Samoa Cookhouse

Family restaurant · Samoa

Samoa Cookhouse

Family restaurant · Samoa

1

908 Vance Ave, Samoa, CA 95564

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Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by Photo by Jeremy Saum
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null
Samoa Cookhouse by null

Highlights

Historic cookhouse serving family-style American meals & logging museum  

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908 Vance Ave, Samoa, CA 95564 Get directions

samoacookhouse.net

$10–20

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908 Vance Ave, Samoa, CA 95564 Get directions

+1 707 442 1659
samoacookhouse.net

$10–20

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Aug 7, 2025

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@afar

"Eat Like a Lumberjack The Samoa Cookhouse has been serving all-you-can-eat family-style meals since 1890. It used to be just for the loggers who worked in the company town of Samoa, just outside of Eureka, but since the '60s it's been open to the public, for people like me who don't work nearly as hard as a lumberjack but can still eat like one. There's a set menu for every meal. Breakfast on a Sundaymeans sausage, scrambled eggs, biscuits, and gravy, and best of all, thick slices of French toast made from enormous loaves of just-baked bread. The waitresses are as friendly and energetic as you'd expect of people who have to serve a room that holds hundreds at huge tables covered in red-gingham vinyl tablecloths. Giant saws hang on the walls, and there's a little museum off the dining room full of old mill equipment and great old photos. Hearty food, nice people. This place is good for your soul."

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Jeremiah Mahler

Google
The last time I ate here was 30+ years ago when I was a kid on vacation. I don't recall how good the food was back then but it is definitely good now. The ambiance is of a time long ago as old as the trees that went through the mill. The lady running the place has the hospitality of an idealistic Mom, welcoming to everybody who visits. The the food reminds me of my grandmas cooking. It's all homemade: bread, green beans, chicken soup, potatoes and the brisket was some of the best I've ever had. Definitely worth a stop if want to take a trip back in time and get some good old fashioned home cooking.

Samantha Dean

Google
Located in a beautiful scenic spot. Museum and tribute photos are great! Food was average. Pretty sure they are experiencing the staffing shortage as wait times and frazzled workers were evident. Bathroom wasn't very clean and needs some updates. Overall I'm glad to say I've been but probably won't go back.

nithin george

Google
Great ambiance, feel of history… amazing staff , that’s the first impression.. the food was tasty as of home , nothing more nothing less , nothing fancy whatsoever. We went for a late breakfast, it was almost lunch time , but the kind lady chef prepared breakfast for us . Their biscuits and gravy is a must try . The scrambled egg was heavenly, sausages were perfect cooked , toasts were delicious. Buy their homemade bread . The staff who served us was so amazing and friendly. We felt like home ( we were the only customers at that time ) so they were able to take care of us . Please be ready to wait to get food , as it’s made fresh ..

J. Zachary Luneau

Google
Holy cow this place is good. They sit you quick, they tell you what they are serving that day, you say yes and they bring you your food. A dead simple formula that they nail with Laser precision. Our host/waitresses was amazing and friendly and carried the entire serving area with a smile. Are food was amazing and they had a good (small) selection of local beer. Would go again!

Mike McLaughlin

Google
Love this place. It's been about 6 years since last here, but the food and ambiance are great. Service was good, but only two people for a Sunday morning breakfast rush of at least 50 people. They were working hard.

Hong Linh Pham

Google
I’m reviewing their service and the museum inside (NOT THE FOOD) All the meals here have been served more than 105 years. I’m not sure how good the food are but they are very crowded. The little museum inside the cookhouse is so COOL, you will get to see how old days cooking material be like and more… We were running out of time so we can’t eat but I’m sure the food is great and that’s why so many people came here. Also they only serve one dish each meal and it’s different everyday.

Dorothy M

Google
I have always loved this eating establishment since the first time I ever found it! Which could be twenty years ago! I know it has been there longer, much longer than that! I hope it stays longer! Everytime I am in the area I try to go! I love bringing new people with me too! Here is why: the staff are quite friendly. The place is full of history. It is clean. Food is delicious! There is no way that you will leave hungry! I am so grateful that I was able to go again! I also bought bread to bring home!

D B

Google
An old logger's cookhouse that's been converted into an eatery, features a very limited menu and quick service. The staff here are hard working and very nice, so be sure to have some patience with them. I came in for breakfast and the food was great! If you want seconds or thirds, they are more than happy to accommodate. Be sure to buy a loaf of their bread (made in-house) and check out the museum featuring all sorts of turn-of-the-century artifacts from the building's past.

