Sésame
305 Rue Ste-Catherine O
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Reviews for Sam cha
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korean(46) recommend(27) kimchi(27) spicy(26) bibimbap(22) chicken(22) rice(21) beef(21) tartare(21) fried(19) beef tartare(18) udon(17)The food was good, but the service was awful. We visited on a Saturday night & were seated in a very cramped corner overlooking the street, which made the experience uncomfortable. The server never even looked our way when we waved to get his attention, & we had to get the to-go boxes ourselves. Overall, there was a clear lack of care for customers. Based on this experience, I won't be returning & would rather spend my money at places that value their customers.
I'm genuinely disappointed writing this review.
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.
Please do better.
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.
Un endroit génial pour savourer un délicieux jokbal bien épicé !
Cette fois, j'avais envie de tester quelque chose de nouveau, alors j'ai commandé un gamjatang & une pajeon aux fruits de mer.
Quand il fait froid, rien ne bat un bon bouillon brûlant accompagné de saké bien chaud - un vrai bonheur !
Dans l'ensemble, les plats sont bon!
Le week-end en soirée, la réservation est indispensable !
Went & got the bibimbap , kimchijagge , chicken & pajeon . It was great service & the food was great .
Truly excellent food the two times that I have been at Sam Cha.
I absolutely loved this place. Food was great, staff was friendly & helpful. We were having late dinner so place was almost empty but I heard it can get extremely crowded.
Food price is ok. Portions are mid, not too impressed. Location is nice & vibe inside is cozy. Service is ok. Waited a while before getting water. Images are katsu chicken curry (18$) (very salty & not enough rice in my opinion) & rose tteok (14$)
De~li~cious~ Glad that you're still here
//2yrs ago: Spicy udon & fried chicken
Unluckily waited 30mins since the waiter misheard.
Great food, Great price, Great service
Definitely a go to when stopping by in montreal & you're hungove
Food is amazing, especially the kimchi fries yaki udon & fried chicken