Samurai Sam’s

My husband and I love their steak bowl while my kids love their chicken teriyaki. Another plus is the price… which is surprisingly cheap! This is our first time to eat here and we’re definitely coming back.

The food was bad but it’s not the worst I’ve ever had. Even their Sprite tasted weird. The woman at the counter forgot our drinks (only 3 of them) and there was a total of 5 of us in the place. The orange chicken was tender but not much orange flavor.

Egg roll was overly greasy and tasted reheated and flavorless.
I got the Orange chicken and it was reheated in a disgustingly dirty wok and then placed in a bowl with fried rice (not a mention for the 39 cent up charge for that) and some peculiar veggies which I find out later by looking at the menu aren’t fresh (if you want fresh then it’s a 39 cent up charge… What the hell was I eating?!)
Just as others noted previously, the guy who had been giving out samples came in and reheated things in the microwave before going out and giving out freebees. Ack. For the $ 9 I could do so much better elsewhere.

I actually love this place I was really surprised by the reviews! I go almost every time I shop at woodfield, their teriyaki bowls are to DIE for. But with that being said this place is DEFINITELY a dive. It’s grungy and not very clean or well lit. They could work on the atmosphere a little.

Crab Puff is horrible. Kung Pao combo was OK. but i had had better.

Well, there I go again, not listening to the other reviewers and ‘giving it a shot anyway!”
All I have to say is that everything that you read in the other reviews is indeed correct. i just came back from the place, and I have now experienced it for myself.
I cannot actually believe that a restaurant of this low quality is in Woodfield Mall at all. I would expect this from a run down strip mall in the ghetto, but not something next to the Rainforest Café…
The food was bland as all get-​out. The crab rangoons were extremely oily and had no flavor. I’ve seen from sweet, through sour, through salty rangoons, and they’re all fine — these had no actual taste to speak of, besides overused frying oil taste.
I got the Teriyaki wrap (the Teriyaki is supposedly their signature item). The chicken was of low quality (I’m not sure how else to describe it), it just had this strong ‘animal’ flavor to it, like as if they used all dark meat and the worst cuts of it at that. The sauce was flavorful, but nothing to write home about. As expected, the wrap was stuffed with 80% rice, and the chicken and vegetables constituted a small portion (Rice is a cheap filler).
The strangest thing of all, perhaps, is that YES, the cooks seem to LEAVE the restaurant WITH YOUR FOOD, go someplace, and then come back. I read about this in the previous reviews and couldn’t believe it, so I looked to see. Yes, sure enough, it happened with the crab rangoons. The guy put (what looked like pale, frozen rangoons) in a metal serving tray, and left the restaurant, and went to the restaurant next door to the left. I followed him to see where he was going, and saw him chatting with the staff at that restaurant. After 5 minutes, he came back with the rangoons, which now looked brown and chrispy — he fried them in the other restaurant’s kitchen, basically. Ok… what the heck?!
Sooo… overall, really really mediocre food (and I’m being as nice as I can here), good service with a smile, but the whole ‘cooking my food at another restaurant’ thing was a bit too strange even for me – I grew up in a communist eastern European country, I thought I’d seen it all. Again, I can’t believe this place is in Woodfield…

