Came for dinner. We got there around 6p on a week night and it was not full yet but was packed when we left. Upon entry there is a takeout area where you can order hot meat dishes and to go menu or dine in. We got complimentary hot tea when seated. The interior is a bit dated compared with other restaurants of this type but the food was delicious. We got duck and preserved egg porridge, scrambled egg with shrimp, and a two bbq combo plate of char siu and roast pork. The porridge came out fast and delicious! We ate with the chili and white paper available at the table. Next came the scrambled egg and shrimp. We actually ordered the version with rice, not the entree so the servers got us some rice but missing the gravy. Lastly came the bbq combo plate. We thought it would arrive first since the meats were all ready to go in the takeout area. It came with some hoisin sauce. The char siu was tasty. The roast pork however was not as crispy and kinda mealy so the sauce helped. read more

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Sam Woo is the only authentic Cantonese spot in the valley my family has found so far. Even though they're known for their bbq meats, I would stay away from them as the ones we tried this time and in the past were pretty meh. Stick with ordering dishes off their menu instead. It's next to a Ranch, so there's plenty of parking available. We came by for lunch on Saturday around noon, and it was mostly filled up. It's not a big restaurant, and tables are placed pretty close to each other. That's how you know the place is going to be authentic lol They have a takeout area where you can get various bbq meats and some hot deli foods, but they also have a large menu you can order from. The four of us ordered the following dishes to try: #2 two item BBQ with roast pork and roast duck ($19.95 + $2 for roast pork) #78 chicken and veggie chow mein ($15.95) #85 beef chow fun ($16.95) #129 sauteed fish fillet ($18.95) #138 fresh squid in oyster sauce ($17.95) My favorite dish by far was the beef chow fun, which came as a huge platter and had really good wok hei flavor. The other noodle dish, the chow mein, was also good with huge portions. The fish and squid were both okay, but portions were small for the price, and to be honest, they were pretty similar down to the veggies used. We probably could've just ordered one. The most underwhelming was the bbq. The duck tasted okay but the cut they gave us was mostly bone and didn't have much meat. The roast pork was way too juicy and the skin, which is usually my favorite part due to the crisp, was tough and hard to chew. read more

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Usually I have to wait around an hour for a table here, but came in and got seated pretty fast before a huge wave of people came and had to wait a while, the highs of being a victor make food only taste oh so much better (joking). Unfortunately had to wait then maybe 15 minutes to actually get a waiter to look at us and put our order in, but there were like 2 people manning the whole restaurant trying to flip tables. Got the (these are butchered names, I don't remember it in English) French beef, shrimp noodles, and seafood pot. All absolutely delicious. The French beef is so peppery and savory, the heat from the meat slowly cooks the cabbage on the bottom in its sauce and it's so good. Noodles are bomb, amazing texture, amount of shrimp, just great. And then the seafood pot has an amazing variety of things, the shrimp is so sweet and juicy, tofu so soft, standing ovation. Food comes out pretty fast once you order it, and it was staggered perfectly that we could enjoy each dish in its full glory before the next came out. The hot food counter also is spectacular in everything, always love taking even more home for later. read more

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Sam Woo is the kind of restaurant craved by people who've had the privilege of eating authentic Chinese food and barbecued meats in nondescript storefronts and underground tea rooms run by people who barely speak English. The decor is simple and traditional, and though well-maintained, it's unchanged from decades ago. And that's what you want -- to walk into an atmosphere that feels lived-in rather than recently off-loaded from some nearby restaurant supply warehouse. It's always busy here at lunchtime, so be prepared to wait; though if you're willing to share a table with strangers, you may get seated sooner. And why not? The communal approach lightens the mood, and you can see what other people are eating so you can make plans for next time. The staff is friendly and fast, working hard to keep up with the crowds. They have a full menu of Chinese food here, with most of the expected dishes you'd find everywhere, but also quite a few options that are less familiar. No matter what you choose, the food is prepared quickly with care and arrives steaming hot. Flavors are deep, rich and layered, and portions are very generous -- no one leaves without a to-go bag. But the star of the show here is the Barbecued Meats, which (aside from pork & spare ribs) are not usually offered at most neighborhood places. Sweetly glistening pork shares space with a crispy-skinned "roasted" pork, along with roasted ducks and chickens, Chinese sausage, assorted fried chicken and pork chops, and a variety of sauces that add sweetness or spice as desired. Today I went for my favorite lunch: a combination plate of BBQ and Roasted Pork over Rice. The Roasted Pork is juicy, with a punch of allspice that pairs nicely with the slivers of crispy skin laid atop the slices of meat. The accompanying sauce is mild, with a slight tang that rounds out the bite. By contrast, the BBQ Pork has the familiar sweet glaze and semi-toughness, though here at Sam Woo the meat is nicely marbled and more melting than you'd get at other places. The flavor is pretty perfect as is, but I enjoy adding dabs of chili crisp to every other slice for an extra slap of heat. The bed of white rice is properly cooked and blends well with any or all of the sauces you're playing with. This is a no-cards place, so don't forget to bring your cash. Also bring your appetite and your sense of adventure -- it's a great idea to order at least one thing that's new to you, because when you're somewhere that actually offers you the opportunity, you should jump at it. read more

