How did I not know about this chowdermobile before??? I'd drive anywhere for their clam chowder... but good thing I caught the chowdermobile in Palo Alto. =) You MUST try their clam chowder. It is SOOOOOO good!!! Beats anything I tried at the chowder cook off in Santa Cruz. And make sure to pair that chowder with their calamari and lobster roll. The calamari has just enough batter for the right amount of crunch. And their cocktail sauce is great (I don't even like cocktail sauce =P)! The lobster roll has a nice toasted, buttery roll and tons of sweet lobster. I also tried the fish and chips but I was so full that I didn't eat it until later. Even a few hours later the batter retained its crunch, but it wasn't as special as I thought it would have been. Better to stick with the items I mentioned before. If you want to try to catch the chowdermobile's next stop, follow them on Facebook or Twitter and get your chowder on! =) read more

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Ahoy!! Sam's Chowdermobile came a callin' this aft at G-Tech! Sam was offering some of his tried and true faves...the creamy/dreamy clam chowder (white and red version) along with calamari....crab louie salad or fish and chips! But let's talk about those 'specials"... LOBSTER ROLL: $15.00: Generous hunks of lobster, sauteed in butter and other yummy seasonings and placed inside a special roll...looks like a hot dog bun...except it's sealed all around save for a small space at the top for placing the diVINE lobster meat!! SHRIMP PO'Boy: $6.00. Lightly battered and fried shrimp with amazing seasoning (very generous portion I might add) mayo, tomatoes, greens and a yummy roll, lightly toasted!!! Really delicious!! Being it was Sam's Chowdermobile and all...we simply HAD to have some of their famous clam chowder (white) Creamy, rich base, tons of clams, tender potatoes, bacon pieces, celery and other yummy ingredients!!! This mobile accepts ATM/Credit or cash!!! True it can be a bit pricey if you're ordering multiple items....all I can tell you is...don't be "shell-fish" and deny yourself the pleasure of a sublime lunch time encounter!! (And a G rated one, fancy that!!!= o ) Go say Ahoy to the chowder crew, you'll be so glad you did!! read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Po'Boy Shrimp Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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The Chowdermobile is by far my favorite food truck. Although I haven't really eaten at as many food trucks as I'd like to have, but no matter. Everything here is pretty good to great. Here's a quick roundup of my favorites: 1) Lobster Roll is very good, but not worth the high price tag in my opinion 2) Clam Chowder is really good. Not the best I've ever had, but definetly top 5. 3) Shrimp Po' Boy w/ fries is the best thing they have on their menu by far. It's so good that I was slightly obsessed with it for a little while. I was hunting down the Chowdermobile like a rabid dog. They also have an Andouille Sausage Po' Boy that I'm going to try one of these days. It looks really good, but I can't stop thinking of the Shrimp. The Mobile has some pretty regular stops and some not-so-regular stops. I suggest signing up for their weekly emails, or tweets, to see if they're stopping someplace close to you. Also, I'd recommend getting there as early as possible. The line can get insanely long very quickly. read more

(So I ended up getting unlimited amounts of Sam's thanks to a company event. So this review doesn't consider the price. They actually covered up the prices... so I have absolutely no idea what each item costs). Here's what I ended up trying (basically a lot of things on the menu. I couldn't carry all the boxes in one trip...) - New England Clam Chowder: delicious! This is what makes the chowdermobile so special. The ingredients and creaminess is perfect. - Fried Calamari: the box was HUGE! I thought it was going to be tiny, but I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box and saw the amount of calamari about to enter my mouth. This was also my favorite. - Lobster Roll: According to The Today Show, this is one of the top 5 best sandwiches in America. And you can definitely tell that within the first few bites. Unfortunately by the time I reached the Lobster Roll, I had already finished the majority of the first two things listed above. So I was extremely full. - Baja Fish Taco - okay... stick to the lobster roll. Great ingredients and awesome staff. I ended running into them again and multiple company events, so I've had the luxury to enjoy unlimited lobster rolls many times. Delicious and probably one of the best I've had. Thanks Sam! read more

