Amazing experience. My wife and I decided to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary at Sampa. Peter and his staff were super gracious and friendly hosts for the evening. The food was incredible too. The duck and crab rice blew us away. They take a lot of pride in their craft cocktails which also stole the show. Ube clarified drink was 1 of a kind. 10/10 must try! read more

The daughter mentioned Sampa during one of our planning conversations. I then recalled seeing it featured on a Food Network show highlighting Filipino cuisine. After checking out their menu and reviews, we made reservations. Parking was tough on a Saturday night in the LA Arts District. We opted for a lot just a short walk away for $10. We arrived to an empty host stand so we walked in. We stood awkwardly by the door waiting to be acknowledged. The bar staff glanced at us but didn't say anything. It wasn't until a couple came in behind us, that one finally said, "the hostess will be with you". The hostess arrived a few minutes later. We were then seated at a nice quiet table by the bar. Matthew A. was our server. He was polite and friendly, but not attentive. Iceless, lukewarm "house water" was served in small drinking glasses and refilled only when he delivered parts of our order and noticed them empty. It would have been better to leave a cold bottle of water at the table, as other restaurants often do. We ordered the Kare-Kare Tamales, Manila Mais, Lamb Shank Kaldereta and Bicol Express Mezzelune. The Kare-Kare Tamales were our favorite. The moist masa was filled with tender braised oxtail and covered with the subtle, perfectly balanced peanut butter velouté. The bagoong dust provided just enough salty shrimp notes. A must try! The Manila Mais brought me back to the night markets of Pampanga where vendors would fan flames as rows of corn are grilled to a beautiful char. Sampa took it to another level with the bagoong butter, coconut crema and chili oil. Unfortunately the Lamb Shank Kaldereta was underwhelming. Aside from the super tender, fall off the bone lamb shank, the jus did not have much flavor. The crispy confit potatoes were not crispy at all and looked off (gray and wrinkled). The sliced carrots were better. We didn't get to try the Bicol Express Mezzelune. Our server came mid-course to tell us it was no longer available. He offered to sub for the Filipino Bucatini, which we accepted. This was our second favorite. The longanisa XO sauce was well executed, craveable and super tasty! For dessert, they only had the Ube Cheesecake left so we went with it. That took quite a while to arrive. It was ok. My last gripe of this experience is that most of the greens decoratively scattered over our dishes were wilted, which took away from the overall presentation. Even the garnish of mint leaves on the dessert was sadly limp. I'm not sure if these were just old or not stored properly. For the price point, this detail should matter. Plates are all shareable, just enough for two. The Sampa menu is creative and nostalgic. We talked about possibly giving them another try. If we do, hopefully service improves. read more

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It's modern Filipino food with portions that are on the smaller side but still didn't leave me hungry afterwards . Started with a mocktail for me. This place is pretty dark they did have these little lamps on the table. Ube horchata was delicious, not too sweet. Love that the clove and vanilla did not over power the ube. Wish it had less ice but this way I will order another. Well played! Of course I ordered another. Ordered the Crab fat rice and the uni kaluga caviar served on sky flakes crackers, fun presentation even if the caviar just slid off right when it was brought to us. It was good l, I'm glad I tried this place. read more

Sampa - Dine La week - Asian Fusion Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our 2 year anniversary. We've visited a couple of times before and always had an amazing and enjoyable experience, so we were really looking forward to coming back for such our 2 year anniversary. Unfortunately, this visit was completely different and left us extremely disappointed. The night we went, there was a large party of at least 30 people gathered around the bar, which made it difficult to get in and out of the restaurant and took away from the overall atmosphere. We ordered the Bicol Express Mezzelune and Crispy Duck Pancit, along with the Clarified Ube Sour and Calamansi Mojito. Unfortunately, neither of us enjoyed the flavor profiles this time. The Bicol Express sauce was too sweet for our taste, while the filling itself was quite dry. The sauce on the duck pancit was also extremely salty. We were hoping our drinks would help cleanse our palates and balance out the meal, but they were forgotten and didn't arrive until the very end. To top things off, after we paid, our credit card wasn't returned to us, and we had to ask another server to retrieve it. Overall, this was a really disappointing experience, especially since we chose this restaurant to celebrate our anniversary and had such great experiences here in the past. We know they're capable of providing a much better experience, which made this visit even more frustrating. After this experience, it's unlikely that we'll be coming back anytime soon. That said, because our previous visits were so enjoyable, we might be willing to give them another try in the future and hope this was simply an off night. read more

We came here during DineLA week. $55 for 4 course menu. It is our first time here but we had tried their kare-kare tamale and ube cheese cake at food festival... so, we were quite excited to dine here. The menu is simple but creative, perfect blend of Filipino and Spanish cuisine. Inasal cesar salad: calamansi dressing is refreshing. Grilled chicken is perfectly grilled add a nice twist to the salad. Kare-kare tamale: signature dish. The braised oxtail is so moist and tender..the veloute sauce is milky. Bucatini and rigatoni are also so yummy. We can't decide the winner. Bucatini is spicy. Rigatoni is milky and buttery... so you decide. Grilled escabeche white fish: the fish is moist with crispy skin. Ribeye is melt in my mouth. For desert, panna cotta is a.perfect ending of a beautiful dinner. Every dish.is beautifully presented. The service is impeccable. There is paid parking across from the restaurant for $10. It is probably one of the best meal we had this year. If you have not been here, Sampa should be on your bookmark to check out. read more

