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Sam Wo was primarily well-known by San Francisco locals for its famous … no-frills, late-night food and its you-get-what-you-get service. In the 1950s Sam Wo was a Beat Generation hangout. Edsel with abused customers in 1982. The Sam Wo Restaurant was famed as the workplace of Edsel Ford Fung, often called the world’s rudest, worst, most insulting waiter. Fung would refuse to serve customers whose appearance he disliked and would also harass patrons that complained about mistaken orders. He passed in 1984, Some of his signs on the Washington street eatery remain such as those stating somewhat paradoxically for a Chinese restaurant, including No Booze … No Jive, No Coffee, Milk, Soft Drinks, Fortune Cookie
New location of the legendary Chinese eatery that’s been serving casual eats since in 1907.
Hours
| Friday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 713 Clay St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 989-8898
Website: https://samworestaurant.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Sam Wo Restaurant
… restaurant for patrons that spend $45 or more at the restaurant. Sam Wo Restaurant. 713 Clay Street, San Francisco, California 94108, United States. Hours …
Sam Wo – Wikipedia
Sam Wo was a Chinese restaurant located in San Francisco, California. The restaurant’s first location on 813 Washington Street was famous for being a …
Long-Running Chinese Restaurant Sam Wo Sets Closure Date
Tablehopper reports that the 116-year-old Chinatown restaurant will close on Sunday, January 26. The reason behind the closure? The restaurant’s …
Last Updates
Reviews
Scott Wong
Got there around 5:30 on xmas eve with no line. Menu is def more simplified but has many of the signature dishes as before. I just remembering it being more flavorful, larger portions, and still missing of the rice plates. We had some of the classics. Roll, wonton soup, egg rice plates, and fried rice. Good but not great in my mind. I still want to go back and try again. If you order egg, ask to make it runny.
… moreNeelam Kumar
We finally tried Sam Wo the other day!
We ordered the sesame chicken rice plate, chicken chow fun, shrimp dumplings and crispy spring roll (forgot to take a picture because we were busy eating ).
The food was delicious, everything came out fast (entrees before the appetizers, but no complaints!)
The atmosphere is cozy, and the food was delicious, and service was great. We had a wonderful experience and will be going back!
… moreWe ordered the sesame chicken rice plate, chicken chow fun, shrimp dumplings and crispy spring roll (forgot to take a picture because we were busy eating ).
The food was delicious, everything came out fast (entrees before the appetizers, but no complaints!)
The atmosphere is cozy, and the food was delicious, and service was great. We had a wonderful experience and will be going back!
The Neurodiverse Nurse
This is my second time at Sam Wo when visiting San Fran and omg I just had maybe my favorite Chinese dish ever. Bella was our sever and she was very accommodating to work to get us this delicious no longer on the menu item I had seen in other reviews. The pork noodle roll was delicious I think they have some of the best Chinese mustard ever but be sure to ask for Ping and see if you can get this Beef fried rice with soft scrambled egg on top, and make sure you sprinkle a little bit of the Chinese pepper sauce!
… moreDebbie Lowe (3jamigos)
A Chinatown institution reopened which makes folks like me happy. The food is solid hole in the wall Cantonese food. Won’t win any awards but guaranteed to satisfy. Well, with the exception of their Guern fun or filled rice noodle rolls, those deserve a gold medal! #IYKYK #legacy #cantoneseeats #chinatownsf #samwo #sfeater
… moreEddie Chen
Edit: Oct 28 2025
Happy to report the duck dry mixed noodle is back to its original taste! Can’t wait to try other dishes next time!
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Very happy they’re *back*! Changes in price, portion are understandable—even appreciated for Sam Wo’s evolution and long term prospect, but changes in taste is what disappointed me. Really hoping it’s temporary while the new team ramps up—will try again in a couple of months and update review.
For example, duck dry mixed noodle should be in a bowl with an appropriate ratio of lettuce, duck fat, duck meat, sweet soy, and noodles used should be slightly less thick.
… moreHappy to report the duck dry mixed noodle is back to its original taste! Can’t wait to try other dishes next time!
___
Very happy they’re *back*! Changes in price, portion are understandable—even appreciated for Sam Wo’s evolution and long term prospect, but changes in taste is what disappointed me. Really hoping it’s temporary while the new team ramps up—will try again in a couple of months and update review.
For example, duck dry mixed noodle should be in a bowl with an appropriate ratio of lettuce, duck fat, duck meat, sweet soy, and noodles used should be slightly less thick.
