We always go to the sister cafe when craving some Chinese food and dimsum in the area but decided on this place one evening in an effort to get my picky toddler daughter to eat more meat (#toddlerproblems). Food (3/5): Coming from SGV, it's not great but it's not bad. You have limited choices when you're on the border of LA and OC, so this place scratches the itch. We ordered their crispy pork (suy yok), fish fillet with cream corn sauce and salt and pepper pork chops. It was more than enough for two adults and two toddlers with leftovers for another meal. Portion size was great and flavors were as expected. The pork chops were a hit, and I'm grateful my daughter proteined it up with that dish. My only complaint was that I expected the fish fillets to be crispier as they arrived somewhat soft already. I liked the complimentary taro tapioca dessert at the end that reminds me of family banquets and dinners. Service (4/5): Although not initially greeted by the older gentleman/manager(?) at the entrance, once he acknowledged us, he was kind and quick to get us seated. A youngish waiter was really attentive and gave our kids fortune cookies while waiting to order and answered my questions including how to say something in Cantonese since the proper term escaped me at the time. I appreciated his attentiveness and kindness to our family during our visit. I noticed other waiters were equally attentive with guests which was great to see. Ambiance (3/5): It's okay. It's definitely outdated but it serves its purpose. We came for dinner but I can see how there would be a lot of nice natural lighting coming into the place during the day With a lunch menu to die for also, I think we will definitely come here again in the near future (maybe even tonight?!) since I'm getting the cravings. Rounding up because these kinds of places bring me childhood comfort and feels for their canto goodness in food and vibes. read more

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WARNING TO EVERYONE I've been going to this place for years, but please be careful now. Recently, I noticed that tips are being added or altered on receipts without consent. Even when the service is not good, the tip amount is being changed. Always double-check your receipt and bank statement before leaving. Stay alert and protect your hard-earned mone read more

Dining in: - food quality is good - food comes out fast - this place gets crazy busy - we ran out of water and had to flag someone down, they forgot, we had to ask someone else - had to flag someone down for the check, waited longer for the check than the food Take Out: - ordered salt and pepper pork chops but it was as if they fried the pork chop and completely forgot to season it - ordered chicken wings, they were burned read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Burned chicken wings - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

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Back again at Sam Woo Cerritos with the family and it was another great meal! The lunch specials ($12.50-$14.50) are such a good deal, big portions, solid flavors, and great value. We had 5 people and ordered 9 dishes, couldn't finish everything and took leftovers home. Everyone was happy and full! Favorites this time: Salt & Pepper Pork Chops, Chu Hou Beef Brisket, Salt & Pepper Squid, Scrambled Egg with Oysters, Braised Pork Belly, and the Shrimp dishes, all satisfying and well-seasoned. Perfect spot for family-style Chinese food when you want variety without overspending. Definitely coming back! Sam Woo Cerritos 19008 Pioneer Blvd, Cerritos, CA 90703 read more

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Food here is decent. I ordered a Yang Chow Fried rice which was amazing and a half roast duck and honey walnut shrimp. The Honey Walnut Shrimp was not the best. the roast duck was off and tasted strongly of iron. I mentioned it to the waiter and he was not very kind about it. Its going to be a hard pass for me on this plce from now on. read more

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Never a disappointment always the best place to eat! A family place we always have to eat when out in Cerritos!! Love this place read more

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Delicious authentic Chinese food as always! We always get the yang chow fried rice because it's a little on the lighter side compared to the regular fried rice. The tender greens with oyster sauce were perfectly cooked with the vegetables still having a nice crunch to the stem. We tried the brisket beef stew for the first time and it was magnificent. The brisket and tendons were pleasantly tender and soft. read more

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My family has been coming to this chain for a few years now, and you really can't go wrong with the food here. The portions are big, the quality is good, and the prices are fair. The staff was friendly and the food came out quickly. Only downside -- the restroom was a bit dirty. My family order: deep fried squid, 3 meat combo of chicken, bbq pork and roast duck, beef chow fun read more

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I went here on Friday dinner time at 6:00 PM. The food was pretty good. For the price point, it's worth it than up here in NorCal. The server can cheer up a little bit. One of them may seem as rude but maybe he's just nonchalant or having a rough day. The other server was very kind and helpful. He always smiled and even took our picture for us. Anyways, I wish I tried the dim sum. Maybe next time I visit I will. Food was 8/10. read more