Eddie G.

Yelp
Fantastic atmosphere and museum. Great food for the Family. Every time we come up to Eureka, we have to come here .
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Annie L.

Yelp
The only cookhouse left on the West! I didn't know what to expect when I arrived but learned all about the fascinating history with this cookhouse from our server. This cookhouse used to feed 500 men 3x a day who worked as loggers in the area. The waitresses who served them lived upstairs. The cooks wanted to save this place from closing turned it into a cookhouse to serve the public. To this day, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner cookhouse style! Everyone gets the same meals and they rotate meals weekly. For breakfast, we had french toast, scrambled eggs, and sausages. Drinks was extra but its all you can eat. They will keep bringing the breakfast out as long as you're hungry. We shared the 3 plates and it was plenty already. Delicious, comfort breakfast. This place isn't fancy. It's like they say "Come and get it!" When the whistle blows, you come and eat. Come with an appetite, eat as much as you can! One price all you can eat. After you're stuffed, check out the museum attached to the cookhouse which has so many artifacts from over 100 years ago back in the days of the loggers. Everything from chainsaws, hand held equipment's, working boots, and the original kitchen stove, pots and pans they used at this cookhouse. Way cool! And if you want some more museum which we did! Check out the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum once you exit the cookhouse. Excellent history just in this little corner of Samoa!
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Ed U.

Yelp
I don't think I'd be ruffling too many feathers by asserting that Eureka is not a major gourmet destination. I mean you don't come to the Lost Coast for hidden culinary treasures unless you really like clam chowder...like a lot. This place didn't serve clam chowder when we showed up, and it wasn't even in Eureka but on the more desolate Samoa Peninsula across Arcata Bay. The cookhouse is a historic shingled building, and for a long time. it was devoted strictly to the meals eaten by the employees of the local lumber mill. So if you're really hungry, this is the place to go for no-frills comfort food served family-style even when you're not with your family. Jamie W. and I simply entered the building at around 5PM and was told to take any available seat at one of the long communal tables with the traditional red checkered tablecloth. There was no menu per se, just a price grid that stated adults will be charged $18.25 for dinner. OK then. The gregarious server was very helpful in guiding us through our meal. First, we got several slices of bread in a basket with a lot of butter. It was good bread, soft and warm. No artisan stuff (photo: https://bit.ly/3Na5pB9). Then we were given a choice between soup and salad. Not both. Pure 'Sophie's Choice' moment. Jamie went for the soup, a tomato vegetable and rice creation that was comforting (photo: https://bit.ly/3m6Zwc4). I arbitrarily went for the salad which was a bowl of iceberg lettuce with ranch dressing on the side. It came with toasted croutons and a three-bean salad heavy in pickling juice (photo: https://bit.ly/3apBHJG). Then came our surprise entree, a large uncut slab of BBQ Beef Ribs for each of us (photo: https://bit.ly/3x6YUJG). Before we divvied up the meat, the server came back with corn (photo: https://bit.ly/3NdwumH) and potato salad thick in mayo (photo; https://bit.ly/3akFS9O). Yep, we were on our way to being stuffed but not before getting their apple crisp with whipped cream for dessert (photo: https://bit.ly/3m4IgUv). On your way to the restroom, trust me, an inevitable journey, I took note of their historic maritime and lumber museum. And that's all I know about Samoa.At least this Samoa. FOOD - 4 stars...no-frills comfort food made for an army of lumberjacks AMBIANCE - 4 stars...also no-frills, no gypsy violinists here...definitely crowds up on Sundays SERVICE - 4.5 stars...she was great TOTAL - 4 stars..,if you're really hungry...and you don't have to be Samoan RELATED - Exploring the Lost Coast? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2A1YVjy

Brian R.

Yelp
I formerly enjoyed eating here immensely! I know it had closed, but I was Eureka and for old times sake I went over to Samoa to visit the Old Cookhouse. There was a banner about opening in 2024! If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you! There didn't appear to have been any work done since they closed. A real shame!
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Dan W.