I love places that look like a total dump but surprise you with their awesome food. This is not one of those places. This is just a dump.
On the outside there are bright colorful pictures of freshly cooked food. Step through the doors and you’ll find a dark, dingy, depressing take out joint. But the kids wanted noodles, and really, how hard can it be to make some noodles? Panda Express does it all the time.
As we walked through the entrance, there was a guy right outside handing out samples. Since we had decided that we’d go here, I told him to save his sample for someone else. We didn’t need it. We were already sold by the awesome pictures. Now I regret having not taken the sample because it would have saved me from what turned out to be an extremely lackluster meal.
We ordered the yakisoba and I had a taste for soup noodles, so I ordered the chicken soup noodles. Afterward we sat down to wait for the food. The lady who took our order at the cash register, who I’m guessing is also the owner/​manager, started to argue with her cook about how she only carries Pepsi products because they are cheaper, and the cook told her with the money she was saving with the Pepsi products that she could put a few extra dollars into the cookware that they used. He pointed to the wok (and by the way, the ONLY wok that they owned), and said it didn’t work. She said she had bought it in Chinatown and had gotten it for $ 5 and that all Chinese woks were created th same.
I watched them prepare the food and noticed that the meat was pre-​cooked and that they put it in the microwave before throwing it in the only wok they owned to finish it off. I also noticed that the guy that was handing out samples would come back in and reheat the samples that he hadn’t handed out in the microwave and then head back out. Guess that gives the samples that freshly cooked taste.
The food was done and it was placed in flimsy Styrofoam plates and bowls (seriously, probably the cheapest you could possibly find). I had a hard time picking my bowl of soup noodles off of the tray because the bowl was so wobbly.
The food tasted like reheated leftovers. That’s the only way I can describe it. It tasted of a former greatness was that perhaps three to five days old and had been re-​heated several times by a college student as a midnight snack while studying for finals.
And the crowning moment was when I looked at my cup and saw that it was a Philly Cheesesteak cup. What the…
In all fairness, I found out later that Samurai Sam is affiliated with Cheese Steak Factory, hence the explanation for the cups, but c’mon. A little ghetto, don’t you think?
I’m sure other Samurai Sams around the country live up to the hype that their posters advertise, but this particular Samurai Sam is doing some major cost-​cutting and quality is suffering immensely. Someone needs to call up Samurai Sam and tell him that the owners/​managers of his Schaumburg/​Woodfield establishment have turned it into Samurai Scam (c’mon, I’ve been saving that one this whole review).

First off, if I could give zero stars I would. I usually don’t write reviews for food places. The food here was that bad I had to. They offer a «free egg role combo» with a drink purchase. It is a rip off and the egg role is probably the worst you will ever have in your life. The food quality is horrid and of that of the lowest fast food one can get, but instead of having that regret much later after eating with most fast foods, this place, you get it immediately once you taste your first bite. definetly never coming back.

Can’t say anything good about this place unfortunately. I was there with 5 people and everyone’s dish was just terrible. Either over cooked, tasteless, or greasy. Restaurant and bathrooms were not clean. Don’t bother with this place when there are so many other options at Woodfield.

I dont even wanna give one star. my husband and i ordered stir fried broccoli and veggei yaki soba. we found out later that they charged us for «extra vegetables» which we never asked for… and they forced us to buy a drink to get a free eggroll. That eggroll taste so bad that we couldnt finish it and it was so soggy… i like crispy eggrolls but this eggroll was just too soggy. Please avoid this place. i am an asian. I eat asian food almost 1−2times a week. When i tell you to avoid, please avoid!!!

I feel like Samurai Sam’s gotten a bit of a bum rap. Would I go here for Valentine’s Day dinner? Nope, but when my pregnant needed a little bite to eat while at the mall, this was A-​OK. Their teriyaki sauce was less overly sweet than other fast food restaurants of its type. Plus, I did enjoy that you could make your meal super spicy for no extra cost.

Do not eat at this place it’s so gross! The pictures looked great so I ordered the salmon bowl. Before eating I washed my hands and the bathroom was filthy and probably never washed. When I finally got to eating my meal I noticed that the piece of salmon is extremely white and it looked like it was ground up and put together. I’m a vegetarian so I know my salmon especially since I only eat wild caught salmon. Anyways this piece of salmon was completely white and it should be pink in color. I took it back but they refused to give me a refund. So I called the franchise number then gave the phone to the store owner and got my refund. Also as I exited the place, I noticed they have a mouse trap hidden by the plant right by the entrance… Gross!!! The visible mouse trap alone is a food violation since it probably contains poison. They should close this place down.

I think this place is hit or miss with people. It’s a hit for me. I really like Samurai Sam’s, I find the employees to be very nice and friendly. The cook knows my order now because I go in fairly often (I work at the mall) and I always eat the same thing (vegetable wrap). I know a lot of people find their sauce disgusting, but I really like it! The portions are huge! Maybe I’m crazy, but this is the only place in the mall I will eat besides Jimmy John’s.
And honestly, if you’re looking for authentic Japanese food, a fast food place in a mall in suburban Chicago is OBVIOUSLY not the right place to look. Let’s be realistic. I love Sam’s just the way it is.

