Sampan is an oasis of contemporary Asian small plates located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia's hot Midtown Village neighborhood. A dramatic back-lit wall mural sets the scene for artful food, emerging from the restaurant's centrally located open kitchen while a carefully curated selection of wine, beer, sake and cocktails complement guests' experiences.
Serving the same acclaimed Asian food and drinks by Chef Schulson that have made Sampan instantly popular, it's also a haven for sports fans, equipped with TVs behind the bar, and home to our daily Happy Hour. Heat lamps for chilly nights and the soft glow of candlelight make it a perfect spot no matter the season.
Serving the same acclaimed Asian food and drinks by Chef Schulson that have made Sampan instantly popular, it's also a haven for sports fans, equipped with TVs behind the bar, and home to our daily Happy Hour. Heat lamps for chilly nights and the soft glow of candlelight make it a perfect spot no matter the season.
Reviews (26)
Jordan H.
Jan 27, 2022
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I chose Sampan as a spot to dine and reconnect with an old friend who just moved to Philly. We were seated right away and our waitress was amazing. I really wish I remembered her name, she was lots of fun. We shared the fried rice, Waygu, cheesesteak bao, general Tso soup dumpling, and crispy spring roll. Would truly recommend them all in a heartbeat. Can't remember a time where I ordered so many things off of a menu and genuinely enjoyed them all. We had an amazing experience!
Megan S.
Jan 25, 2022
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Food was good but portions were kind of small for price. Their happy hour set up is a also a bit odd, as in, you can only get the prices if seated in a certain area. So we had to go out back to an outside bar. Which was nice but not the setting we wanted for the moment. I don't think I'll return just because I can get this food at another place for cheaper and I can get happy hour prices served to me wherever I sit.
Denise M.
Jan 24, 2022
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We got dinner at Sampan with a couple of friends and was excited to try the food. The atmosphere was wonderful and we did have a reservation for a birthday dinner. We were worried about the seating at first since it seemed busy, but we were able to get seated outside on the corner of the restaurant. The only downside to this was that the food got cold really fast and it was really loud by the street.
Food:
Edamame Dumplings (2 servings)
We saw that this was really recommended by people, but we found it to be okay. The edamame was what made the skin green, but the inside paste was not good. This
Food:
Edamame Dumplings (2 servings)
We saw that this was really recommended by people, but we found it to be okay. The edamame was what made the skin green, but the inside paste was not good. This
Rodney Edwards Jr
Jan 11, 2022
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Yesterday, my friend and I had reservations at Sampan, but to my surprise this was not a pleasant visit. We had a table, but when we saw the bar area was open we asked the bartender, Natasha if we could sit there instead of waiting for the table. She responded saying we could. As we approached the area, I noticed that she didn’t wipe down the area after the people before us. So, I asked her if she could wipe down but she didn’t hear me, which then I motioned if she could wipe down. For some reason, that set her off she was rudely asked me if I would like her to wipe down. I said yes please
S. Lewis
Jan 10, 2022
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Anthony J.
Jan 09, 2022
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Got a chance to visit a friend for Halloween, and I was recommended Sampan. We saw that they had happy hours, even on the weekends, which is awesome!! Most on the food menu is only $6, and the drinks vary, but they have house offerings for $5. We opted for the Rum Scorpion Bowl ($25) and ordered the following food items:
1. Mushroom Lo Mein
2. Pork Bao
3. Chicken Katsu Bao
4. Korean BBQ Beef Satay
5. Kobe Slider
6. Kung Pao Chicken Wing
Honestly, all of them were great, with the Kobe Slider being the only one where I felt it was lacking - the bread and the patty was a bit dry. My favorite was
1. Mushroom Lo Mein
2. Pork Bao
3. Chicken Katsu Bao
4. Korean BBQ Beef Satay
5. Kobe Slider
6. Kung Pao Chicken Wing
Honestly, all of them were great, with the Kobe Slider being the only one where I felt it was lacking - the bread and the patty was a bit dry. My favorite was
Steve Bolger
Jan 09, 2022
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The food is pretty good and if you can get in on the happy hour (bar and outdoor seating only), the prices are unbeatable. The staff are hit or miss. Sometimes they are kind but others they are disinterested or a little rude. The atmosphere is great, very inviting and refined. Overall, usually a very good experience.