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If you are looking for a casual old school Cantonese BBQ spot, hard to go wrong with Sam Woo. The restaurant doesn't try to compete with the newer style Chinese restaurants. It is perfectly happy to do their way of Chinese cooking, which has been consistent since 1979. I've been enjoying Sam Woo since the early 80's. My guilty pleasures are the three BBQ meat rice plate and fried pork chop with scallions. Huge portion of three different succulent BBQ meats with plenty of left overs. Another one of my favorites is the deep fried house noodles. There are a variety of rice and noodle dishes to try here. Enjoy read more

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This is truly my very favorite authentic Chinese place in the San Fernando valley When I am on the west side in Los Angeles, I go to Hop Woo, so good! I usually take duck lo mein with a broth: oh my God, it's so light and very delish Usually i order also a half duck to go The only problem with that place and the 99 Ranch supermarket is that the parking lot is overwhelmingly crowded, and the wait is 10 to 20 minutes for a parking space! Otherwise, that place is very good and delicious and I love going to eat there... even alone! read more

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If you're looking to get a gratuitous volume of food, then take a long nap, then Sam Woo is the place for you. They will load you up with a hefty portion of duck, chicken, and crackling skin. Absolutely fantastic and always made very quickly. read more

I had a dinner party to host and wanted duck on the menu, but honestly--I just didn't have the time to make it myself. Funny enough, I remembered my nail tech had brought me duck one day while I was at the salon, and it was SO good--super fragrant, well-seasoned (almost like a subtle clove spice), juicy, and especially flavorful around the bone. I couldn't stop thinking about it. So the next time I saw him, I asked where it was from, and after a little thinking he said Sam Woo. He mentioned the San Gabriel location, but told me to just look it up. Turns out... there was one right next to 99 Ranch, which I go to all the time--and somehow I had never gone in before. I walked in, placed an order for three whole ducks and two large trays of rice for my dinner party, and the staff was incredibly helpful in guiding me on portions. Everything was ready within about an hour (perfect timing while I grabbed groceries next door), neatly packed, and one of the staff members even helped load everything into my car--which I really appreciated. And the duck? Just as amazing as I remembered. Juicy, flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and a total hit at my dinner. Super clean establishment, kind staff, efficient service--I will absolutely be back. Next time, I'm actually sitting down and exploring more of the menu. read more

Sam Woo Village BBQ - Whole ducks, steamed rice - Chinese Near Me - Van Nuys, California

We're baaack!! Food is still delicious!! This review here is not about the restaurant per se, it's about the parking lot on Sundays now, we got here about 11:30am give or take 5 or 10 minutes, well...there used to be an Office Depot store here, if not Office Depot, it's one of those office supply stores and they closed down, so now on Sunday mornings there is church service and apparently when we arrived there is no parking AND for some reason there was a section that was chained off with sign NO PARKING!!! Anyways we left to go get Boba and waited there till 12:20pm, when we got back, the chains were down, so we think that is when it goes down. I just wanted to share this. As for the restaurant service, it was good today and we got our food at reasonable time which is awesome because they were busy. For those who are new to this place, this is a casual place and also when you come in, just fill in how many are in your party on the clipboard with numbers next to it. Also write down the number you are at on the blank paper next to clipboard so when you hear your number called, it's your turn to be seated. read more

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This is next to the 99 Ranch Market, so I popped over to check it out. In the to-go area, the variety of BBQ meat looked tantalizing, so I got a pound of roast pork for less than $18 after tax. The skin was thin and crispy. The meat tasted clean with just the right amount of seasoning. My portion was very lean yet not dry at all. It hit all the important criteria and earned a top spot on my list for roast pork going forward. read more