Shopping trip at Woodfield, looking for a spot to grab lunch. There was a crazy line at Panda Express so we made our way over the Samurai Sam’s in the Sears wing. First time eating here though we’ve passed it by many times in the past. Good-​sized eating space about six tables that seat 4 people each, and then counter space along the walls. The tables are really close together which was made tighter by us bringing in a stroller. My first impression of the tables though, was ‘sticky.’ I don’t want to say dirty or unclean because that’d be too harsh, but it just felt like the tables/​chairs/​floors could use a good (clean) wipe-​down.
Counter service with menu posted on the wall above the register. They also cook the food on the spot, behind the counter. Menu has pictures which is helpful when you have kids. Our food was cooked quickly, and service was not unfriendly, but not friendly either… more ‘brusque’ or curt. It was ok for fast-​food stir-​fry mall food, but greasier than I expected, particularly the potstickers which were burnt on the bottom. Combo plates are kind of pricey. Also, I guess the egg rolls are free with purchase of selected plates. I didn’t realize that at the time so I said No when they asked if we wanted one… only to realize later that it was free. Would have been nice if we were told that, but it’s ok. We had teriyaki bowls (shrimp/​chicken) with soba noodles and rice and they hit the spot but more because we were hungry than anything else.

Long story short my friend and I were indecisive on where to eat. We also wanted something cheap. Sadly, after walking around for awhile, we resorted to Samurai Sams because it was right there.
Overall, it tasted greasy, bland, and like disappointment. Okay, the last one was how I felt about myself for even trying this place.
Also, it wasn’t so cheap. The combos are deceiving.
So, all I have to say is «I’ll never eat here again.» FOOOOR REEAAAL.

Pricy and quality isn’t quite there. Free egg roll that they always push for that taste awful.

Soo, we needed to grab a quick bite to eat. We were checking out the various restaurants in the mall. I hadn’t heard of Samurai Sam’s (even though it’s a chain)! so we braved in.
What was hilarious: When we were looking at the menu, one of the workers rushed out with a coupon for free egg rolls! Yes, please!
Sooo, we went in. The woman at the register said they’re known for their teriyaki chicken — so teriyaki chicken (and beef) we did!
The teriyaki sauce was pretty good. Flavorful, sweet, … I don’t think the beef was the best quality. The chicken, however, was much better…
The egg roll: not worth it. It had way too much crust. Not enough vegetables. They tasted horrible. Definitely not a fan of this.
I will come back here if I have to, but I think I will go next door and try Stir Crazy next time.
Meh…

I have just noticed that Samurai Sam’s has two postings on Unilocal… so, here is my story from the other listing:
So being foodies has its drawbacks. Namely — the funds to back our escapades.
Solution: The 2011 Entertainment Book.
There was a coupon for a free Egg Roll. Pretty Sweet. Especially since it says «No Purchase Necessary» in caps on the reverse side.
Liars. They demand a purchase.
If that’s the case then they should probably pull their contribution to the EB.
This is the second year in a row that they’ve turned us away.
They’re super super rude, and the food is overpriced.
Samurai Sam’s? You Fail.

I might be a little picky when it comes to meat (I only eat white meat), but this food was just… weird. The rice was good, I’ll give it that. The sample I tried outside the place was decent. The teriyaki sauce was good. However, the actual chicken was… sort of gross. Had weird… things in it. My friends didn’t really enjoy their meals either. Can’t explain what it was, but I recommend skipping this place.

Samurai Sam must have been off duty.
This place is in Woodfield Mall.
They lured me in with pictures of delicious meals placed in the front. Let me tell you that it’s lies, all lies. My soup was disgusting. There was only 4 small pieces of chicken, one tiny little vegetable and gross noodles. I could have done better with.10 Ramen noodles. The other dish had one tiny vegetable too but steak was decent.
Not worth it, gross.
If in mood for Mexican, try Taco Fresco on second floor.