Sampan

I ordered an order of teriyaki steak and a vegetable spring roll. The spring rolls were all lettuce, no rice noodles, and the the wrap used was really tough and chewy. The steak used for the teriyaki steak was an awful cut of meat: extremely tough and very fatty. It was also cut into big slices so it was really hard to eat. The food was on the expensive side, $22 total, and I didn't even eat it. Save your money and try someplace else. more

I have been eating at sampan for over 5 years now. They are very nice, and make a great meal. I would suggest the seasame chicken or the general tao chicken.. during lunch hours, this place is very cheap.. the meal is huge, and comes with wantans or egg roll.. for 7 bucks!! add soup for 25 cents!!>. last time I checked.. panda express cost more, and does NOT have the quality of chicken or rice.... the delivery time can be about an hour.. but this is because they are extremely busy.. if you want food in 5 minutes.. then go to Mcdonalds.. and still end up spending 7 bucks for a value meal. I felt that i had to leave a response, because Sanpan is great and I recomend them to anyone.. and everyone!! more

soooo expensive for sisco cafeteria food plus you have a 50/60 chance of it being really poorly prepared. recently it's more like 70/30 with sampan having the advantage. if your order is late, burned, missing, cold, or anything else, don't even bother to call. they really don't care and act confused when they hear all the things wrong with your order. like they've heard it a thousand times and are just going through the motions. they used to care, they used to have a standard, they used to take pride in their business. it is now an americanized chinease fast food grease pit. the food is beyond cheap, all sisco processed products and g-r-e-a-s-y. i order the same thing every time..it is always a gamble to see what i get. no consistancy at all. i havn't had a problem free order from them in over a year. the occasional greasy lunch can be fun but you can get the same quality at mcdonalds.....or in the dumpster behind mcdonalds. BON APPETIT! more

Sampan Chinese is the worst I have ever had. I ordered a 1 person combo (combo A) and they estimated an hour delivery time. (I found this ridiculous, most Chinese places wait is less than half an hour.) The delivery was late, I did not get my food until exactly 2 1/2 hrs. I called the restaurant and the manager "guaranteed" that my food would be delivered in the next seven minutes. He was wrong. The delivery did not show up in seven minutes, not even close. The food showed up half an hour later. I was thoroughly dissapointed with the food. I ordered the ham fried rice, and to my knowledge ham is not supposed to be grey. Sampan is not only a rip-off it is also a horrible excuse for Chinese food. Pros: Nothing Cons: Horrible food and service more

I was a long time fan of Sampan, but it seems to lose it edge with each passing year. It went from "great" in the 90s, to "average" in recent years, and I'm afraid it's now just bad. The food simply lacks character and authenticity. More importantly, it's becoming almost devoid of any flavor at all. For example, the potstickers are now heavily caked in a thick, bland, and pasty dough, tasting more like Cracker Barrel-style dumplings than the thin-skinned Asian delicacy one would expect. The soups offer no interest whatsoever, and are either bland to the point of neutrality or overly heavy handed as in the hot/sour soup. Additionally, the noodle dishes are woefully bland and often appear to be made with garden variety italian style pastas. Honestly, even Panda offers better dishes and flavors. As my New York wife commented last night "this tastes like a Midwesterner's take on Chinese food.' Alas, that's exactly what it's become. Not recommended. Pros: They deliver Cons: Somewhere along the way the food has lost character and become incredibly bland and uninspired. more

So far we've only eaten Sampan's Chinese food twice- one dining in and the other, more recent time, had it delivered. The first time I got the Triple Seafood Delight with scallops, shrimp and calamari. I was really impressed with the size of the dish- I felt it matched well its price. Well, the calamari wasn't what I was expecting : it was white and rubbery. But I got past it and it was a very good meal. My husband got the General Tao's chicken which was also hugely portioned. It had the right amount of spice to make it hot but it wasn't overwhelming. The lemon shrimp purses (an appetizer) are delicious as well. This past Saturday night we ordered 2 General Tao's dinners to be delivered. They said it would be here within the hour but mad it here in like 30 or so minutes. The food was good and there were more options on what kind of appetizer and side you wanted than other Chinese take outs I've eaten from. The only problem I had with the delivery service was that we paid with our credit card over the phone but the lady didn't tell us how much she was charging to it- only that it had gone through. Kinda weird and sketchy at first but when we looked at the receipt everything was ok and in the right amount. I like how they have the option to not have MSG in your food. The restaurant is cute but the tables are a little close together- but maybe I'm just overly conscious of that since we have a sometimes fidgety 1 yr old. more

