Sapp Coffee Shop Thai Restaurant
Thai restaurant · Los Feliz ·
Signature beef boat noodle soup & jade noodles, Thai comfort eats
Signature beef boat noodle soup & jade noodles, Thai comfort eats
"During a rough cold bout I needed a change of scenery from my own kitchen and couch, so I loaded up on medicine, wrapped myself in layers, and navigated my weary body to Sapp Coffee Shop in Los Angeles’s Thai Town. I started with beef-only boat noodles, the beloved dish historically served in boats along Thailand’s Chao Phraya River. Sapp’s version, with its deeply rich and darkened broth, is one I’ve come to know very well. I ordered jade noodles to accompany it: Spinach-flavored green egg noodles come topped with roast duck, barbecue pork, crushed peanuts, crab, and cilantro without a drop of broth. It’s one of the house specialties that has to make its way to my table, no matter how many times I’ve had it. For me, the biggest challenge here has always been to branch out and try something new. So bring a seasoned group of diners and order away. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest" - Matthew Kang
"One of East Hollywood’s oldest dining destinations, opened in the 1970s, this Thai Town stalwart still delivers vibrant, bold flavors, with signature boat noodles and jade noodles leading the way. The boat noodles come with a deeply rich, darkened, spicy and slightly sweet beef broth surrounding tendon, sliced beef, tripe, liver, beef balls, and pork rinds, while the jade noodles’ spinach-flavored green egg noodles are topped with tender roast duck, barbecue pork, crushed peanuts, crab, and cilantro. Though ownership has changed hands in recent years, the dishes remain as vibrant and bold as ever. Don’t be intimidated by the massive, nearly 100-item menu; the staff are always helpful—just let them know your preferred proteins and spice level to secure something delicious. Though most come for the jade and boat noodles, curry fried rice with eggs and a choice of chicken, beef, flavorful pork, or tofu is always a good call. The dining room is sparse yet cozy, ideal for casually people-watching while sitting in an unfussy room with a table full of traditional, precisely rendered Thai dishes, and there are no reservations; lunch and dinner hours can get busy, and they close early—anywhere from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.—so plan accordingly." - Mona Holmes
"When a cold knocked me out, I headed to Thai Town for comfort and ordered multiple dishes: the beef-only boat noodles with a deeply rich, darkened broth I’ve come to know well over the years, plus the jade noodles — spinach-flavored green egg noodles topped with roast duck, barbecue pork, crushed peanuts, crab, and cilantro, served dry without broth. The jade noodles are a house specialty that has to land on my table no matter how many times I’ve had it; the real challenge is branching out, so bring a seasoned group and order away." - Eater Staff
"They might serve coffee, but Sapp is no ordinary coffee shop. This bare-bones, cash-only spot on Hollywood is also one of LA’s best Thai restaurants. The cinnamon-heavy boat noodle soup is deeply aromatic, layered with salty, sweet, and acidic flavors, and truly incredible. The menu is so full of iconic dishes that you could go here once a week for a year and still be ordering new and great every time: Jade noodles with pork and dried crab, sen chan pad pu (blue crab with very eggy pad thai), coconut-heavy tom kha. The list keeps going, and you’ll keep going back." - brant cox, cathy park
"Sapp Coffee Shop is an Eastside Thai institution, serving soul-curing boat noodle soup that has gotten us through the darkest days of quarantine. They recently set up some tables in their Hollywood Blvd. strip mall parking lot." - brett keating
