I don’t like this place. I don’t like how there is a split between ‘the high class’ area vs. the ‘casual’ area. Mostly, I don’t like the food. Most of the food is too greasy or too salty. I felt disgusting after eating here…a feeling I usually don’t mind having if the food is good.

There are 2 --no, make it 3--Sam Woo’s. The one on Culver in Irvine has a “fast food” BBQ attached .

Sam Woo’s also has another restaurant in Irvine on Walnut and Jeffrey.
This review is for the Culver Seafood version. I ate there twice in December. One was a private party in the back room. I believe there were 4 round tables of 8 people. There apparently is a $350 minimum order to book the room.
The food was absolutely delectible. Served family style and presented on a turn table, lazy susan, I have never had such unusual and tasty Chinese selections. I really can’t tell you for the most part what I ate, I tried everything. The orange chicken was the best I have ever had —not doughy and sickeningly sweet as most places are apt to serve.
I was a guest at the restaurant and didn’t pay, so I am not sure of the prices, but I think someone admitted it was $35 per person, no alcohol.

We did have English speaking Asian servers who were well trained and personable .
The second visit was with some lady friends during the week, All elderly women, except for 2 of us, we all are also Caucasion. I mention this only because this restaurant is THE meeting place for many Asian men at lunch.

. The wait staff was excellent, they even gave the 7 of us separate checks! The food, selected by us individually with the wait staff’s help, was served family style. The waiter patiently explained ingredients and levels of hotness.

We had 7 entrees plus rice and cookies with tea. The bill came to a little over $10 per person. There was a lazy susan again which made life simpler for us .
We had 7 different dishes, some were touted as good by the staff. I don’t think anything was mediocre.
Several in the group went back during the holiday season when they had visiting relatives to feed.
I highly recommend any of their duck dishes, but the shrimp ones were special too.

We stayed over 2 hours, eating and chatting and no one glared at us.