ive been wanting this try out what they have to offer for quite some time now! ive seen them around at the EAT REAL FESTIVAL, and the line was like a winding maze. i had to give it a pass. My company had them cater us! WOOT WOOT! the line was also crazily long! but it was a free paid lunch and we had no time cap for lunch. i rather be standing in it then gettin back to work! =P i stood in line for nearly 2 hrs! yikes! by the time i arrived there was no clam chowder left! =( so, i cant give a review on this. i did, however, get the lobster roll. i expected something wonderful, but i was rather quite disappointed. sure, they were generous with the lobster, but there was nothing WOW about the entire sandwich. im glad i got it for FREE. =) its not bad, but definitely not worth waiting in the crazy long line! read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I got a text from Ed H. saying he's in line at the chowdermobile at Vishay..... and off i go... Ed is heaven sent. I had saved myself 15minutes of waiting time. the line was long by the time i got there at 12:15pm. Say.... 40 people? I got: *Maine Lobster Roll: Ed warned me a "shortie" could be good enough for my appetite. Esp if i were going to get a cup of clam chowder too. what can i say. I am an excited lobster roll monster. I got the regular sized one. Stubborn hey?? But. OMG. i was shocked. this roll isn't a joke. It's packed with so much lobster meat. correction: big chunks of lobster meat. The bread was toasted to perfection. It worked so well, overall. Did i finish it? uhmm. i tried to. i did.. Ed can confirm. i probably left 1/8 of the bread and finished off the lobster. Rockstar! But lesson learned: a shortie would have been enough. -Now, im breathing heavily. i am so full... i feel so butterly battered with visions of lobster in my head. *Clam Chowder: It's decent but nothing spectacular. I like the fact that it's not overly creamy. It's a good pair with the lobster roll. ---yay! i'm happy i finally got to taste this. Big thanks to Ed H for letting me sneak in line next to him. read more

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Finally, got to try this food truck! It always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or was I in the wrong place at the wrong time? Anywhoo.....had the shrimp po'boy which exceeded my expectations. It was delicious! For $9.50 you get a fairly large sandwich overflowing with fried shrimp and a side of piping hot seasoned french fries. Was contemplating the lobster roll at $16.50 (5 oz of lobster) a pop, but just couldn't bring myself to paying that much for a sandwich off of a food truck. In all fairness to SCM, they do offer a smaller version for $11.50 (3 oz of lobster). The gal a couple people ahead of me ordered the 3oz. lobster roll and it was teeny, tiny....so I'm glad I got to see it before placing my order. Still would like to try it someday though. All in all, another delicious food truck lunch....hopefully our paths will cross again someday! read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Shrimp Po'boy - $9.50 and totally worth it! - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I'm docking them one star because I rushed over to their chowder mobile during work hours to find that they ran out of CHOWDER! How does a chowder mobile run out of chowder? Apparently, the guy who worked there said they went through 20 gallons of chowder in 2 hours. I ended up ordering the lobster roll and calamari. Wow, the lobster roll was loaded with lobster. The lobster was mixed with just enough celery and the flavors of the sandwich came together naturally. It better for $15! The roll was super buttery, crispy and delicious. The calamari serving was HUGE. There were lots of it but it wasn't the best calamari I've had. It was more on the chewy side and the breading was a little tough. I'm definitely hunting down the next time they're coming to San Jose so I can get my hands on their chowder!! read more

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I think the first time I heard about this truck I literally jumped up and down in joy. I love lobster, not the stuff we Californians are told is fresh Maine Lobster but actually lobster fresh off the boat cooked on the dock in Maine lobster. I am occasionally asked if I had one last meal on earth what would it be and I without question nor hesitation always answer Lobster, well that and the fra gras from Chapeau in SF. Saddened that the truck seemed to be forever circling the south bay (yes I followed them and only them on twitter) I had given up hope. Then to my surprise while looking for parking last night to see a show at the paramount my prayers were answered and there was Sams Chowdermobile in my home town Oakland. I quickly did a little dance and then rushed in line. I think we all know what I ordered. Yes, a little pricey $16 but I wasn't going to be cheap and miss out on my favorite food group and from a place that claimed to be the best. Wow was I disappointed by this place. First of all the food was ready in maybe 2 seconds granted it really isn't that difficult to make. Excited i dove to take my first few bites and wtf mate it was ice if not frozen cold lobster meat. Thirdly it was just lobster on bun. Where was the lemony buttery goodness sauce that usually brings the lobster roll together? Man i was so bummed out I almost threw the whole thing away. Bummer. Bummer. Blah. read more