I am here often and one experience was just weird and unprofessional. While at the bar, I watched this guy who appeared to work at the restaurant stand by the counter where the orders come out. He was just yelling at everyone with his mask was on his chin. He bragged about getting
I am here often and one experience was just weird and unprofessional. While at the bar, I watched this guy who appeared to work at the restaurant stand by the counter where the orders come out. He was just yelling at everyone with his mask was on his chin. He bragged about getting
Aeji K.
Jan 02, 2022
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I sat on my bed trying to figure out what I should rate this place and I was confused. Confused because it was good, but not as good as I expected. I'm not sure if this is because people speak highly of it or my experience was just subpar.
I'll explain first why I was confused. The major reason is that our friends got the sampler. They were so kind and accommodated me on the gluten free options. That was wonderful. We got wagyu beef and when I tasted it, I wasn't blown away. It was good but not wonderful. I thought the beef was a little hard to chew though it's supposed to
I'll explain first why I was confused. The major reason is that our friends got the sampler. They were so kind and accommodated me on the gluten free options. That was wonderful. We got wagyu beef and when I tasted it, I wasn't blown away. It was good but not wonderful. I thought the beef was a little hard to chew though it's supposed to
Leta Z.
Dec 21, 2021
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Back in August 2020, Double Knot and Sampan had a joint outdoor dining menu which was a neat way to try dishes from both restaurants. I'm only reviewing the items from Sampan's menu in this review and the other items are reviewed in my Double Knot review.
Food and Drink Ordered:
* worth trying
- [Crab Wonton Taco]: I'm on the fence about recommending it because the flavors aren't anything special but I do like the combination of the crunchy wonton taco shell with the soft crab filling that had small pieces of crunchy pickled shallot mixed throughout. I'm a big texture
Food and Drink Ordered:
* worth trying
- [Crab Wonton Taco]: I'm on the fence about recommending it because the flavors aren't anything special but I do like the combination of the crunchy wonton taco shell with the soft crab filling that had small pieces of crunchy pickled shallot mixed throughout. I'm a big texture
Joey S.
Dec 17, 2021
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We did the chef's tasting for $50 a person. It was worth it! This was one of the best meals I've had in Philly hands down. The atmosphere and service were definitely on-par with how the restaurant presents itself.
The food was all decadent, prepared to the highest standard, and honestly mind-blowing.
I honestly will need to go back a few more times because this is definitely a spot where you'll want to try everything.
Great date night, and highly recommend!
The food was all decadent, prepared to the highest standard, and honestly mind-blowing.
I honestly will need to go back a few more times because this is definitely a spot where you'll want to try everything.
Great date night, and highly recommend!
Madison D.
Dec 15, 2021
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We went here las night, the food and our waitress were amazing! However, the group of hosts/hostesses were some of the rudest people I have ever met. We had a 7:15 reservation and did not get seated until after 7:30, which I totally can understand if they are busy, however that coupled with the rude hostess really make it hard to want to go back.
Peter S.
Dec 15, 2021
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Amazing service but not sure if it was worth the wait. We waited 45 minutes for a table which may not seem like it that long given the popularity of this restaurant. But in retrospect we would have been better off just eating at the bar which had available space.
Once seated we ordered appetizers and then shared or made meal. For appetizers we had chicken satay, and dumplings. Our server was extremely attentive and friendly considering how busy he looked. For our main dish we ordered chicken pad Thai I believe it was a beef dish and another chicken dish I don't recall the names but I do remember
Once seated we ordered appetizers and then shared or made meal. For appetizers we had chicken satay, and dumplings. Our server was extremely attentive and friendly considering how busy he looked. For our main dish we ordered chicken pad Thai I believe it was a beef dish and another chicken dish I don't recall the names but I do remember
Tu-Quyen P.
