83106 Fri Jun 16 17:11:16 -0700 2006 19 2 Los Angeles Area 0 462090 I plan on going to Sam Woo BBQ in Alhambra for the first time this weekend and would appreciate some recommendations. Thanks in advance! Fri Jun 16 17:11:16 -0700 2006 0 SoCal Foodie 1 462096 Stir-fried pork's blood. Winter melon soup Chow fun Roast duck Soy-sauce chicken Fri Jun 16 17:26:25 -0700 2006 462090 0 ipse dixit 2 2509701 If you get the soy sauce chicken, make sure to ask for the ginger-and-scallion oil that they have. It's a traditional accompaniment but for some reason some of the Sam Woo shops don't give it out unless you ask. Also get "pay dan sau yook jook", which is rice porridge with century eggs and stringy pork. Tue Apr 24 07:48:36 -0700 2007 462096 10811 Das Ubergeek 2 2509830 get the duck most definately.. their BBQ items are awesome.... I haven't been in forever.. but SamWoo kept me fed while I was going to CSULA Tue Apr 24 08:19:32 -0700 2007 462096 80290 Lightsuprooms 1 462113 House special chow mein crispy fried noodles Congee with Century Egg Honey Walnut shrimp It seems we order this stuff EVERYtime there......the soy sauce chicken is good too..... Fri Jun 16 17:55:12 -0700 2006 462090 0 Xericx 1 462131 The pork chops with spicy salt are killer. Very thin pork chops pan fried with an amazing spice combo of diced garlic, chopped chiles, etc. Fri Jun 16 18:30:49 -0700 2006 462090 0 El Touchstone 2 462134 this is a very strong rec. one of my faves, as well! i also like the eggplant that comes in a covered casserole dish. Fri Jun 16 18:48:00 -0700 2006 462131 0 kotatsu 1 462135 Try the beef chow fun with black bean and bell pepper sauce (cooked wet style). The Roast Duck is good. Roast pork is pretty good. Ask for a "siu nam". This is a leaner portion of the pig. If you order congee, order something called "yow ja gway". It's a long, thick piece of fried dough. I apologize for the phoneticizations--I usually don't remember the English names. Fri Jun 16 18:53:39 -0700 2006 462090 0 ray tam 2 2509706 Yau ja gwai are usually just sold as "Chinese donuts" or "twin donuts". They're like a foot and a half long and three or four inches wide. You tear off bits and dunk it in your porridge. I don't actually like them with congee, I only order them if I have something sweet to dip them in like hot soy milk. Tue Apr 24 07:50:16 -0700 2007 462135 10811 Das Ubergeek 3 2509724 I refuse to eat congee without yau ja gwai....it's like a salad without croutons....just not the same....or soup without crackers...I need that crunchy contrast... Tue Apr 24 07:53:02 -0700 2007 2509706 60842 hch_nguyen 4 2509961 Oddly enough, I don't like croutons on salad or crackers in soup (usually) -- so it may be a preference thing. I'd rather get the calories from something tasty like da bing or one of the dim sum items. Tue Apr 24 08:52:55 -0700 2007 2509724 10811 Das Ubergeek 3 2511811 wait--are you talking Chinese breakfast? And if so, can you get it from Sam Woo? The only Chinese breakfast place I knew was in El Segundo and was called "Leave Me Alone." It closed a few years ago and I've been pining for Chinese breakfast ever since. Tue Apr 24 16:00:56 -0700 2007 2509706 92482 voodoochild 4 2512182 You can get it from them but they don't open until after breakfast hours. There's plenty of places in LA to get Chinese breakfast, though -- including Anaheim. Tue Apr 24 18:01:07 -0700 2007 2511811 10811 Das Ubergeek 1 462175 Is the spot on Sepulveda in Van Nuys the same part of this restaurant? If so I will have to try some of these dishes? Stuart Fri Jun 16 21:10:27 -0700 2006 462090 0 Stuart 2 462197 Sam Woo is a loosely licensed name. They aren't franchises or really similar except in name. Sat Jun 17 00:03:01 -0700 2006 462175 0 K 3 2509174 Sam Woo is not a person's name (e.g. Samuel Woo); it just sounds that way in English. Sam, in Cantonese, is the number three. Woo is (and this is loose) harmony. Sam Woo = Three Harmonies. Mon Apr 23 23:59:26 -0700 2007 462197 92059 pinpei 2 2509204 The Sam Woo in Van Nuys is a lesser rendition of other locales, if only because of the lack of competition (no other decent Chinese in the valley). Plus, if I'm in the 99 Ranch shopping complex, I'd rather eat at Pho So 1 anyway! Tue Apr 24 00:39:27 -0700 2007 462175 50350 SauceSupreme 1 2509469 I've only been to the Sam Woo in Costa Mesa. We always get the Honey Walnut Shrimp and the sizzling rice soup. We've tried other things, but those for me were the stand-outs we keep coming back to.... Tue Apr 24 06:24:38 -0700 2007 462090 60842 hch_nguyen 1 2509667 beef chow mein and beef chow fun Tue Apr 24 07:39:15 -0700 2007 462090 53763 yum4fun 1 2512301 I love tofu and must say that Sam Woo's does it right for me. I love their deep fried stuffed tofu. My personal fave is the spicy salt tofu. A must for every visit. Tue Apr 24 18:40:54 -0700 2007 462090 94009 gsltvl