Yelp
Boy has this place come along way! Now owned by Danco Construction they have a new chef and shes awesome! I'm assuming that obviously she's from the south as she put Gumbo on the special menu during lunch and to be honest I have not had it's equal in the west coast. Her biscuits and gravy same way. Perfectly fluffy and seasoned scrambled eggs and great French toast. I Came here as a kid and was amazed. Came here as an adult 8 yrs ago and was less than impressed. Came here last month and have been back twice. Huge turnaround with the new management! And I heard they are gonna be doing picnic style southern here soon... thing family style crawfish boil.. ect. Can't wait!
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Alden C.

Yelp
Samoa Cookhouse was the best restaurant we tried out while on our trip to Eureka recently! A few things... this restaurant doesn't make Samoan food. It's the name of the area that it's in. And don't come here thinking there is a broad menu of items to browse from. Pretty much whatever they are making at the time is what you get. It's living up to the name and concept that cookhouses for lumber workers and other places like ranches for instance that had cookhouses did the same thing. You eat whatever they are making and if you don't like it then your on your own for your meal or don't have one. You also don't get your own table. You get seated at very long tables and then they seat other diners a chair ot two down from you. You can get a smaller amount of the portions coming your way and just get soup and salad but it's really worth going for a full meal. You can ask the waitress to stop if you have had enough to eat. The day we went we had fish and chips, hushpuppies, salad, soup and fresh bread and a spiced cake for dessert. Everything was fantastic with the food. The beef and vegetable soup still really sticks out in my mind. It was so good! There are some old stoves, pictures and other artifacts in another room of the area and back when cookhouses were more common place. In fact going off of a sign this is the last functioning cookhouse in the country. My parent's ranch also has a cookhouse for when there was a large ranch work force but it was much, much smaller than Samoan Cookhouse and has become more of a residence for sever decades now. Definitely check the Samoan Cookhouse out if you want a different dining experience only don't come here picky and the food allergic or sensitive may want to avoid because what they serving at the time is the menu!
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S C.

Yelp
The Samoa Cookhouse is a historic restaurant, It is the last lumber camp-style cookhouse in the American Pacific Northwest. We have been here before and enjoyed this place pre-COVID, but things seemed to have changed a bit post COVID. They only offered three items for breakfast: French toast, scrambled eggs, and sausages. Biscuits and gravy was provided at an extra charge, as was orange juice. It seems like they used to offer a wider menu. The French toast was amazing as they bake the bread in house daily. The service was efficient and friendly.
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Mark T.

Yelp
How do explain this place. Unique. Family style dining. No menu to speak of. They post it on their Facebook page. This is not a Samoan restaurant. It's a true cookhouse in the town of Samoa, CA. They serve a family style meal which for this Friday was fried chicken. It came with delicious mashed potatoes, a light gravy, bread they bake fresh every morning, and at lunch time you get soup or salad. (Dinner you get both.) Todays dessert was chocolate pudding. The food looks like homemade. Because it is. They do their meals right and you can taste it. The chicken had a nice crispy skin and was moist and flavorful inside. Are they peeling the potatoes on site for their potatoes? I don't know for sure but my money is on yes. Oh first you get your soup or salad. We got one of each. Her salad was simple but good. The soup was a pork and lentil. Aside from the lentils, which are simply lentils, the pork was flavorful chunks well seasoned and a bit black peppery. Carrots, celery and whole garlic. This was not creamy like a lot of bean styled soups. The broth was delicious. When we were ready for the main course, they served it family style, but for you and your group only. One group or family per table. ( pre-Covid it was multiple groups at the tables.) I'm not a fan of brown gravy which I assumed came with the potatoes but this was a different type of gravy, maybe a chicken gravy? But it was the best I've ever had, I love good sausage gravy but this stuff was amazing. I'm glad I tasted it. The bread is, as I said, fresh and delicious! Yummy coleslaw. Possibly pineapple in it for a touch of sw Now let me entice you more... it's all you can eat! The food is not fancy. This is a true cookhouse experience. There's a plaque on the outside that explains that the cookhouse has been here since 1893. Lumber camp style cookhouse still in operation in the US. Lots of history here and there's a small logging company museum to browse after your meal. This place is a no brainer. Look on their FB page for current weekly menu.
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Elle D.

Yelp
This place is soaked in family history for our gang. My mom's mom, my mommy and myself have made so many memories over some delicious food here. The drive to this spot is beautiful, the faces friendly and the family style meals never disappoint. You get SO MUCH food for such a good price. When you want true home cooked, farm style deliciousness roll on over to Samoa Cookhouse

Kathryn A.