Nov 14, 2021
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Excellent Asian Fusion fine dining experience with top notch service, perfect pacing for the chef's tasting menu and a good value for your money. You must order the truffle edamame dumplings, the broth is perfection and such a rich flavor. The Peking duck is a perfect balance of duck fat to meat and the char siu rib is so tender it falls off the bone. The whole meal was a delight and I highly recommend checking it out if you can. Reservations are recommended!
The only item I'd swap out is the wagyu because the flavors didn't mesh well together. Also Kim chee fried rice has quite
The only item I'd swap out is the wagyu because the flavors didn't mesh well together. Also Kim chee fried rice has quite
Elise P.
Nov 02, 2021
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My friend and I stopped by here on a whim Halloween night after our first choice was surprisingly closed. Our server was Izzy who was super friendly, attentive and helpful. Top notch service, give her a raise.
We ordered the specialty cocktail of the night ($5), I forget the contents but it was essentially a spiked lemonade (maybe yuzu was involved). We also didn't realize but happy hour runs here on the weekend 4-7pm which was awesome. The dishes came out within like 3-5 mins I feel like so insanely fast. This could've been because it was a slower night considering Halloween but I
We ordered the specialty cocktail of the night ($5), I forget the contents but it was essentially a spiked lemonade (maybe yuzu was involved). We also didn't realize but happy hour runs here on the weekend 4-7pm which was awesome. The dishes came out within like 3-5 mins I feel like so insanely fast. This could've been because it was a slower night considering Halloween but I
Tessa A.
Oct 28, 2021
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Being HUGE foodies from DC, we really wanted to love Sampan.
Ambiance (4/5): If you are looking for a COVID friendly restaurant, this is not the place for you. Tables were so close to each other-- so close that if I stretched my hands out, I would literally touch the person sitting next to me. In addition, I didn't find any hand sanitizer nearby. Other than that, staff were all wearing masks. The space is very dark and intimate, perfect for a Girls Night Out or Date Night.
Service (5/5): Our server was kind and attentive. She did a run down on their whole menu and checked up on us frequently
Ambiance (4/5): If you are looking for a COVID friendly restaurant, this is not the place for you. Tables were so close to each other-- so close that if I stretched my hands out, I would literally touch the person sitting next to me. In addition, I didn't find any hand sanitizer nearby. Other than that, staff were all wearing masks. The space is very dark and intimate, perfect for a Girls Night Out or Date Night.
Service (5/5): Our server was kind and attentive. She did a run down on their whole menu and checked up on us frequently
Brett A.
Oct 24, 2021
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Overall, a wonderful date night, but there are definitely some items better than others:
- edamame dumpling: as good as all the reviews say
- crab wonton taco: not just a good photo
- pork and mushroom lo mein: awesome and a super generous portion for a side (could be an entree in my book!)
I would give the chicken katsu bao a second chance (even though it was drowning in sauce last night) but pass on the wagyu beef satay and dan dan dumplings in the future.
My pictures are of a la carte orders, although the table next to us (which got the chef's tasting menu option; now $50) looked like
- edamame dumpling: as good as all the reviews say
- crab wonton taco: not just a good photo
- pork and mushroom lo mein: awesome and a super generous portion for a side (could be an entree in my book!)
I would give the chicken katsu bao a second chance (even though it was drowning in sauce last night) but pass on the wagyu beef satay and dan dan dumplings in the future.
My pictures are of a la carte orders, although the table next to us (which got the chef's tasting menu option; now $50) looked like
Chloe Choe
Oct 19, 2021
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As an Asian and Korean, I thought this restaurant was a fusion restaurant to me. Because all the food was salty and strong in taste. It wasn’t familiar to me at all. Especially the dumplings with the soup we ordered came out bursting. It was just dumpling without any soup.
This place was very crowded and really busy. All the seats were so close to the person next to me that we could even have a conversation…😅👎🏻 What I liked the most was their setup and atmosphere! But that’s it :)
This place was very crowded and really busy. All the seats were so close to the person next to me that we could even have a conversation…😅👎🏻 What I liked the most was their setup and atmosphere! But that’s it :)
Jenn Marie
Oct 01, 2021
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Jackie L.