I just came in from the big city and was staying at a sugarhouse hotel. My girlfriend had just broke up with me over email and I needed to drown my troubles in booze and Chinese food. I paid $5 to use the hotel's internest and I got to work looking online for some place close. Sampan came up and I found their menu. The food was expensive, but hey I was on the verge of committing suicide so I figured I should splurge. Well I called three times and got hung up on twice. The third time this really hot sounding girl got on the phone and finally took my order, I got the mushoo pork with fried lice and BBQ spare ribs. The girl said that it would be an hour to an hour ten minutes for delivery. I wondered to myself why it would take so long and if I would ever get over loosing the love of my life. I found out she was cheating on me and when I confronted her she broke up with me. What an awful person! When the food finally got delivered it was awful, too. The fried rice was just regular white rice with some ham in it. The mushoo pork was very bland. At first I just though all the alcohol had dulled my senses, but I had some the next day and it was definitely bland. The ribs were nothing special and at eight dollars for four ribs it was over priced. I passed out from all the drinking and aparently I called an escort service during the night because there was a three hundred and seventy four dollar charge on my credit card. Needless to say it was a very dissapointing experience. I write an advice column for a Jamacian paper so take my advice when I tell you to avoid Sampan. Pros: It didn't kil l me Cons: It tasted like it couldn't know what food was more

This has been the 4th time now that we have ordered from Sampan @ Sugarhouse (trying something different each time)and the last 2 times has left us running for the restroom 'til all hours of the night. (it is now 3 am and I have yet to get an hour sleep). I will NEVER order from here again. The first couple of times was good. The first time we became familar with "John" we just thought it was something else we may have eaten that day. But now....with my husband and 2 kids fighting over who is next in the bathroom..... Cons: Bumms Down more

Still the best Chinese delivery in town! Never any surprises! Their food is fresh, clean and they are always friendly and quick!! Nothing beats a cold out - order Chinese in from Sampan night!! more

Sadly, I know my chinese, and Sampan is by far the best I have ever had. the only menu item i reccomed you don't get is there sweet and sour chicken. The other chicken choices are very good, my favorite is the sesame chicken. Takeout is the way to go as well, they have never messed up my order and its all ready to go in about 10 min..plus you get tons of food, one dinner will feed two people Pros: Very very good fast food Cons: ordering over the phone can be difficult due to language barriers more

We thought the food was very good and reasonably priced, especially at lunch. Haven't tried the Sugar House branch as yet... more

Very Disappointed. Everyone says its the best and out of the 4 dishes we ordered not one was edible. It is a lovely restaurant and the service was very good although they weren't concerned that we hadn't eaten much of anything on our plates. I know this is UT and we aren't supposed to expect good Chinese but cold tasteless food seemed worthy of a complaint and this was met with a quiet shrug from the waitstaff. Pros: Nice decor, good service Cons: inedible food more

This is one of the best Chinese-American restaurants in Utah and there are quite a few. While I would love to have more traditional Mandarin - that is impossible in Utah. Sampan has the best takeout with the best overall assortment of old favorites as well as some unusual signature dishes. Thumbs up for Cantonese food from the Sampan. Pros: always done well, old favorites, unusual dishes more

Try their Coconut Shrimp...its slightly sweet with nice size shrimp. It also comes with lots of broccoli. Pros: Good Food, Good Service, Good Price Cons: More Variety more

I have been going to Sam Pan for years now and the food and service at each location has been consistently very good. Whether you opt for their lunch specials, a dinner, or take out the food is always fresh, hot, and very tasty. The owner seems to spirit himself from location to location taking care of business and making sure everything is wonderful. Pros: Good Variety, Always hot and Fresh more

This is one of the cleanest chinese places I have ever been in. Their kitchen (what I could see) is emaculate. I have picked up an order there several times and it is always hot, fresh and very tasty. My favorite is the shrimp with pea pods, and the ham fried rice. Avoid the hot "red sauce" items - too spicy. Pros: fast service, food, cleanliness Cons: , red sauce more

This is the best Chinese food in town! We have tried so many other places; but this is at the top of our list! They have just expanded and have a lot of room at the Jordan landing location. It's nice to have them close by. Pros: great food, good prices, great service more

So be beautiful and fresh! Sampan has the most impeccable well-roundedness of all the Chinese Restaurants in Salt Lake. I read a newpaper clip on how they treat vegetables and it's true - 'with respect'. Crisp and colorful and clean dishes, with a spacious relaxing atmosphere. No doubt about it being as healthy as it can be - even the egg foo young is topped with veggies. And Now, i wouldn't have it any other way. If you love P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps, try theirs. Prices jumped a bit steep but the quality is still there. Fully Customizable dishes..swap veggies or whatever with the computerized system you get what you ask for. Pros: Healthy and Delicious, Delivery!!!!! Cons: , Plaza Parking more

I dont know what happened for "Mushbelly", but his or her review is unfair and incorrect. I have known personally the owner of this restaurant since he was a manager at Ho Ho on State Street. (Years ago) Sampan has always been consistent and delicious. Certainly one of the best in the valley. So many people couldnt be mistaken. Maybe "Mushbelly" should look in the mirror! Pros: Central Location, Nice Dining Room, Good Food more

I've been here 3 times....and have been dissapointed each time. I've decided to give up. I really wanted to like this place because it is very close...but I just don't see what all the fuss is about. I have heard from a few people that this is the best chineese food in town. I don't get it. It's about the quality of food you will find at a fast food or gas station chineese restaurant. Just for your reference, I have ordered the following: Cream cheese wontons veggie pot stickers Orange chicken (THE WORST) Sween n sour chicken Chicken Lo Mein Moo Goo Gai Pan I've tried to stick with simple items that I thought were safe, but they werent. Next time I'll order a pizza Pros: convinently located, free delivery, nice atmosphere Cons: Bad food more