I was craving some lobster this past weekend and was pleasantly surprised when I found out that Sam's Chowdermobile stops at Golden Gate Park on weekends. With high expectations and an empty stomach, my boyfriend and I drove to GG Park to hunt down their truck. There was A LOT of traffic in the park that Sunday so finding parking was tough. Not to mention, it was very difficult locating the truck. When the site says, "Across the Japanese Tea Garden" they really mean across the ENTRANCE of the Japanese Tea Garden. So, really, you won't spot it while you're driving unless you drive into the area of the DeYoung Museum and CA Academy of Sciences. After finally locating the truck, my boyfriend and I decided to order one Shortie (for me), one Maine lobster roll (the larger version - for him), and a cup of clam chowder to share. It was also great that they accept credit cards! It took about 3 minutes for them to prepare our food - not bad. There actually weren't a whole lot of people ordering so it made the process easier and faster. Upon opening the containers for our rolls, I was immediately disappointed in the size of my roll compared to my boyfriend's. But when I took my first bite of the lobster, I quickly forgot about the size and focused on the flavors. The buttered roll was nice and crunchy and added a bit of texture and flavor to the lobster. My roll was STUFFED with lobster that was sauteed with celery. Delicious! In reality, the Shortie was JUST the right size for me. The clam chowder, however, was another story. I didn't like the watery consistency of the soup and, although the clams were big, I found A LOT of sand in them on multiple occasions. I almost didn't want to finish the soup because the sand left a disgusting taste in my mouth. The soup itself was just peppery and didn't have the thickness that makes it a good chowder. Overall, a great first experience with a lobster roll. It gets 4 stars in my book. The clam chowder, however, was more of a 2.5. If, however, you do happen on the truck, I strongly suggest the lobster roll! read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Shortie - so good! - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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I've been wanting to try Sam's Chowdermobile ever since I found them at the Eat Real Festival. After following them on Twiter, I was happy to see that they were in South San Jose (@ Snap On). I decided to go here with a group of friends to grab lunch. There was a small line, but it was definitely moving fast. After reading all the yelp reviews, I decided to order a cup of chowder ($5) and a lobster roll($15). I was given the cup of chowder right away along with a bag of oyster crackers. The chowder was really good even though its not creamy. It was definitely very chunky with lots of potatoes, clams, and veggies. I'll definitely get it again! I was surprised that the lobster roll had so much lobster in it. The lobster was good and the bread was very tasty! Even though Chowdermobile is a bit pricey, it is definitely worth it! Customers are basically paying for really good quality food and it tastes great. Everyone in my group seemed really happy with their choices, so we are definitely coming back when they are @ Snap On again. read more

Disappointing... Extremely disappointing. The prices are hugely inflated for what you get. I got the lobster roll and it was filled with pieces of rubbery claw tips and skinny leg meat. Um... hello lobster tail anyone?? It was non existent. Totally not worth the price they charge. The plus side was that the bread they used was AMAZING! Stay away from the chowder as it's full of potatoes and celery... and if you're lucky, you might get a clam. I felt like I was gipped since all the food was mostly filler ingredients. read more

Finally, a warm buttery lobster roll on the perfect, toasted bun! The serving is generous and fresh. The Old Bay fries as awesome, too. 10 out of 10 worth driving down to HMB for! read more

Sam's Chowdermobile recently increased their prices by an average of $1.50 across all their menu items, as well as removing the fish taco from their menu. Before the price increases, their food was borderline worth the price paid. Now, not so much at all. Judging from the lack of the usual crowd outside the van, other people think this too. I'm not a fan at all of their chowder. It's mostly water with some clam flavoring in it. It really reminds of me clam juice. Disgusting. I do like their fish and chips, but the fries, or chips as they are called, tend to be underdone and mushy every time I've eaten here. Now that they're asking $10.50 for them, it's totally not worth it. Lobster Rolls are now $16.50?! They were overpriced before, now they're just insane. I can understand that they want to increase prices due to the increased prices of the ingredients, but it'll ultimately lead to less customers visiting. I, for one, won't be eating here again - my money is better spent elsewhere. read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Fish 'n Chips - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

