Small dive bar in the heart of midtown. Gets crazy on weekends but pretty chill during the week. Food is a bit questionable but passable if you're just looking for something to take home after you've had a few. Otherwise I avoid it. Average drink selection, service hit and miss. Lots of drunks.
Natasha D.
This place is a little hole in the wall but SO DELICIOUS! I had whatever the crunchy noodles were and a cosmo before heading over to the mix downtown night club and was so satisfied it's also walking distance from a lot of fun places! Will for sure be back
Kayla D.
I have been going to Simon's for 10 years. I work downtown Sacramento right down the street so it was convenient to go for lunch. Once we went we were hooked. Then the happy hour is very good with great appetizers and drinks. The owner Simon, RIP, was the most gracious host and now the family is running the business and it is fantastic.
Jackson T.
Went here for the first time to catch up with a friend recently. We've both never been here (and I didn't even know it existed until my friend mentioned it) so we met up here after work on a Friday. This is on 16th Street so parking can be hit or miss. I parked about 2 blocks away from here on 16th Street since that was the closest I could find on a Friday evening. The inside of the restaurant has booths, and there is a bar right when you walk into the restaurant. My friend and I were seated at a booth near the kitchen door and were warmly greeted by staff. I ordered the single meal with their brandy fried chicken and my friend ordered the same meal, but with honey walnut shrimp instead. We had potstickers for appetizers as well. All the food were amazing and it was big portions. I only ate about half of mine and same with my friend. We took home the leftovers for lunch/dinner. The place did stay to fill up with patrons and what looked like regulars while we were eating and catching up. I will be back to try the other foods.
Sophie J.
I live behind this place and they finally open back up after quarantine and I tried it for the first time and it was really good. Bartender was super nice too.
Edwin T.
Ever since they re opened their service went really bad. It's understandable that people don't want to work but it's was ridiculous that you have to wait and tries to be patient trying to order food. I tried to support local business due to hard times but it makes you think twice on trying to support local business. Today was the last straw. I called at 6pm trying to order food to go and I was put on hold for 25 minutes and finally someone just hang up the phone. I called back and the woman who answered gave me an excuse that its was only her and 1 cook and she is serving 3 tables and doing bartending at the same time. I'm surprised that she did not walk out with an overwhelming amount of stress. I used to love this place when Simon himself was running it. Now it's really bad. You have a lot of patrons that like to support your business but if the service is going to continue this way then you might lose a lot of people who wants to support it.
Alex L.
How long had it been? I finally made a return trip to Simon's after many years. It may have new ownership (the kids of the owner) and I haven't revisited the food (oh, that crispy chicken), but standing at the bar took me back to all those memories that made me fall in love with Simon's in the first place. This is one of those legendary Sacramento dives that was the home to so many political deals and backroom handshakes in the days of yore. Chinese food, some stiff cocktails and a better future for California. Now it's more of a hang for the younger crowd. Walk in on a Saturday night like we did and you'll find plenty of folks drinking and having a good time. They now have a patio in the back parking lot that was added as a COVID precaution. It's nothing spectacular, so I say stand at the bar if you can and enjoy all that makes Simon's special.
Dane H.