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My daughter and I were craving some tasty Cantonese food. All three of our dishes were delicious- the braised tofu was so so soft, we like the tons of green onions with the oyster. The shrimp with egg over rice just hit the spot. Service was surprisingly very good and pretty quick. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Braised Bean Curd with veggies, oysters with ginger and scallions, Shrimp with Egg on Rice - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

It's ok we came kinda late, last people to leave, we ordered a lot its a family dinner date. We have corn soup, clam with ginger, Peking duck, soft noodles and we got dessert after. It's crowded but no wait, we got in right away, got the table, parking is ok, its a Friday night I bet its crowded on the weekends, my favorite is the sautéed string beans, its fine, not my favorite read more

This restaurant serves truly authentic Cantonese cuisine. The fried pork was incredible, and every dish we sampled was flavorful and satisfying. Excellent service and a welcoming atmosphere made it a great dining experience. read more

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Sam Woo to go pick up meal for the win! Ordered a huge meal over the phone and was able to pick up 30 minutes later at the small to go shop. Highlights were the whole Peking duck, pan fried noodles with gravy, and honey walnut shrimp. Would come back again! read more

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My mom and I came here to get some items for my dad at the take-out area. We arrived about 10 minutes early to try and get our order in before the lunch crowd descended. When we got here, there was already a line as the staff was setting up inside. We got in line and waited. Once it hit 10, the line started moving... slowly. It seemed like a lot of people were there for the same items (that needed to be cut and weighed) so it took a while to get everything situated. Once it was our turn, we put in our order and waited for everything to be packed up and to pay. While we were there - two verbal fights broke out (one almost turned physical) about waiting in line. Apparently people were confused about whether there is one line for everything or two lines - one for the bbq items (that needed to be weighed and chopped up) and one for the ready made items (which quickly can be grabbed and packed up). As far as I know - there is no sign saying that there are two separate lines (I could have missed it) so it was a legitimate concern from the people in line. A sign posted somewhere would probably help with this issue and hopefully avoid future arguments. Or, maybe people were just grumpy in the morning waiting for food. The food was delicious once we got it. Prices are decent and comparable to other similar restaurants. I will probably be back, but the arguments did make us nervous while waiting in line as it was pretty heated. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

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The food here is tasty but the service is not that great. They are very busy and it seems there aren't enough waiters. It is hard to find parking and it gets very crowded and loud here. My dad loves their duck. read more

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It's been a looooonnggg time since I've been to a Sam Woo's. The now defunct DTLA was my last run, and when I drove by and saw this, I vowed to make a stop someday. I had to make a quick stop at Cuzzo's house which happens to be nearby. I happen to be with another Cuzzo and Mom and Mom mentioned she was kinda hungry. I immediately suggested this place. They both said it's been awhile since their last Sam Woo run, too, so the suggestion was a good idea. Came through mid-afternoon on a Saturday, and being it a Thanksgiving weekend (plus the odd hour) we were surprised it wasn't full. We were seated almost immediately and were given plenty of time to look through their massive menu. We all decided to get our own rice dishes (to share) and a soup. MINCED BEEF WITH RICE VERMICELLI SOUP: My 2nd least favorite dish on the table. I wasn't sure what it was but there was a gamey taste to it which I didn't expect. There was also way too many peas and carrots fillers. Soup was seasoned well, as with the beef but it wasn't impressive enough for it to be a repeat order. ROAST PORK AND TOFU ON RICE: Mom's choice. My least favorite. Sauce was on point. Tofu absorbed a lot of the sauce's flavor. The pork - the supposed center of the dish - was tough and lacked flavor. (Yes! Even with the sauce!) I didn't have more than a bite. I much liked the tofu better. BEEF WITH EGG ON RICE: Cuzzo's pick. My second favorite! Beef was definitely the star of the plate! It was seasoned well and cooked tender. Delish! CHICKEN WITH CURRY SAICE ON RICE: My choice and my ultimate favorite out of everything we ordered. Chicken was cooked tender. The sauce is what does this dish in with the perfect flavor and seasoning - even the onions and potatoes tasted great because of it. This will be a repeat order! FOOD: 4. SERVICE: 3. Our server wasn't readily available and not as friendly. When he was walking by and we asked for water, he rudely told us to wait. But I understand: he was getting pulled from different directions since he was the only one tending to every occupied table. (Restaurant was about 1/3 full.) He took orders, delivered food, ran the checks and everything else in between. There's another who mainly cleaned up and reset tables who also helped taking food to tables. They were clearly understaffed. VALUE: 4.5. The servings here are massive! One plate dish can be shared with another, if not a third, depending on how hungry you are. PARKING: Private lot. OVERALL: 3.75. More than average first run. We saw a few tables order the salt and pepper pork chop (and it looked so good!) so we intend to return and try that - possibly other stuff as well. A second visit is definitely a good possibility. read more

