Sam cha

Sorelle

1.0

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.

25 déc. 2025

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Sofia

3.0

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.

26 juin 2025

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Tianbo

5.0

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.

27 mai 2025

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LeCroyant

2.0

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.

23 févr. 2025

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Ailee

2.0

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

12 févr. 2025

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Shiyu

4.0

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!!

3 févr. 2025

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Danny

4.0

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.

17 oct. 2024

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Carol

5.0

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.

1 sept. 2024

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Chloe

4.0

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.

25 juil. 2024

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Andres

5.0

Best Korean restaurant in Montreal! Love their beef tartare & Creamy chickie 🥳

21 juil. 2024

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Ricky

5.0

If you like beef tartare, get it here. Kimchi fries are nice, as well as the kimchi jjigae. Two man 짭짭 one man die 「I don't no」

4 juil. 2024

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Backy-_-T

5.0

I don't normally write reviews but my kids love it so much we be going back forsure. The spicy beef udon & curry katsu is a big win for me. Omg the flavours. Kids love the spicy Taboki with extra cheese n ramen it's so addicting. Beef tartare n seafood pancake n fry chicken is a must get if u wanna drink n eat :) There is something for everyone & for the price your paying its fair. A hidden gem in MTL downtown

23 juin 2024

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Alex

5.0

The food was amazing. As someone who knows the very different tastes of kimchi, the homemade one was delicious. The food was perfectly seasoned, especially the beef tartare that was out of this world. I had the chance to meet the amazing owners. Definitely going to comeback soon

7 juin 2024

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Nathan

5.0

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.

25 mai 2024

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?

4.0

been a few times, fun ambiance & love the beef tartare

8 mai 2024

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Nickie

5.0

Came here once not expecting much but the food was all so delicious. The tofu salad & beef tartare really stood out. Highly recommend this spot!

4 avr. 2024

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Caroline

5.0

Always great service! I've been there 4 times already & I'll keep going with my friends because it's so delicious & not so expensive compared to other restaurants. I recommend you to book a table if you're more than 2 because it gets full really fast! Our go to meal: beef tartare, bibimbap, & jokpal (the meal for 2 with pork & kimchi)

25 janv. 2024

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Deuscies

5.0

Their beef tartare is amazing! Also love their Naengmyeon & spicy pork dupbap. Make sure you reserve early, especially if you have a larger group!

22 déc. 2023

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Jessica

5.0

My favorite place for good korean food! The beef tartare is to DIE FOR. I've tried the bibimbap, rosé tteokbokki, katsu, soondubu, & more & they're all good! Lots of fun drinks options as well. Super sweet & caring servers too!

20 déc. 2023

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Suki

4.0

One of the best authentic Korean restaurant. I highly recommended. There prices were very fair & good. The foods were super delicious & well presented. There beef tartare & tobboki were to die for. Not to mention about the soju & other Korean cocktails & rice wine, they were all phenomenal. I would definitely come back to eat again.

30 oct. 2023

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