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The restaurant is Filipino food with an "upscale," aka fancy, spin. Ok - so, I was in the area with my son, saw the grill outside. I thought it was a taco stand. It was not. It's where they grill certain items, lobster, ribeye, skirt steak, the intestinal part of a chicken (?). So, not tacos but grilled meats so we stayed. twist. First of all, it's a lovely space. In a not very obvious area of DTLA, next to Urth Cafe but no other restaurants. We didn't have reservations so we had the option of sitting at the bar or following the waitress to a back room area instead of the front room that is visible to everyone. My son is a minor, so to the back we went! Seriously, the closer we got to the back room the more I felt I had been cast in "The Chef." Scary! Lol! The back room is black. Blackout black! Black tablecloths, walls, chairs, dark, low light. Very luxurious and open space. Which - because it wasn't full at the time - felt a bit like being in the film, The Menu." A bit too upscale and empty to feel comfortable. More guests arrived later, a large table, so that was more comforting. The food: Recommended *Kara Kara Tamales: braised oxtail with a peanut butter sauce. Wow! The taste was wonderful! Hard to explain but Filipino/African food meets Latin food. It was on the "shared plate" menu, which to me means it will be a lot. But the 2 tamales were not very big. Still, they were so rich that the 2 really were sufficient to share. Quite filling. I couldn't get enough of the sauce! *Crab fried rice: Very tasty and generous portion. Plenty share! Not recommended: The street eats menu. Now, this is what pulled us in - the sights and smells of the food being grilled outside the restaurant. Most of which was on this meme. Like a tasting menu. But for price to portion ratio, it simply isn't worth it. I ordered the skirt steak. 4 oz, cut in half. Cooked down to what looked like .5 oz! Each on a toothpick sitting in a paper plate (or maybe it was cupcake holder?) IDK. I just know it wasn't a good presentation and the taste wasn't memorable. Regular. More grill smell than taste. Not at all worth $8. Service: Really nice. And mostly good. Though they did fail short by (1) Using only small appetizer size plates and (2) Not bringing a fresh plate to eat the crab fried rice on after the peanut butter sauce laced tamale appetizer was eaten. The server brought the fried rice, but didn't bother to give us fresh plates (nor silverware). My son was mortified when I grabbed a plate from one of the empty tables! (Teenager energy on full effect). But after initial attentive service, the variety of different servers whizzing by didn't stop to ask if we needed anything. And I sat waiting at least 8 minutes staring at the rice. I assured my young man that the servers would be fine with me getting another plate to save them from having to. And once I did, he suddenly started eating from my plate of my peanut butter free fried rice. And of course, when a server did attend to us and I let her know, she was glad I took matters into my own hands instead of not eating for 15 minutes. Thoughts: Go for dinner, and order from the full dinner menu, skip the skimpy street eats menu. With reservations you can sit in the main restaurant area that has some view to the outdoors. Without it - back to the black room you go! Know that it will be expensive. And it will be original. Not sure I'll go back. It's very "special occasion" upscale dining. But If I do it'll be with reservations. The meal was memorable and worth experiencing. read more

Sampa - Crab fried rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Sampa Restaurant This is a review for my experience having brunch at Sampa Restaurant. Sampa specializes in Filipino dishes. "Sampa" is short for sampaguita which is the national flower of the Philippines. WORDS TO DESCRIBE SAMPA: Elevated dining, speakeasy vibes, quality food and service PARKING: Parking can be difficult since it is close to the Arts District, you may want to park in the Public Parking Lot areas FOOD: Lechon fried rice: This dish was exquisite! I loved all of the colors in the rice, which include the fried pork belly, the golden egg yolks, and the pigments of the atchara (atchara: pickled vegetables such as papaya, scallions, and carrots). When I took my first bite of the fried rice, the blend of all of them together was scrumptious! Yes order this dish! 5/5 STEAKSILOG: I would order just the steak alone! The skirt steak was savory, juicy, and mouthwatering! Yummy! 4.5/5 Kare Kare Tamales: This dish was delicious! Kare Kare is one of my favorite Filipino dishes, so when I saw it paired with tamales I was immediately intrigued. The presentation was beautiful. The flavor was rich and unique. The oxtail was tender and the peanut sauce paired well with the savoriness. 4/5 CHICKEN AND PANDAN WAFFLE: This plate was their take on chicken and waffles. The pandan flavor was there, but I wish the waffle was thick, instead it had a crispy thin cookie like texture. 3.5/5 DRINKS: Bartender has skills! Beauty in the booze! I appreciated the artistry in creating our beverages. I loved the details of the flowers and layers of color. Cheers! All in all I had a great time eating at Sampa! I loved the food and service! Maraming Salamat! Sobrang Sarap! read more