It was one of the warmest days in San Francisco and I had plans to go to the Japanese Tea Gardens. Lucky for us, Sam's Chowdermobile was right in front. We got a Lobster Roll and cup of Chowdah to share. We sat on the benches in the amphitheatre and enjoyed the Golden Gate Park Band. Lobster roll was nicely toasted and buttery and they were very generous with the lobster. Sure, it's a little pricey at $15 but I thought the roll was bigger than Old Port Lobster Shack's Lobster Roll. Chowdah was a little bit on the thin side but filled with chunks of potato and clams and full of flavor. I enjoyed this as well. Both dishes were solid, I'm definitely a fan. I'm with Christina F, I'll be chasing down the Chowdermobile again in the near future. read more

Sam's lobster roll is named "top five 'best sandwiches in America' by NBC's The Today Show". Their lobster roll is fresh, meaty, and buttery, but I find the overall taste a little plain. If you like your lobster to be simple and not drenched in some mayo-based dressing, give Sam's a try. The bread is a golden brown with a crispy outside and soft inside. There's also little celery pieces mixed in with the lobster, giving the sandwich a slight crunch. Overall, I didn't find it bursting with flavors and the "shortie" size ($11) did NOT fill me up. And I wouldn't splurge for the full size either ($16.50). On the other hand, their shrimp po' boy ($9.50, served with fries) is amazing! The shrimp is crunchy and the sauce is so creamy and finger-licking good. Instead of serving the sandwich in a roll, Sam's serves it in a buttery bun and with fresh lettuce and tomato slices. Their fries are very salty, but seasoned nicely that you don't really need ketchup. Sam's has a neat, organized calendar on their main website, telling you where and when they'll be available. Most food trucks are cash only, but Sam's accepts credit cards. It's is somewhat pricey for street food, but that's because they offer seafood. read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Shortie lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Consistency I like Sam's Chowdermobile just fine. Typically I get a shortie or a full lobster roll and a cup of chowder. Same as it ever was in a good way. On a whim I went for the crabcakes or crab cake and fries. Inside the container is a single crab cake, a pile of fries and side of slaw. Tartar sauce for dipping. A lemon wedge to be sure. Pro tip: Enjoy this as soon as you get it. The fries seem to be on the fragile side not being able to stand up to the condensation when the lid closes. Maybe not shutting the lid when the order gets handed to you? Fries sitting around a little bit after coming out of the fryer? Not going to gripe too much about it. The Old Bay almost makes up for it. The crab cake itself is substantial and mostly meat. Crispy outside and dense inside it's the lemon wedge all you need. Another satisfying experience. read more

The perfect meal would be a "shortie" and a cup of clam chowder, totaling about $15. But for an extra $5, just get the full-size Maine lobster roll, which really isn't _that_ big anyway, or at least not for a guy. It's worth it! JONASAPPROVED! read more

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By the time we got here at 12PM, they were out of chowder. By rule of thumb, this should've immediately been a 1-star rating. However, the lobster roll was really, really delicious and reluctantly worth the $16.50. The buttered, soft, warm bread in this sandwich is really only meant to serve as a podium for the generous, overflowing, delightful feathery chunks of lobster. It's buried underneath the layer of lobster, so you almost believe they forgot it. I think because they ran out of chowder this time that they compensated by adding more seafood into our entree. This is the best lobster meat I've had and I don't like lobster. The prices for a lobster roll may be a sore eye but it's truly worth it as they don't leave out a single detail in incorporating the bread, butter, and texture into one delicious seafood monstrosity. read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

aww man, did i just get the worst of sam's chowdermobile at Eat Real Fest??? I read all the fellow yelper reviews and was def looking foward to trying their lobster roll... i am a HUGE lobster fan... and i can devour a lobster roll anytime, anyday.... got their lobster roll at the fest for $5 bucks... decent price given that the roll was kinda small... and i was hugely disappointed.... the lobster meat was definitely over cooked! it was firm and dried out... and the celery in the lobster salad were definitely cover cooked because it was mushy... =( a good lobster roll needs to have that crunch... and freshness to it when you bite into it... and i'm guessing that it's tough to do that in a mobile cart?? esp at a festival?? but if they were experts at this stuff... shouldn't they know that they can't leave the lobster salad next to the stuff or next to the toaster?? ionno... i was disappointed... but i will give them another chance if i see them around... or go to their actual restaurant in half moon bay to taste the real thing! read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - lobster roll at Eat Real Fest - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

