Sam Woo Cafe
The closest thing to Irvine's old Sam Woo dim sum experience is a half-hour away
The lines for dim sum at Irvine’s Sam Woo were once legendary, filling the sidewalks (and tables) all the way over to its neighbor, 99 Ranch Market. Two years after its closure, a new Sam Woo location opened in Artesia – 30 minutes away from the prior restaurant under ideal driving conditions – and surprise: it’s good!
If you’re OK losing both the roving carts and most of the BBQ and Cantonese kitchen items that made the Irvine dim sum experience more than basic, you’ll like Artesia’s Sam Woo Cafe. The core dim sum plates are very similar, and consistently very good – even better, comparing items directly, than Seafood Cove 2.
Seafood dumplings, including scallop/shrimp and har gow, are plump and fresh here; baked pork puffs are crispy, and there are even a few surprises, including coconut jam-filled buns, a spicy, more savory beef tripe, and steamed white cake. Rice roll-wrapped Chinese donuts are available, too.
Best of all, dim sum is served all day, and all week without the old Irvine spot’s irritating lines – yes, you can just walk right in without getting screened by an abrasive maitre’d. The service tends to be efficient, and prices are pretty normal for the post-COVID era.
From an experiential standoint, the only thing we really missed at the new location was push carts; here, you order on paper by marking your selections on a full-color menu, which isn’t a bad thing at all.
Although Sam Woo’s down-the-street rival Lunasia Dim Sum House offers a compelling alternative at a higher price point, we really like Sam Woo Cafe for what it is. It would be great to see this slimmed-down concept return to Orange County, but until and unless that happens, Artesia isn’t too far away to visit.
Stats
Price: $-$$
Service: Table
Open Since: 2023
Addresses
11688 S. St. Suite 105
Artesia, CA 90701
562.263.6938