Sampan Reviews

We sat at the bar around the kitchen and watched the chefs work and fire out excellent high-quality cuisine all night. Don't miss the Wagyu Satay - seriously the finest beef I've ever had in 51 years of living.

Our visit to sampan was amazing ., Our stewardess Ms Anchal ., she really took good care of our entire family ., Service was super prompt ., awesome dishes ., overall a splendid experience ., Special thanks to Ms Anchal and to the chefs of Sampan. Thank you .,

Imaginative Asian fusion, lots of choice on the menu, nicely done, with a "light" feel to it. If you eat in the var area you can also take advantage of happy hour.

First impressions truly make or break a business. Sampan made our day, no doubt about it. We have lived in Philadelphia for years, and our visit to Sampan was long-overdue. Restaurant Week is in session, and Sampan popped up on the radar. Here is the twist: its RW menu is available on all days except Saturday, but we’ve got no regrets. Our dishes tasted stellar; the portions were perfectly-sized; the service was beyond impeccable. America is fraught with Asian fusion restaurants, and their number keeps on rising. Every one of them claims to serve the finest Asian-inspired dishes, but few ever pull it off. Sampan, however, promised delicious and light Asian-inspired cuisine, and did it deliver? Absolutely! The best part of our dining experience was the service. A positive attitude and attentiveness to one’s customers are common sense, but sadly, some wait staff usually trudges through every interaction until closing time. Sampan’s wait staff made you feel more than welcome; they were your friend! Cheerfully checking on how we like the food, making great recommendations, and encouraging us to come back... That’s what I’m talking about! The gist of dining out is feeling welcome and relaxed. The food comes second, although at Sampan, it was no less fantastic than the service, itself. Sampan, for the win!

I went to Sampan on a Saturday night with no reservation. Luckily, we got seated at the chef's counter immediately - the place was packed! I really enjoyed sitting a the chef's counter, as we got a view of the open kitchen. I loved seeing how the chefs worked their magic. The food was also top notch - I had the pork potstickers, my brother had the general tso soup dumpling and we split the veggie fried rice. My brother is also deathly allergic to shellfish and our server was nice enough to go through the whole menu with us and pinpoint what he could have.

Went for an evening meal and asked to sit outside, asking immediately for a beer and was told the someone would come out to take the order. Sat at the table for 15 minutes waiting before anyone came out and ordered both a beer and the food - a tuna fish starter and bass for main course, asking for the beer to be fast. 15 minutes later the beer still hadn't arrived and I asked a waiter who said it was nothing to do with him. He did come back 5 minutes later with my starter and I asked him again for my beer - he said he would ask the waitress, then came back 5 minutes with my main course and still no beer. I had not started my starter since I had no drink so was left with both courses on the table and no beer and the food waiter made no comment at all about it..................... The quality of the food was good but there was very little of it and I had finished my starter before the beer did eventually arrive and by then the main course was cold. So overall over $50 for 2 courses and a beer and not a good experience - they need to get their customer focus sorted !!

Went to Sampan for restaurant week. Reservations were for 5:30 pm but got there early. They said they could seat us but we wanted to try out the Graffiti Bar in the back of the restaurant. Great choice. The bar is outside, even though it was January, and it was nippy, it was nice. They have 3 really big heat lamps that warmed the place so we were comfortable. I must say there wasn’t much heat directed towards the bartenders so I felt bad for them. I know their feet had to be cold. But they were still really awesome and the drinks were good. HEY GRAFFITI BAR OWNERS GET THOSE FOLKS SOME FLOOR HEATERS! We ordered bar food, Kung Pao Wings.. delicious. Kimchi fried rice. Very good(normally don’t like kimchi)Short ribs satay.... awesome! Once inside the Sampan we were seated. The seats are a bit close and it’s a bit dark but it has a nice feel to it. A little close for my taste. The couple seated next to us were having a intimate conversation unaware that we could hear them. Then at one point we realized that the guy was immersed in our girl talk when we mentioned a sensitive bedroom incident and he laughed. Again the food was really good. This is a small plate restaurant designed to share. It was restaurant week so we had seven plates coming and going. I would recommend this restaurant to all groups without children. If you like Asian food you would love this place. The manager came by the table to address us and the waitresses were accommodating. We will definitely return.

It was cold and dark and we didn't want to go far. Sampan popped on a Google search. Thinking we'd slide into a plastic booth for ordinary food, we were blown away (and luckily not by the wind!). The place was hopping on a Monday night with loads of young people clearly enjoying the company and food. We were seated immediately at the bar to watch the action in the open kitchen, promptly tended to and never forgotten during the evening. There were so many items on the menu we chose the chef's choice where every item was better than the last; dumplings, spring rolls, chicken, shrimp, duck AND lobster. Served like tapas and when ready, the meal was extraordinary. Add the excellent wine and a light touch of ice cream to finish, Sampan was a real find for strangers to the city and a gem. Thank you Sampan!

This was our third visit to this always busy restaurant. The food was again excellent. Our wait person was excellent and provided valuable advice. Every dish was special and will return again soon!

Very popular place - crowded and noisy even on a Monday night - but service was helpful and attentive and food was delivered promptly. We enjoyed some small plates (tasty dumplings, buns, and papaya salad) and shared the Malaysian shrimp entree, which was a standout. Quite reasonably priced for the location and quality. A real gem in Midtown!

We had a great time the first time here with the tasting menu.....soooo, we decided to do it once again. We made our reservation and were awaiting the same dining experience as the first time.....NOPE....didn't happen. It seems that even if you have a reservation that doesn't count. They tried to wedge us in a banquette that didn't hve the room to get our butts into the space. When we suggested that there were several table available with breathing room they said those were for reservations. When we said we had a reservation it fell on deaf ears....Not caring for the attitude we left without dinner. Sooo, be prepared to either be squeezed into a table or come with several couples because that seems to be the only way you can sit comfortably like we did the first time here, but we won't be going back.

We know Sampan is going for cool, moody lighting but unless you’re sitting at specific tables, it’s simply too dark in there. Like, can’t see your food dark. The food itself was all good. The standout was the swordfish satay. The crispy rock shrimp was highly anticipated but average. The tasting menu was a good option for our group of five but way too rushed. The kitchen sends things out as they are ready which makes it feel like they arrive out of order and eating felt like a sprint as the table filled up with plates. It all felt uncomfortable. We thoroughly enjoyed the mini cones for dessert - they change the flavors daily so we had vanilla malt and chocolate orange. We also very much enjoyed the Ming Mule cocktails. Our server Patrick was also awesome. Very friendly and knowledgeable about the food. He was also patient with our repeated questions about the tasting menu. He actually earned one of these 4 stars himself.

My visit started with a very informative and friendly waitress, who explained many things about the menu and helped me choose what I wanted. The menu is in sections: Small plates, satays, hot & cold, sides, and meat + fish. I went with the tasting menu, which means you choose one item from each section. The General Tso's Soup Dumplings were very creative, a sort of dumpling soup with the soup on the inside of the dumpling. The waygu beef satay was delicious and unbelievably tender, with a sweet, fresh dipping sauce. My favourite of all was the hot and crispy rock shrimp -- tempura battered shrimp, crunchy with a spicy sauce. The roasted brussel sprouts was a wonderful side, a great combination of crusty and tasty. And for my meat course I had spicy Szechuan chicken. Not super spicy, but good and a generous portion. For dessert, they brought two kinds of ice cream, one with a mocha base and another with a chai tea base, both in tiny sugar cones. One of the better meals I have had in a while. Oh, and they had good beer.

Came here on a suggestion of Philadelphia colleagues, the menu is unique and interesting. The tasting menu is definitely a great bang for your buck. The cheesesteak bao buns and waygu beef were amazing. Would highly recommend.

First, don't look for an outside sign. If I hadn't known that the Graffiti Bar was next to Sampan, I'm not sure we would have found it as it's very unassuming from the outside. Inside, it was a great, energetic vibe. We did the Chef's Tasting Menu (it was actually recommended by the folks at the table next to us), and we were very glad that we did. Everything was outstanding from the bar to the food to the service.

The food was delicious and the staff was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend the happy hour Kim Chee fried rice, pork potstickers and crispy brussel sprouts.