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After a handful more visits over the last years I'm happy to say that I've failed to give Sam woo their flowers. How lucky am I to live in a city where we have these older authentic businesses bless us with amazing culture and food. Their homemade wontons in their wonton noodle soup is the best I've had. Good value too. My favorite part of the experience when eating here is seeing Asian, Chinese, Pinoy etc people seated at the tables going in on the shared family style dishes. I love seeing even the solo and couples share a dish or maybe just a bowl of soup. I hope you never close. Whenever I'm away from home or out of state I think about you lol. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - So good - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

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Our family has been going to Sam Woo for over ten years, and it's still a dependable spot for Chinese food. When our family of eight visited recently, the food did not disappoint. The parking situation, however, can be a bit of a hassle during peak times as their lot is quite small. We usually order honey walnut shrimp, fried rice, salt and pepper pork chop, steamed whole fish, and seafood chow mein. These dishes are consistently good and never fail to hit the spot. One downside is the service. If you visit, be prepared to flag down servers as they might not be very attentive. But let's be real--you don't come to an authentic Chinese restaurant expecting stellar service. Also, the place is a little cramped and restrooms are not the cleanest. Go for the food - we sometimes get delivery but food is best when freshly cooked. read more

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Sam Woo BBQ and Seafood This is a review for my experience for take out at Sam Woo BBQ and Seafood. My family and I are fans of Sam Woo! When we have family celebrations this restaurant is at the top of our list to order from! PARKING Parking can be difficult. They have a small lot, but there are other parking lots nearby. TAKEOUT/ORDERS The Aunties that are at the take out station, are remarkable workers! They are quick thinkers and whatever system they have in place, it works! Be patient! They are great at multi tasking! One minute I see them answering the phone, creating combo plates for the customers, and then they are right onto cutting a whole duck to perfection with a butcher knife. They are very generous with the portions and give iced tea to those who are kind and patient back to them! :) FOOD I love all of the rich flavors and every dish I have tasted is delicious! Our go to: 1. Peking Duck *** 2. Fried Flounder Fish *** 3. Chef Special Beef 4. Salt and Pepper Pork Chops 5. House special fried noodle chow mein-Seafood 6. Fried green beans 7. Honey walnut shrimp *I also have to compliment them on their sauces. I love their chili oil and the sauce for the fried fish pairs really well with your rice! If you're in the mood for Cantonese food or want to have a yummy meal with your family stop by Sam Woo! read more

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Terrible customer service. I came to pick up but the front was rude, and was very ignorant. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

Ive been going to this restaurant for ~10 years. This restaurant is always a good solid place to go to for chinese food. The garlic sauteed snow peas are also really good. The french styled beef is very tender (mostly, a few bigger pieces are a bit tough). We ordered the whole fish and eggplant for the first time and the portion was massive. The whole fried fish had a bit too much of the fried breading on it but was flavorful along with the eggplant. We ALWAYS order the 鸳鸯炒饭. I think its called Yin Yang fried rice in english but ive never ordered it english. This is a secret menu item as it used to be on the menu but isnt anymore. This is basic fried rice with two kinds of sauce - half bechamel sauce with shrimp // half tomato sauce with chicken and onion. It is the heartiest comfort food and I havent seen this on the menu at any other restaurant. I would solely go to this restaurant for this dish. read more

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Love the food here! It's fast service and reasonable price. No waiting. Authentic Chinese food read more

