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.
Online reservations are not currently offered through this listing for Sam cha. However, you can call them directly at (514) 932-7565 to inquire about table availability.
Sam Cha is widely regarded as a standout destination for authentic and flavorful Korean cuisine in Montreal, consistently earning praise for its delicious dishes such as the creamy fried chicken, kimchi fries, spicy udon, and beef tartar. Many patrons appreciate the cozy, vibrant atmosphere and the quality of the food, which often feels homemade and reasonably priced. While the restaurant is frequently busy and can become quite noisy due to its popularity with students and locals, the staff is generally described as helpful and welcoming. Although wait times and table spacing are sometimes noted as minor challenges, the consistent quality of the menu and the overall energetic environment make it a highly recommended spot for those seeking a satisfying and reliable Korean dining experience.
Some of my favorites are the seafood tofu soup, sweet chickie (great with the beer combo), seafood pancake, mushroom tempura, & kimbap, but it's hard to choose! Everything is delicious 😋 lots of drink options & they serve water at your table in little water bottles (very nostalgic)!
Atmosphere is really cozy & warm, with kind servers that give you space but ate attentive of you need them. Menu is on a QR code so you always have access.
There can be a slight wait during dinner time so reservation is recommended if you don't want to wait, but I've never had to wait more than 30 minutes for a group of 2.
Okay, an honest but fair & generous review:
1. The atmosphere - I'm giving a 3, but that's generous.'Zen-like' does not describe this place. It was noisy to the point of having difficulty hearing my partner. That said, I hadn't read any reviews first, which is probably a good thing because I would have been harsher. We literally were walking by & decided to eat there, not knowing beforehand what to expect.
2. The service was fine, our server was attentive but we didn't realize she had sent us the wrong starter until it was too late - it was tasty but again, not what was expected. Details do matter.
3. The food was good, tasty & the pancake was a delicious discovery (though it reminded us of a take on the Spanish tortilla).
Overall? The atmosphere & distracted service worked against the food, which was solidly good but not stellar.
Not a criticism, but it struck me as a noisy student dining place/ hangout with good, solid food. Nothing wrong with that - just not for everyone & certainly not'Zen-like'…
Would I return? Probably not. Would I recommend it to my rowdier undergrad friends? Absolutely! Just not my cup of sake.
I absolutely love Samcha! The staff is always so sweet, & the food is delicious & definitely worth the price, not too expensive, not too cheap, just right for the quality you get. Everything is full of flavor & feels like a homemade meal.
I always get the bibimbap with bulgogi as the protein & kimchi on the side, & it always hits the spot! The kimchi is amazing, & the portions are good. I keep coming back to this place & always recommend it to anyone who loves Korean food!
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.
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 !!