First I must say that there are very good meals and then there is the total dining experience.Sampan combines the two.Our waitress Amber was outstanding.She explained the menu and truly helped us with our dining experience.To begin our edamame dumplings were tender and quite flavorful followed by our shot rib satay which was a scrumptious skewer of perfectly seasoned short rib, small plates but very tasty.My wife had the sea bass which she thought was one of the best she ever tasted and I tried the duck breast with scallion buns which was cooked perfectly and served with scallion buns and pancakes.

Get there early, cause the place is popular for happy hour. Great $3 & $5 small plates. Kobe sliders, Korean beef satay (my fav) that melts in your mouth, pork belly sandwich were all quite good. Drink specials are interested, but the happy hour beer specials were disappointing (bud). Nice crowd and good service. During warmer weather this place as outdoor seating (confettis)

It was such a beautiful day and my girlfriend and i decided to try Sampan for an early dinner. They have outdoor seating on the sidewalk. We gave our names to the hostesses around 4:30 to get a table outside. We walked across the street to get a drink in the bar. At 5:30 we got a txt message so we paid our tab and came back. It was an error and they didnt have an outside table. We told the hostesses again to txt us so we took a walk. 8:30 pm and they didnt txt us or have a table so we came back again and made sure we stayed there to get a table because all the other places were packed by now. Then we finally got a table outside and unfortunately the sunset and it got chilly. They were definitely disorganized. Our server was very nice. We got bacardi with mint lychee and ginger cocktail and a prosecco. We had pork potstickers which were delicious. I had kimchee rice with shrimp and eggg. That was such great flavors. My girlfriend is vegan so they had a vegan menu which was very cool. She ordered a salad that she loved with papaya and carrot. She had this great fried rice. We waited nearly 30 min to get the rice. There was an error in the order and they ended taking it off our tab. Overall a rocky experience.

I visited this restaurant with my wife to have dinner and it was suggested by our server to try the tasting menu. This was seven different items for $45.00. The explosion of taste coming from the high quality food was super. Our server took the time to explain the different food items and frequently checked in on us. Definitely get the miniature ice creams for desert. Some of the sitting areas are very close and can get noisy when the restaurant is crowded. It is within walking distance from the downtown hotels with ample sitting area outside.

I am still thinking about the meal I enjoyed here. Place was packed but we were able to sit at the kitchen bar without a reservation. Great staff and service. So many good choices- we picked multiple dishes to share. Highly recommend the XO beef fried rice- it’s AMAZING!!

Terrific dinner. Beatifully designed resturant. Dishes are tasty and very well presented. Highly recommended.

We had just one night kn Philli and this little cosy spot was right around the corner from the hotel Great choice, the staff were so welcoming and really helpful in moving our booking forward an hour The food is just stunning Be aware the portions are huge ! And the food is just gorgeous Would definatetly return

This place did not disappoint! Very cool, upscale and modern atmosphere. Our group did the 7 course tasting menu and allowed the chef to choose the dishes— everything was delicious! What really made our evening was the restaurant staff. Our server Jonathan was outstanding. Extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. The managers checked on us multiple times throughout the evening. Thank you Jonathan and Sampan!

This place was recommended by someone in the Philly Apple store so I had to go. I’ve had lots of pan Asian food in London and bau is big there too. It was a Saturday night so was quick packed when I arrived but I was given a stool overlooking the cooking range. Boy, but those guys work hard! It was fascinating watching them work wonders with a flaming wok. Anyway, the food was sensational. The bau buns and pork filling super tender and tasty. I also had some sort of teriyaki chicken that was also wonderful. Service was fast and friendly. A great place, with great food.

Great and tasty SE Asian dinner food. Music too loud.Very crowded. Been here before but in winter. Not as crowded then.

Love the tasting menu, such great choices! Food was delicious and it’s a fun atmosphere! Great neighborhood!

One of our best meals ever. We opted for the Chefs Tasting Menu, which was 7 of their signature dishes plus two mini ice cream cones for dessert. First, it was a really great way to try something new. Every dish was really really good. We started with the tuna rice cracker and pork bao... perfect combination of sweet and savory. That was followed by the Korean bbq beef and calamari salad. At this point, we were starting to fill up and realized we need to pace ourselves. Next came the crispy brussel sprouts, pad thai (bonus dish delivered to the wrong table), szechuan chicken stir fry, and glazed chilean sea bass. All was amazing, but we definately had plenty of leftovers for later. Highly recommend!

In the continuing global cuisine free-for-all found in many current restaurants, Sampan stands out as a consistent source of familiar and comfortable dishes that have been tweaked just enough to give them interest & flavor without becoming too precious in their offerings. Served family style, We loved our bright green papaya salad, the short rib large plate with noodles, tasty sides of roasted broccoli, edamame dumplings, and a delicious version of chicken stir fry. Dessert portions are small but fun & a perfect complement to finish the meal which included strong flavors of ginger, garlic, scallion, lime, mint and chili. They have a gluten free menu, a vegan menu and are diligent about knowing patrons allergies. I liked that the staff warned members of our party when problematic dishes were served & made sure they were aware of avoiding those items. This is a venue with a lively bar scene (lots of 20 & 30 somethings) & an open kitchen so it can get quite loud in the dining area. We were a party of 8 and it was difficult to hear others at the table. Service was considerate and responsive and the value was good. With light drinking, our bill came to approximately $52 per guest for food, cocktails, tax and tip.

The ambiance was definitely present. The restaurant is very very small. However, the food wad delish -- a little in the small size. Very busy happy hour.

My family wanted to try an Asian inspired cuisine while visiting the Philly area, and Sampan was the perfect place for us to try! It’s not a lie when I say everything on the menu was amazing. We were so happy with everything we tried, which included an array of small plates, satay, and sides. I can’t wait to go back again - especially during Happy Hour! Finally, our experience was great because our server Matty was the best! He explained everything on the menu and gave us many suggestions of things to try. He was very attentive and very kind during our meal. Props to Matty for making our experience great!

We went here on a busy Saturday night in the summer. The service and food was fantastic. The atmosphere had a great vibe and the location was terrific within the city. I highly recommend doing the chef's tasting, as you get a great sampling of everything. Our server Kaihly, was awesome, and she really did a great job recommending what we should order, and giving us prompt, professional service. I highly recommend Sampan, and definitely see myself coming back here sometime soon.

Had the best foodie experience with Asian food ever this past week. Ate at Sampan. First, the service to A1. We sat near the "open" kitchen. Runners line up to continually bring you your food the moment it is prepared. Everything comes to your table within seconds it is taken off the stove. Now for the best.....the food. We had pork potstickers (average), crispy rock shrimp (excellent...delicious with perfect sauce), peking duck (duck was great but served with a bun. We prefer wraps), wagu beef (oh my god.... melts in your mouth), beef short rib (unbelievable flavor and tenderness) and kim chee fried rice (wonderful). I highly recommend this restaurant for a unique and superb foodie experience.

The best. The food is so good. A very great experience . I love the atmosphere. We went during the restaurant week and everything was perfect.

We went for a pre-theater dinner and it was our good fortune for it to have been restaurant week. They offered a multi-course meal that was more than generous. Our particular fave was the General Tso's soup dumplings.

Went there Wed waiting for my wife to have her hair cut. Was supposed to meet her elsewhere, went there by mistake! Cool bar, happy staff, always a good sign and happy hour drinks at the bar the real deal. Very impressed with the bar guy as I had my three(3) beers!

The tapas were amazing and the tasting menu allowed us to try so many different flavors. Generous portions and plenty to take home!

Love this place for happy hour. It can be challenging to get a table because they don’t take reservations for happy hour but if you can be patient it’s worth the wait. I love their crispy brussel sprout side, not something I’d typically order out but so flavorful and good. Kobe sliders are always delicious. The short rib on the happy hour menu is very small but out of this world delicious. Their fried rice was just ok in my opinion. Cheesesteak bao is not on the happy hour menu but worth getting, awesome interesting twist on a Philly favorite. Cocktails were good but I go here for the food!

Our Server was exceedingly Professional, Personal. & Pleasant. The portion sizes of the apps. & starters were tiny. The flavors were good, but not wow. Too many better CC restaurants to return here.

