Post #647982 by Dustycajun on Sun, Aug 12, 2012 12:51 PM

Name:Samoa House
Type:restaurant
Street:15903 Ventura Blvd
City:Encino
State:CA
Zip:
country:USA
Phone:
Status:defunct

Description:

It never ceases to amaze me when an old, never-before documented Tiki place pops up in the Tiki rich Southern California area.

I had picked up this matchbook a while back from the Samoa House restaurant located on Ventura Blvd. in Encino, CA.

I didn't think too much of it until I saw 10 of these old deadstock three-face bucket mugs for sale on ebay. Tried to win them but higher bidders prevailed.

The listing description states:

Found in storage after 37 years. I bought them from Tex at Samoa House Restaurant on Ventura Blvd in Encino (part of Los Angeles) when it closed in 1974. Made in Japan.

I did some research on-line and found more info"

Howard Lee was a friend of my father, well educated in China as a monk
and an intellectual. He spoke English fluently and well versed in business etc. He often traveled w/Dad on business. Later he partnered w/a white friend to open a highly successful little restaurant called Samoa House.( chinese smoked ribs served hawaiian style). It did so well, they then opened a huge new place to accommodate the crowd.

I always remember Samoa House because I went with Howard and my father to analyze other Hawaiian eateries such as Kelbos in Culver City. Samoa house was Chinese BBQ ribs and they were excellent!

Art Rony , a columnist in the LA times wrote before the Samoa house restaurant opened :
"I don't know how mixed up things can get . But this'll do. Partners in the new Samoa House on Ventura Blvd. are a guy named Tex Loving who's spent most of his life in Hong Kong and Howard Lee , a Chinese Boy from Alpine , Texas ..."

Apparantly the Encino restaurant was the second expanded location that became a popular Jazz club.

DC