San Wo BBQ

This has become one of my new favorite places for food! The Hot and Sour soup was very tasty. We paired it with BBQ pork over rice, and it was absolutely delicious! Perfectly balanced between sweet and savory, the chili oil we got on the side is a nice touch to give it a bit of a kick. The red bean drink was wonderful! I enjoyed the sweetness along with the texture of the beans. The prices are reasonable, the restaurant is clean, and the staff is very friendly! Be prepared with payment, they don't accept credit cards. Cash, Zelle, and Venmo are accepted.

This was our grocery run at one of my favorite Asian supermarkets in San Diego, so of course I was so happy we finally got to try San Wo Chinese Restaurant first. My husband ordered the roast duck lo mein, and I was craving something warm and comforting, so I got the preserved egg with pork porridge and beef stew. We loved everything! I’ve missed Chinese restaurants so much, and this stop was 100% worth it before grocery shopping. The food was absolutely delicious, it is bigger enough for me and have a to-go (well… my husband finished it) and the servers were super nice. Such a good spot, definitely worth it!

I ordered delivery from Hungry Panda, and this is my first time to try this restaurant out. It was beyond my expectations. The roasted duck is so delicious and flavorful!! Highly recommend this dish. I also loved a daikon beef tendon dish it was super larger portion, with a reasonable price. The fried rice is very large optioned and yummy too, I loved the sweet sausage inside. The red bean & mung bean drink is tasty as well.

Random spot for great Chinese. Friendly staff, delicious dishes, fair prices. Will definitely return!

Nestled in 99 Ranch Market you’ll find some of the Best Chinese Food in all of SD. The dining experience is delightful with genuinely incredible food and portions for an incredible price (cash venmo or zelle only!) The service is incredible - caring, welcoming, and loving staff who are attentive, engaged, and smiling. All in all, I’ve been Woo’d by Sam Woos

This is a no fuss, no influencer gimmicks, just good food type of Chinese restaurant. I mean really good food. I used to live in the Clairemont area 5 years ago and would eat here frequently, but I moved away and had it again this weekend. And let me tell you--I ate the best duck wonton soup ever. It was everything I remembered Sam Woo to be. Too many restaurants have fallen to changing their menu and interior decoration to follow trends and losing out on good flavors. I'll go to Sam Woo for life if they don't change a thing!!

Eleana May

This was our grocery run at one of my favorite Asian supermarkets in San Diego, so of course I was so happy we finally got to try San Wo Chinese Restaurant first. My husband ordered the roast duck lo mein, and I was craving something warm and comforting, so I got the preserved egg with pork porridge and beef stew. We loved everything! I’ve missed Chinese restaurants so much, and this stop was 100% worth it before grocery shopping. The food was absolutely delicious, it is bigger enough for me and have a to-go (well… my husband finished it) and the servers were super nice. Such a good spot, definitely worth it!

LULU LIVE Art

I ordered delivery from Hungry Panda, and this is my first time to try this restaurant out. It was beyond my expectations. The roasted duck is so delicious and flavorful!! Highly recommend this dish. I also loved a daikon beef tendon dish it was super larger portion, with a reasonable price. The fried rice is very large optioned and yummy too, I loved the sweet sausage inside. The red bean & mung bean drink is tasty as well.

Kati Payne

Random spot for great Chinese. Friendly staff, delicious dishes, fair prices. Will definitely return!

israel gold

Nestled in 99 Ranch Market you’ll find some of the Best Chinese Food in all of SD. The dining experience is delightful with genuinely incredible food and portions for an incredible price (cash venmo or zelle only!) The service is incredible - caring, welcoming, and loving staff who are attentive, engaged, and smiling. All in all, I’ve been Woo’d by Sam Woos

Paulene de Mesa Gomez

This is a no fuss, no influencer gimmicks, just good food type of Chinese restaurant. I mean really good food. I used to live in the Clairemont area 5 years ago and would eat here frequently, but I moved away and had it again this weekend. And let me tell you--I ate the best duck wonton soup ever. It was everything I remembered Sam Woo to be. Too many restaurants have fallen to changing their menu and interior decoration to follow trends and losing out on good flavors. I'll go to Sam Woo for life if they don't change a thing!!

Great place for authentic Chinese food. Service is fast and the food is great.. Great prices, about 20 dollars per item, 1 items feeds two people... Portions are generous. They even have a secret menu IF you understand Cantonese... Highly recommended.

Jon Padilla

Great place for authentic Chinese food. Service is fast and the food is great.. Great prices, about 20 dollars per item, 1 items feeds two people... Portions are generous. They even have a secret menu IF you understand Cantonese... Highly recommended.