Yelp
As the Samoa Cookhouse website now says they will not reopen before May 2025, I sadly feel it will never reopen after currently being closed for 4+ years now, but I personally still hope this 100+ year old restaurant will find new owners are revive this great traditional in dining.
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Lance A.

Yelp
1893!? How many places have you eaten at that have been running for over a 125 years!!?? Served family style - this mornings offerings included pancakes, eggs, & sausage. Coffee, juice, and even biscuits and gravy can be added on. The photos and relics from the logging days can be seen throughout and in their mini museum of sorts! It wasn't busy as it was mid-week when we visited. Portions were so good we opted to skip lunch. We were so full! I'd love to see it on the weekends when the busy atmosphere would add to the feel like when it was packed with turn of the century loggers.
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Mike C.

Yelp
We took a corporate group here for a client dinner and cultural/historical experience, with plans for regular dinner events over the next several months. Quite honestly, this place was awful on multiple levels and not prepared or capable of efficiently serving a group our size let alone provide any measure of good service or food quality. The food was terrible, not so much as in flavor rather it was either way over cooked or undercooked and simply not cooked appropriately. It felt like this was the first time the staff had cooked for a large group and did not practice ahead of time.. They were way understaffed for a group our size. We had to help serve and bus our own tables with clients to keep things moving along. The restaurant management really should have turned down the contract for this meal service and told our organization that they were not setup to provide this kind of service. Nothing about this experience went well and our clients left with a feeling of "what the hell was that all about..." It may be functional if you're an individual or small group looking for some bad food to experience what the loggers lived in a small way but I don't know why anyone would actually want or need this kind of experience. This was like an involuntary throwback to bad summer camp food.
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Terri R.

Yelp
I really wanted to love dining at this historic dining hall, but as so many others have noted, the food is sub-par, despite generous all-you-can eat family service. As an example, our dinner meal was tasteless bread, a very thin vegetable soup, chopped iceberg lettuce w/ pickled beans for a salad, rice with white gravy, mixed veggies and chicken fried pork. If the chef had made any attempt to season the food, or add something creative to any one of those dishes, it might have given an impression that they cared about what was set on the table. Frankly, eating at Denny's would have been an improvement.
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Sheri C.

Yelp
There's quite a long history behind this restaurant and that a lone is a good enough reason to go to this unique place. For years and years they have served loggers and their families. Photos from the past and relics everywhere. It's a large restaurant with family dining tables and benches. No menu, whatever is being cooked up that evening is brought to you in platters all tasty and delicious, all you can eat and everyone sits together. The food is wonderful and includes salad, dessert and beverages and homemade bread. The servers and staff are friendly and enjoy sharing stories about the restaurant We always stop here when we go to Eureka, California
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Alex L.

Yelp
God bless family-style eating. A return visit to the historic Samoa Cookhouse many years later with friends and family left everyone with full bellies and smiling faces. It was absolutely what we'd hoped for and a testament to why they've survived and thrived for so many decades. We came in on a Wednesday morning with no idea what was even on the menu. It's a big old room with picnic tables and a neighboring museum inside a giant old logging warehouse. We found many of the old logging artifacts quite interesting as we perused and waited a short ten minutes for a table. The feast included sausages, eggs, biscuits and gravy (for an extra cost) and pancakes. The menu changes daily but this was exactly what we'd hoped for. I found the food basic but hearty and filling. The sausage in particular was really delicious and the biscuits and gravy are definitely worth the extra bucks! It's a it of a drive to get here, but I say make the time. This is one of many historic places that make this area wonderful!
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JC K.

Yelp
Tradition history family'! food kitchen is a commissary style but I still enjoy every time I go there. The staff has worked there forever, the location is stunning and a museum next door! It's a treasure to be discovered and a treasure to keep. Their loaves of pillow air are perfect and yum. You can buy to take home this place should be packed every night! So much history inside! So original...Go there and frequent often or it would be a loss for the community- Use it or lose it!! And it's all you can eat...so go won't cha!?!
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Wendy S.

Yelp
Came inside and waited 2 hours. Have gone here in the past but have never waited that long! this was in mid August and there was a HUGE tour group who took over the whole restaurant
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Notorious M.

