Sam Cha draws praise for bold Korean flavors with standout dishes like spicy pork udon, beef galbi and spicy jokbal, along with favorites such as bibimbap, tteokbokki and fried chicken, all offered at affordable prices. The reviews note a lively atmosphere and friendly service, though the place is small and often crowded, with limited ventilation and occasional variability in service. Some bites such as seafood pancake or certain curries can be less consistent, but overall Sam Cha is a reliable option for a flavorful Korean meal and good value, even on off days.
The cheesy chicken was great, meanwhile the Bibimbap was okay, no seasoning in the food but the sauce was helping with the lack of flavour. Kinda difficult to talk there, space is tight. Reservations required/recommended.
Un de mes restaurants préférés à Montréal ! Je recommande les frites au kimchi, le tofu kimchi & le gimbap. On y mange toujours bien, & la facture n'est pas trop salée à la fin.
Apr 21, 2026
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this restaurant has a front section & a back section. been here a few times. they usually sit you in the front section unless it's full in the front or unless you ask to sit in the back. the food portions are decent to good size. i sat in the back section last time i came & this time i sat in the front section. front section is where the open air kitchen is also. Poor ventilation. lots of smoke. I give this place one star despite i have been here at least 10 times because when you have a bunch of people coming for dinner & sit on the same table together, they force your table to all be in 1 bill. Why 1 bill you ask? So that they can force charge you 18% tips on your bills, not 15% if you take the time to calculate, which I find is complete bullshit (This is illegal too btw, I found out later). Nobody in my table wants to pay for the whole table & get paid back later by each person after. so since I don't want to sit here all night. I paid. I find it completely bullshit & unfair. usually i come with my girlfriend or a buddy so i didn't know this. the place is also very loud. they have a lot of alcohol section but the front of the restaurant outside is also extremely dirty.
inside is not super clean but it's passable. Customers beware of their sneaky practice of forcing everyone to be on bill so they can forcefully charge you more tips!!
Completely sneaky for close to no service anyway. highly Not recommended!
if you don't believe me, you can try to go in a group & you can then see how they proceed when you pay. they forcefully charge you not even 15% but 18%. Do the math compared to your subtotal. ALL FACTS.
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.
If you are looking for something simple, affordable, cozy, crunchy or even spicy food. I would definitely recommend this place! I love the songs they play it was such a vibe, can't help but sing along en plus with the view & weather outside? it was fun watching people pass by with their cute fall outfits 💋
The food? its amazing! I don't even like noodles but I even asked for my friend's food if i could finish it🤣
The Monsieur that served us he's pretty chill & he also cleaned the table or the place we wanted to seat on. I even charged my phone hehe.
This place is also close to school's area like Dawson, La Salle College, etc. & they close @9pm or so
The spicy jokbal is definitely the best in Montreal. Tender meat with soft & meting fat in the sticky sweet spicy sauce. It's quite spicy but the sweetness & lettuce balanced it well. The portion is good for two people too. Overall highly recommend.
Edit: ordered again 2 days later & it's extremely salty, even the flavour is different…..
Excellente soirée au Sam Cha samedi passé! Ce restaurant nous a été recommandé pour ses saveurs, & nous n'avons pas été déçus. Chaque plat que nous avons commandé était vraiment excellent. Le service était aussi très bien.
Si vous cherchez des plats savoureux coréens , nous recommandons sans hésiter !!
Mar 19, 2026
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Sam Cha never disappoints. The prices are very affordable, the staff is friendly & welcoming, & the food is consistently delicious & full of flavor. It's the kind of place you can come back to again & again without getting tired of it. I'd definitely go back & recommend it to anyone looking for good food at a great price.
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.
Feb 23, 2025
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Sam Cha is a cozy & inviting spot that offers an incredible dining experience. The picnic-style tables & warm atmosphere make it feel like a home away from home. The food is absolutely delicious-each dish is fresh, flavorful, & clearly made with care. I tried their ramen with crispy chicken, & it was exceptional! The broth was rich & comforting, & the chicken added the perfect crunch. Their variety of dishes ensures there's something for everyone, & it's a great place to enjoy with friends or family over a round of soju. Highly recommend Sam Cha for anyone looking for authentic Korean flavors & a friendly, laid-back vibe.
I'd recommend to make a reservation in advance as they are so so busy for dinner. This Korean restaurant is cozy & I like the way they decorated the inside The staff took care of our table really quick. We ordered seafood pancake, rice cake & tofu soup. Everything was delicious & they were huge portion :) suggesting to share with each other haha. I'd definitely come back if I have a chance to visit Montreal again.
the bulgogi bibimbap is very tasty & filling. I enjoy coming here as I know I'll consistently get a good meal. would recommend making a reservation ahead of time.
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.
Oct 17, 2024
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We came here for a weekend Montreal trip & I was excited to try a good Korean restaurant, & this one had lots of good reviews. IT IS JUST AS GOOD AS THE REVIEWS SAY. Their rosé sauce is unbelievable. It is the best rosé sauce I have tasted in my life. Their bibimbap & fried chicken were also REALLY good-this is the kind of restaurant where you can't decide what to get because you know everything will be equally tasty!!! We even came back a second time the next day & the owner was also super friendly. I genuinely cannot recommend this restaurant enough for the food, & the vibes were great too.
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.
Very good service & the stuff are adorable & very welcoming !! The food is really good & tasty! I personally really had a good experience & I highly recommend !!
Small hidden place that specializes in Korean food. Definitely recommend the beef tartare along with the udon & kimchi fried rice. Fairly priced & tasted great. Reservations recommended.