I was really excited to see that this place had gluten free options and even a designated gluten free menu. My friend chose this place to celebrate her birthday specifically so that I could enjoy the food too and I did until I went home and threw it all up and broke out in terrible hives. There was obviously some sort of bad contamination or my dish (the pad thai without shrimp) wasn’t truly gluten free. I was also disappointed at one point in the meal when my friends ordered a dessert that I wanted to try (ice cream/rice krispies sushi). When they asked if I could have it, our server merely shrugged her shoulders and said she didn’t know but that she wouldn’t risk it. If she wasn’t informed of the menu, then she should have asked the manager instead of saying she wasn’t sure. Of course I have gotten sick before from eating out but that’s normally at cheap food trucks or low-class places. I really didn’t expect to throw up my 50 dollar meal and I am not happy about that. And anyone with a gluten allergy knows that it’s not just one night of suffering... I will be sick all week long because of this place. Don’t market yourselves as gluten free if you’re not and train your servers to be more respectful of allergies.

I was really disappointed with my recent visit to Sampan on 10/27. The food itself was delicious, but when I got home and looked over my receipt, I realized I was charged for two meals instead of one for several items. I double-checked to make sure it wasn't something I ordered by mistake--it definitely wasn't. I am not sure how this is even possible since only one item of each was delivered to our table. Is it a scam??? The total amount overcharged was $109. I tried calling and emailing the restaurant to sort it out, but haven't been able to get a response yet. Mistakes happen, but overcharging a customer and not fixing it right away doesn't leave a good impression. Please double-check your bill before you leave! I hope management sees this and reaches out so this can be corrected. Table 54

This is an Asian fusion restaurant in the heart of center city Philadelphia. It is walking distance to most tourist attractions as well as local hangouts such as Insomia Cookies, and the Mitchell and Ness flagship store. The food is delicious, the service is warm, and friendly. Be bold and adventurous, as the menu is inviting and I suggest getting the ice cream after your meal.

I had never had Asian tapas, so wasn't sure what to expect heading into this place. We ate outdoors on a narrow sidewalk with no umbrellas, so the threat of rain put a bit of a damper (no pun intended) on dinner. Food was excellent with more variety than I expected. Very nice Korean dishes, wings were excellent. Waitress was very nice and attentive.

Hubby and I stopped in on a Sunday and they actually do happy hour every day! The bartender, Lamar was so friendly and made our time so fun. We each had two glasses of wine, shared fried rice, kobe sliders, kobe hot dogs (yum!!) and chicken bao bun. Everything was delicious and more than enough for two to share; not to mention incredibly reasonable!

Walked into a very busy restaurant on a Sunday night. It had a very lively, almost clubby ambience - I sat at the bar and ordered a good martini. On bar tenders recommendation, I ordered from a prix fixe menu - it was a ton of food, but so good that I couldn't stop eating it. This is definitely a fun, comfortable place for a good meal. It would be perfect for a date night with my wife!

Came here on the recommendation of a family member and was pleased by our choice. We shared the tasting menu which gave us 7 different items to share, each with its own flavor. You can find spicy or mild dishes, all delicious!

My wife and I had a reservation during Labor Day weekend, while the ‘Made In America’ Concert was also happening. We were celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. The place was packed but our waiter was attentive, knowledgeable and casually cool the way I like good service. We’ve dined in the sister restaurant, Double Knot, which was also delicious but more formal. Sampan has a smart, casual vibe with great menu options. We chose from ‘The Chef’s Tasting’ which is 7 or 8 small plates...SO GOOD! Hats off to the chef. Thank you for making our 20th wedding anniversary so memorable!

Had a fantastic meal of al carte items. They found a seat for me right away in the side room. And service was prompt, even though it was crowded. The food was awesome.

Great food, great service in a wonderful location (13th St is Philly foodie heaven) just off the main drag of Market St. A range of simple dishes done very well; would seriously recommend the pork & shrimp spring rolls

We had diner with a large group and had the tasting menu. Must say everything tasted really good. Portions were however partially so large, that we couldn’t eat everything. Service was friendly and quick

This was one of the best Pan Asian restaurants I have ever eaten at! I had the green papaya salad as a starter, which is large enough for two people. What was really amazing was my Glazed Chilean Sea Bass in a coconut curry wild mushroom sauce. My daughter loved her Pad Thai entree. I give this restaurant 5 stars.

Tried 3 different appetizers: crab tacos, adamame dumplings and tuna tartar on rice crackers and each one of them was really good. Also had vodka mint cocktail which was amazing. The service and the vibe were great.

My husband and I were really looking forward to our return visit to Sampan. When we arrived for our reserved time, we were very quickly greeted and then literally ignored by the hostess at the door. Even though there were 3 available tables for 2, we were then escorted to a very “sardine tight” banquet table. When we asked for one of the other tables for 2 (which were still available), we were told they were being saved for people with reservations! This was beyond disgraceful, so we left. I can’t remember the last time I was treated so poorly at a restaurant with the lamest of excuses.

We are a fan of Asian fusion cuisine and this restaurant did not disappoint. The dishes were seasoned adventurously, with unlikely combinations of tastes appearing along side. This restaurant focuses on small plate / dim sum delivery. Although the portions were small, we left feeling stuffed. We really enjoyed our dinner. Our one disappointment was that the room was very, very loud, which made it very difficult to carry on a conversation.

We came while Happy Hour was in full swing, but it would have been at least an hour wait to try to get a seat in that section, so opted to just be seated immediately for dinner instead. We ordered the shrimp pad thai, the wok charred lobster and the roasted broccoli. The plates arrived quickly and it was plenty of food for 2 to share. Service was pleasant and the manager of the restaurant stopped by our table and all tables around us to check in and make sure everything was to our liking. I would definitely try this for Happy Hour, but make a point to arrive earlier than we did to grab a few seats and take advantage of some of the Happy Hour food & drink prices they have going on.

Turn off the club music and you get 4+ stars! The food was great. Be prepared for a small plate experience. If you don't like to share, order a few on your own. We were with a large party and the loud music in the background made it difficult to catch up with all of our friends.

This is a tapas style pan Asian place, where the food arrives as and when it is ready. The Vietnamese satay chicken was nothing like anything I have eaten in Vietnam but was nonetheless tasty. We enjoyed all the food and it was of good quality, though I was a little disappointed in the kimchi rice, which lacked zing and tasted more like a very basic paella. (I thought I detected a lot of smoked pimento). Our waitress was helpful and pleasant. There was a good atmosphere, though it was a little too noisy for us but we are at least twice the age of most of the customers.

We chose this restaurant for a light meal before the show. The food was so delicious we both ate more than we intended. Loved the crispy calamari salad. The dressing was citrusy and refreshing, and the calamari was tender. Peking Duck was also nice. Sides of pad Thai and xo beef rice were tasty and larger portion than we expected. We had 5 dishes total for 2 people. In hindsight 4 dishes with one being either the rice or noodle dish would have been ample.

I visited a couple of weeks ago with my husband and we had an amazing meal. I'm allergic to both gluten and dairy and so finding something to eat that also serves exciting food can be difficult but Sampan delivered. We each had a couple of small dishes/sides and everything we had was wonderful. The atmosphere was great and I only wished I lived closer!

Great happy hour specials! Vibrant and upbeat atmosphere. Brussel sprouts, chicken wings, and friend rice are all staples. Highly recommended.

Great vibe food was delicious. Really enjoyed my cocktails to. Will definitely be bad again soon. Wait staff is A1!!!

Dined here 100s of times pre-Covid and it was always a personal favorite. I made it a purpose to take friends here. Post-covid, the menu has changed but is still delicious. But the service has dropped substantially. Someone needs to coach the male host who wears way too much jewelry and shows way too much chest hair how to provide generally positive customer service. Horrible experience checking in for my reservation and being treated with common courtesy on more than one occasion.

Had an excellent meal at this fun, upbeat restaurant after a show at the Kimmel Center. The Happy Hour is spectacular, and the service was on point. We sat at the open kitchen bar and enjoyed watching the kitchen staff bust out delicious treat after delicious treat. Definitely had the unique city vibe we were looking for. Don't pass this place by

The food is good and the menu interesting but the service is poor and the noise is very high. We ordered an entree and we never got it .