LOBSTER ROLLS is a must have, wherever the chowdermobile is! Track it and get it earlier on since they do tend to run out of food!!!! So far I've had the PO BOY SANDWICH, their sauce was what made the sandwich great... but something you can pass up on since the seafood is where the speciality is at!! CLAM CHOWDER is also a must. i ordered it with my lobster roll the first time and can't have it without it. it just completes my lobster roll, that's how it is. and the LOBSTER ROLL, omfg, are there even words??? SO FREAKIN' GOOD that i just want that all stuffed in my mouth and no one to bother me when i eat it because i'm enjoying every lobster piece and their butteryness on the soft bread... foodgasm, for sure! and don't even bother ordering a shorty roll, get the full size!: :D i'm a huge fan and i will have it again soon when it's near... it's something that i've been craving!! read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - PO' BOY sandwich, sauce is ah-mazing. - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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There's a small part of me that believes I need to relocate to the East Coast just so I have wider/easier access to lobster rolls. I really love them, but they aren't too plentiful around the Bay. Sam's Chowdermobile, by being roving, puts lobster rolls occasionally closer to me. That said, I find that the rolls they serve pale in comparison to my favorite at the Old Port Lobster Shack. It's not cheap either, at $10 for a mini roll, though I wouldn't mind at all paying up if it was amazing. To start with, the bread is only very slightly toasted and not noticeably buttery, so it doesn't provide that satisfying crunchy contrast. The lobster is also somewhat more dressed than I prefer, with celery and some light mayo. It's definitely not very dressed, but all I want is lobster meat and butter. I also feel the quality of meat isn't as good and that they use more leg meat, which has this grainy mushy weird texture I dislike. So all in all, I love lobster rolls enough that it's difficult to pass up Sam's when it's around, but every time I eat it, I think of the rolls that I am more fond of. read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Lobster rolls (good portion of lobster to roll), yummy fish and chips and chowder in a mobile truck! I am so--- there! You can follow them on twitter for location info... read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Got there around 11 and was first in line. The wait was still half an hour since they decide to open at 11:30 and was Cash Only that day. Lobster Roll was good though nothing out of ordinary. The texture of the bread was soft yet crunchy. Proper Lobster to Bread ratio. My home-grilled lobsters taste better, but it is hard to replicate for mass consumption. Clam Chowder has the proper amount of clams and a lot of clam taste. Consistency is of the less creamy variety. Chomp on a bit of sand in the bottom. I find it decent, but not the best. My verdict: Not so good to have me craving and hunting the truck down, but I would go again if it is parked outside. read more

I have been wanting to try this truck forever and finally told myself to just do it. And I'm happy I did because these lobsta rolls are the business. Trekked for a mile to get to the truck, waited in line for 5 minutes, ordered a lobster roll and calamari. Waited maybe 15min for my food and then trekked back to my office and got ready to enjoy the fruits of my labor... Lobsta roll- $15. Pricey, I know (especially for a food truck). But you know what? It tasted THAT good. A good portion of lobster, (its mixed with some celery, some jus, and who knows what else but it was effing delish). The roll was nicely-toasted and buttery (and the bottom was soggy from all the lobster jus). Yum Yum Yum. If you were to get a lobster sandwich at a restaurant, it would be at least this price or more and after I devoured my sandwich, I was happy and satisfied, so I'm glad I treated myself! Calamari- $7. These probably would have been better if I enjoyed them right away but since I didn't have any until I got back to my office, they weren't as warm (but still crispy). Good mix of that ring calamari and the tentacles (I love me the tentacles!, haha). Cocktail sauce that came with it was great, the tartar sauce not so much. I convinced my coworker to try to lobster roll the next time they're in downtown san jo so I shall see Sam's Chowdermobile in two weeks! read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - LOBSTAAAA ROLL - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Lovin' me some Sam's!! LUCKILY we get a visit from the great guys with Sam's Chowdermobile every month or so for the past year and it's always a special treat. Service is super friendly and prompt, despite the throngs of adoring fans, they always are able to keep it moving while maintaining great service. I've tried almost everything once on their menu so here are some highlights: Lobster Roll: Deee-lish. Pricey but you're worth the special treat. Yummy bread and lobster with the celery crunch. A must try. Chowder: Super fresh & comforting. Made from scratch & a great deal. Shrimp Po Boy: Brioche roll, fresh crunchy not greasy decent size shrimp but what does it here? AMAZING GARLIC AIOLI sauce ... YUM. Calamari - Again, fresh & nice crunch. Their cocktail sauce is super tangy & flavorful as well. Fish & Chips - HUGE fresh fish portions with delicious tartar sauce, makes me almost forget the old bay seasoned fries that come along with, which is hard to do because they add the perfect touch. Baja Fish Taco - Nice fish, tortilla & cabbage. The Mango pico de gallo & accompanying sauce is what does it. Big in size also. If you see the chowdermobile, don't be a fool & pass it up. WORD! read more

