SAM SATO'S, Wailuku - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number

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CUISINES

Asian

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch

FEATURES

Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Table Service

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4.5

222 reviews

Excellent

125

Very good

59

Average

30

Poor

6

Terrible

2

Janet M

Corvallis21 contributions

Delicious food and friendly serivce after visiting Iao Valley

Mar 2020 • none

After we visited Iao Valley, our navigator told us Sam Sato's was not far, and it got us there despite the out-of-the-way location. It probably was obvious that we were tourists, but Tiffany, our server, gave us a warm welcome and did a great job explaining the menu to me. I chose dry noodles, which were saltier than what I usually eat, but, oh my goodness, I loved the flavors and texture. Maddy had chow fun and a side of kim chee, and she enjoyed those, along with a couple of the little pastries. We were simply happy to be there, enjoying all the people around us.

Written March 14, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Previa1994

Chicago6632 contributions

Great comfort meals

Jan 2020 • none

For a restaurant, Sam Sato’s is located in an unusual looking place; the place is located in a residential neighborhood, and the building they are located in also looks more residential than a commercial place. The building complex also houses other businesses. It is a small place, but then again they had a line of people waiting for seating, so it must be a popular place. We were lucky to get parking space in the business parking lot. The place is like a classic Diner place. In spite of being busy, the waitress was very friendly and patiently helped with our order selections. Two dishes stood out – The Chicken Katsu and the Banana Pancake. The chicken was crisp in spite of being covered with white sauce, and the pancake was fluffy. Sam Sato’s is a great place for comfort meals.

Written March 19, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

flashncrash

Berkeley672 contributions

Feeds the soul

Jan 2020 • none

Sam Sato's embodies the simple food that feeds the soul. It is popular with locals and tourists alike. It is one of those places where you step back a little bit in time. Unfortunately with Covid you lose that feel. We've come here a couple of times and, so far, have always been able to park in their lot. We really enjoy their dry noodles but also got their teriyaki beef and a cheeseburger. their food is simple, humble and homey. Their dry noodles are comfort food. This is what everyone that visits Maui should try at least once. It may not be to their liking but it is authentic Hawaiian! I look forward to returning and enjoying their offerings.

Written December 27, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dallas S

Kahului19 contributions

Wont wait again

Feb 2020 • none

This is an old local hangout. "It is a good place to go for noodles." I have lived here for decades and never tried it until this past Wednesday. I was thouroughly underimpressed. The wait time does not justify our mundane experience. Service is good and our server was courteous though obviously stressed and very rushed. The menu is limited and we tried two of the most ordered items, as we were told. We had to get our own canned beverage from the stand up fridge by the service window. I have always heard that this is a great place to go. I don't agree.

Written March 5, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KarlHQuin

60 contributions

Love the service but food tastes bad

Jun 2021 • family

Fast, friendly service but ultimately the food tastes awful. The staff was great but the dry noodle tasted like sewage. Also, they’ve been operating for decades and still haven’t got a water filter which makes the water tastes bad and the broth tastes bad.

Written June 11, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Allen S

7 contributions

Great noodles and great service!

Jan 2021 • none

January 2021, and things were starting to open up on Maui. This was only one of two places where we sat down to eat a meal inside. Like other reviewers I'd highly recommend both the dry noodles and the saimin. Tables were spread out inside for social distancing, and the service was fantastic.

Written March 28, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chris J

Sammamish922 contributions

Dry Noodles = Happy Mouth 😘

Apr 2021 • couples

Can't leave the Island without my saimen and dry noodle fix... so much tastier and chewier than it's Japanese cousin, ramen. Bring on the dashi and fish cake dry mein. I love even McD has their version here but nothing beats Sam and avoiding the tourist traps like Star Noodle. Always a big line of locals but worth it for the happy mouth 😘.

Written April 29, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

trout42

120 contributions

Great locals restaurant

Feb 2020 • none

Hadn’t been back to Sam Sato’s in 19 years but they didn’t disappoint us. Food and service was every bit as good as it was years ago that we ate here. The dry noodle and chicken skewers are the best. Very reasonable prices too.