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|[ c o m f o r t ] I'll always have a soft spot for my fav Cantonese foods and this place is my place in the valley for it! Prices a bit higher than what I'm used to for this but it's filling and hits the cravings just fine. |[ t h e g o o d z ]| Fish congee 4.5/5: so so good I eat this when I'm sick or just need some comfort in my life and it's always as good as I remember from my childhood. Chao ho noodles (we subbed shrimp in place of beef) 4/5: love the egg gravy on top, this is such a guilty pleasure item, my only wish is that they'd add more veggies to this. Fish fillet in black bean sauce 3.75/5: flavor was amazing but there was too much oil! Will prob ask for less oil in this next time. Egg plant dish (we asked for no pork in ours) 3.5/5: not bad but again way too much oil, it overpowered the dish for me. |[ o v e r a l l ]| Service is quick and efficient, parking is easy, ambiance is your typical loud Asian restaurant but that's part of the experience. xD perfect lunar new year eve dinner :3 read more

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The closest thing you'll get to classic Cantonese food in the San Fernando Valley and perhaps all of West LA (aside from Hop Woo and newly-opened Mama Lu's Dumpling House). They were busy for CNY Eve, but the service was still impeccable. We ordered an abundant amount of food to celebrate: 5/5 I'm going to save myself some time by giving an all-around 5/5 for all the dishes. Everything was hot, delicious, and served in generous portions: - Pork Chop with Spicy Salt - Fish Fillet with Spicy Salt - Peking Duck (Whole) served with prawn chips, buns, and condiments - Sautéed Spinach - Beef Chow Fun with Soy Sauce As long as they're open, I will always come back to Sam Woo with my family. read more

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My sister was nice enough to grab me food from here when she stopped by there. I never been to Sam Woo so I looked at their menu online. The menu is almost like any other Asian restaurant, so they'll have their noodle soup, bbq dish, fried noodles and more. I saw that they had Mongolian beef here so I wanted to try that. Since I had rice at home, I asked for it to be la carte. I like the container they used for the beef because it has little holes so the steam won't stay in the container and continue to cook the beef. You get a good portion of beef and I thought it was delicious. The Mongolian beef was tender and marinated great. I would order it again from here. I been to the plaza where this restaurant is in before and parking can be difficult because of the market that is here. read more

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We order the same dishes all the time and it' always tastes good. Service is fantastic. Once the first dish comes out the rest follow one after the other. Seating is not bad feels welcoming could be a bit more updated but it's a casual vibe. I used to travel to Chinatown for Chinese food I'm glad they have Sam Woo close by. read more

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This is OG Chinese restaurant that was famous for roasted duck. I used to like their roasted ducks but recently I found a few other places that can do better. The skin has less fat. My favorite roasted duck spots are not around here so this time it just need to Seattle with this one. I went into to-go section and greeted by employees and got help immediately. To go section has no seating area. I ordered a whole roasted duck to go. They chopped it up quick and packed it for me. read more

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Once again, as always, an excellent meal for four people. The hot and sour soup was especially delicious tonight. The roasted duck, sauteed spinach and French style filet mignon were very good dishes. We love this place, we love the service, it's always clean. We had to wait about 15 minutes, well worth it. A really, really delicious meal. If you're looking for authentic Chinese, in San Fernando valley this is the only place as far as I know. read more

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Everything I've had here is good. Authentic Asian food, you can't go wrong especially for Asian food in the area. Portions are big. You can see the workers making wontons by scratch. I pretty much eat here once a week because it's that good. Once you enter, you'll see a to go area where you can get express food and bbq but if you go to the right and wait, someone will help you. As soon as you're seated, they give you tea and they're so accommodating. The ambiance is more casual and relaxed. Service is good and the food being authentic is unheard of yet here we are! Parking is a huge lot since it shares a plaza with 99 ranch market. read more

Sam Woo Village BBQ - Duck and egg noodles - Chinese Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Went to this place with my brother. I was in the mood for some tomato beef which I use to make at my parent's restaurant. This place made it pretty good. The sauce was slightly on the thick side but the taste was good. It reminded me of this dish from my past. I also had the duck and bbq pork dish. The food came out fast and the service was ok. Ambience wasn't the greatest but for a Chinese deli restaurant it pretty much the same as the ones in Monterey Park and Alhambra. Give it a try. read more

Sam Woo Village BBQ - Tomato Beef - Chinese Near Me - Van Nuys, California

My favorite spot hands down the parking is the thing here always crowded but love the place they have duck as well great place to have great. Taste Chinese food read more

