Returned with my mom while at the Chinese New Year Flower Fair. Since it was the last Saturday that they were open for business and there was the street fair, it was very crowded. The wait wasn't too long though (~30 minutes) and this time we were seated at a two-top. Our order: 叉烧卷粉 B.B.Q. Pork Noodle Roll: $5.99 +Rice noodles were soft and not too thick. +Filled w/plenty of BBQ pork +Comes w/side of yellow mustard to add as needed -Rice noodles seemed haphazardly rolled: Lots of rips and tears -BBQ pork was cold. 牛腩幹撈雲吞麵 Beef Stew Dry Mixed Noodle ($11.99) +Consistent quality: It tasted the same as last time! 及弟粥 Pork Organs Jook: $10.50 +Jook was soft, fluffy, and comforting. +Good mix of organs that were cleaned and cooked well: None of that funk! +Scallions on top added color and fragrance. Side notes: 1.) Prices were higher than those posted online. 2.) Walking distance from Chinatown Station *Verdict: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Due to the large crowds, service wasn't as prompt as my previous visit. They were swamped with takeout orders as well. However, we received our food relatively quickly, and as usual portions were generous for the price. They've closed on Sunday, 1/26/25 but based on notices posted in the restaurant and on the website it seems like there might be a comeback...

I can't help but wonder how many people experienced Chinese food for the first time at Sam Wo's over the years. While their cuisine could not be considered gourmet in any sense of the word, it was good enough for the business to exist for over 100 years. We knew that Sam Wo was closing. Even if it rises like a phoenix, the change in ownership and chef means it can never be the same again. We decided to make the trek over to Chinatown, San Francisco. We hadn't been in the Downtown/Chinatown/SoMa neighborhoods for over five years due to vehicle break-ins, unhoused persons and open-handed drug dealing and uninhibited drug use. There were about 12 people in front of the restaurant waiting for it to open at 11am. Spirits were high and the conversations lively. The door opened on time, and we were all ushered in. Some people sat immediately while others waited to be directed to a table. We were asked if we wanted to sit downstairs or up. Because I could not remember ever having been here before, I opted for up, because we knew that the restaurant would be closing soon. I wanted the full experience. When we got up the narrow staircase, we found that there were only about 12 tables upstairs and some were pushed together to accommodate larger parties. In reality, there were only 9 tables available. Downstairs probably had 9 tables as well but only two- and four-tops. How narrow was the staircase? One person could go up or one person could go down. Two adults could not pass each other on the stairs. We were served cold water, plates, napkins and asked if we wanted chopsticks or forks. Our server asked us if we wanted additional drinks, and we opted for hot tea. As we looked around, we saw many framed photographs of "dignitaries" and famous guests as well as several proclamations on the walls. There was also a service station with piped water, a water boiler, various plates and bowls, utensils and condiments. The one thing we expected, but did not see was a dumbwaiter. There wasn't one. Everything that needed to be delivered up or taken down was via the narrow staircase. That included the wooden highchair that one guest asked for. We perused the menu. We know that we can eat a lot and certainly have nothing against leftovers, but since we were in Chinatown, we planned on walking around a bit and did not want to be burdened with excessive packages. We ordered the items that seemed to be most revered on yelp. We were not able to get the Beef Stew in any variation because apparently, it wasn't ready to be served yet. We did get: BBQ Pork Noodle Roll - 5 - Unlike going to a Dim Sum House, this dish is served cold. The BBQ Pork is julienned and is apparently not cooked with Honey. Very reminiscent of the BBQ Pork that we grew up with. The Rice Noodle was sturdy and packed with Pork. The Sweet Soy Sauce that often comes with the dish was not present and I ate mine plain. It had plenty of flavor. She ate hers with some Hot Mustard. Worth way more than the $5.99 they charged. Won Ton Soup - 5 - No noodles, just won ton in a clean broth with Beef, BBQ Pork, Shrimp and Bok Choy. It was simple. It was warming. It was absolutely delicious and a steal at $11.75. As someone else said, this is a pork only won ton with no shrimp. I can only imagine how ethereal this would have tasted in days gone by with a blend of pork and shrimp. House Chow Fun - 5 - Beef, Chicken, Shrimp, BBQ Pork and Bok Choy Stir Fried with Chow Fun Rice Noodles, not a Bean Sprout to be seen anywhere. Elsewhere, as much as $22, Sam Wo had it for a ridiculously low $14.99. We were the third table to be seated and the last table to be served. Besides the server who worked mostly upstairs, there was also a food runner. Both were constantly on the run. Not getting food just gave us more time to look around and absorb the atmosphere. After all the tables were seated, as it began to warm up, the air conditioner was turned on as was a fan to circulate the air. At one point, our server passed by and saw that we had no food. She immediately gave us the plate of BBQ Pork Noodle Roll that she was about to deliver to another table. Maybe 10 minutes later, she noticed the empty plate on our table and that we hadn't received anything else. That's when she went to her tablet and realized that she had not entered our order. She immediately punched it in and then, to her credit and my amazement, came to our table and apologized profusely. She told us that the slowness of our order was not the fault of the kitchen but because she had failed to enter it. Who's ever heard of that occurring in a Chinese Restaurant? She said some other words to me in Cantonese that I wasn't smart enough to understand but when we got our check, I saw that she had given us a 10% "Neighborhood" Discount! She apologized again as we paid downstairs. This was a great dining experience. I was sorry to read the next day, that had been their last day in business. We wish their staff well.

