Stories

Have fond memories of eating at Sam Wo? Was lucky enough to get harassed by Edsel Ford Fong? Share your story with us!

  • Timothy D. Healy

    In the early 70's my wife,than girlfriend was attending Mills College in Oakland and we would go to San Francisco every weekend,we would finish off our dates with a meal at Sam's .I always found Edsel Ford Fong to be nice and funny, though a bit loud and bossy.My wife and I arenot together now but those memories of San Francisco and Sam Wo's are amoung the happyest of my lifde.

  • David Xiong

    Me and my family come to Sam Wo every time we drop by Frisco, why? cause the pork roll they make are the MOST delicious pork roll I have ever eaten. Sometime i would drive all the way there just to get some, thats' how good it is. I recall a time when we ask for pork roll and the lady said you guys dont want "ment' we miss took it for veggies and said yes and ended up with veggie only roll. It was funny but me and my brother still ate and bought some more after cause it was really good. I really miss that place. Hope you guys open up soon so i can take my girlfriend there cause she dont know what she's missing out.

  • Sheri Galvan

    First, I'm not a huge Chinese food fan though my husband is and will bring me to restaurants on a regular basis to get his fill. However, I LOVE Sam Wo's - best Chinese food ever.

    Everytime we are in SF, we visit there and usually meet up with a cousin for a good visit and fill up. Some trips we go two days in a row, just to ensure we had the chance to eat all our favorite dishes.

    So who cares that they are rude and pushy with the, "Hurry up, you order now!" and dishes tossed on the tables, its all part of the ambience. The three story, crazy skinny building, the use of the dumb waiters, even more ambience, walking through the kitchen to make your way upstairs to then beg for a seat on one of the wonky stools, again it just ups the ante. You have to have experienced it and eaten Sam Wo's food to have truly visited SF and Chinatown.

  • Gregory C. Ford

    Hi, Let me start by saying how blessed I feel for being a guest at Sam Wo's and having been served.. or should I say Helping Edsel Ford Fong everytime I came in..

    It was 1979 (at 20 years old )and I was a roller skater. My friend grew up in SF and knew all the best spots and Sam Wo was "The Best".. We would skate through the kitchen and the 6 or seven men would hurry us up the stairs to the 2nd floor. We got lucky on one perticular day and got a seat. Mr. Fong instantly made me wipe the table get water and even fill water for the other tables. Then he threw the order ticket on the table and had mne write down the orders.. I handed back the tickets and he threw it down and said "ADD IT UP!". Then the food would come up thru the wall on a pulley system from down in the kitchen and Edsel would order me to deliver the food..I have enjoyed sharing this story with many over the last 30+ years. Thank you Edsel Ford Fong and Sam Wo's for blessing me with such a lovely memory.

    My favorite place in San Fransisco! <3 peace gf