1. Booked on line 2. Great welcome on arrival 3. Wonderful table service by wait staff 4. We chose the chef tasting 5. 7 choices from small bites to entree Very good 6 wonderful experience all around 7 when next in Philly, we will be back . Great vibe book early

The atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty chill and we really enjoyed the lighting - the color on the walls changes, and we noted that the opposite wall was a negative of the wall behind us. The cocktail list is small but includes interesting options. One unexpected part of our experience is that the dishes are meant to be shared, meaning if you select the scallops, that is what you get- no sides. You are meant to select additional sides and share. My husband and I got an appetizer, one protein, one vegetable, and a side to share and it was the perfect amount of food for us. The pork belly boa bun appetizer was OUTSTANDING - pork belly was nice and crispy, which was a great contrast to the soft bun. Our protein was Chilean sea bass which came with a delicious curry sauce; the veggie was broccoli, which our companion tried and declared the best broccoli he's had (he doesn't even like broccoli); our side was kimchi fried rice which was flavorful but not overwhelming. Overall, the food was great, but the downside is it was a little pricier than we had planned due to this a la carte style.

Great dishes to share! Everything is better than the next! Good came out fast and was fresh and delicious! Attentive staff, comfortable atmosphere! Put this on your list next time your eating out in philly!

Wait staff was delightful. Highly recommend the tasting menu. If you need gluten free or veggie options, just ask.

Try the tasting menu for two. Amazing. Best food I’ve had in a long time. We had the shrimp egg roll and seafood dumpling. We also had the Korean bbq (best thing ever), the beef brisket, the Chilean sea bass, the Brussels sprouts and the crab tacos. It was all delightful and just the right amount for two. Presentation and sauces were wonderful.

Visited for the first time for dinner and caught the ending of happy hour, which was a great surprise. Awesome cocktails and good small plates at reasonable prices. Favorite appetizers were the pork boa buns, edamame dumplings and the crab rangoons. You MUST try the dessert sushi!

This was our second time here. We were promptly seated. The tasting menu in my opinion is the best way to go. That way you can sample 7 courses. The food was delicious and filling. Our waitress Christina was great! Will definitely return.

Don't want to rave but really good happy hour. Keep the secret gets busy. Food very good especially the Kim Chee rice.The prices are very good.

They have a gluten free menu, which anyone who is truly GF knows how great that is to find at an Asian restaurant. It’s small, but has enough. The food is delicious and are small plates, so you order a bunch. It gets crowded and busy so definitely make a reservation.

It got dark about 6:00 and we found this place by accident. The three of us had a saki flight, pork bao bun, crab Rangoon, and the star... Crispy spicy shrimp. Wow wow. Not your average tasting food. Delicious enough to put NYC to shame. $62.62 for 5 shots of saki and the small plates. We were seated immediately on a Sunday night. Highly recommended. Patrick, the server, was an absolute professional........

Had dinner last night with several coworkers and the food was spectacular. Best dishes last night were the Chilean Sea Bass and the Crispy Brussel Sprouts. Great selection, great atmosphere and good service. Great selection of Sake.

Upon arrival, the host came up chewing food while checking me in. I asked if what she was eating is good. She said, “it’s an apple.” I can’t imagine why that would be okay in anyone’s mind how to greet a guest. The music is loud and has a vibe. The food was okay… very rushed. Tables are so tight that they have to be moved to exit. I was a solo diner and ordered 3 dishes. The salmon was super over cooked and inedible. From the beginning to the end, you can see this establishment is catering to young and inexperienced diners. I would not return or ever suggest.

Sampan offers great Asian tapas from Indochine and around with authentic tasting dishes. We sampled a few dumplings, a couple of satays and fried rice. The food was great overall.

We were pleasantly surprised as to the energy and modern Decour to this place that presents you with more contemporary versions of traditional Thai food. It is more of a fusion between Asian elements and Thai but it is truly and distinctive thai what you eat here. The food is perfectly prepared, fresh, with a little more on the spicy side so if you’re not into that, you should let your waiter know. The pad Thai as well as the papaya salad were excellent. The pork bao was truly different and very tasty and had never had that presentation anywhere before (like a soft sand which). The staff was very knowledgeable of the menu, and felt that work truly dedicated to the customers. Overall this was a unique surprise and a very hip place to have traditional Asian/Thai fare.

We had the Tasting Special. My wife, son and his girlfriend went out for a fun and different dinner on Saturday night. Having never been to Sampan before our server with the patience of a saint we had a dozen questions which he patiently answered and provided information about the ordering options and different choices. We chose a variety of items from the Tuna cracker, Wagu Beef, Soup Noodle (highly recommend),scallops (also highly recommend) Peking duck. Everything was really good and we were stuffed at the end. With all the different items and flavors dinner was just plain old fun. As we talked and ate and ate some more. To top everything off dessert was 8 small ice cream cones a perfect end to a great dinner. Highly recommend this place I very rarely give 5 starts to any restaurant as I can always find something even small that they can do better but I have to say this place the food excellent the service better and it was just plain fun sharing all different things we would rarely order for dinner. We will be back, thanks for an excellent time.

This was our second outing to Sampan and, like the first visit, everything we ate was a hit. The four of us had the chef’s tasting menu which is seven items that we selected from the menu and then served family style in appropriate portions. Even with “appropriate” sizing, everyone at the table was stuffed but happy at the end.The food appears when it is ready from the kitchen so there is no set order to the meal. The pork pot stickers are surprising light and delicate for a fried dumpling. The pork bao bun is sublime with katsu breaded pork belly in a steamed bun. The wagyu beef is a beautiful bite of meat that is nicely cooked but would benefit from some more seasoning to contrast with the sweet apricot dip. Hamachi crudo is both delicate and intense at the same time. The fish is very mild but manages to not get hidden by the more forward flavours of the sauce it sits on. Umami Fried Chicken is flavour forward and delicious. The same can be said for the Tempura Soft Shell Crab. But like the hamachi, the relatively mild flavour of the crab does not get lost in the chili sauce. Finally, the iconic Crispy Brussel Sprouts are kicked up by the fish sauce and are delicious. Only caveat I can make is that it is a bustling (read: a bit noisy) place. Still, the food is great

Delicious food and great service. All dishes we ordered were very tasty 😋. Food was served in a good time eventhough the restaurant was fully booked

Our server Kathy was terrific explaining the menu and just being extremely accommodating. We tried 7 small plates and a few 2nd courses and each one was delicious. They have a nice cocktail/beer/wine/sake menu. The outdoor dining is perfect for 4 people, very covid observant. I recommend Sampan very highly

Great food, very attentive staff. We got a last minute booking and very happy that we did. The food is very modern and tasty. My cocktail was good too and all very reasonably priced. I would highly recommend.

A group of 8 of us conference attendees had a reservation here as a networking dinner. I was grateful for something other than the usual burger/brewpub these things happen at. The atmosphere was trendy, happening...and very loud for early on a Thursday evening. We gave up on the 8 of us conversing and instead talked in 4’s. We had hoped to convince the whole group to go for the chef’s special, but at $45/person it out-priced a few of the group. The menu is small plates, so the server recommended an average of 3 dishes per person. A colleague and I decided to share 6. It was way too much food for two people. Handily, half the dishes were too spicy for me so I had just the right amount of food (but a lot went to waste). I wish there was a guide in the menu as to what was particularly spicy or a star system for spiciness. What I loved: the beef skewer with Kim chee. So unusual and delicious. Also good: the Chilean sea bass and the pork bun. So-so and spicy: Brussels sprouts, pad Thai. Way too spicy: herbed tofu. One of the restaurants I like in Seattle, Wild Ginger, is also Asian fusion but much more flavorful and not spicy just for spicy’s sake- much prefer it to this. My biggest complaint was that we requested early on to have separate checks and were told they couldn’t separate it - that we’d have to divide it up ourselves. This became very complicated, especially because we all needed to rush off to a concert. Ultimately it was worked out but I missed the concert and paid $50 for a meal I wasn’t happy with.

Unfortunately our group didn’t like it. I don’t remember quite well anymore the dishes that we ordered but all of them were not good.

Very loud restaurant, so possibly not for business or date night, but the food was very good. Was there with a large group and a fixed menu, but the selection was fine and each dish had great flavour.