Very good food. Tables are a little cramped and there aren't all that many of them. Convenient location though.

Hard to beat for the money. Cash only. Good no frills Chinese food. Portions are large. Enjoy!

Most likely one of the authenticated HK joint in SD. The minced beef congee was great with Cantonese style fried cruller（youtiao）is softer than Taiwanese style. The other is the beef brisket and wonton with soup. Overall great taste but the wonton doesn’t have shrimp like it’s suppose to (more authentic and true).

(UPDATED MENU!!) So Amazing service.. I was in my mind upset because google had the wrong prices.. Ideally I don’t pay $10.00 a meal for just myself. BUT! Aye it was wonderfulll!!! Big portions and the food tastes great! I didnt even order what they’re known for I wanted fish so I got the “Rock Cod Fillet w/ Sweet corn on Rice” Tasted just like how I thought it would... Its like really good fried fish with cream of corn on top of rice. SHOULD HAVE TOOK A PICTURE BEFORE I DIGGED MY FACE INTO IT BUT I FORGOT!! 😂😂😭 #Fatkidproblems

+5

I get roast duck here. You have the option of having them chop it it taking it away whole. They are a cash only establishment. The roast pig was a little disappointing because it's not toasted whole but they cut it in sections and roast large parts. Their deli section has a cheap 1, 2 or 3 item selection. Some entries have meat while others vegetarian. You can get a deli meat and eat at the side table but can't take it inside the restaurant. The restaurant has a full menu you can order from.

+1

This place isn't going to blow your mind, but it offers great value esp if you are say a college kid looking for a cheap fillimg meal. Duck with bean curd plate. 7/10 note to self bean curd is tofu. I would have preferred just the duck. Standard. Service: 8/10 cant expect much, but its good overall. Atmosphere: 7/10 its not the greatest Price: $ this is where it shines. You get a lot for the price. $14 before tip for a meal that could feed 2-3ppl.

great pork bbq & other items..reasonable prices, good service and yes, free tea! cash only, though they accept Venmo and Zelle 😀.

+3

The price is cheap and the food is great and come in large portions. You don't expect much service at a mcdonald so don't expect much here. Don't understand why so many 1 star reviews when what you pay is what you get.

cantonese style dishes. we haven't try the siu mei (cantonese style bbq pork, duck etc) yet but we will. dishes were great to pair with rice. bring cash

Is it the best Chinese food you’ll find? No. But it’s a solid place that opens early in the morning and will satisfy your Cantonese breakfast cravings. It’s cash or Vemno/Zelle only. Their breakfast menus is pretty good with each being $9.50 and they give you hot tea for free.

They do not open on time so be prepared to have some patience. It’s usually between 9:20-9:30 that they unlock the doors. The breakfast menu is the best with the noodle soups. And the secret is to order the coffee that comes with the condensed milk. And then order the fried donuts and dip them in the condensed milk and then into your coffee. Service can be slower around lunch time with the rush.

07-04-2025 -BBQ Pork and Roast Duck on Rice $16.95- crispy pork skin, yummy! Roast Duck, mostly were bones -Beef Stew Wonton Soup $14.95- tender beef and tasty wonton. The soup broth however was not at the desired temperature. It should be hot and not warm Note: Cash only

To go buffet review only: I’ve been here several times and swap between the 99 Ranch buffet. Ultimately, Woo quality, portion size is better than 99 even though it’s $2-3 more. Had the beef with broccoli, chicken with mixed veggies. Both very good and tender meat. Rice was good also. So, today not bad as it’s been less satisfying other visits.

Love the ladies there, super friendly. Dirty washroom hence -1 star but typical. Food was great. Can tell them to alter your salt level if you are health conscious (bless them) can’t wait to try more goodies

Takeout or sit down tucked inside 99 Ranch. This is a solid spot if you want some breakfast, with several congee, noodle, and other options. Their Chinese donuts are really good, as is the chili. Loved the duck congee. Great spot for a quick meal, and the prices are really good for San Diego. Cash only

Authentic Cantonese food. Recommended their BBQ pork and duck. Location is super convenient. It is in the 99 ranch market. Also it close at 11pm. Great place to have a feast when you are super hungry. Their to go bento is great portion with lots of food selection. Usually I can separate one bento into 2 meals.