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Who says Filipino food can't be considered fine dining? Chef Josh Espinosa is showcasing how the dishes we're accustomed to can be prepared with an elevated approach. Sampa is located in the Arts District near the intersection of S Hewitt St and E 5th right next to Urth Cafe. There's a parking lot directly across the street from the restaurant but you can also park around the corner by Arts District Park for $5. If it's your first time visiting Sampa, you have to be open minded towards the concept itself. Yes, the dishes here are smaller in portion and costs more than your typical fast casual spot. All the servers here are attentive and offer to help with what to order if you're unsure. For dinner, the Crispy Pasta is their take on crispy pata but served with spinach tagliatelle. The crab fat fried rice is a no brainer and depending on the night you come, I highly recommend the Sinigang xiaolongbao special. You don't have to be Filipino to appreciate what Sampa is doing for the culture, just come by and see for yourself. read more

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Had a lot of fun here. The chef is clearly technically proficient, and I love seeing that translate into creative ethnic food. Love the calamansi breeze in the Tempura Squash Blossoms, and I dare you to find a dish more fun than the Skyflake Caviar. I had my doubts about the combination of wagyu with uni and caviar, but I do think they legitimately work well together. How can you not enjoy something called "Crab Fat Fried Rice"? Aromatic and authentic with a buttery crab. Great flavor. The Crispy Duck Pancit is my least favorite as the duck is underseasoned and there just aren't enough noodles, especially at that price. Props just for serving souffle, and I did enjoy theirs. Just the right amount of sweetness, and the ube flavor is perfect. I didn't love everything I ate, but I see real potential here. I do wish I tried a few more dishes and would like to come back for that soon! read more

Sampa - Asian Fusion Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I cannot believe how amazing this dining experience was. From the hostess, to the waitress, to the service, to the drinks, to the food. I have nothing but nice things to say. Lovely atmosphere and plating. This was amazing. Hoping to come back on a Wednesday when they barbecue!! read more

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Second time going here and all I have to say is...this is my favorite Filipino fusion restaurants hands down! I came back here for the kare-kare tamale and the crab fat fried rice. Today we tried the 6 course sampa and all the dishes were awesome! I have tried Filipino upscale or fusion places like in Seattle, Chicago, and NY - but this is my favorite one. This is a must try when in LA! Also, our server Kai was the best! read more

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I love seeing more upscale Filipino dining! Came here for dine LA and so happy with what we got . read more

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Finally had a chance to try this place. It's their 6 year anniversary where they had a special 6 courses for $60. A great tasting menu to be able to try their top Filipino fusion dishes. My faves were the crab fried rice, crudo and the ribeye ($25) as it was an upgrade for the tasting course. Fun and unique craft cocktails! Was able to find street parking but they have paid lots around for $5. I'd like to go back and try other dishes that weren't on the tasting menu. read more

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Hubby was casually perusing Instagram when he came across a reel on Sampa. We were drooling so much that we placed a reservation for later on the same day. And we are so glad we did. This is more upscale, almost fine dining Filipino food. Something I have never experienced before. We were very intrigued and were excited to try the food. If you're looking for a carinderia or turo-turo taste, this ain't it so don't come expecting that. Menu is not extensive, which is what we like. I have a hard time at Cheesecake Factory and that just stresses me out. I feel like their food menu is compact, thoughtfully created, and appealing. We had a very difficult time not ordering the entire menu. So we ended up eating almost half of it. Drinks menu was also very innovative and the drinks were STRONG. I also appreciate that they have non-alcoholic versions of some of their drinks. I wasn't indulging that day so Hubby and I were able to sample one of each type. Calamansi Mojito ($20) for him and Ube Horchata ($14) for me. As for what we ate: Manila Mais ($18) - 2.5/5 stars - It was, okay. Filipino-ized version of Mexican elote, corn-ribs style. Though it had Filipino elements like the bagoong butter, it didn't really taste like anything different. And to be honest, the bagoong butter didn't bring anything to the table the way it was presented to the side of the corn. It was too hard and just sat on the elote as you ate it. Kare Kare Tamales ($26) - 5/5 stars - UH-AMAZING!!! I could have eaten two, regular-sized tamales versions of this as an entree instead of two smaller appetizer size. The braised oxtail inside the tamales was soft and tender but the peanut butter veloute was *chef's kiss*. You definitely tasted kare kare but in an innovative way. I just wish they had some steamed rice or bread so I could soak up the sauce. I almost cried when they took the plate away because I didn't want to waste the sauce! Bicol Express Mezzelune ($38) - 4/5 stars - I was eyeing this originally but opted not to until the chef came out and talked us into it. And I'm so glad he did! This was delicious! Ironically enough, I just cooked traditional Bicol Express the week before and this definitely hit those notes without being a carbon copy of it. Again, where was the rice?! Only thing I can dock is that I felt like the pasta was a tad too thick and was chewy to my taste. Otherwise, I would definitely order this again. Was the sleeper hit of the dinner. Crab Fat Fried Rice ($38) - 5/5 stars - Crab? Crab fat? In rice?? Of course, sign me up! So delicious and a very generous portion. I wanted to hoard it to myself but I guess I had to share with Hubby. Would order this again. Ribeye Salpicao ($96) - 3/5 stars - Not my favorite of the bunch and this surprised me because I love rib eye. It came out medium instead of the medium rare we ordered and the taste was just not to my preference. It's possible that it was just overshadowed by the other excellent dishes we had. Likely will not order again though the portion was generous. Two minor things I wish they had but not enough to dock stars: Rice and spoons. Come on, now! This is a Filipino place! These two are musts? How else could I mop up all the delicious sauces they put on the food?! Service was impeccable! From front of the house host, bartender, and the chefs, the experience was very welcoming and polished. We sat at the bar and was able to chat with the chefs when they came to introduce themselves to us and they were the nicest people. You felt like you came to a friend's house and not an impersonal stranger's. Will definitely be back to try the other half of the menu we missed and we'll be bringing friends! read more