I've been coming to Simon's off and on for 30 years(?). Before they had the bar. If I recall, the bar was a separately operated bar next door. Anyway, we'd go there and have the New York steak (a dish that Simon "borrowed" from his days working at Frank Fat's). It was extra cool because Simon would have Miles or Coltrane playing as background music. I know this is before he opened up the wall between the restaurant and the bar because the bar had this obnoxious juke box... The food was always good. There was a 5-10 year gap where I didn't go there... marriage, staying home, cooking--whatever. Then when I moved my business 6 blocks away it went into heavy rotation of local places to have lunch. It became our (I was working with my ex-wife--more about that later...) favorite place for Chinese food. Simon was usually there--a very sweet man with a permanent smile. Cut to 5 years ago. I got re-married and Susan, my second wife, had a history with Simon's because she worked at the Capitol and Simon's was a favorite lunch spot-watering hole for the weasels--I mean politicians who worked at the Capitol. We started going there for dinner and Simon was at first a little confused because he would see me with the ex for lunch. Being the discrete person he was, he didn't say anything but I explained to him the situation. I became the guy with wife number one and wife number two. Anyway, we all know that Covid hit and Simon's may have been one of the last places wife number one and I ate at before everything shut down. Simon's was boarded up and then we got the sad news that Simon got Covid and passed away. Now after a few months Simon Jr. has re-opened the joint--no lunch--but the kitchen is open 3pm 'til 11. The bar stays open until 2am. Susan (wife number two) and I had dinner and the food is still very good. Susan had the Brandy-fried chicken (her favorite) combo-dinner and I had the oyster beef combo. The chicken was just as she remembered it and mine was great too. You get the entree with an egg roll and choice of fried rice or chow mein. For 13 bucks, it's a steal! We had dinner with 2 Manhattans each for $60. My wife took half of hers home (I'm a card-carrying member of the clean plate club). That's amazing considering how expensive it's gotten lately to eat out. Simon Jr. is a little more reserved than his old man. He doesn't go around to the tables and chat with the customers like Simon Sr. used to. I was trying to talk him up about opening for lunch--explaining how we used to eat there all the time or order take out. "Not worth it--there's no people downtown". "I don't know... Tea Cup Cafe on 21st is real busy with take out and now has dine in for lunch. You don't have to open the bar--just open the kitchen and do take out." "Not worth it--there's no people downtown". O.K.... I miss his old man.
James B.
This place is a treasure. We bring our wild game here and they always make it taste divine!
John W.
So glad Simon's has reopened. Our favorite place for friends from north and south of Sac to meet in the middle. 5 for dinner October 19 at 6:00 and it is still as good as I remember. It wasn't busy and our service was prompt and friendly. The young man who waited on our table apologized, saying that he was the only one there. But we were very happy with the service that we received. The honey walnut shrimp is still the best and the lettuce cups would be a meal for me. Please don't be hesitant to go back to Simon's if you've been a previous customer. Give them your support. Would hate for them to be another restaurant casualty.
Love me some Simon's! Been coming here for years for happy hour and late night food/eats. Happy hour specials are great, drinks are strong, and people are very cool. Mix of people throughout the day- barflies during the day, suits at happy hour, younger folks in the evening. There's a juke box for tunes and tvs all around to watch tue games. Note: this is a dive BAR. Do not expect Michelin star fusion cuisine, a kids menu, or valet service. Just good greasy Chinese food at a good price. One notable exception- friend who is a duck hunter brought a bunch of us over for an end of season duck dinner. Apparently Simon's is well known for these, but they prepared the duck in multiple ways and all were delicious. Had a few other duck dinners going on the same night, so plan ahead.
Sara E.
They're open again!!!! Be patient and kind, They're as short staffed as any other place right now. But Junior is carrying on the legacy with brandy-fried chicken, honey walnut shrimp any of course the salt and pepper prawns... the Chow main is even better than I remember. So happy this Sacramento institution is open again. I missed it so. Kitchen is open 3-11 pm. Bar open until 2 am, both Monday-Saturday. Come out and support Junior and this Sacramento institution.
Edgar R.
Owner was drunk and accused me of supposedly attacking him when there were clearly witnesses who saw he verbally attacked me first. If it wasn't for those people I probably would be in jail for something I didn't do. I wasn't even in the building. He came outside and said I couldn't be parked in front of his building. He really thought he owned the parking lot. Never in my life have I ever felt degraded. Would not recommend.
Brenda M.
We LOVE the food here! Great prices too! Best Chinese food ever I f we lived closer I would eat there way more often! Totally recommended this place!
Kenji T.