Oooh YES PLEASE!!!! My husband and I were trying to go the main restaurant after we had beach day but after we were doing a drive by at the restaurant it seemed so packed & were on the way back home until we found Sam's Chowdermobile a couple miles down so we made the stop to get some food. I'm so glad we stopped because the lobster rolls were so delicious!! I wish I ordered 2 lobster rolls instead of 1 because they were that good. We also had to try the clam chowder and the crab cakes with fries and everything was amazing! I wish they had a Chowdermobile in the East bay! If you see the Chowdermobile then I highly recommend stopping and getting some of their good lobster rolls! You will thank me later :) read more

I tried their other offerings like their 2 piece Fish and Chips and their Shrimp Po' Boy Special. The Fish and Chips seems to be really popular with my coworkers as they seem to get really gigantic pieces of Fried Fish. For me, I think I got gypped because my pieces were really small, especially after paying $9. The Fish was still good though and maybe they'll hook me up with bigger pieces next time. The Shrimp Po' Boy is very good. A nice generous amount of Fried Shrimp inside of a Brioche Bun (http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=F_5_UNX-wrAFCXuAkBZRDw&select=LZhUXYDeDw98ENfEsoCwyQ). Sadly I'm not a fan of Brioche Buns because they easily fall apart, but it does go well with the Fried Shrimp. For me it's a better deal than their Fish and Chips at $7. Of course these two can't compare to their Lobster Roll that I reviewed earlier, but it's nice that they have other options that won't put a fat dent in your wallet. read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Best Lobster Roll Ever!!! - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

4 stars folks for there lobster sandwich a well deserved 5 star rating, bread soft and crunch on every bite, lobster meat overflowing the sandwich with superb taste, lil crunch when biting into the celery provided on the sandwich but in all a perfect unison of bread and lobster meat, and this is on a truck on the go!! wow. they have several choices prices range most expensive thing is their signature lobster sandwich regular size is $15 shorter version is $10, they got fish and chips 2 pc for $9 the fish portion is huge but I didnt fancy the taste, for me a bit to oily, super crunch on each bite though just tasted a lil more oil then I wanted too. the fries they provide with the fish were interesting, seems they had a cajun kick to em, thinnly sliced fries with salt and some peppery cajun powder i believe, you can't really mess up fries so I give em the thumbs up for the fries but not the fish. again main dish is the lobster sandwich although the price is high every bite was worth it, a definite must try whenever they are in your area. food **** fish and chips 3 stars for the fish 4 for the chips/fries 5 stars for the lobster sandwich big time 5 stars price $$ ranges from $5 - $15 pricey but good service **** they are quick ambiance **** mobile truck that serves food what is not to like = ) read more

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After tasting Sea Salt's Happy Hour Lobster Roll over in Berkeley, I found a new love, lobster rolls! However, finding a cheap date (aka a cheap lobster roll) has been almost as tough as licking your elbow. Ha! You can't lick your elbow, I knew it. If it's any consolation, I can't lick my elbow either. At the Eat Real 2011 Fest, I met Sam's Chowdermobile and for $5 for a mini lobster roll, we were ready to get to first base. Lots of sweet lobster, no mayo with a perfectly buttery roll with a nice crisp crust. However, their $5 clam chowder wasn't enough to get to second. I'm not that easy! It was light and had a nice clam taste, but I honestly couldn't tell a difference between their stuff and the stuff around Pier 45. Sam, if I run into you again, I'd definitely be interested in getting to know you better! read more