Sue Duong

07-04-2025 -BBQ Pork and Roast Duck on Rice $16.95- crispy pork skin, yummy! Roast Duck, mostly were bones -Beef Stew Wonton Soup $14.95- tender beef and tasty wonton. The soup broth however was not at the desired temperature. It should be hot and not warm Note: Cash only

DL East

To go buffet review only: I’ve been here several times and swap between the 99 Ranch buffet. Ultimately, Woo quality, portion size is better than 99 even though it’s $2-3 more. Had the beef with broccoli, chicken with mixed veggies. Both very good and tender meat. Rice was good also. So, today not bad as it’s been less satisfying other visits.

Christina Bae

Is it the best Chinese food you’ll find? No. But it’s a solid place that opens early in the morning and will satisfy your Cantonese breakfast cravings. It’s cash or Vemno/Zelle only. Their breakfast menus is pretty good with each being $9.50 and they give you hot tea for free.

Mandy Lau

Love the ladies there, super friendly. Dirty washroom hence -1 star but typical. Food was great. Can tell them to alter your salt level if you are health conscious (bless them) can’t wait to try more goodies

Ashley LeBourveau-Truong

Takeout or sit down tucked inside 99 Ranch. This is a solid spot if you want some breakfast, with several congee, noodle, and other options. Their Chinese donuts are really good, as is the chili. Loved the duck congee. Great spot for a quick meal, and the prices are really good for San Diego. Cash only

My wife and I was meeting up with a friend and decided to eat at Sam Woo. Ive been to the one in/near Long Beach and thought it was pretty good, so I wanted to take them here to try it out in SD. We ordered chicken porridge, shrimp fried rice, roast duck, pork and chicken. The porridge was ok, my wife and I agreed it was a little bland. The shrimp fried rice was also ok, we thought it was weird that they had strips of lettuce in it. The meats were good, they were tender, juicy, and had good flavor. The service was good. Overall this place is ok.

Decided to grab some Sam Woo for dinner. To my surprise, the food wasn’t good tonight. The bean and sweet sour chicken were kinda dry with weird taste. I usually like their food with affordable price so I was disappointed.

Okay experience with food being okay but not the best. Ordered a plate of rice with 1/5 duck for $16 and side of Chinese broccoli for $13. Overpriced and not that much food for $30! I have gotten more food for less. They overcharging I believe. Would not come back unless pricing was better. Nearby has more options and there is a take out place inside the plaza too in 99 ranch market that offers little better pricing.

I ordered lunch from this Chinese spot through Uber Eats and appreciated how they packaged the wonton noodle soup—the noodles and wontons were kept separate from the broth, so nothing got soggy. The soup itself was pretty good: delivered hot, with a flavorful broth, tasty wontons, and a generous amount of noodles plus bok choy. The portion was huge—definitely more than I could finish—so it’s very filling. I also tried the spicy calamari fries. While the portion was large, the calamari turned out quite chewy and lacked seasoning. A little more spice and flavor would have made a big difference. Overall, it was a decent meal with great portion sizes, though not particularly outstanding.

I came here a few times to order food for take out. The portion of the beef noodles was huge but it had too much noodles and not a lot of beef. I also got roasted duck and oil chicken with rice. The duck flavor was good but the oil chicken didn’t have much flavor. I’d say it’s slightly expensive for the amount of meat that I got. They also have combo meals. They looked pretty good though. It seems like a busy place since it’s inside the same building as 99 Ranch.

We had late night dinner at Sam Woo Restaurant on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. We ordered honey walnut shrimps, pan fried seafood noodles and Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. Food came out fast and was very tasty and satisfying. Service was excellent and the waitstaff was attentive and very friendly and made us felt like eating dinner with family. The budget friendly price point was a big bonus. This restaurant serves variety of food from porridge, noodles, clay pot rice to seafood dishes and different types of drinks and also has ready made food for take out; big and generous portion at that. This place has been a local staple for many years and we have frequented here many times over the years and have never been disappointed.

