fresh

    4.4
    (75 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    We come here for the low price wonton noodles, steamed spareribs on steamed rice, and the beef rice…read morenoodle rolls. We also order their HK style lemon iced tea. It's pretty good here and they have complimentary refills! They're known for their rice noodle rolls here and you can order them, along with their small dim sum menu, all day long. The wonton noodles here were just $13.98! They come with 5 large wontons and vegetables over wonton noodles. I always recommend adding chili oil. The steamed spareribs on steamed rice have some bones, just like the ones you find at dim sum. But there's a lot of meat in the steamed rice bowl for a single person. Free parking in rear parking lot. Entrance at the front on Garvey Ave. They have 2 entrances in front now. Left door for to-go orders and right door for dine-in.

    Searched randomly in yelp and found this place and this was absolutely a great choice…read more Parking is at the back of the building which is shared with the other establishments. The staff are great, communication wise, it was a good service. They don't hover around your table. They let you eat in peace then check back every now and then. We ordered several dishes and each and every one of them were tasty. We came before lunch hour so not sure how busy this place gets. Are we going back? Absolutely! This is on my list to go especially for a weekend out.

    Photos
    Small kitchen and counter to place order
    Small kitchen and counter to place order
    Pork Siu Mai
    Pork Siu Mai
    HK Style Minced Pork Lo Mein

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    HK Style Minced Pork Lo Mein

    Sam Woo BBQ - cantonese - Updated July 2026

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