Jordan C
Welcome back to a legend! So happy we haven’t seen the last of Sam Wo. Of course the bbq pork rice rolls are still soft, handmade and as good as ever. Hope we see it around for another century.
… moreN Tir
Overall, the experience was okay. The portion size was small, and the food was average in taste. Seating is very tight and uncomfortable, which made it hard to fully enjoy the meal.
… moreAndrew
Sam Wo has been a cherished San Francisco institution for a century, and its legacy as a go-to spot for comforting Chinese cuisine will be deeply missed when it closes its doors in late January 2025.
The food here is consistently good, with standout dishes like the chow mein and chow fun. Both are packed with flavor and served in generous portions that make them perfect for sharing—or enjoying all to yourself. The flavors are well-balanced, and the dishes have that classic, nostalgic taste that reminds you why this place has endured for so long.
That said, don’t come expecting lightning-fast service. The pace here is relaxed, giving you time to soak in the ambiance of a restaurant steeped in history.
As Sam Wo approaches its bittersweet farewell, it’s worth a visit to savor its comforting dishes and pay tribute to 100 years of culinary tradition in San Francisco.
… moreThe food here is consistently good, with standout dishes like the chow mein and chow fun. Both are packed with flavor and served in generous portions that make them perfect for sharing—or enjoying all to yourself. The flavors are well-balanced, and the dishes have that classic, nostalgic taste that reminds you why this place has endured for so long.
That said, don’t come expecting lightning-fast service. The pace here is relaxed, giving you time to soak in the ambiance of a restaurant steeped in history.
As Sam Wo approaches its bittersweet farewell, it’s worth a visit to savor its comforting dishes and pay tribute to 100 years of culinary tradition in San Francisco.
M Antonio C
1968. This was the first time that I went to Sam Wo restaurant. I was just a little boy fairly new to the United States. My “granny” would take me to Chinatown for our weekly grocery shopping. We lived in the Avenues, and Chinatown was the only place that we Chinese folks could get the groceries that we enjoyed.
And when we were in this part of the city, my granny took me to see Edsel at Sam Wo. Edsel would always greet us with a cup of milk for me. Edsel was often gruff, but so was my granny. They got along very well. He would occasionally seat single men at our table, and my granny would yell at him.
Fast forward to the 80s, Sam Wo restaurant was the late night place to go to after a night of clubbing. We would arrive at 1am and the 4 to 8 of us would make our way upstairs to the 2nd or 3rd floor. It was the perfect end to each Friday or Saturday night as we returned home with stomachs filled with rice, noodles, soup…..
I remember hearing that Sam Wo was closing about 15+ years ago? I went to eat there “one last time” and wrote a YELP review with basically this same story. BBC News actually contacted me for an interview about my experiences at Sam Wo restaurant.
Obviously, this location is NOT the original on Washington St, but the feeling is similar. The heavy and small marble and wooden tables bring back fond memories. I’m once again making my last trip to Sam Wo restaurant for a plate of BBQ pork rice noodle rolls and chicken fried rice.
Good luck to the family of Sam Wo restaurant.
… moreAnd when we were in this part of the city, my granny took me to see Edsel at Sam Wo. Edsel would always greet us with a cup of milk for me. Edsel was often gruff, but so was my granny. They got along very well. He would occasionally seat single men at our table, and my granny would yell at him.
Fast forward to the 80s, Sam Wo restaurant was the late night place to go to after a night of clubbing. We would arrive at 1am and the 4 to 8 of us would make our way upstairs to the 2nd or 3rd floor. It was the perfect end to each Friday or Saturday night as we returned home with stomachs filled with rice, noodles, soup…..
I remember hearing that Sam Wo was closing about 15+ years ago? I went to eat there “one last time” and wrote a YELP review with basically this same story. BBC News actually contacted me for an interview about my experiences at Sam Wo restaurant.
Obviously, this location is NOT the original on Washington St, but the feeling is similar. The heavy and small marble and wooden tables bring back fond memories. I’m once again making my last trip to Sam Wo restaurant for a plate of BBQ pork rice noodle rolls and chicken fried rice.
Good luck to the family of Sam Wo restaurant.
Sea Kelp
Always love Sam Wo will miss the yummy meals here & fun times w friends. But happy for Chef to retire and enjoy his time w friends family. Thx Chef for all the great meals & fave bbq pork rolls over the years!!
… more