Sam Woo, next to 99 Ramch on Clairmont Mesa, one of the decent, authentic Cantonese restaurants in San Diego. Not elegant with classy service, but big portions with a price that's not representative of the "California premium." For a Chinese restaurant in the US, I think it's a strong B+. And they now accept Venmo & Zelle so for lazy me that rarely carries cash, that's a big plus! Ranked from favorite to least: Beef brisket with turnip: very well done - meat was appropriately tender, marinated maybe a touch too sweet, but not having had a good version in a very long time, it was very satisfying. A strong B+. Garlic gailan: very nicely done. Veggies were fresh and crunchy, served very hot with decent "wok hei". A touch light on the garlic but the quantity given was quite generous. Another strong B+. BBQ pork & duck with rice: Duck was done well - among the best I've had in the US. What I had yesterday was as good as Eastern Dynasty or Taste of HK amd that was a nice surprise. The BBQ pork was also quite nice. Not tender enough and the flavor not strong enough to make it to the "great" level but quite good. A solid "B." Yeen yeung fried rice: Haven't had this in ages! The white sauce side was a touch underseasoned, and although appropriately generous in the amount of shrimp, they could have been fresher. The sweet & sour sauce side was done better and the fried rice itself had good flavor although a touch too wet. Nonetheless, a good showing and a solid "B." BBQ pork fried noodles: the noodles were fine. Maybe a little too much sauce and I prefer a bit more crunchy parts on top, but decently well done. The problem with this dish was the stale tasting BBQ pork. I forgot to follow the cardinal rule of never ordering something with BBQ pork that's not freshly chopped. I assume they used left over BBQ pork because I tasted the "previously frozen / refrigerated" flavor, and the texture was quite off. Despite the very generous portion, I can only give this a "C". Given the convenient location - being next to 99 Ranch - I will definitely visit again.

CASH ONLY. The restaurant is located in the same building as the Ranch 99 supermarket. We got the duck and BBQ pork lomein entree. It came with a cup of chicken broth and two small pieces of bok choy. The pork was tasty and lean. The duck was mostly bones and very little meat. We would not order an entree with duck again. The food is good, but not a great value for the prices charged compared with other nearby restaurants.

Debisree Ray

I ordered lunch from this Chinese spot through Uber Eats and appreciated how they packaged the wonton noodle soup—the noodles and wontons were kept separate from the broth, so nothing got soggy. The soup itself was pretty good: delivered hot, with a flavorful broth, tasty wontons, and a generous amount of noodles plus bok choy. The portion was huge—definitely more than I could finish—so it’s very filling. I also tried the spicy calamari fries. While the portion was large, the calamari turned out quite chewy and lacked seasoning. A little more spice and flavor would have made a big difference. Overall, it was a decent meal with great portion sizes, though not particularly outstanding.

Bonnie Ye

I came here a few times to order food for take out. The portion of the beef noodles was huge but it had too much noodles and not a lot of beef. I also got roasted duck and oil chicken with rice. The duck flavor was good but the oil chicken didn’t have much flavor. I’d say it’s slightly expensive for the amount of meat that I got. They also have combo meals. They looked pretty good though. It seems like a busy place since it’s inside the same building as 99 Ranch.

Olive T

We had late night dinner at Sam Woo Restaurant on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. We ordered honey walnut shrimps, pan fried seafood noodles and Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. Food came out fast and was very tasty and satisfying. Service was excellent and the waitstaff was attentive and very friendly and made us felt like eating dinner with family. The budget friendly price point was a big bonus. This restaurant serves variety of food from porridge, noodles, clay pot rice to seafood dishes and different types of drinks and also has ready made food for take out; big and generous portion at that. This place has been a local staple for many years and we have frequented here many times over the years and have never been disappointed.

Tommy Cheng

Sam Woo, next to 99 Ramch on Clairmont Mesa, one of the decent, authentic Cantonese restaurants in San Diego. Not elegant with classy service, but big portions with a price that's not representative of the "California premium." For a Chinese restaurant in the US, I think it's a strong B+. And they now accept Venmo & Zelle so for lazy me that rarely carries cash, that's a big plus! Ranked from favorite to least: Beef brisket with turnip: very well done - meat was appropriately tender, marinated maybe a touch too sweet, but not having had a good version in a very long time, it was very satisfying. A strong B+. Garlic gailan: very nicely done. Veggies were fresh and crunchy, served very hot with decent "wok hei". A touch light on the garlic but the quantity given was quite generous. Another strong B+. BBQ pork & duck with rice: Duck was done well - among the best I've had in the US. What I had yesterday was as good as Eastern Dynasty or Taste of HK amd that was a nice surprise. The BBQ pork was also quite nice. Not tender enough and the flavor not strong enough to make it to the "great" level but quite good. A solid "B." Yeen yeung fried rice: Haven't had this in ages! The white sauce side was a touch underseasoned, and although appropriately generous in the amount of shrimp, they could have been fresher. The sweet & sour sauce side was done better and the fried rice itself had good flavor although a touch too wet. Nonetheless, a good showing and a solid "B." BBQ pork fried noodles: the noodles were fine. Maybe a little too much sauce and I prefer a bit more crunchy parts on top, but decently well done. The problem with this dish was the stale tasting BBQ pork. I forgot to follow the cardinal rule of never ordering something with BBQ pork that's not freshly chopped. I assume they used left over BBQ pork because I tasted the "previously frozen / refrigerated" flavor, and the texture was quite off. Despite the very generous portion, I can only give this a "C". Given the convenient location - being next to 99 Ranch - I will definitely visit again.