Maybe it's just me, but I guess I was expecting a bit more? I'm a fan of creamy chowders, so the clam chowder here was not as much to my liking. I also ordered a lobster roll, and it was pretty good, and had a TON of lobster, but I guess I was hoping for more flavor (and more celery please!). My total came to $15, and it definitely filled me up, but felt like it could have been a little cheaper, though I understand with that much lobster, I guess the price was decent. Just not my cup of tea, though I heard the fries and calamari are good? Perhaps I'll try that next time. read more

This was one of the food trucks at the Splash Art event. Every time I find this truck, I'm always missing it or far away from me. I was surprised that there was no line for this truck. I already knew what to order since I have been chasing this truck for a while. I got a lobster roll, shrimp po' boy, and calamari. Calamari was on hit! It was crispy and went well with the marinara and tarter sauces. The lobster meat in the roll was kinda dry. The shrimp po' boy was bomb! I would say that this was a well worth chase. Next time I would like to try more menu items. read more

It was beginning of 2010 when I first hunted the Chowdermobile down in San Jose and convinced them to come to 331 East Evelyn in Mountain View. A couple of tenants left last year so not the 45 minute wait mad house we had for awhile, but every other Wednesday they are out and do a tremendous business. I get there just before 11:30 to avoid the line that averages 15 minutes or so these days. I believe they added a second fryer since orders go through faster now. I order the New England Style chowder which I'm very fond of. A little on the thinner side which I like. Not as creamy, but a nice rich brothy/slightly creamy chowder with nice clam pieces. If you're hungry you can eat your chowder while waiting for the rest of your meal. I usually get a fish taco which is a nice large piece of battered and fried cod. I wish they were a little more creative and had a nice tangy slaw or other filler to go with the fish. There's a sprinkling of mango salsa which is OK , but it's really about the fish filet. The fish and chips and calamari are well done also, so any of the fried items is great. They're all about green/sustainable living if that's important to you. Many people love the Lobster Roll and I've seen vehicles pull up and order a punch of them to take back to the office. I'm not a big lobster fan so you'll have to take of other reviewers. If you want to catch them when they're at our facility you can find them on my Mountain View Food Truck calendar at: http//www.foodfestfrenzy.com read more

I visited Sam's Chowermobile in San Francisco when it was near The Academy of Sciences in that nice courtyard. I only tried the Maine Lobster Roll and other aside from being $16.50, it's probably one of the best sandwiches I've had in a long time. The lobster meat was plump, juicy, and tender. The bread was crispy and embraced with butter or something else that wasn't too oily yet yummy. I'd highly recommend trying this if you had bite the bullet with the price. I'd say it's worth more like $12. I didn't try the clam chowder so maybe I will next time. I'm surprised this is not part of Off The Grid (I think). Good truck to run into! read more

If someone pull up my search history, they will know that in some nights of 2021, I have searched the term "clam chowder" for over 10 times in a row.... and I don't feel embarrassed. I usually crave these stuff when the weather gets colder, which usually means winter and early spring. What's weird (or maybe not) is that recently in San Bruno it's REALLY cold and my obsession with clam chowder increases. What's good is that Sam's Chowdermobile is here at my apartment today. Ok so of course I will get clam chowder. You will also get a small bag of crackers with your soup and a cup of coleslaw as side. The chowder is nice and warm. Not too creamy but just the thickness I would gobble down. Occasionally it's a bit salty but this time it's perfect. Lobster shorties are a must (in my opinion) if you like lobsters. Shorties are the perfect size for me as dinner. The bread is perfectly toaster with solid amount of lobsters in the middle. The lobsters are fresh, without weird taste and well seasoned. I don't know the size of a regular but if I don't get a clam chowder, I will def order a regular with 22 bucks (shorties are 15 bucks each). Sadly clam chowder is a must. read more