Sep 26, 2021
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Amazing! We only went for happy hour this weekend because we ate so much other food, but the overall food and experience was awesome. The edamame dumplings are amazing as always; light, melt in your mouth, and flavorful. The Brussels are super tasty and we loved the unique flavor! Happy hour deals are super worth it and you could definitely eat a whole meal just from those options alone. The drinks were also great! We were seated immediately even though it was prime happy hour/dinner time on a Friday night at the counter top area overlooking the kitchen area. We loved seeing them prep the food
Ruchi J.
Sep 07, 2021
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4)
In general, limited vegetarian options, but the ones that are there are pretty good!
Ask your server what the vegetarian options are because the only ones that were actually on the menu were the edamame dumplings, but they have more options than that! We got edamame dumplings (be sure to ask for these vegetarian because I think they may normally come with some meat or fish broth/sauce), tofu tacos (pictured), Tofu fried rice (veggie version of the kimchi fried rice, since kimchi normally has some fish in it), and Veggie Lo Mein (not pictured, we were eating
In general, limited vegetarian options, but the ones that are there are pretty good!
Ask your server what the vegetarian options are because the only ones that were actually on the menu were the edamame dumplings, but they have more options than that! We got edamame dumplings (be sure to ask for these vegetarian because I think they may normally come with some meat or fish broth/sauce), tofu tacos (pictured), Tofu fried rice (veggie version of the kimchi fried rice, since kimchi normally has some fish in it), and Veggie Lo Mein (not pictured, we were eating
Matthew B.
Sep 05, 2021
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First time here and we went straight to the tasting menu if your bottle of sake ( 300 mL at $44 = ouch).
I believe the tasting menu was 8 courses across 4 categories (desert is included) - so it is extensive - oh, and delicious start to finish.
It was a little strange and that everything was tasting size until the last two dishes which were presented full size.
That's said, I can't find fault with the cooking and the service was spot on.
I believe the tasting menu was 8 courses across 4 categories (desert is included) - so it is extensive - oh, and delicious start to finish.
It was a little strange and that everything was tasting size until the last two dishes which were presented full size.
That's said, I can't find fault with the cooking and the service was spot on.
Faith Spain
Sep 01, 2021
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I went here yesterday for my 26th birthday. We were sitted fast. We dined outside. The food was delicious and affordable. We did happy hour. The Korean bbq beef satay is to die for! Our waitress was excellent and everyone had a good vibe. I’d definitely come again but I would try dining inside this time, I liked how it looked in there.
LeVar Lflat Ferrell
Jul 20, 2021
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Brooke Dohner
Jun 12, 2021
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Had such a great time here and will absolutely return. Waited in line when we arrived, saw many people ask for a table and get turned away, so I highly recommend reserving a spot as soon as plans are created. Great variety of small plates for sharing. The meat and fish menu is a larger portion intended to be eaten as an entree with a la carte sides. Did a mix of both, and left full and satisfied. The Peking duck was the best I've ever had. The cocktails were also great. I'm so excited to come back!
Ridwan M. Havefoodiwilleat
Jun 12, 2021
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I would highly recommend for anyone who visits Philly to dine in at Sampan. The ambience is really high class, it may be a little too dark but it was just a perfect setting when you want to have a great dinner with friends/family or partner.
The service was impeccable, they know what they are doing and always ensure that you are treated well. The food waiting time wasn’t too long and of course the food was really good.
I would have to say that the duck was a little too dry, and the Kimchi rice came in too early before the rest of the food. It would have been better if the kimchi rice came with
The service was impeccable, they know what they are doing and always ensure that you are treated well. The food waiting time wasn’t too long and of course the food was really good.
I would have to say that the duck was a little too dry, and the Kimchi rice came in too early before the rest of the food. It would have been better if the kimchi rice came with
James Gentile
May 16, 2021
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Asian-fusion upscale restaurant located in the Gayborhood. A wide variety of choices from Kobe beef sliders, shrimp skewers, dumplings and more! Plates are small and runs more like a tapas restaurant. Vibes inside are low light intimate settings and outdoor is great people watching. Not cheap but not overly expensive for how good the food and setting is.