Written March 6, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John S

Columbia3283 contributions

Worth a visit if in the area

Jan 2020 • family

Went here for lunch while house sitting for relatives in Wailuku. Very busy place for lunch. Dry noodles were great. BBQ beef stick was even better. Desserts were dry and not very good. Fun place to visit but not sure I would drive there if staying on another side of the island.

Written January 17, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

stay-home-mom-pa

Cowansville165 contributions

Not worth it

Jun 2022 • family

Based on previous reviews and because the locals know best, we decided to try Sam’s. I wish we didn’t. Food is average but bland. Small business with limited seating. Prices are high for what you get. Save your time and go somewhere else

Written June 8, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

stevenrealife

616 contributions

“Must stop” for any Maui traveler!

May 2021 • none

Sam Sato’s is a Maui food high point for us! The dry noodles (meaning they aren’t a noodle soup) are just fantastic. This place was all locals, and locals know what is good!!! This is a “must go” Maui food destination!

Written May 4, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kristy S

Pearl City30 contributions

Great hole in the wall restaurant.

Dec 2019 • friends

My friends told me that you can’t visit Maui without trying Sam Sato’s restaurant. They were right. Unfortunately they were so busy we decided to take out. Their bbq sticks are to die for. So juicy and tasty. They are known for their dry mein which is like fried noodles only les oily. Very delicious. There is a constant stream of people flowing into this restaurant, locals and tourist. Next time you visit Maui you must stop by and try this place.

Written December 8, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Grant-808

Honolulu477 contributions

Famous dried noodle and not-so-famous cheeseburger and manju … so ono

Nov 2019 • none

Recommended by island locals, this hole in the wall in the industrial area of Wailuku (12 minutes from Kahului) was the bomb. Known for its dried noodle, sourced from a local natto/noodle in Paia, it lived up to its reputation, firm and chewy as its name implies, and tasty with char siu garnish and a soup based dipping sauce. The closest resemblance would be the king of fried saimin on Oahu, Mililani Restaurant. Not-so-famous, but equally ono were the cheeseburger and manju. The cheeseburger was all about the meaty and juicy handmade patty, perfect combo with the dried noodle. Then ending with their handmaid manju, a bit drier and firm than the nearby Home Made bakery, which is more flaky and buttery; a scone to croissant analogy; both worthy omiage. Very crowded during peak lunchtime, but manageable during other hours. If the parking lot of a dozen or so stalls is full, you know the restaurant will also be full. The processing of customers was efficient with the speedy staff and use of high tech iPads, but the waitresses did have time to talk story during the lull times. A definite place to go to experience unique local Maui food.

Written November 4, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hugo B

Colma10 contributions

Dry noodles to go!

Oct 2019 • family

Ate here almost every day for four days (it was worth it to drive back and forth from Lahaina). I was initially worried at first because my younger daughter is very particular about noodles in general, but she loved the saimin (Hawaiian style noodles in soup) and drymin (same as Saimin except soup is on the side). On our last day in Maui we ate here for breakfast and ordered drymin to-go, which we were able to take through the TSA check point so that we could have a delicious lunch in the plane.

Written October 11, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

aloha056

109 contributions

Try the Dry Noodles!

Aug 2019 • none

My friend and I spent two full days on Maui, and the plan was to make this a food trip. Our first stop, after picking up our rental car, on this food adventure was at Sam Sato's in Wailuku. My friend and I are both from Oahu, and Sam Sato's was a recommendation made by her sister. At first, we were wondering if we entered the name correctly in our phone mapping app because the area in which the restaurant is located had somewhat of an industrial feel to it. But, our trusty map app did not lead us astray because we successfully arrived at Sam Sato's. It was around 10 am on a Saturday morning, and there was a wait time to be seated in the restaurant. When you arrive and if there's a wait, there's a sign-in board that you should put your name on. The nice people waiting with us showed us the ropes. Rather than wait for restaurant seating, we did a take out order. We ordered the dry noodles, and, let me tell you, they were delicious. I mean, I've tasted my fair share of noodle dishes before, but there was something special about these noodles. I can't put my finger on it, but it's one of those dishes that I didn't think would leave such an impression on me. As I type this, I'm craving them again! My friend was a little more ambivalent. She enjoyed them, but didn't seem to have the same wow factor for her. We also tried the manju, and it was delicious. I highly recommend ordering a savory manju to enjoy for dessert after you finish your noodles!

Written September 1, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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