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Sai Woo Garden Restaurant
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 3 am
Sun 5 pm - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
11 reviews for Sai Woo Garden Restaurant
11 reviews in English
-
Review from Keith D.
Edmonton, AB
4/10/2012
I don't know why I haven't gone to the Sai Woo before now. It's been there since I arrived in Edmonton in what people called the "New Chinatown". What was new is now old so it was fitting that our first visit was at the suggestion of a friend whose father adopted the Sai Woo as his favourite restaurant. We met our friends on the evening before the lunar New Year. Despite being exceedingly busy, our table was ready.
Our friends knew what to order and we submitted the order on paper because it looked as if we wouldn't ever be served. The food arrived promptly and was piping hot. Servings were generous, including that famous fried squid. We had ordered one dish per person and there were still two takeaway boxes of leftovers for our friends to take home to their kids.
Oney downside to eating at the Sai Woo is that the decor is showing its age. The bathrooms are clean although they run out of toilet paper quickly when busy. However, a word to the staff and they will replenish supplies quickly. DAnother downside is that there is no dedicated parking, just metered street parking. Despite the crowds, there was a fun, family atmosphere at the Sai Woo. At the Lunar New Year, reservations are a must.
I was quite surprised at how reasonable the bill was when I went to pay. Overall, a great recommendation for families. -
Review from Rachel F.
12/9/2011
The food was not bad, but neither was is spectacular. Even the deep fried squid which my fellow Yelpers have been raving about was fine, though not the delectable treat I had been hoping for (and the portion was certainly too big for two people; it would probably be best when shared between 3-4). The other dishes were flavourful, just not exceptional.
I did appreciate the fast and attentive service. We went for dinner at around 8pm on a Wednesday evening after yoga class, so I was famished. It's good that the food came quickly.
Overall, Sai Woo Garden is a decent restaurant. But my search for the best Chinese food in Edmonton continues. -
Review from Violet P.
9/14/2011
My friends tell me you can tell if it's a good Chinese restaurant when you find Chinese people and non Chinese people eating there and this is the place. If you want great Chinese food in the downtown area, I would definitely recommend.
There are more larger tables to accommodate 8-10 people but they have a row for smaller tables that seat 4 people.
My favourite dishes here are the deep fried squid and the sweet and sour pork. The squid is the the best I have ever had with large pieces and lots of it. The pork is crispy and the sauce isn't too thick like sweet and sour can be. Also, most pieces don't contain chunks of fat like other restaurants.
Other delicious dishes include beef and gai lan, peaches and shrimp, and the seafood. The prices are reasonable and you the portion sizes are large so there's always leftovers!
The only complaint would be that the washroom is small and sometimes lacks soap or tissue. -
Review from Claire A.
Leduc, AB
3/23/2011
Love Sai Woo .. like previous posters have suggested...you should ask for chinese menu or style.
So many Edmonton restaurants cater to really questionable tastes...the thick sauced noodles etc... Sai Woo does fall prey to that on some western themed dishes as well
BUT
and the difinative BUT
Sai Woo does make 2 of the best dishes in edmonton...in more than Edmonton IMHO
the fried squid is legendary and rightly so...they go through so much that it is fresh, tender, and just plain joy
my fav dish though is the sea cucumber.... it is served with sauted baby bok choy, sh*take, onion ...and is a world class dish
the server will raise an eyebrow...and ask if you really want sea cucumber...but trust me...you really do...it is under 20$... 17$ last time i was there
so very good.... tell them a friend told you to ask for the chinese style sea cucumber and you wont be disapointed
as well... it never hurts to say you like chinese style, not american...it means less sauce and more true flavour
the prawns and pods are great
as well the spicey beef & gai lan... we like to ask for extra chili ... sublime
the peach prawns are good but make sure the guy does not make them american style..other wise you get shelf mayo and peaches...again authenic style rules
enjoy :) -
Review from Edna L.
Edmonton, AB
11/14/2011
I've always avoided going to Sai Woo, even though a lot of my friends that eat out at Chinese restaurants would tell me that the food there is really good. I think mainly the reason is because I don't want to pay that extra one or two dollars for the same kind of food I can pay less at another restaurant.
At around 1:00am, me and my friends were borderline hungry and wanted some greasy Chinese food. We searched our minds with the choices of restaurants in the Chinatown area and found that many that were at a lower price and a lower quality weren't really appealing.