One of my favorite restaurants in the city. The food is delicious, especially their kimchee fried rice... YUM! The service is always great, as is the ambiance.

Definitely go with an appetite. You'll want to try everything on the menu. Go with someone else if you can and order lots of options from the menu - you'll get to try more of their amazing dishes! The Brussel sprouts are a must try!

We visited Sampan, located very near the Philadelphia Convention Center, on a recommendation from a friend who is a local resident. We were so glad we did we had a perfect meal. The vibe is very cool but also comfortable. Very lively crowd for a Monday night. We came during restaurant week here and tried their featured 5 course tasting menu. Our waiter Jonathon made our selections selections included wagyu beef satay, pork bell bao (complimentary!), general too soup dumpling, crispy shrimp, crispy duck, and pork and rice lo mein. Every dish was simply perfect. Cocktails were excellent as was the service. Truly a perfect meal. If you are looking for outstanding pan asian cuisine near the convention center this is your place.

We were recommended this place by a local and she was right. The food was delicious. It was a great blend of authentic Chinese, Thai, and Japanese flavors...or at least that's what I thought. They have an extensive wine, beer, and sake list. Our server was knowledgeable and guided us in selecting the right amount of food. The sides are quite generous. We didn't get the chef tasting menu but people around us did and everything looked fabulous. It's a popular place and thankfully we made reservations ahead of time. Not the place for little kids.

Tasty food late in the evening. We had flown in for the work conference. Not everything’s open late on Sunday evening, so our choices were more limited. This is in a very vibrant area of the city with lots of people still walking around after 8 PM. The food choices were good. It is sort of served family style in that they bring a bowl of the entrée, rice, etc and you share it at the table. The menu was small, but the food was tasty. Servers were responsive and helpful. It’s a small restaurant and a little bit loud, but I would definitely return again.

Sister dining establishment for Double Knot next door, and another excellent choice. Same chef, but slightly different twist. Unlike Double Knot, Sampan features more of small Chinese dishes and some dim sum, and less of Japanese/sashimi twist. We came there on Dec 24 in the evening. Most of the places were closed for the holiday, but, luckily, Sampan was open. We got seated at Chef's table/counter with an open kitchen concept. As in Double Knot, everything was very well executed, service was excellent too, as well as warm and friendly. It was too late for happy hour, so more expensive, but once again very enjoyable experience. Our favorite were pork bao buns, kimchi rice, and rabbit rolls, but everything else was quite good and flavorful too. Good selection of sake: sake complemented the small dishes well. We would like to be backs sooner rather than later, and try other dishes.

Wonderful variety of food. Everything I've tried has been excellent. Timing of plates to table was perfect. They've got this down to an art. Recommend!

Lots of Instagram worthy moments and kind staff. Food was good but not great, dishes are small and come out as they are ready. I think they are reimagining classic dishes like mapo tofu and pad Thai so don’t expect classic flavors or presentation! They do have a vegetarian menu and a gluten free menu as well. It was very busy so we recommend reservations!

This is Chinese dim sum with an American accent. Their Philadelphia cheesesteak baos are a fun interpretation, the Kobe beef skewers and Hamachi ceviche were delicious! We went for the tasting menu ...highly recommended!

We enjoyed tasty dumplings, crab wonton tacos, scallops, shrimp pad and sushi. The wine selection was also excellent and fairly priced. Yes we will return hopefully soon. Our server Jonathan was fabulous.

We enjoyed Sampan so much we revisited two days later! Fantastic food in a lively, fun ambiance The food was exceptional but what really made our visit was the team who were working From check to all the servers but in particular Nixaira who amazingly looked after us on both visits were all fantastic in ensuring we had two memorable meals and evenings. Thank you Nixaira! I’d recommend anyone when in Philly to pay Sampan a visit!

My wife and I had dinner with another couple on a Friday night. Wait wasn't bad for center city restaurant and our server Amber was great. We tried several of the small dishes and a few main entrees. For the most part the small dishes were tasty and had a good presentation. The crab tacos were very good. The vegetable dumplings had a nice presentation but fell apart when you tried to pick them up and the flavor was just ok. That was theme of most of the food - it presented well but fell way short on flavor. In addition, we had the wok charred lobster and it was nothing but shells. No meat at all. Very poor for. $22 dish. Drinks were the same. Poor selection of wines and others were expensive and weak. We were looking forward to Sampan but they really fell way short of the expectations and on line HYPE.

My wife had a yen for some Chinese food but Sampan sounded like a good option. It was. They have some excellent small plates, which we enjoyed, and followed them with one main and a noodle dish. You can easily enjoy a full meal just selecting small plates that offer a diverse choice,

I made reservations originally for Sat. 3/3 through Open Table. I cancelled due to illness via Open Table's website. Samoan reported me to Open Table for failure to cancel. I resolved this confusion today w/ Open Table. I rescheduled last night for tonight @ 7:15pm. My date & I arrived promptly @ 7:15pm. The hostess informed me that the current occupiers of our table were dilly-rallying. @ 7:30pm I asked the Hostess for a status update & she made more excuses. I won't be back due to her unprofessionalism. For those of you considering Sampan, be careful!

I took my daughter to Sampan to celebrate her 16th birthday with 8 other girls last weekend. We had a blast! Our reservation was for 6:30pm and we arrived by 6:15, skeptical that we would be seated soon because it was absolutely packed inside the restaurant. So much so we didn't even know where to stand. Surprisingly, our party of 11 was seated at 6:30 and our waiter Scott explained the menu. We were at a long table by the LED backlit wall the girls loved it for photos. We ordered a bunch of appetizers that came out incredibly fast. The cheesesteak puffs and pork potstickers were a huge hit. It was very busy and noisy in the restaurant, but the service was terrific and our overall experience was wonderful. The guys in the kitchen couldn't move their hands any faster to prepare the dishes to perfection. Each pair of girls split an entree and side, then raved about every dish. I'm still dreaming about the chilean sea bass. Don't skip dessert - the rice krispy treat roll was a major hit with the girls. We ended up ordering several! And we had the tiniest more adorable ice cream cones I've ever seen. What I liked most is that we didn't know exactly what to order having never been to Sampan before, but we could order more of whatever we liked best because our waiter was so attentive and the food came out so fast. It was amazing!

Food was mediocre and portions tiny. Wagyu beef and chicken skewers were chewy and very salty. Tempura cauliflower and dumplings were ok.

This was my second time visiting Sampan. My first experience was great however I cannot say that about my second visit. My gf and I went to Sampan for Happy Hour to enjoy some drinks and small bites. I ordered the Crispy CHICKEN Bao (which came in 2). When my order came, I ate one of the Bao's which was certainly chicken, when I proceeded to eat my other, I notice this piece of fried meat was NOT chicken but a piece of fried PORK. I am a person that have allergies, nor do I eat PORK whatsoever. My waiter seen the puzzled look on my face, I let him know my concern, and upon him looking he confirmed that it indeed was not chicken but pork. He let me see the ticket he placed, and it was for sure what I ordered (which was the chicken), yet the cooks served me one chicken and one pork BAO. I was highly upset. My waiter did go to the back and speak with the cooks and offered to replace the meal. I no longer wanted it, and he took that portion off my bill. Establishments like this need to PAY ATTENTION to what they are serving their customers and vice versa. I have no desire to return to Sampan due to this matter. I just urge anyone that would like to eat here to pay attention to their food and ensure what they ordered is what they are receiving.

First let me say that our waitress was amazing and very knowledgeable about the menu. The atmosphere is funky and lively. We had the chef's sampling where we chose 7 dishes and finished with dessert, fun mini ice cream cones! Most of the meal was amazing - only one that was disappointing, surprisingly it was the lobster dish.

Found this gem during a snow storm..and returned the next night for a fantastic meal. Very busy vibrant resturant that didn't disappoint. Food was outstanding.dumplings and spring rolls delish. I would recommend the small plates ..get 3 and sample some fantastic pan asian street food.