Yelp
This is not just a breakfast place, but a museum. The prices significantly increase from what's shown on the photos. For breakfast and coffee, the tab was about $40 for two and that's for breakfast. It included a very large slice of french toast, about six sausage links, scrabbled eggs and biscuits with gravy, which THEY NEVER BROUGHT TO US. By the time I realized this, I was already full. The french toast was soft, yet crispy, eggs were dry, but the sausage was juicy. If it were just breakfast, I would not go here again because of the prices. But the fact that it's also a museum, it's a must if you're a tourist in Eureka. We arrived at a perfect time, right when two huge tourist busses left. There is also another smaller building beside it, which is a maritime museum, also free entry, with a friendly man behind the counter who gives good suggestions on places to see around Eureka.
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Kristen O.

Yelp
Since two different friends recommended this place we took a chance. We tried calling to ask questions about food and phone was off hook. Facebook post said roast beef, mashed potatoes, vegetables, bread, soup or salad. We waited for a table and sat down and they said we have soup and roast beef and rice and peas. No salad, apparently no one eats salad so they don't do it anymore the host said even though the menus clearly said salad included. It was 6:00 so I don't think they ran out, just didn't have it that night. That was inconvenient for us as we had a vegetarian with us and salad would have been their only meal. The soup was canned peas, rice and chicken. They also decided no mashed potatoes that night so the meal was white rice which seemed convenient since soup was the same starch and vegetable as the meal. Our server was very friendly and apologetic about lack of salad and lack of potatoes. She was the highlight of the meal. At 18.25 a person and 7 of us eating it was crazy expensive for the quality of the food.
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Ted H.

Yelp
This is a tricky review given what's great about Samoa Cookhouse (the history) and what's awful (the food). History - Original Cookhouse for lumberjacks still extant from 1895. Long shared tables, single price menu, friendly staff, interesting collection of old saws, stoves, artifacts. Yay! Food - terrible. Not easy to screw up breakfast but a bowl of rubbery scrambled eggs and some sort of dried toast/French toast was unappetizing. My son suggested that this was part of the historic experience and since the eggs tasted like they came from 1895, maybe he's right. Guys - please try a bit harder to make the food tastier - ok? Nice bonus - the Maritime Museum next door is well worth checking out.

Gary S.

Yelp
Real history in an old lumber mill cookhouse. Fabulous meals family style. A very fun place and experience for young and old.
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Barbara R.

Yelp
Not open even though their website and FB page states they are We drive all the way here today 6/15/22 to find this so do call first so you don't experience the disappointment we did
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Rosa B.

Yelp
This is all you can eat place. You are given a choice of soup or salad , basket of bread and butter, main course was pork roast, corn and roasted diced potatoes. We had brownies for dessert. We did not ask for seconds as we were stuffed. I don't think I will come back as it is too far to drive from our place.

Richard G.

Yelp
Cannot give this place a lower than 1 star, it should stay closed, do not eat here if you value your stomach.
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Margie R.

Yelp
What a treat! Family style dining with great food AND history!
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Phantom Phoodie B.

Yelp
Wow, what a cool place. Come for the unique experience, leave with a great dining story. They really preserved the heritage of an old logging camp meal house. Long checkered cloth tables, family style meals, and lots of historical photos on the wall. The food is whatever they are servingaccommodate. Check the web site for the daily special cuz thats it for that day. If you have some dietary restrictions regarding the days menu, they probably cannot accommadate. It is all-you-can-eat so you won't be hungry. The food was all homemade and delicious. Staff very friendly and doubled as docents for this restaurant/museum experience. We found this place almost by accident. I do hope they market themselves more so they are around for future generations to get the logging camp cookhouse experience
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Logan S.

Yelp
It's a little out of the way, but the historic Samoa Cookhouse is worth a visit. It's a former cookhouse for a logging company, and you can see some of the artifacts around the restaurant, which gives a nice glimpse into the local history. I personally enjoy going here on a foggy Humboldt night and getting some family-style stick to your ribs food that doesn't mess around. The menu is fixed, so you get whatever is on menu. The tables are long and have traditional checkered tableclothes. You get fresh bread with lots of butter to start, and a soup or salad. All the entrees are served family style. The fried chicken is amazing. I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did. The desserts are pretty good too, but be careful, they will load you down if you ask for seconds. Best fried chicken I've had in a long time, but it is only certain days of the week. Locals recommend it highly, which goes a long way with me.
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Michele I.