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I wanted to love this spot but everything fell a little short given it's price point and location. Appetizers - Eggplant (4 stars) - this was pretty good. The Eggplant was fried whole and mango/cirtus dressing gave it a balancing brightness. - Octopus Adobo (3.5 stars) - this was good but we weren't able to taste any adobo. Had adobo not been in the name this would have been 4 stars. Mains - Fried Fish (3 stars) - this one was a little disappointing. Photos of this dish is why we decided to try this restaurant and it was really just okay. It was, however, beautifully plated. - Crispy Pasta (3.5 stars) - the crispy pork was really good. The pasta itself was just okay. - Crab Fried Rice (3 stars) - this one was also a little disappointing. Plating was on point but flavor was meh. Ambiance - Normal, nothing that special. This was also disappointing because of the area and price point. (I.e., going to any of the neighboring restaurants in the area in the same price point is special and gives off a special vibe that's reflected in decor and ambiance..this spot was just meh). Parking - not bad. Street parking or private lots for reasonable prices. Service - (4.5) - no complaints Overall, everything was okay, which made it disappointing. read more

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Found this place by chance and wanted to love it but now torn between a 1 and 2 star review. First, entering the restaurant it was dead empty except for a single diner. Decor is all black. By design to hide cheap furniture or dust I don't know but it did not elevate the space. Pretty cold welcome as well. Went to Bestia down the street the week before and everyone greets you and the energy was high, not here. To the food, I'll preface this by saying I'm Filipino so I know the flavors. First course, kare kare tamales ($26). Pretty bland, meat didn't seem like oxtail but was at least well braised. Masa was really mushy and sauce lacked peanut flavor and salt, seemed like just a lot of cream. Second course, Bicol Express Mezzelune pasta. Seemed like the same protein inside as the kare kare tamales and the pasta was really undercooked. $38 for 7 undercooked mezzelune? For that price, could have had a whole meal at Olive Garden for 4 and been more satisfied. Entrees were Crab Fried Rice ($38), Pork Pinakbet ($56) and Crispy Duck Pancit ($48). The Crab Fried Rice was the best of the night with good flavor and lots of crab. The Pinakbet was nothing like pinakbet I've had before. It was a huge pork knuckle drowned in a heavy cream sauce. There were 2 okras in it and no other veg. The Crispy Duck Pancit was overcooked (not crispy) duck breast over some kind of noodles that were like mediocre Chinese take out with a little vinegar to make it Filipino. Toward the end the waitress then asked if we wanted dessert (of which there was only one option) even way before we were done with the entrees. When we declined, she dropped the check even though we were still eating. I had such high hopes for this restaurant because I think Filipino flavors are prime for higher end dining but we got none of the punchy, bright flavors that are common in Filipino cuisine. I would say the food for the most part didn't even measure up to Waipahu or Daly City Filipino restaurants much less elevated, fine dining. This meal for 2 adults and 2 teenagers was $400. We've had better in Waipahu for $75. Boggles my mind how there are so many good reviews here. Unless you are rich and desperate for anything resembling Filipino food, I would just take a pass here. P.S. the 2 mocktails for $14 each were also underwhelming and a little weird. read more

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I was honestly worried after reading the very mixed reviews, but happy to report that we had a wonderful experience! For drinks, we got the calamansi mojito, the melon pandan cooler, and the sampa spritz. Both the calamansi and melon pandan were super refreshing, but the Sampa spritz had a weird aftertaste. Spicy calamansi glazed chicken wings: Loved the citrusy flavor and how crispy the wings were. I don't remember it being spicy though Kare-kare tamales: Really good! It wasn't too heavy on the peanut butter (which I personally like, but I can see some people maybe wanting a stronger peanut butter presence) Calamari sisig: I love calamari to begin with so I'm already biased haha. Loved the crispiness, although the dish overall was slightly sour Lechon fried rice: I think this was my favorite dish out of all of them! So much flavor and the peppers really gave it a nice kick :) Ube cheesecake: It was pretty dense for a cheesecake, but not bad. I wish the ube flavor was a bit more prominent though, haha Food came out quickly and our server was very nice. There are a decent amount of tables inside. At one point, the chef/owner came by our table to see how we were liking the food, and I thought that was really sweet! There's limited street parking, but a paid lot directly across the entrance to the restaurant. Overall, we left full and satisfied, and would definitely come back! read more