Went there with friends. Food was tasteless and the quantity was not enough. Don’t go hungry ! I had to add salt , pepper and soy sauce for it to be taste good for me to eat. Ever one left feeling they needed more food. Like I said : disappointing

The food of this place rocks ... excellent flavours and a very modern twist to Asian cuisine - the service and seating arrangements on the other hand was chaotic and slow. We had to wait 30 mins for a table even though we showed up at the time we had reservations for. We could not get a seat to wait in the bar.. when we finally got our drinks then they could not transfer this to our bill.... we had to wait another hour for the food etc It’s noisy and chaotic, but I guess that okay for most because the food on the other hand is amazing .... but imagine if they had everything under control- wauw what a place it could be :)

Great Asian fusion food, with absolutely delicious flavors. The edamame dumplings and pork bao buns in particular were quite good. We caught the last bit of happy hour and it was basically criminal how cheap our bill was for the food we got. The inside decor may be a bit intense for some (dark with bright neon lighted walls), but they do have outdoor seating. The service was great. Would definitely return.

The two of us went and had small plates- we weren't that hungry after a long work day but we got into it because everything was so good- we had the Korean short ribs- delicious- and a great Pad Thai- Loved the little ice cream cones ( but would need a double order next time- they make their own ice cream and it was extremely good) and the chocolate dessert was wonderful too. We both liked the cocktails a lot- also imaginative.. We have to work in Philly a few more times and we will definitely go back. ( I want to try the Lobster ravioli )

We were in Philly looking at colleges and stepped into Sampan at the last minute. What a find!!! We did the chef’s tasting menu and were not disappointed. The highlights were the General Tso’s soup dumplings and the cheesesteak bao. The chocolate/orange ice cream was so ridiculous that we paid extra for a second serving. Reserve or come early because it gets crowded.

The food here was so delicious it exceeded my expectations. They have a tasting menu for parties as small as two so our party of four decided it would be a great way to try the food since we hadn't been here before. The soup dumplings and shrimp pad tai were delicious but the fried chicken bun (our first course) blew our minds. I could have eaten three of those they were so good. The short rib was the only thing that was just ok. The little ice cream cones for desert were refreshing and just the right amount of sweet to finish the meal. Nice selection of wine, liquor, beer and sake too. Service was really good too. Just the right amount of attention without taking away from the meal. Can't wait to go back!

This is an interesting, popular and fun restaurant. Not the easiest place to find actually, as it doesn't really advertise itself and is behind a very unassuming black door. If you are new here, it pays to ask your server how things work because the menu is somewhat complex. There are many sections of varying types, some smaller, some more like entrees. Obviously, you can eat how you want, but it pays to order for the table and then all dig into the dishes that arrive when they are ready. This is where the set menu comes in and it works really well. There are two versions, one where you choose (2 from small plates and one from each other section which results in about 8 dishes). Beware; the early dishes are appetizer size, the later ones much larger. The dessert of ice cream were also extremely good but the dishes we chose were delightful - full of flavor and well presented. This is the best option in my view but you can also opt for the blind menu when the chef will choose your selection for you. As I say, it is popular, busy and quite loud but table conversation on our four top was perfectly possible without shouting or leaning in. All in all an excellent meal with great and varied flavors and very friendly and upbeat service. Not cheap but pretty good value I thought for a restaurant of this type in a major city.

When I make a choice in where I am going to spend a significant amount of money for a meal, I don't factor being treated with hostile indifference throughout the meal. This type of service, which was part of a birthday celebration on October 5, 2019, made the delicious food and celebratory conversation take a back seat. The birthday girl kept apologizing for choosing this restaurant as if it was her fault for the rude, dismissive and just plain a-hole server. Philadelphia has a ton of fabulous restaurants where the wait staff appreciates the patronage. Choose one of those.

The atmosphere is relaxing and exhilarating. The food is delicious! We tried several things and all were palatable. At the back of the restaurant is the open patio bar known as - Graffiti Bar, which has GREAT happy hours and serves the same Asian cuisine but geared towards that kind of atmosphere i.e. spring rolls, chicken or beef satay, wings etc.

OK food where of excellent crispy duck. Quite unattentive service - especially the maitre du cave (wine) was extremly slow!!

This was my 1st time to Sampan and all I can say is AMAZING!!! We did the tasting menu and everything they made was Delicious. The service was AMAZING TOO. Our waitress, Izzy, was very knowledgeable and gave great recommendations. We will definitely be back soon.

Our first choice restaurants were already booked when we decided to go into philly from the suburbs on this friday night, but boy are we glad! We happened into Sampan while looking for outdoor seating on a beautiful night. The menu is light, Asian fusion. It was very crowded but the hostess accommodated us outside in a short time. The drinks took longer to arrive, but were good. We loved the small plate options: bao bun may be my new favorite food! And the sea bass was also great. We'll be back!

Dinner at Sampan was great! Food comes out really fast so once you get your order in, you won't have to worry about waiting long if you're hungry. The crsipy duck was exceptional. It comes with scallion bao buns that were tasty with the stuff that comes on the plate. It's probably one of the more expensive things on the menu, but it will fill you up for sure. I also got the Hashi Old Fashioned and wished I tasted more of the caramel notes. I would definitely return to Sampan as I also wanted to to try their happy hour.

What a find. This is a great place for dining with an amazing tasting menu of 7 different items for a very reasonable price. Each dish was a taste sensation!

We did the chefs tasting and the food was some of the best I’ve had in Philly.. chicken bao buns, shrimp and crab egg rolls, crab tacos, bbq beef satay, filet,and chicken stir fry.. and at the end you get mini soft serve. Cannot wait to go back !

One of my wife and I's favorite restaurants of all time. Great food great atmosphere and excellent service. This place deserves all the praise it gets it is genuinely phenomenal!!!

Our tradition to discover new restaurants in new cities every Christmas Eve just got a big boost with Sampan. We started with King Oyster mushroom, chicken satay, Gen Tso soup dumpling and vegetarian dumplings - all delectable and leaving us craving for more. Stir fry noodles was in the vegetarian menu ( pl ask for it) and was super. The Khimchi fried rice is superb. Schezwan chicken stir fry is a big dish - more to be shared by three but again delectable. We rounded off a great meal with an awesome Kabocha cheesecake. Truly a fitting meal for the eve of Christmas!

A very nice Asian fusion bar. Our second time there. Good cocktails, decent beer, good food. My wife and I had an appetizer and a Peking duck each. In retrospect, three appetizers and splitting a duck may have been a better strategy. The soup dumplings didn't have that much soup in them, but they were good anyway. The other appetizer was good as well. The duck was done the way they do it in cheaper places in China - pieces of duck, buns, etc. No duck soup or the show of cutting up the duck in front of you. That was fine with us, just keep that in mind if you are looking for the three course peking duck show. The dessert was pretty good as well. Nice service and ambience; a bit on the loud side, as you'd expect of a bar. The check was surprisingly modest for downtown Philly. If you go - reserve well in advance. Consider splitting the tasting menu, if this is your first time. Several appetizers and a split entree is also a good option.

One of the best executed restaurant experiences. This restaurant is very busy, and bustling with young people. It has two bars, plus various seating. It is dark and the music is very loud, BUT the food is outstanding and the service top notch. After you get through the cramped check in area, the wait staff is perfectly trained, with people checking in with you reguarly to make sure you are satisfied. I highly recommend the tasting menu. Food was creative, really delicious, and ranged from tartares and asian salads, to seafood and meat dishes. The filet with soy butter was amazing. Also the swordfish satay killed it. Food comes as it's finished (like at a tapas bar), which worked fine except that the side for the main meal arrived too early. Waitstaff helpfully offered to keep it warm. Don't let the wait for a table disssuade you. Make a reservation and as long as you can take the deafening music, it's worth it. They'd do well to brighten the lights so you can see your food, but even with your eyes closes this fare is amazing.

As a multi-generational group of 12 the day before Thanksgiving, we weren’t sure that there was any hope of dinner before 9 pm. Sampan graciously worked with us on our last minute reservation and provided an exceptional meal. Our waitress Ann expertly guided us through the menu choices and took the time to explain the nuances of the sake flight we ordered. The food was delicious and we enjoyed tasting each others’ selections. It was a delightful experience from start to finish!

