Sam cha provides a specialized Korean barbecue experience centered on interactive tabletop grilling. Patrons select from a curated variety of marinated meats and fresh vegetables prepared directly at the table for optimal flavor profile control. The menu emphasizes traditional culinary techniques featuring essential staples such as kimchi, soybean paste stews, and seasoned side dishes that accompany the primary protein options. Each meal centers on the tactile process of searing slices of beef and pork over charcoal or gas flames to achieve a distinctively charred texture. The interior layout prioritizes functional efficiency to accommodate social groups focused on communal cooking. This establishment maintains a robust focus on authentic seasoning profiles and high quality ingredients, ensuring that the preparation techniques remain consistent with regional Korean standards for grill house cuisine.
Sam Cha is widely regarded as one of the best Korean restaurants in Montreal, offering a menu that is consistently praised for its flavorful dishes like bibimbap, udon, fried chicken, and jokbal. The restaurant provides a cozy and authentic atmosphere that makes it a popular destination for both casual meals and group dinners, though its compact size often leads to crowded conditions and necessitates advance reservations. While most patrons appreciate the generous portions and reasonable prices, opinions on the intensity of flavors and consistency can occasionally vary. The service is generally described as friendly and efficient, contributing to a welcoming environment that keeps many visitors coming back despite the occasional wait or limited ventilation.
Hands down the best galbi & udon I've had in the city. It is a go to for me when I am craving Korean. The spicy pork udon is perfect. It is chewy, spicy, saucy, & filled with flavour. The beef galbi might be the best I've ever had as well. Would recommend this place on a heartbeat. We also tried the seafood pancake & the fried chicken. They were good but not on the level of the other two dishes. The main downside is that the place is tiny. It is hard to get a table without a reservation. & after eating there expect to smell like Korean food, it is so small & there is no ventilation. It is a minor inconvenience but totally worth it.
I first visited this restaurant about 2-3 years ago & was honestly impressed. The food quality back then really stood out, & I've thought about returning ever since. Unfortunately, my recent visit last week was a complete letdown, & I'm struggling to understand what changed; whether it's new management, a new chef, or a shift in standards.
We went intending to indulge & ordered several dishes: Korean seafood pancake, pork soup with rice & potatoes, beef bibimbap, & kimbap. Sadly, every single dish was below average.
The pork soup was especially disappointing. The potatoes tasted like they had been frozen & reheated - something that completely ruins both texture & flavor. The broth itself lacked depth & warmth; it tasted flat, as if it had been sitting on the stove & rushed out rather than being properly prepared. In winter especially, you expect a soup to be comforting & rich - this was neither.
The bibimbap, kimbap, & pancake were also underwhelming & poorly executed. Bibimbap lacked flavor, the pancake was tasteless & undercooked.
I even brought leftovers home hoping they might be salvageable, but ultimately ended up throwing everything out that night or the next day - which says a lot.
This experience was shocking. Something clearly needs to be addressed in the kitchen, because at this level of quality, it's hard to see how this restaurant can maintain its reputation.
I truly hope they take this feedback seriously & improve, because what I experienced this time was far below what I remembered - & far below what customers should expect.
the bibimbap was disappointing, the rice wasn't crispy at all as the dish wasn't served in a stone bowl. also, the beef could've been less bland when it came to texture. last thing the portions were a little smaller than expected, but that wasn't the issue.
Jun 26, 2025
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Had takeout from this Korean restaurant, very satisfied. Friendly staff that always put up a smile.
I have went here before to have their beef tartare & bibimbap. Stunning as always.
Make sure to reserve or come earlier during weekends as the place can be packed.
I wish you could brought back the ayce bbq, it was one of the best ayce in montreal. Sadly cancelled after covid.
A bit of a disappointment since there was no free side dish. We ordered some tteok bok ki fried skewers & it was good, with some sauce to dip in. We ordered some fried dumplings & they were bland, a bit too fried, too oily. The rating went downhill because of the porc bone soup, the soup was very very salty & when you remove the 3 big bones, there is barely any soup left... Anyways, not recommended. The beef bibimbap was ok, could of been better in taste.
The service was ok, it wasn't busy at lunch time, & had to ask the waitress twice for napkins.
The place didn't look too tidy, mediocre, the seats were a bit too close between clients.
Perhaps my expectations were too high, but the meal didn't quite live up to what I had hoped for.
We started with the Beef Tartare as an appetizer. The beef itself was quite sweet, but the flavors felt unbalanced. To make matters worse, it was served cold, almost frozen, with ice crystals in it😂😂
The Tofu Soup, however, was a highlight. It had a great flavor & was definitely the best dish of the meal. We also tried the Spicy Jokbal, but it was far too sweet! Despite being labeled as spicy, I could barely taste any heat.
The waiter was attentive tho, so one star for him. But overall, I left feeling disappointed
Beef tartare est le meilleur!!! C’est la première fois j’essaie du bœuf cru mais franchement c’est super délicieux, trop tendre & la sauce est sour & sweet. La portion de Spicy jokbal est trop généreuse, on était trois mais on n’a pas pu finir. La serveuse était trop patiente avec nous elle nous a aidé sur le choix des plats, mais le resto est quand même petit & les places sont trop trop serrées, à part ça tout était parfait!!
Authentic Korean food. The food is quite tasty & authentic but it is more on the bar food & tappas. The taste profile is on the sweeter side. I highly recommend the beef tartare! The waiters were friendly & helpful but the service was a bit slow as they barely came to see us & we had to request them for water. Atmosphere is more lounge like & louder.
Sam Cha is a delightful Korean restaurant conveniently situated near Atwater Station. It has a lovely picnic table decor & welcoming ambiance with delicious Korean cuisine! Can't wait to come back & have their Beef Tartare again! We booked a table via Google Maps' reserve feature ahead of time & was reliably given a table when we arrived. The menu is scannable via a QR Code to their menu online. We ordered their Beef Tartare - a standout dish that we recommend. Its exceptional flavours & presentation left a lasting impression. For our main course, we opted for the Korean BBQ for 2, featuring beef ribs grilled at our table via a portable stove top. The set was accompanied by an apple salad & a vegetarian dolsot bibimbap. As of Sep 2024, the table top BBQ is not part of the menu any longer. We were also impressed by the attentive & efficient service that made our dining experience all the more enjoyable. Staff would occasionally check in on our table & ensure our grill was working & food was being cooked & flipped. Additionally, the staff seamlessly accommodated both English & French speakers which was a great experience. Sam Cha conveniently accepts cash & credit payments.
service was a bit slow on a thursday evening but staff was nice. food took some time to arrive but we all really enjoyed everything we ordered ( beef tartare, dolsot bibimbap, tteokbokki, chicken curry ) kimchi & shredded radish were a great entree.