My husband & I are repeat customers of Sam Woo's BBQ Restaurant. We enjoy the tasty food, the variety, the friendly & efficient staff, & the great service. Our favorite items include the pan fried Tomato Beef Chow Mein, the bbq pork, the Hot & Sour Soup, the fish congee (rice porridge with swap, ginger, & green onions), any of the vegetable dishes, and much more. The cost has gotten somewhat expensive now (like all of the other restaurants), & averages $18-$25 a dish. The facility is plain & like a medium sized coffee shop. We go there for the family-style cooking. There is a free parking lot in this mini mall, which is also shared by 99 Ranch Market, a Vietnamese Pho Restaurant, & a couple of other businesses. read more

The food is tasty, savory, and when dining in; you will see a room full scrumptious plate! So many choices, and I had the privilege of having duck for the first time. So soft and buttery. The spinach was fresh and light. Both were quite filling. There's spacious seating available for not only me but your friends as well! The crew was so prompt and attentive, I could not believe how they were able to service so many people in quaint spaces, during times of sparseness. read more

Sam Woo Village BBQ - Chefs recommendations - Chinese Near Me - Van Nuys, California

The food here is better than some other places on Chinatown. The quality and flavor is on point. I recently took my son here sharing my memories growing up. I wanted to share with him that great food turns moments into history, creating memories that bring us closer together. The service was always a welcome. Inside is clean and the food showcased is always makes us hungry. Parking can be challenging and tight. Overall, excellent Chinese food in the Valley that delivers quality without the time and effort of traveling to Chinatown or the San Gabriel Valley. read more

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Have bot been sitting down in the reataurant for a while. Good to see that familiar faces We were lucky that we got there before the rushed. It took me longer to look at the menu and ordered, the food came out so fast, steaming hot and delicious. New younger server that is fluent in English is a . Wonderful upgrade. read more

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You come in and you are greeted by one of the many servers when they see you. Then you can place your name on the list yourself, or they can do it for you. When a table is ready, they will call you, guide you to your table, and start taking drink orders within a very few short minutes. The inside is large and spacious, with plenty of seating. However, on occasions, it does get filled, so make sure to get there to place your name on the list. They have large tables to accommodate larger groups too. Drinks come quickly. Food comes out really fast too, and it comes as it is made, so don't wait for all the food to come, otherwise some will be colder than others. My recommendations are anything from the bbq side, such as roasted duck or pork, bbq pork, or chicken wings. If you are feeling a want for a noodle soup, try the wonton noodle soup. They hand make their wontons in the restaurant. Or even better, add duck to your wonton noodle soup. It comes with egg noodles. The fried stuff... spicy fried calamari, pork chops, or fish, yummy. Honey walnut shrimp too! Don't forget to get some seasonal greens too. Definitely come here for some authentic Chinese food. read more

Wonton Noodles, duck, roasted pork, and the chicken wings are our go-to here. Sometimes we'll get the chow fun or shrimp fried rice. Everything here is pretty good though. Service is quick and straight to the point. Today, near closing, we got a whole duck for $34.99, 1.5 lb roasted pork for ~$25, and 2 lbs of chicken wings for ~$25. The duck was the family fave - it was seasoned perfectly. The pork on the other hand was dry and lean.. prob wouldn't get this again. Skin on the pork was stale. It was a perfect crunch after 3 min in the airfryer at 380 tho. Chicken wings were also dry, but well seasoned. Would only get 1 lb of this next time though. read more

Sam Woo Village BBQ - Char siu wonton noodles 5/7/25 - Chinese Near Me - Van Nuys, California

The parking lot is a little hard to get into but once you get in it's fine. The restaurant isn't too big and is set up with an area to just pick up food and a separate area with tables to shoot down and eat. Like China Town restaurants. They had excellent service, sometimes a little hard to understand but still good. Quick and right to the point. The food didn't take long to make either and when it came out it was delicious. Served family style so you can order multiple dishes and share. I highly recommend trying them out if you want great Chinese food! read more

Growing up, I would third wheel my parents date night to Sam Woo in San Gabriel. It's a nostalgic place for me and but it is also very delicious authentic Chinese food. I love their roasted duck, hot pots, fried rice, chow mein, fried tofu, soups (all good), sautéed pea sprouts, salt and pepper pork, etc. Can't really go wrong. All just wonderfully yummy and plentiful. The service is always good, I go solo a lot and they're always very kind and attentive. read more

Food is so tasty and waiters are welcoming. I. Ordered Mo Po To Fu and green beans and beef. So many things to choose from. I'll be back. read more

