Waterloo Sogo Restaurant

The experience was my first and I have, in the past, overlooked this place because it seems obscured in a corner and isn't flashy. But, I went with a friend and tried the "hand cut noodle" with lamb and it was really good. I read some of the reviews and would agree that you'd almost need to go with a Chinese background to overlook/be okay with some of the standards that typical North Americans might give a look at and refuse to return. Taste-wise, really good. Menu has some good dishes that aren't easily found in typical Westernized Chinese restaurants and I would say pretty authentic. Decor isn't anything special and service is fine by my standards but again, it's probably a cultural difference that those without the background might be put off by.

This place is my all time favourite Chinese place. The food is authentic, service is great (at least whenever I have gone.) Yes, it is a hole in the wall, and may even seem a bit dirty, but their food is really good I overlook all of that. I usually get their Tomato & egg soup, Chinese Crepe, and lamb baked bun. I recommend any of those dishes. I haven't tried anything else because those items are really delicious. Price is great too. I highly recommend this place!

This is my favourite place in the plaza, but some of the bad reviews are not wrong. Sogo offers some of the most authentic Chinese food. The beef noodle soup is a favourite, and I actually really like the lamb and soaked bread soup. If you don't know Chinese or aren't familiar with these dishes however you might not get what you expect. This restaurant clearly caters almost exclusively to the Chinese crowd. The interior is also a little dark and cluttered, certainly not the cleanest. Despite all these flaws, I would be lying to myself if I didn't give Sogo 5 stars. If you want a hearty, homestyle taste of china instead of the typical shiny "fake Chinese" food you usually see, this is a good place to go.

This place is barely more than a hole in the wall. The service is negligent at best and can be downright rude. Even the cleaniness of the facility is dubious. And yet, whenever I visit family in Waterloo (I don't live here anymore), I find myself at SOGO, forcibly attracted and helpless to resist. Why, you ask, does this place hold such power? It's all in their rice noodles. This is a specific style of noodle that I simply cannot find anywhere else. The noodles are a most satisfying texture: springier than ramen, softer than udon, chewier than pho, silkier than wheat noodles. Pure perfection. There are many toppings to choose from. I cannot decide which one I love more: the braised lamb or pork with Szechuan picked vegetables. Whichever one you pick, it will be bursting with flavor. Sometimes the kitchen has an off day and the soup comes out a little blander than usual. On those days I bitterly complain about slack work ethics as I heartily slurp my noodles at speed - they are always amazing despite the unreliable staff. And then there are the marinated lamb buns. Tender fatty lamb on a bun that is somehow crispy, chewy, and fluffy all at once. Green onion and cilantro help add a layer of complexity to the flavor profile and brighten this rich dish. Warning: this is a greasy, messy kind of bun. You can try to eat it carefully, but I guarantee the meat juice will eventually be dripping down your fingers as you lose youself in bite after blissful bite. It's okay. No one is judging. This is as far from fine dining as it gets, and plus everyone else is busy sucking the juices clean from their own fingers. Other unique menu items: lamb skewers (chunks of well-seasoned fatty lamb roasted until smoky - great for sharing), Chinese crepe (a thin crepe wrapped around an egg and crisps, with sesame, green onions, and cilantro - they make it at the counter and it's fun to watch) I always get a large bowl of rice noodles which is nothing short of shameless gluttony. The small bowl is more than enough for normal people, especially if you also order side dishes, which of course you must.