C'mon where else can you go to get a Chinese brandy fried chicken combo with fried rice while listening to classic rock and have access to full bar?
Small dive bar in the heart of midtown. Gets crazy on weekends but pretty chill during the week. Food is a bit questionable but passable if you're just looking for something to take home after you've had a few. Otherwise I avoid it. Average drink selection, service hit and miss. Lots of drunks.
This place is a little hole in the wall but SO DELICIOUS! I had whatever the crunchy noodles were and a cosmo before heading over to the mix downtown night club and was so satisfied it's also walking distance from a lot of fun places! Will for sure be back
I have been going to Simon's for 10 years. I work downtown Sacramento right down the street so it was convenient to go for lunch. Once we went we were hooked. Then the happy hour is very good with great appetizers and drinks. The owner Simon, RIP, was the most gracious host and now the family is running the business and it is fantastic.
Went here for the first time to catch up with a friend recently. We've both never been here (and I didn't even know it existed until my friend mentioned it) so we met up here after work on a Friday. This is on 16th Street so parking can be hit or miss. I parked about 2 blocks away from here on 16th Street since that was the closest I could find on a Friday evening. The inside of the restaurant has booths, and there is a bar right when you walk into the restaurant. My friend and I were seated at a booth near the kitchen door and were warmly greeted by staff. I ordered the single meal with their brandy fried chicken and my friend ordered the same meal, but with honey walnut shrimp instead. We had potstickers for appetizers as well. All the food were amazing and it was big portions. I only ate about half of mine and same with my friend. We took home the leftovers for lunch/dinner. The place did stay to fill up with patrons and what looked like regulars while we were eating and catching up. I will be back to try the other foods.
I live behind this place and they finally open back up after quarantine and I tried it for the first time and it was really good. Bartender was super nice too.
Ever since they re opened their service went really bad. It's understandable that people don't want to work but it's was ridiculous that you have to wait and tries to be patient trying to order food. I tried to support local business due to hard times but it makes you think twice on trying to support local business. Today was the last straw. I called at 6pm trying to order food to go and I was put on hold for 25 minutes and finally someone just hang up the phone. I called back and the woman who answered gave me an excuse that its was only her and 1 cook and she is serving 3 tables and doing bartending at the same time. I'm surprised that she did not walk out with an overwhelming amount of stress. I used to love this place when Simon himself was running it. Now it's really bad. You have a lot of patrons that like to support your business but if the service is going to continue this way then you might lose a lot of people who wants to support it.
How long had it been? I finally made a return trip to Simon's after many years. It may have new ownership (the kids of the owner) and I haven't revisited the food (oh, that crispy chicken), but standing at the bar took me back to all those memories that made me fall in love with Simon's in the first place. This is one of those legendary Sacramento dives that was the home to so many political deals and backroom handshakes in the days of yore. Chinese food, some stiff cocktails and a better future for California. Now it's more of a hang for the younger crowd. Walk in on a Saturday night like we did and you'll find plenty of folks drinking and having a good time. They now have a patio in the back parking lot that was added as a COVID precaution. It's nothing spectacular, so I say stand at the bar if you can and enjoy all that makes Simon's special.