Food was excellent as usual. But the restaurant week offer was very confusing. Our waitress was slightly annoying while attempting to explain. I wish I remembered her name. Young tall African American woman. I think her hair was in two braids.. anyway it's usually a set menu for 35$. However we were a group of 4. So normally we all would just pick our selections and pay 35$. But there were 7 courses advertised and we asked ok do we all pick 1 from each section. She kept replying , "you choose collectively ". Seriously she must have said collectively 5 times on different occasions. So we basically were told no two in one section collectively and 1 from each of the other sections collectively.. so besides that Sampan is usually great. I'll stick to the happy hour there... it's good and easier to navigate.

We loved the cozy feel of this space, and when we asked to change tables so we could sit in a booth, we were promptly accommodated. The Shrimp Pad Thai was the perfect mix of savory and sweet--I would order that every time.

A very good environment with great menu options and reasonable price. Located on good neighborhood surround by many others restaurants

Asian - fusion restaurant with a very energetic vibe, very good food (I can certainly recommend the scallops and the shrimp fried rice), friendly service but quite noisy as tables are close together. If weather permits try to der one of the tables outside !

Great food and cocktails. Love the idea of sharing food. The Asian fusion and American Bistro atmosphere is tops! Very good seevice

Ate here with business associates on Sunday night. We did the tasting menu, which gives you the ability to agree on some choices from each category and share. The food was freshly cooked, tasty, and provided a variety of flavors. Next time I think I will try choosing my own plates. I would come back.

As usual, very flavorful and unique foods. Try something different every time and always pleased! Great service despite being packed. Sitting at the Chef’s table was a good experience too. Amazing how fast these guys were moving.

We enjoyed everything about our dining experience at Sampan. The ‘quality’ of the cuisine was excellent, the service was both professional & friendly, and the prices were reasonable. The small plates are an excellent buy for the money. The offerings were very interesting from a selection and taste perspective. Finally, their happy hour is a must for visitors to Philadelphia.

My wife and I had a very nice early dinner there the other day. Shared a few small dishes. Pretty much everything was very good or better. The wagyu beef was truly outstanding; excellent seafood dumplings. It seems you can't really go wrong. Not exactly cheap, but a good value for the price. If you go, reserve well in advance.

I am surprised this place does not have all 5 star reviews. Funky decor. Fabulous food. Great service.

My husband and I chose Sampan on our last evening in Philadelphia mainly because it was close to our hotel and we are so glad that we did. We were not familiar with the menu and our waiter was very helpful in making sure that we did not order too much food. What we did order was absolutely delicious. The scallops were seasoned perfectly, the pork was tender and the entire meal was so good. We would highly recommend Sampan for dinner.

We had the chef’s tasting menu, at 45 USD per person, and it was great value - seven dishes, picked by the chef, all wonderful. Highly recommend !

Group of seven...we had cocktails, small plates, medium plates, big plates and desserts. All were delicious...pad thai, dumplings, filet mignon, broccoli, spring rolls, pekin duck, stir fry, brussel sprouts, pork bao....it was all nicely presented...the overall service was attentive and fun. Desserts are 5 bucks!...they are not large, but very tasty. The place has a nice vibe to it...we had a blast and would easily return. Cool decor. No hype here, just a good restaurant.

We were told this place typically required a reservation so we booked ours for a Friday night on Open Table a week in advance. We were greeted at the door and seated within a minute. Our waiter, Nicholas, was very friendly and explained the whole menu to us. There is something called the tasting menu, but we weren’t hungry enough for it although it sounded very intriguing. We had the General Tso Soup Dumplings, the Shrimp Egg Roll, Korean BBQ Beef, the Crab Wonton Taco, and the Peking Duck Rice. The food, service, and atmosphere were excellent. Can’t wait to return!

We dined here on Valentine;s day. Have been there before but the wait time was an hour so had to leave because we couldn't wait there for an hour. Tried to make reservation on a Saturday but it was fully booked. So we tried for another reservation , luckily we got a reservation on Valentine's day. Restaurant is full and making reservation is highly recommended. Our waiter was a super nice guy. Food was coming really fast. They have lots of small plates and we tasted different items. My favorite was carb wonton taco and the sushi ice cream. The restaurant is a lil loud with music so have to talk louder, and wait time is there even with reservation. But great food, great service. No matter what they won't rush you to finish your food and get out. So I guess it makes sense with the little wait time.

This ended up being wonderful, but the service felt a bit unfriendly and it was so, so loud. If you're hoping to have a conversation this might not be the best choice. The tasting menu was wonderful but was poorly explained the first few times around (dietary thing). Once we nailed it, it did not disappoint. Highly recommended - I'll visit again, but know what you're headed into if you go. If the server or host likes you, you're good. They're clearly so busy and do a great job, but sometimes you have to work a bit harder to befriend them.

I was with a large group and we ordered a multitude of items. Each was wonderful and more plentiful than I expected. Our waitress was a master at handling a large table. My only complaint was if you came to socialize, you were out of luck. Only could speak with person sitting next to you and that was a challenge. If you came to eat you were richly rewarded.

Was traveling for business and came here by myself. Sat at the bar during happy hour, and really enjoyed a selection of the small plates. Service at the bar was very friendly and attentive, and the whole place had a really great vibe, even on a Monday night. Highly recommend.

Went with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday. We were running late and they were gracious enough to change our reservation to a later time so we could get there. Our server, Brianna, was fabulous. We had many questions, some dietary constraints, one of our party needing separate check etc, but she handled it like a pro - and with a smile. The place was hopping but she was patient and lovely all evening long. Now, the food: YUM! Most of the party opted for the Tasting menu - a fantastic value for the price. A variety of dishes - all delicious: short ribs, wagyu satay, rock shrimp, green papaya salad...The kim chee fried rice, chili prawn and the broccoli were outstanding. Plenty of really yummy veggie options (try the mushrooms - so good!). Food comes out quickly so it is like a veritable banquet of goodies! Beverages: oh yes! Our favorites were the Ming Mule and Kantoi Road (a must if you like it spicy!). tasting menu came with these cute mini ice cream cones - vanilla and chocolate - eat the chocolate first as it is very intense. Sorbet - coconut and strawberry was delicious too. We were pleased with the entire experience and will definitely return.

We arranged a fix 10 course sample menu including amazing delicacies, pork, fish, beef. All deliciously surprising!

Great atmosphere, food is prepared to order. Great selection on the chefs tasting, perfectly portioned, reasonable price & very filling. Can’t wait to go back.

Very busy, good vibe. Without a booking on a Thursday eve sat at bar with full menu and experienced efficient and attentive service. All fantastic!

Very good Asian fusion food with dishes from Korea, Thailand & China with a modern twist. Very tasty! Also, very busy and noisy.

I can describe this restaurant in one just word. It is amazing, superb, delicious, mind blowing. For starters, make a reservation, we found this walking around and the wait was really long ( but worth it). Second, a place to just sit and enjoy the food. I totally recommend to go for the chef picks. You have up to seven items to choose from, but believe me, everything is just as good. We ordered (group of 4), crab Rangoon, Korean BBQ beef, kimchi fried rice, hamachi ceviche, filet mignon, Wok-Charred Lobster and for dessert crispy rice sushi and orange-chococolate ice cream. I think it was $45 per person w/o alcohol, but really delicious and great portions for everybody. Drinks are good too. The staff was really courteous. In general our whole experience was fantastic. If passing by Philadelphia or planning a trip, forget about the Philly cheesesteak for a minute and give this restaurant a try.

Since this popular restaurant was booked, we ate upstairs in the Double Knot bar off the same menu. Delightful experience.

In town for a conference. All colleagues, 14 of us ordered the chef's choice menu for $45. Delicious, amazing small plates. Lots of food, everyone walked away full and delighted.

Been there once, place is always really crowded so had to wait. Delicious food and first class service.

We came here for dinner while visiting friends who live in the area, and had a wonderful meal! The ambiance is upscale and trendy without being stuffy, and it was very clear that this is a culinary hotspot. The staff were professional and friendly - our waitress was very helpful when we were struggling to decide what to order. The crispy duck, salmon satay, tempura cauliflower, and the general tso soup were outstanding! We ended up not leaving anything for leftovers, which doesn't generally happen with us. We'll definitely come back the next time we're in town.

We were a group of 10 and ordered the tasting menu- the kitchen sent our meals in perfect order and the food was exquisite! We highly recommend this place, outstanding.