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I've been to Sampa LA a couple of times for brunch--once in June 2024 and again in April 2026. The food is flavorful and rich. It's definitely on the pricier side for Filipino cuisine, but it makes more sense when you view it through an upscale dining lens. Josh Espinosa does a great job reimagining Filipino dishes in a creative way. From the April 2026 menu, we especially enjoyed the steaksilog, lechon fried rice, and spicy cauliflower. The kare kare tamales continue to be a standout dish since opening. One note--our waitress mentioned that the dishes are small and not really shareable. I'd actually disagree. Most of the dishes can be shared, especially since they're rich and filling. Even with a group of six, we were able to split the tamales (which come with two) just to get a taste. Service has been consistently good and attentive on both visits. Chef Josh even came out to check on us, which was a nice touch. The ambiance has also improved since 2024. When we first visited, it had just opened, but now there are small yet noticeable upgrades--like a live DJ playing great music--which added to the overall experience. I'll definitely be back--and hopefully sooner than another two-year gap. read more

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My husband and I have been wanting to eat here for some time. What really caught our attention was the fusion style with Filipino cooking. We never thought Filipino food could be elevated.....oh, were we wrong. Sampa was an amazing experience, and we got to try it during DINELA. From the ambiance, to the great service from the server and staff, to the amazing food. Again, never thought Filipino food could taste like this. A lot of what we tried were specific to DineLA but their staple like Filipino Bucatini and Crab Fat Fried Rice lives up to the hype. Thank you for a great experience read more

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Very interesting experience, and I surprisingly enjoyed it! (Nothing bad about the place, I am personally a picky eater.) I ordered Tita's favorite but with vodka (I can't drink tequila). It was great, very refreshing, and the alcohol wasn't overpowering. The aesthetic of the drink was so beautiful, I loved the way the pink gradually mixed down. Food ordered: Coco shoots, Grilled Eggplant salad, Octopus Adobo, Lamb Kaldereta Tortellini, Crab Fat Fried Rice, Humba, and Ube White Chocolate Souffle. This was a lot for 4 people, but my party wanted to try a variety of dishes. We did end up taking most of the humba and half the crab fat fried rice back home. My personal favorite is the Lam Kaldereta Tortellini. I was a little nervous about the Crab Fat Fried Rice. I thought it would be a little too greasy and a bit overpowering. It was nothing like that at all. I'm absolutely obsessed with the Ube White Chocolate Soufflé. Compared to other Soufflés that I've had, it's definitely a bit denser, and it doesn't come with Devonshire cream. It comes with a small jar of melted white chocolate. I had to use quite a bit for a small dessert, so it wouldn't feel dry. Otherwise, the flavors were absolutely wonderful. read more

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This was our second time visiting Sampa, but this time we came to celebrate Valentine's Day. We opted for the 5:15pm reservation, which worked out perfectly. From the moment you enter, Sampa feels like a private sanctuary. The long, dim hallway is softly lit with flickering tea lights, and scattered rose petals immediately set the Valentine's mood. Kai was our server and provided excellent service throughout the night. We brought our own wine, the $35 corkage fee felt very reasonable. We ordered the following: Kwek Kwek Salad- tempura fried kwek kwek that was airy and light. I really enjoyed them, though I personally wished there was a little more calamansi dressing. My boyfriend liked them exactly as they were. Grilled Eggplant Salad- we were a little confused at first since the description says "grilled," but it arrived in an airy tempura batter, perfectly golden and crisp. The mango slices and cherry tomatoes were a great addition. 10/10 for me. Crab Fat Fried Rice- rich but well balanced. It has a savory flavor from the crab fat without being overpowering. Comforting, satisfying, and super easy to keep eating. Lol. My boyfriend thought it could use more crab meat, but I completely disagree. I enjoyed it exactly as is! Pritong Rock Fish- our second time ordering this and still a favorite. Super crispy on the outside and moist inside, with a clean, mild flavor. It's complemented by a light calamansi dipping sauce that cuts through the fry nicely. This version is fully deboned, which makes it much easier to eat compared to the one we had before, where the fish was served more intact. Blueberry-Mansi Pavlova- a light meringue dessert that's sweet and tangy. My boyfriend wasn't a fan, but it was a win for me. Calamansi Mojito- after finishing our bottle of wine, I switched to a cocktail. I really wanted to love this because I love anything calamansi, but I wish I had ordered it with a rum or vodka base instead of blanco tequila. The combination just didn't work for me, now I know for next time! Overall, another enjoyable visit. If you enjoy Filipino food with a creative twist, Sampa is definitely worth checking out. read more

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Service is wonderful and attentive! There aren't many upscale-ish filipino food spots so I was excited to try it. However, felt the overall flavors were muted and was disappointed by the execution- the food is really not that bad but for the price, I expected much more! kare kare tamales - dry meat with no distinct spice flavor. had to spoon a lot of the peanut butter sauce on it, but even the sauce was lacking in flavor uni gnocci - uni and ikura are fresh, good quality, but the texture and taste of the gnocci was dense, gummy, flavorless. crispy duck pancit - duck was seared well, fatty, and the calamansi citrus was strong with the noodles. however, nothing was present to balance the citrus - was just one note. The crab fried rice is popular and would try it next time, but would skip on the uni and tamales and try the duck!! Felt the flavors might be catered to american palates ): read more