Sam Wo is the epitome of a no-frills Chinese restaurant, offering a nostalgic charm that's hard to come by these days. I ordered the wonton noodle soup with egg noodles, which arrived in about 20 minutes--simple, comforting, and exactly what you'd expect. The staff spoke Toishanese and Cantonese, adding to the authentic, homestyle feel of the place. Sitting there, watching a San Francisco Chinatown institution nearing its final days, felt bittersweet--a reminder of the city's rich history. Sam Wo will truly be missed.

This might really be the end of the line for Sam Wo! SF Chinatown's oldest restaurant has been slated to close multiple times in the past, but according to the latest, there's no one to take over once co-owner and chef David Ho retires! It was worth making one last visit to this historic Chinese American institution. The most iconic, unique dish was the BBQ Pork Noodle Roll, a thick sheet of rice flour dough wrapped around shredded BBQ pork, and served with their signature hot mustard on the side. Other items were more typical for Chinese American fare--the Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings were deep-fried and tossed with chopped scallions and jalapeños (but were a bit lacking in flavor). The Combination Wonton Soup came with wontons, beef slices, BBQ pork strips, shrimp, and bok choy in chicken broth; the Chicken with Bok Choy was stir-fried in a savory sauce; and the Singapore Noodles were rice noodles stir-fried with curry powder, BBQ pork, shrimp, egg, and bell peppers. Overall, the food here was super affordable though average in flavor and quality. Nevertheless, it was worth it to make one last visit and bid farewell to this iconic restaurant!

I have never been disappointed in either the quality or the quantity of food at Sam Wo's and it's still one of my favorite spots to grab lunch by myself or with coworkers and friends at the intersection between of Chinatown and Fidi/Little Italy. The staff has always been super friendly here and I like that there's two floors for seating in this small mom-and-pop shop. It's really becoming more and more rare to see such a small local business thrive and survive in SF, so I'm thankful that they haven't compromised the integrity of their food and service over my years of visiting here. My go-tos are the dried noodles (especially the duck!) and the rice noodle rolls is a must with the mustard dipping sauce!

I've heard about Sam Wo since I was a kid -- this 115-year-old Chinese restaurant in the heart of Chinatown has been a classic for generations. Really hope they don't close down... I came here twice with friends and loved everything we ordered! Iced Milk Tea & Iced Lemon Tea -- decent traditional cold cantonese drinks Stir-Fried String Beans -- delicious stir-fry mix of crunchy string beans Chicken with Broccoli -- lightly covered sesame seeds atop chicken pieces goes well with broccoli BBQ Pork Rice Noodle Roll w/ Horseradish -- their most famous dish! Goes perfectly with a dash of horseradish sauce, beware of dipping it in too much! Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings -- not as good as Capital Restaurant but perfectly crisp and seasoned Wonton Noodle Soup -- hearty warm bowl of soup & wontons Service is fast and they accept credit card. The place is no-frills with a focus on their delicious food -- perfect for a catch-up with friends. Generally not too busy but still has a steady clientele. Will hopefully be back to get one more Sam Wo fix soon!

Sam Wo is in its last weeks before closing so I will cut to the chase and talk about the famous BBQ pork noodle roll. First, it's served cold which may surprise you but in no way does that detract from the experience. Second, it comes with a dish of blistering hot mustard. You will be tempted to dip a section of noodle roll which will lead to several minutes of sinus distress; instead you should take a bit of mustard on your chopstick and dab it on the noodle bite and you will get more than enough heat. Finally, this magnificence costs all of $5.99 and will be a full meal for most people. I also ordered the house combo wonton soup and had to take most of it home with me. It's a classic rendition with generous amounts of shrimp and pork, both bbq and sliced, in a soothing broth. If I had more time I would eat my way through the menu because I expect it is all just as good. Physically, Sam Wo is like any number of hole in the wall plces in Chinatown, a narrow storefront with a kitchen next to the entrance and a few tables occupying empty space going back. Unlike many such places, Sam Wo is neat as a pin and notably has a spic and span restroom. I am going to miss it.

Tried Sam Wo with my parents and brother- I did not know it was so close to the park in Chinatown . Authentic Cantonese good, the beef chow fun, wonton noodle soup , pork roll were all very flavorful. Service was efficient and friendly.