I really enjoyed this place. I'm docking one star only because it was soooo dark in there. I get the idea of creating a cool ambiance, but when our entire table had their phone flashlights out to read the menu... Anyways, our server was friendly and funny. They had an ok beer list, but I supposed that's not what most people are drinking here. I ordered the sea bass and it was amazing. This place would make a fun date night.

very good dinner. excellent atmosphere. the cocktail and service were both amazing. I will certainly be back.

Because the interior was quite dark and the music a bit loud, we enjoyed late afternoon seating on the front sidewalk in the Gayborhood, a real treat. Others chose the back patio approached through a narrow alley to enjoy the Southeast Asian small plates. They were all delicious and moderately priced. Meat dishes, so not for vegans, though. Highly recommend.

From their website, ‘Michael Schulson is the chef and restaurateur behind the Schulson Collective restaurant group whose imagination and vision have made him one of Philadelphia’s most successful hospitality professionals. In 2008, Schulson opened his first restaurant, Izakaya, a modern Japanese pub in Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. At Borgata, Schulson found himself among the likes of Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck, earning rave reviews and immense popularity. He opened his second restaurant, Sampan, in 2009 in Philadelphia’s bustling Midtown Village. The contemporary Asian restaurant and bar was promptly named one of Bon Appetit’s “Top Six places to Taste Asian Fusion,” and Schulson was named one of Esquire’s “Chefs to Watch” in their annual restaurant issue soon after. Sampan is an oasis of contemporary Asian small plates located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia’s hot Midtown Village neighborhood. A dramatic back-lit wall mural sets the scene for artful food, emerging from the restaurant’s centrally located open kitchen while a carefully curated selection of wine, beer, sake and cocktails compliment guests’ experiences.’ After coming to Philadelphia 2009, Michael Schulson has been on a tear and Schulson Collective restaurant group is a major player in the area as well as expanding to Miami, FL recently. One man may have a vision, but it takes a team to play the game. Since the group brought on Michael Parisi in 2016 as Chief Financial Officer at Schulson Collective the group’s expansion, dominance at excellence, and fortune have increased tremendously. They also have stamped their place as a constant contender to be the location to see and be seen in the region. The entire team is on fire, yet their attention to detail has not slowed down one bit. Even though Sampan has been open since 2009 and has consistently been named one of Philadelphia’s Best Of for numerous awards and is always a very popular Happy Hour destination, I somehow missed the memo to visit. The message was finally received and they are just as fantastic as ever. From start to finish this was dining at its finest. From sitting down exactly at reservation time, decor, ambiance, service, food, pace of meal, and price point everything was hitting perfectly on all cylinders. To perform at such a high level after all these years and many other restaurant openings in different areas and markets speaks to the dedication of leadership from the top all the way to the bottom with everyone still believing and executing the vision. Job well done to everyone involved and our server Jonathan was great. Enough of the blah, blah, blah now to get to the food. Really enjoyed everything. Huge highlight was the General Tso Soup Dumpling. I have been to many places that say they specialize in soup dumplings that weren’t half as good as these and it was just as fun eating these as when I visited Din Tai Fung in Taipei, Taiwan. Another shining star are the Kung Pao Chicken Wings. Again anyone who serves wings should take notice. Crispy on the outside, super juicy on the inside, and a flavor that just pops with every single bite. The Wagyu Beef Satay was no slacker either. You can tell a happy cow makes a delicious piece of meat on a stick and they are so tender and yummy. Beef Short Rib Lo Mein was a delight with the beef able to be cut with the chopsticks and noodles seasoned wonderfully. It was a joy to eat every bite. The Roasted Branzino was truly delectable and green beans were a magical treat to eat. Something a little different was the kim chee fried rice that was a nice side dish and the crispy spring roll was good. A wonderful treat was the ice cream. Vanilla Swedish Fish & Chocolate Cocoa Puffs were the perfect way to end the meal. Sampan is a culinary gem of the Philadelphia dining scene and you should definitely give them a try or visit them once more if it has been awhile.

The service was amazing, always checking in on you asking if you need anything, filling waters/removing plates. We got there around 8pm and did not leave until around 10:00pm we did not once feel like they were trying to rush us to leave. The atmosphere was great, warm and inviting was not too loud for how many tables there are. The drinks were awesome! We ordered one of everything and also the vodka scorpion bowl. The food was the best part. It came out quick but not all at once. The flavors were just amazing in every single dish. There was not one thing that I did not enjoy. My favorite was the Korean BBQ and pork potstickers. The pad Thai was also very tasty (the best I’ve had in philly so far). Over all I had an amazing evening here and would recommend this place! I suggest making a reservation as well!

Peking duck fried rice was good but the bbq pork was dry and disappointing. Service is good other than an odd busboy that when I asked if he can take a photo for us he backed away immediately and said he would find someone. Saw him walk to the counter and was chatting and laughing with his coworkers. Clearly did not follow up with our request. Asked my server about it 10 mins later she sounded surprised at the attitude and immediately helped us take a photo. Food was so-so overall for the price, and place was extremely crowded and loud so not sure if I would come back.

When we went into the restaurant for dinner, it was dark and noisy. It was more of a bar atmosphere than a restaurant, but the food was surprisingly good! I haven't seen very many good Modern Asian or Asian Fusion restaurants, but this restaurant totally nailed it. My favorite was crab wanton taco, but having said that everything else was all good. Pork Bao Bun was modern Chinese Bun in sandwich style - very good. Korean BBQ Beef Satay was Korean beef in Japanese Yakitori style - very very tender meat! Kim Chee Fried Rice is modern Bibimbap - very clever idea. Menu at the restaurant was a bit confusing, and the server's explanation was not very clear, but the fact that the food was excellent, I give 5 stars. I will go back any day to have that taco again!!

My SO and I travelled to Philly for a day trip/concert and chose Sampan for dinner, in all honesty, because a different restaurant was booked for the night. In hindsight, I am delighted that this happened— otherwise we would not have experienced the top-notch food, service, and atmosphere that Sampan has to offer. Our server, Patrick, was incredibly cordial, professional, and efficient in his work. The Swordfish Satay offered tender, flavorful meat and a graceful combination of flavors in garniture that did not impede the delicate flavor of the fish whatsoever. The Pekin Duck was also cooked to perfection and served alongside delicious, pillowy scallion buns. We thoroughly enjoyed our edamame dumplings and charred lobster, also. The yuzu tart was plated with a beautiful blood orange sauce. This dessert was packed with bold citrus flavor, but lacked any overwhelming acidity that one may associate with citrus fruits. The kabocha cheesecake was smooth and delicate in its flavor in a way that demanded attention. It boasted a beautiful toasted marshmallow atop, and received a sweet punch when eaten in combination with the accompanying sauce. Our only regret is that our stomach capacities didn’t allow us to sample the rest of the menu, but that can be left for another day.

We made reservations a month earlier. This restaurant is packed with tables, and patron, you have to settle with maybe pushing the table to make space. Try not to bump into your neighbor. Our server was really nice and its really quick service. We started with some cocktails ming mule which was delicious. Edmame dumplings are a must order, we enjoyed the kung pao wings. The chicken tikka satay was a little bland. We liked the kimchi fried rice and sichuan chicken stir fry. We luved the miniature cones of icecream and sushi icecream was unique

I just loved this Asian fusion restaurant! I rarely give a five star review but this place so deserves it! The vibe was great and the service was really friendly and quick. The rock shrimp was fantastic and so were the brussels sprouts! The chicken satay and dumplings were also great and the sea bass was incredible. Very affordable too! Love this place.

This restaurant is gorgeous but comfortable inside. There were 3 in our party & we opted to sit at the bar. The restaurant was super busy. Our bartender was very friendly and personable. We ordered several plates of food all of which were great! We reordered a couple of times and the food arrived extremely fast. They have a great selection and everything was fresh and tasty. I really enjoyed the Sake flight - great sake. This is what we ordered and everything was incredible: PORK BAO BUN KOREAN BBQ BEEF (ordered 3 times) WAGYU BEEF (ordered 3 times) VIETNAMESE CHICKEN (ordered twice) KIM CHEE FRIED RICE SHRIMP PAD THAI AND for dessert, you must try the RICE KRISPY SUSHI (rice krispy roll with ice cream in the middle).