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My mom bought a whole roast duck here today and when we chopped it up, the duck was still raw. We live far so instead of returning it back we just end up recooking the duck again. They are also very stingy in giving us duck sauce, you only get one and if you want extra they charge. Won't be coming back, we will get our roast duck from Kim Tar instead. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

Authentic Cantonese Chinese food. The Spicy Salted and Pepper Pork Chop was crispy and delicious and was a popular dish ordered by several tables. If you like egg or rice noodles, it is good either in soup or pan fried. Considering it was a very busy Father's Day, the service was excellent and the food was flavorful. I love wontons and dumplings, so I wasn't a fan of the dark pink meat of the wonton. Other than that, everything was great. read more

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The food were lot of oil. Waiter not nice at all, they ain't even care about costumers This was our bad experience and won't come back anymore read more

Great place for some shumai and other dim sum. I also love the roast duck and crispy noodles.

Best place for brunch! I love the noodles and porkchop it's delicious! The pork is crunchy on the outside and juicey on the inside!

First things first- I really liked the food here. I've heard about his place and seen this place while driving for a while and finally decided to try it. First impression, the restaurant is old and outdated. Parking is limited and the restaurant is packed. The servers seem really busy, and there to do their job- nothing more or less. We had a reservation for 7 and they seated us right away in the private room by the front counter. I think they had forgotten about us since we're kind of hidden because they didn't take our order for a while. We ended up having to go up to the counter and let them know we're ready. We ordered Lo Mein noodles, wor wonton soup, hot and sour soup, green beans, orange peel chicken, Mongolian beef, pork ribs, and rice. The food was delicious. If the restaurant was updated and the service was more attentive, I would have given it 5 stars because my family was impressed by the food, the portions, and loved that it was family style. The orange peel chicken was my personal favorite followed by the Mongolian beef. I would definitely order those dishes again. The dishes were also decently priced for feeding a family of 7. Plus, we had leftovers to take home! The free dessert at the end was a nice gesture... not sure what it's called but it was a lightly sweetened warm porridge. Overall, this place is great if you want a casual, tasty, family style, Chinese cuisine meal. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Lo mein, orange peel chicken, Mongolian Beef, Wor Wonton Soup, Hot and Sour Soup, green beans, Roasted Pork Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

I love going to Sam Woo in the SGV, and was excited to find this location in Cerritos after moving to the OC. This review is only for the takeout BBQ side of the restaurant: when you go in, join the line to get your order taken. The manager is a nice guy, but all the ladies there are very abrupt and rude. Even my dad who grew up in HK and is used to brisk encounters at super-busy HK restaurants thought the takeout ladies were rude and short with customers. The food is okay, nothing to write home about with SGV eats just a short drive away. There is a small parking lot at the back of the restaurant. read more

Been at least 7-8 years since I was last here. Everything is the same and not much from what I can tell has changed, even some of the folks working are the same folks which says a lot about a place. The food was just as I remembered it. Very tasty and they gave lots for the price. I had ordered so much because I wanted to try all the foods that I used to eat and it did not disappoint. Everyone was very nice and food came out very quick from the time we put in the order. Highly recommend for good Chinese/Cantonese food that does not break the bank and give you a lot. read more

We did not go to the restaurant side. I was not aware that there's a takeout section which worked out great because all we wanted to do is taste the duck. The duck was OK but we still prefer the duck inside ranch 99 market. And the duck sauce, which was kind of like a pale yellow was not the greatest. Next time I will try the actual restaurant along with the soy sauce uterus. read more

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Just the prefect restaurant for tradition comfort Cantonese dishes. My husband and I enjoyed our dishes. We got our favorites. Mine was Seafood tofu pot. His was braise pork belly over a bed of lettuce. We also treated ourselves to a two delicacy Chinese BBQ consist of Roast Duck and Roast pork. Portions were very generous. We had plenty to take for another meal. Definitely will return. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Two delicacy plate of Roast Duck and Roast pork - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

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Food is nice and greasy as to be expected considering when you walk in your clothes will instantly be smelly. Food was served hot and freshly made. MSG is the gold standard here. I wasn't sure to love it or hate it. Ambiance inside was little run down. Nothing fancy. Service? Well they talked twice. First to order and second when time to pay. Not really to much to write home about. Definitely come again if someone else is paying. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - Roasted pig... - Barbeque Near Me - Cerritos, California