David Keith

Okay experience with food being okay but not the best. Ordered a plate of rice with 1/5 duck for $16 and side of Chinese broccoli for $13. Overpriced and not that much food for $30! I have gotten more food for less. They overcharging I believe. Would not come back unless pricing was better. Nearby has more options and there is a take out place inside the plaza too in 99 ranch market that offers little better pricing.

What happened to you Sam Woooooo? You used to be so much better, have fresher and crispier roasted ducks. Mouth watering char siu with honey toast taste. Now your food isn’t as fresh or flavorful. Well, for most of your non Hong Kong customers they don’t know what good BBQ is supposed to be. But you suppose to know and make it that way. Do better. Also your prices are too high for average food, just my 2 cents.

Jesse Lee

What happened to you Sam Woooooo? You used to be so much better, have fresher and crispier roasted ducks. Mouth watering char siu with honey toast taste. Now your food isn’t as fresh or flavorful. Well, for most of your non Hong Kong customers they don’t know what good BBQ is supposed to be. But you suppose to know and make it that way. Do better. Also your prices are too high for average food, just my 2 cents.

they put LETTUCE in my fried rice, and the rice wasn’t even cooked, they gave me steamed rice with with soggy lettuce. NEGATIVE 100 Million stars is my actual rating.

I may be spoiled from other Sam woos in San gabriel but this place is ridiculous. 15.00 for their chef special black pepper honey beef short ribs. Completely inedible and rubbery. 4.50 charge for rice and a 2 bbq delicacy for 12.00 that's the size of maybe 1 and a half drumstick. I cant believe I paid 40.00 for this meal ended up only eating rice to get full. Tild the manager all they said was I will let the chef know that the quality of meat is bad....... Dont bother thinking they will replace or take it off your tab. Total disappointment and unsatisfying. Never going back again. Do not recommend at all.

The worst Cantonese food I have ever eaten in my life. I understand that the Asian Food became sweeter in US. But the sauce was too sweet with the meat and rice. The Beef chow fun was too oily and no taste at all. I was very excited to bring my husband to eat Cantonese food, it was his first time trying and he was so disappointed. Not worth the money….

I went there the first time. I placed an order Tge guy made the dish from the food line as I was about to pay I saw 2 roaches climbing up the wall. I refused the food and walked out. The health department will be getting a complaint. Not good. After I saw that I felt like throwing up. Glad I didn't eat anything from there.

Hours posted says that they open at 9:00. More often than not, they aren't ready by this time and the doors are still locked. Today I lucked out and they were open on time, so I decided to give it another try. After placing my order, there was no one around to ring me up and there was someone else waiting in front of me. After about 5 minutes of waiting, I turned around and left. Don't waste your time at this place. It's overpriced and mediocre at best anyways.

Nasty wonton noodles. Soup was salty, noodles was overcooked and even the coffee was pure sugar water. Seriously can’t figure out how they would survive in SD with such poor quality food.

Unfortunately, this BBQ spot isn’t what it used to be. Portions were filled with excessive fat, yet the prices remain sky-high. If you’re going to charge a premium, there should at least be the decency to serve properly trimmed, quality cuts. Felt more like a money grab than a good meal.

I ordered the BBQ soup through Uber eats. They called me back and they didn’t have it, even though it’s in the menu. They game me a salted chicken soup that was gross. Highly disappointed with the rest of my order, every single item tasted terrible. The chicken had a weird smell. Why does it smell funky? I paid about $60 for everything, what a waste of money. Not only that I’m not getting my money back, it completely ruined my morning.

J Y

Nasty wonton noodles. Soup was salty, noodles was overcooked and even the coffee was pure sugar water. Seriously can’t figure out how they would survive in SD with such poor quality food.

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Unfortunately, this BBQ spot isn’t what it used to be. Portions were filled with excessive fat, yet the prices remain sky-high. If you’re going to charge a premium, there should at least be the decency to serve properly trimmed, quality cuts. Felt more like a money grab than a good meal.

Abner Rodriguez

I ordered the BBQ soup through Uber eats. They called me back and they didn’t have it, even though it’s in the menu. They game me a salted chicken soup that was gross. Highly disappointed with the rest of my order, every single item tasted terrible. The chicken had a weird smell. Why does it smell funky? I paid about $60 for everything, what a waste of money. Not only that I’m not getting my money back, it completely ruined my morning.