Also there weren't many places that were open this late.
I couldn't fight off the thought of paying a few dollars more for possibly a little better tasting food at this restaurant, but I manage to push through and give Sai Woo a try.
On the weekends, Sai Woo is open till 3:00am
So when I got there, I ordered foods that I normally would order at this time of the night. They are also very flexible about making foods that are not on the menu which is nice.
Our waiter took our order and within 5 mins, our first dish arrived.
Within probably less than 10mins, all 4 dishes that we ordered were ready. I didn't expect to see the dishes ready that fast?!
The food tasted pretty decent and the waiter was on the ball with making sure we always had a full teapot. Tea is good to wash down the greasy that is sitting in between your throat. Yum
The best dish for me is the fresh "deep fried squids". I don't normally order this, but my friend suggested that I should try it and it was the best decision of the night.
I would say it's an average of $10/dish, if it's not seafood. BTW, this is mainly a seafood kind of restaurant.
What I also like about this restaurant is the different size of tables for any group size. You feel like you can come in with as little or with as many people and still fit in.
It's a great place to have dinner or a late dinner with your friends, family, co-workers or even new people you've just met! -
Review from Farees K.
1/29/2011
The best fried squid I have ever had the opportunity to taste.
If you are looking for ambiance you should stay far away from this place. -
Review from Jason L.
Edmonton, AB
5/25/2010
If I had to pick, this is Edmonton's best Chinese restaurant, which means Southern Cantonese cuisine. The food is authentic and very well executed. There is good variety on the menu, even the English one. The decor is classic old school Chinatown and the service is attentive, helpful and welcoming. Portions are generous and priced like any other restaurant, so they're good value. Their clientele is the local Chinese community and it's busy. There is probably no better endorsement.
As with all North American Chinese restaurants, the best food is often off the English menu and seasonal specials are often only written in Chinese. Ask the staff about what's good and what the chef found for the specials. Depending on seasonality, there might not be a special every day but it's worth asking.
The reality is that most western diners order the "Big 3": fried rice, sweet and sour pork and Ginger Beef, over and over again; something that convinces Chinese restaurant owners that the average western customer is not interested in authentic Chinese food, which is why the English and Chinese menus are not really the same. So, ask.
Their big challenges in attracting a wider customer base are the dearth of parking in Chinatown and that the neighbourhood intimidates some. Western diners also find a room full of Chinese all speaking Chinese loudly a little bit intimidating as well. Although parking is a challenge, both the neighbourhood and the restaurant are really quite welcoming in reality. Come in a group so you can order a wide variety of the dishes and have a raucous good time like everyone else. -
Review from Andrew S.
7/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here
The best chinese restaurant in the city, they make the best deep fried calamari, they give huge portions and the service is very fast, and the food comes out fast when you order. If your going for dinner on the weekend, I recommend making reservations, cause they get packed.
-
Review from Lauren N.
11/28/2009
This is where we go anytime we're too lazy to cook and are craving Chinese food. The quality of the food and service is excellent, and I've never been disappointed here yet! Like Paula K. says, you get huge portions, so definitely your buck's worth, and chances are you'll be taking some home with you too. The restaurant is big and accomodating, and there's usually a table available whether you have a party of two or twelve.
The only thing I feel hesitant about is some of the other patrons who come here, street people who sometimes make your dining experience a little unpleasant. But I realize that's not the restaurant's fault, and it would be rather discriminating if they did turn away people ... And of course everybody needs to eat too! But if you're hacking and coughing away near my table, and you smell kinda funky, I'm gonna move ... Just a heads up! If you're not fazed by much, Sai Woo is still a great place to go for Chinese. -
Review from Gregory A.
7/6/2011
Great food. You have to try African chicken.....is a must for me when I come to Edmonton. I don't care about the atmosphere when I am eating here, every dish we get is always good.
-
Review from Paula K.
9/30/2008 1 photo
Huge portions, excellent service, and bustling, busy restaurant full of all kinds of people is what makes the Sai Woo a wonderful place to dine. Located in Chinatown, the portions are gigantic -- be prepared to take some home with you, along with some of the rice you may order to the side. In these meals, the chicken, beef, or whatever other kind of meat comes with a dish is served in an amount equal to, if not more, than the vegetables. This is definitely a place to bring a friend -- not only is it a fun place to eat, but you'll need help finishing the food.