Sampa - uni gnocci and kare kare tamales - Asian Fusion Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I was looking forward to trying out this new Filipino fusion cuisine in a hip trendy setting. I don't know any other restaurant that has this fusion. Although their food looks pretty upon presentation, the flavors were lacking in the familiar taste of Filipino flavors that I'm used to (except for taste of Calamansi). Service was great though. My favorite dishes were the octopus adobo, kare kare tamale, and the crispy duck pancit. The meats were cooked perfectly, tender octopus and crispy juicy duck, but the seasoning was way too salty. The pancit didn't even taste like pancit, it was more like a sour chow mein. The Kare Kare just taste like a more moist version of a regular tamale, but I liked it a lot. The kuhol (escargot) was just okay. The rock fish was dry. The chicken wonton tinola doesn't even taste like tinola, it was more of a super salty wonton soup. The crab fried rice was like a normal fried rice, nothing special for the price. And lastly the lamb kaldareta tortellini just tastes like regular pasta, I didn't notice any fusion, but maybe that's just me. Overall I feel like some of the dishes were decent. But for it to be Filipino fusion, it doesn't live up to the hype. read more

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This place is off the hook, the Atmosphere was great the food was fantastic I will definitely be coming back. And the people that cook and run the place are so friendly and welcoming. read more

Finally got to cross Sampa off my list during DineLA week, and I really wanted to love it. We came for Sunday brunch with a party of 6 and opted for their $35 three course DineLA menu, which was a fun way to try a wide range of dishes. What we ordered: Kare kare tamales (4/10) - Love kare kare, but this one lacked depth and flavor. Spicy calamansi glazed wings (10/10) - The standout of the meal. Incredible sauce and easily my fav dish. Lechon fried rice (3/10) - Unfortunately most of the rice was too hard and not enjoyable to eat. Crab omelette (5/10) - Beautifully plated but bland and very small portion. Chicken & pandan waffle (1/10) - Burnt waffle and low quality fried chicken. The biggest miss for me. Steaksilog (5/10) - Steak was chewy and not cooked well. Ube cheesecake (6/10): Very dense and heavier than expected. Pan de Sal French toast (6/10) - Fine overall. Not bad not memorable. I do love the idea of DineLA menus, especially with a group, and the plating was beautiful. Unfortunately the flavors didn't live up to the presentation. That said, the service was excellent. Shoutout to our server Kai, who was kind and attentive throughout the meal. I'm glad I finally tried Sampa, but I'm not sure it's a place I'd come back to. read more

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We came here for the first time to celebrate my birthday, and it was truly such a unique and memorable experience! The food was amazing, but the atmosphere was what really made the night special. And Chris, who took care of us, exceeded our expectations with his wonderful service. At first, I was a little worried that the portions might be too small, but we ended up leaving with our bellies full and very happy! We had such a great time and will definitely be coming back. Next time, I'd love to bring my parents and share this experience with them. Highly recommend! read more

Sampa - Front - Asian Fusion Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came for Dine LA Brunch and it exceeded my expectations. Everything on the menu was delicious! I came last Sunday as a walk in and I was immediately sat. The food came out quickly and service was fast. My favorite dish was the dessert. The Pandesal French Toast was delicious. I liked how each dish made me feel nostalgic of my background and childhood. This is definitely one of the Dine LA restaurants I recommend visiting. read more

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Had the opportunity to check this spot out during Dine LA & let me tell you, it was amazing! Our server asked if we had any allergies which I highly appreciated. He ensured that anything that we ordered didn't have my allergy and was extremely knowledgeable on the menu. For the first course I ordered HAMACHI KILAWIN, which was fresh, presented nicely, and absolutely delicious. Second course was FILIPINO BUCATINI. The sauce was a little on the sweeter side but a nice tomato taste which is my favorite. For the final course, I ordered the CRAB FAT FRIED RICE, which I devoured within minutes. For dessert, I ordered the ube cheesecake. As a cheesecake lover who doesn't like ube, this definitely changed my mind on ube. It was a great balance of sweetness, if you don't like your desserts too sweet. I highly recommend to not leave this spot without trying this dessert. My friend ordered the KARE-KARE TAMALE and CRISPY PASTA which he also highly recommends. Overall, you will not be disappointed with this spot. Great customer service with knowledgeable staff, nice ambiance, amazing food and great music. read more

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I really wanted to like Sampa because I was genuinely excited to experience a restaurant that highlights Filipino culture and cuisine. Unfortunately, the service was disappointing. Our server rarely checked on us between courses or during the meal. What stood out most was that the small appetizer plates were never changed after the appetizers. We continued using the same small plates as additional dishes arrived, which felt unusual and a bit inconsistent with the elevated dining experience the restaurant seems to be aiming for. The restaurant is also extremely dark. I understand that it's part of the ambiance, but for us it was a little too dim to comfortably enjoy the meal. Most importantly, the food was underwhelming. Several dishes lacked the depth of flavor we were expecting, especially given the presentation and the restaurant's more elevated approach. I was really hoping to love the experience, especially because I was excited to see Filipino culture represented in this type of setting, but unfortunately it fell short for us. read more

