Sammy’s Restaurant and Bar and Roppongi Asian Bistro open in Imperial Beach

Sammy’s Restaurant & Bar and Roppongi Asian Bistro Open in Imperial Beach

The San Diego staple and a new iteration of its beloved Asian-fusion spot touch down at the Pier South Resort

There’s a new Sammy’s Restaurant & Bar in town. The beloved restaurant, which opened its first location in La Jolla in 1989, has touched down in Imperial Beach, adding to its slate of outposts in San Diego County (San Marcos, Scripps Ranch, and Chula Vista) and beyond (Sacramento and Las Vegas). and has expanded into yet another San Diego neighborhood, this time Imperial Beach. “All our … restaurants that have thrived have done so by relying on the neighborhood,” says Sammy’s owner Sami Ladeki. “We love to be part of strong communities that truly care about their neighborhood and take pride in giving back to that community through many philanthropic events and donations.” 

So, when the opportunity arose to set up shop at Imperial Beach’s Pier South Resort, the Sammy’s team did their research. “We spent time down in Imperial Beach and found that this is a community we want to be a part of,” Ladeki explains. “Also, the hotel did an excellent job of remodeling the restaurant space there and was open to our idea of bringing in two restaurants, not just one, to give our guests more options.”

Indeed, Sammy’s Restaurant & Bar arrives with a sister eatery in tow. Roppongi Asian Bistro was an award-winning staple in La Jolla for nearly two decades before shuttering in 2015. Now, it’s back by popular demand, finding new life in IB before relaunching in its OG La Jolla location later this summer.

Both Sammy’s and Roppongi are a mere stone’s throw from the ocean, with a sand-front patio tough to find elsewhere in San Diego. The family-friendly Sammy’s is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Breakfast, served til 11 a.m., includes options like chilaquilas; french toast or pancakes with fresh fruit; and the Denver-ish Scramble, with Canadian bacon, Portuguese sausage, and veggies. 

When it’s time for lunch or dinner, guests can chow down on the pizzas that made Sammy’s famous or order other fan-favorites like the balsamic grilled chicken salad (with gorgonzola, walnuts, and basil over mixed greens), the mini duck tacos (loaded with feta, lebni, and cilantro ranch), and chicken tequila fettuccine (a Mexican-inspired take on the Italian classic). Round things out with the aptly named Messy Sundae, a sweet smorgasbord of vanilla ice cream, chocolate and caramel sauces, walnuts, and whipped cream. Hit happy hour every day from 3 to 6 p.m. for drink specials and  half-off several food items.

Roppongi Asian Bistro serves dinner daily from 5 to 10 p.m., offering a menu that includes Asian tapas; housemade dumplings; noodle and rice dishes; and protein-centric entrées that feature chicken, beef, and fish. Fans of the original Roppongi will be please to witness the return of the Polynesian Crab Stack (lump crab with veggies, mango, and a spicy ginger-lime dressing), the Mongolian shrimp (served with mango salsa and pineapple fried rice), the Kahlua pork spring rolls (dip ’em in mango chutney and an Asian-inspired guac), and the sweet Tahitian Bananas with vanilla gelato and almond brittle. 

Newcomers to try include the coconut curry noodles with chicken and shrimp; the duck fried rice; and the Crying Tiger Steak, a mix of tender beef, herbs, ginger, red onion, and cucumber in refreshing lettuce wraps.

Both restaurants are home to a creative cocktail list, with Sammy’s offering many breakfast-centric libations to make brunchtime a party and Roppongi featuring Asian-inspired craft beverages. Roppongi also has an extensive wine and sake list. The bar for both restaurants is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information or to make a reservation, visit sammyspizza.com or roppongiusa.net

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