We came here during open business hours according to yelp and they were CLOSED! But the restaurant was open so we ordered to go. Kinda crazy because it was a Saturday afternoon... so not exactly off hours. We got the large clam chowder it was good. Not the best clam chowder I've ever had but definitely satisfied the craving. The parking lot is a MESS. I ended up just staying in the car because the lot was full and there was street parking half a mile down. The road was stopped with traffic & the cross traffic was going like 50 mph so crossing the street would be pretty crazy if we did park on the street. So my husband ran in and ordered the food while I waited. The service was quick. They had the food to us within 10-15 mins. I'm sure the food truck is probably a lot quicker. read more

The lobster roll will not disappoint you. There's a reason why NBC called it one of the Top 5 sandwiches in the United States. The buttery roll is topped with a generous amount of sweet, juicy lobster meat; they don't mess around. The clam chowder was very flavorful with chunks of clams, potatoes, and bacon. I have already tried this truck 3 times, and it wasn't until my last visit they have increased their prices. A lobster roll is now $16.50 ($15 before) and clam chowder is now $5.50 ($5 before); pretty disappointed in that but from a business perspective it makes sense with the huge demand for this truck. You can typically wait from 30 minutes to 1 hour for lunch service, so be patient. They accept cash only, but I have seen start to implement credit cards since my last 2 visits. Be sure to visit their website and view their calendar of future locations as well as Twitter and Facebook. read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Sam's finally caught on to the wave of trucks hitting up the East side of 101N in Palo Alto, and I'm so glad they did. With an enticing arsenal of tasty eats to choose from, I opted for the shrimp po' boy. What better way to celebrate the "Superbowl week in the Big Easy" theme, right? I was impressed on several levels with Sam's po'boy. The shrimp was lightly seasoned, fried in the right amount of batter, and pleasantly abundant in the sandwich. When I opened it up to take a picture, I looked over to my friend and said, "Dude, check out how much shrimp is in this!" I wasn't a huge fan of the lettuce and tomatoes, but when considering the price (and the fact that it's a po' boy), this is all understandable (see the end of my review regarding value). The shrimp went perfectly with the remoulade, a spread I tip my cap to when it comes to seafood. It was a little sweet (good) and, when combined with the shrimp, added a mild but appreciated level of spice. The bun was sweet and toasted; I just wish there was less remoulade and lettuce and that the bun was toasted more so that the po' boy could be crispy and hold together, but I wolfed the sandy down with smiles in between chews. The sandwich was was and balanced sweet, savory, crunch, and chew. Awesome. The bay fries were well seasoned with a cajun spice blend, but they weren't overly salty or spicy. I also really love the thin cut for the fries. Don't forget to take a couple packets of ketchup; it's a great condiment to complement the seasoning. Some of my shrimp were left, so I combined them with the fries and remoulade for some bomb surf n' turf. Overall, what impressed me most was the value. I understand many reviewers go for the lobster roll and say it's too expensive/overrated, but let's look at Sam's portfolio of meaty & seafoody goodness. For their po' boys, you get a sandy heaping with fillings and a healthy scoop of well-seasoned fries. They could easily charge $9 for the sandwich alone, but they didn't; with tax, it came out to $9.50. This could be at least $12 in a restaurant before tip. Awesome job SCM crew. I can't wait to see you again. read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Dynamite shrimp po' boy overflowing with shrimp (and tasty remoulade). Comes with a helping of seasoned bay fries...only $9.50! - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

This is a great truck! They serve seafood, which seems to be a rarity at food trucks. I haven't had a lobster roll before, and I haven't tried the Old Port's truck yet, so I can't compare the 2 at the moment. That being said, I thought the lobster roll was delicious. I love that they offer a smaller size for the more 'economic-minded' eater. (Lobster rolls are usually too expensive for me, hence why this was my first time trying one). The bread and lobster was nice and buttery. It was surprisingly delicious, and I completely understand why people rave about these things. The coleslaw was pretty standard, not outstanding. But it came with the roll, so I can't complain. In the end, I can't give a 5 star just because Lobster never fits my price point. This isn't their fault, but it still makes it less appealing to me. read more

Sam's Chowdermobile - Shortie Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Pretty good place to dine when in the area of Golden Gate park. Had the clam chowder and the lobster roll. I added a bit of pepper and tobassco sauce to make it taste a bit better. The lobster roll on the other hand is pretty good. Not a big fan of celery, but the celery did give it a kick. The roll was a bit on the greasy side, but totally understandable that they had to warm up the bread some how on the grill. Defintely will be back to try the other items. read more

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