I've been coming to Simon's off and on for 30 years(?). Before they had the bar. If I recall, the bar was a separately operated bar next door. Anyway, we'd go there and have the New York steak (a dish that Simon "borrowed" from his days working at Frank Fat's). It was extra cool because Simon would have Miles or Coltrane playing as background music. I know this is before he opened up the wall between the restaurant and the bar because the bar had this obnoxious juke box... The food was always good. There was a 5-10 year gap where I didn't go there... marriage, staying home, cooking--whatever. Then when I moved my business 6 blocks away it went into heavy rotation of local places to have lunch. It became our (I was working with my ex-wife--more about that later...) favorite place for Chinese food. Simon was usually there--a very sweet man with a permanent smile. Cut to 5 years ago. I got re-married and Susan, my second wife, had a history with Simon's because she worked at the Capitol and Simon's was a favorite lunch spot-watering hole for the weasels--I mean politicians who worked at the Capitol. We started going there for dinner and Simon was at first a little confused because he would see me with the ex for lunch. Being the discrete person he was, he didn't say anything but I explained to him the situation. I became the guy with wife number one and wife number two. Anyway, we all know that Covid hit and Simon's may have been one of the last places wife number one and I ate at before everything shut down. Simon's was boarded up and then we got the sad news that Simon got Covid and passed away. Now after a few months Simon Jr. has re-opened the joint--no lunch--but the kitchen is open 3pm 'til 11. The bar stays open until 2am. Susan (wife number two) and I had dinner and the food is still very good. Susan had the Brandy-fried chicken (her favorite) combo-dinner and I had the oyster beef combo. The chicken was just as she remembered it and mine was great too. You get the entree with an egg roll and choice of fried rice or chow mein. For 13 bucks, it's a steal! We had dinner with 2 Manhattans each for $60. My wife took half of hers home (I'm a card-carrying member of the clean plate club). That's amazing considering how expensive it's gotten lately to eat out. Simon Jr. is a little more reserved than his old man. He doesn't go around to the tables and chat with the customers like Simon Sr. used to. I was trying to talk him up about opening for lunch--explaining how we used to eat there all the time or order take out. "Not worth it--there's no people downtown". "I don't know... Tea Cup Cafe on 21st is real busy with take out and now has dine in for lunch. You don't have to open the bar--just open the kitchen and do take out." "Not worth it--there's no people downtown". O.K.... I miss his old man.
This place is a treasure. We bring our wild game here and they always make it taste divine!
So glad Simon's has reopened. Our favorite place for friends from north and south of Sac to meet in the middle. 5 for dinner October 19 at 6:00 and it is still as good as I remember. It wasn't busy and our service was prompt and friendly. The young man who waited on our table apologized, saying that he was the only one there. But we were very happy with the service that we received. The honey walnut shrimp is still the best and the lettuce cups would be a meal for me. Please don't be hesitant to go back to Simon's if you've been a previous customer. Give them your support. Would hate for them to be another restaurant casualty.
Restaurantji Recommends
Love me some Simon's! Been coming here for years for happy hour and late night food/eats. Happy hour specials are great, drinks are strong, and people are very cool. Mix of people throughout the day- barflies during the day, suits at happy hour, younger folks in the evening. There's a juke box for tunes and tvs all around to watch tue games. Note: this is a dive BAR. Do not expect Michelin star fusion cuisine, a kids menu, or valet service. Just good greasy Chinese food at a good price. One notable exception- friend who is a duck hunter brought a bunch of us over for an end of season duck dinner. Apparently Simon's is well known for these, but they prepared the duck in multiple ways and all were delicious. Had a few other duck dinners going on the same night, so plan ahead.
They're open again!!!! Be patient and kind, They're as short staffed as any other place right now. But Junior is carrying on the legacy with brandy-fried chicken, honey walnut shrimp any of course the salt and pepper prawns... the Chow main is even better than I remember. So happy this Sacramento institution is open again. I missed it so. Kitchen is open 3-11 pm. Bar open until 2 am, both Monday-Saturday. Come out and support Junior and this Sacramento institution.
Owner was drunk and accused me of supposedly attacking him when there were clearly witnesses who saw he verbally attacked me first. If it wasn't for those people I probably would be in jail for something I didn't do. I wasn't even in the building. He came outside and said I couldn't be parked in front of his building. He really thought he owned the parking lot. Never in my life have I ever felt degraded. Would not recommend.
We LOVE the food here! Great prices too! Best Chinese food ever I f we lived closer I would eat there way more often! Totally recommended this place!
C'mon where else can you go to get a Chinese brandy fried chicken combo with fried rice while listening to classic rock and have access to full bar?