We were visiting from the Bay Area and SAMPA was the perfect spot for brunch. Street parking was easy and we were immediately greeted with a smile and helped to our table. The vibe (open dining area, music, decor) was what we envisioned from their social media. The staff was attentive, friendly and fun. We had mocktails since we had a full day ahead of us and they were not only refreshingly delicious but beautifully served. We wanted to sample a variety of the food options and the staff helped navigate our choices. Everything was prepared quickly, plated nicely and tasted great. All food is prepared in house and you could taste the freshness. We loved the modern twist on some Filipino dishes. We wanted to come back for dinner and check the vibe in the evening. Salamat SAMPA! read more

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Went here for dinner with my boyfriend's family and they all love it ! High end Filipino food concept was refreshing to see without comprising the taste. The food here so so freaking delicious. Quick and professional services. The restaurant feels intimate ! Def a good spot for a date night read more

I love this place. I think the dishes are very creative and unique, unlike any other Filipino restaurant I've had before. I really enjoyed their crab omelet and and their sinigang soup dumplings and ube cheese cake read more

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Came for dinela Very cute inside but we got sat right under a vent by the front entrance. I don't mind the cold but it did cooldown our food more quickly. Service was great and they even came by multiple times to fill my water without having to ask. got all 4 of the apps. Cauliflower and chicken wings had same sauce and it was tangy sweet with a teeny kick. Nothing special. Same wither Yellowtail tartare again pretty standard. The karekare tamale was unique and it was indeed special. Was very peanut forward and it said it had gaboong dust. I didn't get that at all and felt the kare kare flavor overpowered it. Wish there was more of the dust. For entrees the crab omelet was so good and loved the chimichurri it came with. The steak and eggs entree was tasty but just something I can prob do at home. Lechon fried rice had those teeny green beans which I love and the pork was perfectly crispy. Espresso martini was different and not your traditional one. The nutmeg and cinnamon was an interesting twist. Between the desserts I like the French toast better. Definitely worth the price! read more

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Came here during DineLA and had a mixed experience. We had a 7:15pm reservation but waited about 30 minutes to be seated and may have been accidentally skipped, since parties who arrived after us were seated first. I had to check back in before we were finally seated. The food was great and the servers were really amazing, but the pacing felt slow. Add it to our wait to be seated with a reservation, it felt longer. I understand it was DineLA and busy, but all the wait took from an otherwise excellent meal. Overall, great food and friendly staff, just a longer experience than expected. I'd consider coming back -- but probaly not during DineLA hours :) Top noms for our dinner were the Kare Kare Tamales, Longanisa Bucatini, and the Crab friedrice. delicious! Parking: street parking will be tough, but there are a lot of public parkings available for a fee :) Protip: Sampa is in Inkind! read more

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Ever since Sampa opened, it's been on my must-try list. I've seen the food and menu online countless times, but I'm usually a little skeptical of modern Filipino cooking--especially when it leans into mashups with other cuisines. Still, I figured the only way to know was to actually go and try it. We had a 12:15 PM reservation and checked in at 12:06 as a courtesy, thinking it would give them more time to prepare the table. The host mentioned we were early and asked us to wait, which was fine. However, when 12:15 rolled around, we still weren't seated--even though we were the only group waiting outside. At 12:18, the same host came back to ask our reservation time again and whether we were waiting for more people. After confirming that everyone was already there, we were finally seated. Not the smoothest start, but once we stepped inside, things immediately turned around. The interior is beautiful--modern, stylish, and thoughtfully designed. We were seated by the window with a view of the chefs working in the kitchen, which was a really nice touch and added to the experience. We came during DineLA, so we ordered that menu along with a few à la carte dishes to share. Appetizers: First up were the famous kare-kare tamales, a dish I've seen all over social media and was really excited to try. One bite of the sauce and I was sold--thick, nutty, rich, and packed with flavor. The masa was perfectly moist and steaming hot, the meat juicy and tender, and the scallions fresh. This dish exceeded expectations. Next were the calamansi chicken wings, and honestly, I couldn't get over them. Perfectly crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with that spicy, tangy calamansi flavor hitting every bite. Absolute perfection. Then came the kilawin, presented so elegantly with roe on top and a chicharrón chip on the side. This was one of those dishes where you stop analyzing and just enjoy. I might've even closed my eyes for a moment. Truly outstanding and a must-order. The last appetizer was the calamari sisig, and this one might've taken the crown. I've had sisig in every form imaginable--pork, tofu, chicken, bangus, even oyster sisig in Boracay--but never calamari. The squid was cooked perfectly, not chewy at all, served sizzling with a beautifully runny egg on top and a garlicky, saucy base. I loved that the mayo was served on the side, letting you control each bite--dip into the yolk, add mayo, or enjoy it straight. Every bite tasted different, and every bite was delicious. All the appetizers were so good that it was hard to even pick a favorite. I could easily reorder any of them as a main dish with rice on the side. Main Dishes: The lechon fried rice was exactly what I hoped it would be--straightforward, no frills, no nonsense. The lechon was unbelievably crispy (you could hear it), the flavors were on point, and the vinegar on the side tied everything together. I think there might've been some atchara mixed in there too, but honestly, I devoured it so fast it didn't stand a chance to cool down. Next was the crab omelette. We'd tried this dish at another Filipino restaurant in Vegas before and were pretty disappointed, so expectations were low. This version completely redeemed it. The eggs were buttery, the crab was fresh and not fishy at all, and the presentation--with the crab shell covering the dish--was adorable. The server brought chimichurri on the side (not sure which dish it was intended for), but we paired it with the omelette and it worked beautifully. The final main was the steak silog--rice, egg, and steak. Simple on paper, but that steak with the soy dipping sauce was something else. One bite instantly brought me back to my childhood. It was one of those moments where you just stop talking and enjoy the food. Pure comfort and nostalgia. Dessert: We ended with the pan de sal French toast and ube cheesecake. Both were good, but the ube cheesecake really stood out. I'm more of a savory person than a dessert lover, but this was the perfect way to end the meal, especially paired with black coffee. Service: The only downside of the experience was the service. Water refills took a couple of requests, plates weren't cleared very quickly, and the wait between courses felt longer than expected--especially since it was lunch and the restaurant wasn't busy. The flow just wasn't as smooth as it could be, but this feels like an easy fix. That said, none of it took away from how incredible the food was. One of my friends even said it's the best Filipino restaurant he's ever been to--and honestly, I think he might be right. read more