This restaurant is a solid spot to enjoy Cantonese-style cuisine. We got dishes, including the crab meat with minced winter melon soup, kung pao chicken, and chicken chow mein. I always enjoy chow mein with noodles cooked to a crisp under a light, savory gravy sauce with chicken and vegetables (e.g., bok choy and carrots). The sauce makes it easier to break down the noodles, but you can choose to retain their crispy texture to an extent, which I prefer. I feel like I've had better chow mein sauces in other restaurants. The one here tasted a little too light, but I still enjoyed the dish. read more

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20+ minutes sitting at table they sat us at and not even drinks taken! tables that sat after us getting not only drinks taken but food served. We said "excuse me" everytime someone would pass only to be ignored EVERY TIME! the worst customer service! They didn't even notice us get up and walk out. Save yourself the headache...and hunger. read more

Food was a big disappointment... my hubby had high expectations since he grew up going to this restaurant. He brought me here for the first and will be our last time. This place needs a rework in both food and environment. Service is fast although forgetful when we asked for napkins and water twice. Also, their water had a nasty taste. Most likely from the tap and unfiltered. Yuck read more

If you know, you really know. Sam Woo BBQ has been a cornerstone of Cantonese takeout in Cerritos for decades. It's been my family's go-to spot for juicy, crispy-skinned Peking duck and Cantonese BBQ done right -- for 40 years!! And, it still hits every time. Proud to see it repping Cerritos on the Top 20 list with the most love on Google Maps read more

We have relatives who split time between Manila and So Cal. And they say that this place has solid Chinese food, like what they prepare in Binondo, Metro Manila (which is the oldest Chinatown in the world, outside of China). So my family members strongly disagree with the 3 star average and I would have to say that I concur with their vehement disagreement. The beef chow fun had a ton of beef, sometimes you feel like it's scallions chow fun (due to the lack of beef) but this was beefy. I really loved that lobster special, I picked out a piece that had the most meat (not on purpose, I'm not that guy), it was so flavorful and fresh. I enjoyed that soup and the dessert soup too. The service was very attentive and I enjoyed my Ching Tao beer to wash it all down. I almost forgot to mention that the scallops with veggies - that was my pick and yes, I would get that again. The scallops remained firm and not rubbery whatsoevah. read more

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I've always been intimidated by the crowd of people trying to get in during lunch hour... I've learned to be patient and wait... park the car in the other lot... because the food is worth it... plus all my friends love the place... so it's not that hard to have 10 to 12 because the tables open up to serve more people... I didn't know that... and they never rush you out because people come and go... so we never feel rushed to leave... so this is my new lunch place to hang out if I want Chinese food. read more

Sam Woo Seafood and BBQ - A Go-To Spot for Classic Chinese Roast Meats If you're looking for baseline Chinese comfort food -- the kind many Chinese families grew up on -- Sam Woo is it. This is your no-frills, get-in-get-out kind of spot that delivers the essentials: roast duck, BBQ pork, and crispy roast pork with that signature crunchy skin. I don't come often since it's a bit out of the way for me, but when the duck craving hits, this is where I go. The flavors are traditional, reliable, and satisfying -- exactly what you expect when you're not looking to experiment, just reconnect. Food Highlights * Roast Duck: Salty, savory, juicy -- not overly gamey. Hits the spot. * Roast Pork: Crisp skin, tender meat, solid fat-to-lean ratio. * BBQ Pork: Slightly sweet, nicely glazed, always fresh. * Fish Maw Soup: Light, clean, and surprisingly good. The food was very fresh this visit. You can tell everything is made in volume and with quick turnover -- which keeps quality sharp and flavors vibrant. Atmosphere There's a long hallway where you place your order and pay at the end. The interior could use an update, but it's what you expect from a traditional Cantonese BBQ setup -- no frills, just function. There's also a dine-in restaurant on the side, though I haven't tried it. It feels family-friendly with a steady customer flow. Ratings * Taste / Flavor: 4/5 * Freshness: 4.5/5 * Portion Size: 4/5 * Service: 3/5 (efficient, direct, not chatty -- standard) * Cleanliness / Ambiance: 2.5/5 * Speed / Efficiency: 3/5 * Value (Price vs. Quality): 4/5 * Overall Experience: 4/5 read more