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Ambience: Typical Chinese Restaurant Service: Service is Good. Helpful. Food: I bought the Soy Chicken (half size) and the sesame red bean ball and I loved it. It reminds me of my vacation when I went to Hong Kong. read more

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My favorite Chinese restaurant in the valley. The food taste so authentic with generous portions and reasonable price. You can also quickly get some delicious BBQ (roasted duck, roast pork, sausages, roasted chicken etc) to-go from their counter. The food always comes out fast and fresh. The location is right beside 99 Ranch Asian Market. My always to go to order is their spicy salt pork chops! Order this you'll keep coming back in the future! read more

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My friend Jenny took me to Sam Woo and although I think I had been to one in the San Gabriel Valley a long time ago, however good that may have been, this was an truly outstanding experience. The wonton soup could possibly have been the best I've ever had in my whole life. Jenni was the expert so I let her do all the ordering and everything that came out was fresh and tasty and even better the next day. This little restaurant is in a unassuming corner of a strip mall, but boy is it delicious. Don't pass it up read more

Great food, love their roasted duck. I am a big fan of Chinese broccoli as well. I do believe their food is authentic and flavorful. Only thing that threw me off was the service. First time here and no one told us we had to write our name down to be seated so some people that came in after us were seated before us. No one mentioned anything to us sitting there waiting, but overall once seated service was good and the food was delicious. read more

Sam Woo Village BBQ - Chinese Near Me - Van Nuys, California

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If you're asian in the Valley , you know 99 Ranch , and you definitely know Sam Woo. My favorites are the roasted duck , bbq pork, salt and pepper pork chop , the string beans , spareribs and so on. Authentic Chinese food that's delicious. Food is consistently fresh and fast. It's always a wait to get seats at lunch time but no one cares . Place is always packed . Will always love going to Sam Woo after a grocery haul next door . read more

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Thus here the Asian people in the valley come to eat! You can't beat the food. The food arrives very quickly and is consistently delicious. The waiters remember you if you come a Few times and pull out all the stops. Nothing fancy. Just good food. read more

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Traditional Hong Kong style BBQ restaurant, great food, a bit loud, fast service. Love getting carry out from them while shopping at 99 ranch next door, perfect location, Asian groceries and dinner all in one place read more

My go to Hong Kong food when I lived in The Valley. Quick service. It's your typical Hong Kong food ambiance. It's authentic taste. The hanging ducks and roast pork is just right. read more

I have been coming here weekly, only cantonese spot I like in SFV. Best items imo: Roast duck over rice Yang Chow fried rice Salted pork chops Fried chicken wings Roast duck ho fun Beef pan fried noodles read more

Sam Woo Village BBQ - Chinese Near Me - Van Nuys, California

I was recently told that the best Cantonese restaurant in the valley was Sam Woo Village. I hadn't eaten Chinese food in a while so I decided to make it there on the way home. Glad I did as everything I ordered was delicious. This place is nowhere near my normal haunts and now it's definitely a return trip for me. The Roasted Duck was Super good. I had a need for some fish and got the Lemon Sauce Filets. Huge deep fried whitefish enough to satisfy the seafood lovers in the family. The House Specials Chow Mein is awesome too with so many different seafood and meat morsels. Last but not least was the Beef and Chinese Broccoli. I was so hungry I ate and forgot to take pictures. The staff was very nice and served me some ice water while I waited. I got there 15 minutes before closing time and people were eating and still filing into the restaurant. read more

Parking is provided at this hole in wall family spot that is everyone's best kept secret. Known for their BBQ items. Their chili paste is also great as are their fried wings. Service is good as they bring the order very quickly but you may need to get their attention when you need something especially during a rush time. Portions are generous especially for their prices. Food is solid. Best to come with a group so one can order and share family style. They have a large variety to their menu including boba. read more

Normally my go to place is Mama Lu but i've always passed Sam Woo when i'm at the ranch market and i noticed they had alot of the same dishes so i thought i would give it a try. The food was meh at best. The servings are regular size. Dont expect to take anything home to share. Something was just missing. The tenderloin beef wasnt soft, the singapore noodles tasted like i made them for the first time with a recipe i found on YouTube. Probably the best thing was the bok choy. They seem to have a big bbq setup over there and i didnt try any of that. If that's what u are looking for then ignore this review. Also, who runs out of egg rolls at noon? Overall, the taste of the food was flat, the servings were average, and the price was expensive for what i got. I dont mind paying alot of small portions of great food or paying alot for large portions, or little for for average food, this was none of that. Next time i'll just drive to Mama Lu's. read more