Yelp
Samoa Cookhouse was a nice surprise. It wasn't what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it and the story behind the building. It is a fun experience. Dinner if family style and you get served what's on the menu for the day. We went on St Pattys day. Menu was soup, salad, and homemade bread to start. The bread is awesome and they also use it to make their croutons. The main dish was corned beef, cabbage and roasted red potatoes. Then at the very end you get dessert. It's all you can eat. The food was great. The serves was great and everyone was friendly. I recommend you check it out.
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Tyler C.

Yelp
Place is kind of ghetto and gave off prison cook and trailer park waitresses vibes, but the food is good and what I would describe as "authentic America" . Tell the waitress it ain't your first rodeo and your a local (it will minimize the bs small talk conversations) and bring out the main entree otherwise they try to fill you up with bread and salads.
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Dennis K.

Yelp
I have fond memories of this place serving hearty filling food...WHAT HAPPENED?? Breakfast was HORRIBLE!! Eggs overcooked and lumpy... French toast undercooked and soggy. With coffee and orange juice...it came to nearly $50!! Another restaurant to add to my list of never to go back to...
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Stephanie B.

Yelp
Come STARVING, and I mean it! The Samoa Cookhouse is an unbeatable deal and the food is delicious! The meals are hearty and meaty, so definitely pay the Cookhouse a visit if those two qualities appeal to you. Note that there is a fixed menu and they only serve what they have cooked for the day. What is consistent, however, is the endless bread and butter, salad (green as well as bean), and soup. There is also dessert (what is served varies by the day). My favorite is the peach cake! The Cookhouse posts their daily menu and hours on their Facebook page. The wait staff here are incredible and energetic - they keep the food coming! The restaurant is clean, and there's plenty of bench seating for larger groups (plenty of parking too, for that matter). Take a look around the little museum inside the restaurant when you get a chance - lots of historical artifacts from the early logging period in Humboldt County. Eating and visiting here isn't an experience you'll want to miss! You'll be hard-pressed to find a better value than the Samoa Cookhouse for miles and miles around.
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Kiran R.

Yelp
We went for breakfast. They were offering French toast, sausage links, and eggs. The food was good and the service was great. Total home and comfortable place. Kids 4 and under eat free, which is unheard of these days. Would highly recommend if you want a place for great breakfast.
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Tonya C.

Yelp
Great for breakfast. We didn't have the dinner or lunch. The French toast was amazing and the sausage links and eggs were good too. The staff is really friendly. Don't expect a fine dining experience. It is a cookhouse! We loved our experience. We were passing through and it was recommended and I am glad we went. Oh! You can only have what is on the menu for the day, which I thought was really interesting and fun.
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Frank A.

Yelp
This is a destination you don't want to miss. This was a memerable experience fun informative an outstanding home cooked food. You eat what they serve you just like the lumber jacks back in 1893. Breakfast $12 Lunch $14 Dinner $18 Very friendly staff, a great museum of history and wonderfull food. We had: Vegtable soup Cold crisp salad Kernael Corn Red potatoes Pork ribbs Home made bread. You can have seconds on anything you want. We were very full on the first round of food.
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Phil N.

Yelp
This is a place that is about the experience. This historic cookhouse is the remnant of a former time when the place was the cook house for a lumber camp. It is on a little island in Humboldt bay right across the bridge from eureka. This would be a nice family experience. They have a little logging museum. Keep the kids busy. Staff very friendly. 4+ experience Food is simple commissary style. .
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Erin M.

Yelp
The first time I came here I was 20 years old then last week at 45 years old. I will never ever miss an opportunity when in the Eureka area to stop off at the Samoa Cookhouse. I've only been here half a dozen times, but it is is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. And I've only been for breakfast which I think is simply the Best. They serve the food logger style which in today's terms we would call it family style. Within a minute of sitting down you are served with swarms of bowls and plates of food. At breakfast that starts with a pitcher of orange juice, coffee and Ice-T and water. Then immediately a bowl of biscuits and gravy, a plate of scrambled eggs, a plate of sausage, a plate of the best French toast made from homemade bread. Once you are done with until you cannot move...they will serve you more. The staff is extremely welcoming and friendly. And to walk off your morning food coma, they have a great museum you can walk through.
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Wade C.

Yelp
The place was unique and interesting. The menu is fixed and changes weekly. The food is served family style and is all you can eat. We went for breakfast and arrived when they were switching from breakfast to lunch. We got French toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs. The whole meal reminded me of my navy days, and was pretty good. We were seated right away.
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Leann D.

