Sampan Inn Going Strong After Two Decades

For 21 years the Sampan Inn has been serving Asian cuisine at 2-8 Brookline Boulevard in Havertown.

Winston Zou, manager of the restaurant and son of its owner Song Zou, told Haverford Patch that while Sampan Inn started out as a Chinese restaurant, about a dozen years ago it took over the corner property next door and expanded menu to add Japanese cuisine.

Entering the restaurant you see numerous awards and articles written about Song Zou.

“We do more business than anyone else,” Winston Zou said when asked about the restaurant’s popularity.

So, what makes it so popular?

“I don’t know,” he said, laughing. “We sell good food.”

The extensive menu offers traditional Chinese and Japanese fare. The most popular dishes are General Tso’s Chicken, their Fried Rice, Lo Mein and Wonton Soup, Zou said.

Sampan Inn also sells a “Hong Kong style” Wonton Soup, which includes pork, shrimp and Shitake mushrooms in a thin wonton.

As for Zou, he likes the Beef Chow Fun and the Crispy Duck best on the menu, he said.

Zou’s father Song, a Havertown resident, has retired from the everyday business and happily looks after his grandchildren. The family also owns Shangri-La Inn in Bala Cynwyd.

Sampan Inn is listed as one of the top restaurants in Havertown on Yelp.

Hours

Lunch:
Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 3pm

Dinner:
Mon - Thurs: 3pm - 10pm
Fri & Sat: 3pm - 10:30pm
Sun: 2pm - 10pm