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First time dining here. Decided to try it out for Dine LA week. Featured photos in this post are smaller than their standard menu plates, since the Dine LA menu served as almost a sampler dish. Food: loved the creativity of the dishes. What a way to elevate Filipino cuisine for western palates. Parking: paid lot directly across the restaurant for $10 for the day. Street parking was extremely limited. Service: Jaden was our server and he was attentive with checking in on us. We had ordered a steak, but did not receive a steak knife. We tried to get by with the butter knife at the table, but obviously it did not pan out well. Our server was occupied with another table, so I was patiently waiting to make eye contact. Miraculously another server saw my desperate eyes and before I could even raise my hand or say "excuse me" to flag her down, she came right over with a SMILE no less (!!!) and asked how she could help. That level of attentiveness was very much appreciated. Even the tall white guy came to clear our plates. I don't know what he does, because at the end of the meal, we saw him hauling in and hand-carrying 5 bags of ice. The level of hustle across the team is obvious and helps round out the experience of dining out and choosing to spend money on a dining experience. Even the bus boys were attentive with filling our water cups, which was quite appreciated. Can't say any more good things about the service and truly appreciated our server Jaden because he seemed so personable to have a genuine conversation while running around. Really seems like a hard worker. Ambiance: kudos to whoever set the playlist for Friday night -- Kaytranada songs came up a couple times and really helped to set the mood to kick off my weekend. read more

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The food was very creative in taste and presentation. It's a fusion of Filipino food with different cultures. Service was superb since our server meticulously and patiently explained the items on the menu. Definitely will come back! And highly recommended if you're an adventurous foodie read more

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4.5 stars, will round up. We had gone up to LA to watch a friend perform, but had some time to kill so grabbed a light dinner at Sampa (which I had had bookmarked). We didn't have to worry about parking since we took the Metro in, but it looks like it would have been street parking. The restaurant is not that big, though it looks like there is more seating in the back past the restrooms, where there seemed to be some sort of private event the night we went. The interior is modern and sleek. Service by Cody was also extremely friendly and attentive, and at the end of the meal Chef Josh even came out to introduce himself. As for the food, we ordered a mocktail (mojito), four shared plates (starters), and the pavlova for dessert. The calabasa, squash blossom, kare kare tamales, and kwek kwek salad were all stunningly presented and had unique and complex flavors, weaving in Filipino elements. I enjoyed the tartness of the pavlova accompaniments, and we were even given an ube cheesecake for free to try. Sampa aims to be fine dining and to elevate Filipino cuisine, and the prices reflect this. Our bill came out to $150 after tax and tips for two, and that was without ordering any mains. Overall, I enjoyed the experience but would probably save Sampa for a special occasion. read more

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loved the place! they do Filipino fusion here and the flavors were great. Loved the crab fried rice and the crispy pasta. They also had a lot of unique asian inspired cocktails - I got the clarified calamansi espresso martini! read more

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Though I appreciate the innovation of classic Filipino dishes, majority fell short with the flavor profile that just do not justify the price point. They do look good in pictures and put effort into presentation, but again just does not justify the price point. It was good to try it once as an experience. The ambiance is quite nice with the hip feel and dark lighting. The servers were attentive and happily explained the menu. Good selection of drinks as well. As we ordered a variety of dishes, I've tasted enough and likely will not be back. We came for brunch but parking can be difficult around this area. read more

Sampa - Pasta palabok - Asian Fusion Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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