Yelp
Went first time in a few years so disappointing. Food needed seasonings. Staff was good.

Augie V.

Yelp
What a great lunch/dinner. We came to lunch and had the chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans and it was FANTASTIC. The chicken noodle soup was homemade and amazing and our server, Pam, always brings her best, hospitable and welcoming. We'd come back just for her service. We came here a few years ago and it was just meh, but man have they improved by leaps and bounds. It's a great fixture in Humboldt count and worth trying if you're in town.
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Antonio L.

Yelp
Think "family style diner." Breakfast would likely have been better. Just kinda meh. Everything was ok at best. We came on a fried chicken night. Nothing to write home about. All you can eat, but not worth the price in my opinion. Desert was a bit dry (apple spice cake). Family atmosphere was nice though. They didn't mention that salad dressing was an additional charge either, and they were running out of items pretty early.
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E F.

Yelp
This is really more about feeding your family cheap, which they do well, than anything to do with actual cuisine. While servings are generous, and prices below market, food generally tastes like it came premade and from cans. Service is as good as attitude loaded adolescents can provide. Don't hurt yourself by asking any questions about the restaurant's history or even fixed menu details. The museum is very good, parking is plentiful, and the history of the area is fascinating.
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Steve N.

Yelp
It had been quite some time since visiting the Samoa Cookhouse and it did not disappoint. The dinners come with soup or salad, an exception in this day and age. I think the Cookhouse has been suffering recently in finding employees to work due to Covid, so they're open less hours than normal, but the food was outstanding! I was also impressed with the historical section of the restaurant, shedding light on the history of the town and restaurant.
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Jeanine L.

Yelp
Originated since 1893, serving the local logging industry; it's the last cookhouse of the West still in operation. Great value, homestyle cooking, all you can eat. It's amazing that it survived Covid! If you're in the area, make sure to stop here & support this historical treasure!!
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Neal E.

Yelp
I'm teetering between 3-4 stars for my review of Samoa Cookhouse. I visited for breakfast one morning, upon the recommendation of someone I met during my vacation in the area. I like the idea of cookhouse-style seating, where you never know who you might be eating with - potentially a communal meal! I was seated at the end of a table, and the way the seating rotations worked, I never actually had anyone sitting directly next to me. The food is the same for breakfast for everyone - there is no menu. I was brought a plate with two biscuits and a bowl of what I suspect was supposed to be sausage gravy; and then later a plate of French toast, scrambled eggs, and three sausage links. Butter is available in pre-wrapped pats, maple syrup in a small serving pitcher. I was also served coffee and water (I had to ask for the water). The texture of the biscuits causes me to suspect they were pre-made. Not flaky biscuits - more bread-like. The "gravy" that was served with the biscuits had almost no flavor. The scrambled eggs were also rather bland, The French Toast is exactly what you'd expect, and the sausage links - those were tasty. I added salt, pepper, and Tabasco sauce to the scrambled eggs to make them tastier; and I added butter and syrup to the French Toast. There is nothing wrong with the food. Just do not expect to come in and order off a menu. There are no menus. Service was a bit slow the day I visited. #SamoaCookhouse

Glock K.

Yelp
Way over priced 40$ for what was one order of fish and chips....3 fish and chips... Stay away
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Melodie G.

Yelp
Yummy service is good and quick and food is yummy, very nice cook and waitress. Recommend for small dinner parties , dinner is really yummy, haven't had breakfast in a few years here but the fried chicken is so great.
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Karan P.

Yelp
Very unique. Must visit if you're touring North Cal. Used to be a cookhouse for a factory. Keeps the same vibe and inexpensive for the portions. Really good good and service.
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AyV U.

Yelp
As the other non-white person on this place (The other is a black guy in the kitchen making the fried chicken), I approve of this place! No wonder they have been open since 1893. - The bread is home made and so soft! - Fresh salad (yeah, I'm not a salad person so I'll leave the review for salad bland) - Vegetable soup was hot and amazing (try dipping the bread in it) - fried chicken is better than KFC, taste a bit similar but a couple of notches better
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John H.

Yelp
Fantastic atmosphere and family style dining (long tables) since the 1890's! They used to serve lumberjacks and mill workers 100 years ago. Visit their website to see what they're serving for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the week. It's great food, and you'd better bring an appetite!