sắp sửa

“Finally visited Sap Sua to celebrate 6 months in a new role! The highlight was the Trúng Và Trúng, a browned butter egg dish that the New York Times named one of the best in the US - but everything was just incredible Vietnamese fusion. Beef tartare// thai chili kosho, egg yolk, peanuts, turmeric cracker. The flavors in this were unreal! I do think the chili overpowered a bit, but ultimately this was such a great balance of tangy, sweet, citrus, spice and nuttiness. Hamachi collar// They had a hamachi belly special that just ran out 🥲 so I got the next best thing. With coconut caramel, pickled jalapeño, grilled lime, and fluffy rice. Very meaty and lush! Ibérico pork secreto// grilled with lemongrass, apples, and perilla. So herbaceous and the pork was cooked perfectly medium (yes that’s a thing, nice n pink 😋) Pho-spiced tiramisu with lime curd // So fluffy and loaded with those earthy warm spices! Beautiful presentation too. Sap Sua actually has a pop-up bakery on Saturdays as well! So you know we had to go back in for round 2. The coconut-mango sticky rice danish was so unique, creamy, tangy, and well layered! We also had a lamb curry hand pie and a banana cream bun. Overall stellar bakery with unique flavor profiles - worth the hype to check out Denver!”

“Had a gift card from a few years ago (still good via Toast!) and finally got a reservation.  Came early and immediately noticed the warm and prompt service.  The fusion of Vietnamese flavors mixed into Euro favorites vibed very well together.  Dishes that I would reorder 100%: morning glory confi with chili crisp (amazing synergy) , trung va trung (sooo rich we took home half to put on sourdough), fried chicken sandwich (done just right), and the pho spiced tiramisu.  The grilled iberico pork and charred cabbage were good too and worth a try.  All in all, I can see why Sap Sua has earned so much praise and continues “to strive to be better than yesterday”.  Well done!”

“Fantastic dining experience. Every dish was unique and delicious, putting their own on familiar Vietnamese flavors and ingredients. The seasoning was a little too aggressive for me, but still excellent. Cocktails and wines were very good too. Loved the sommelier’s recommendation of a vinho verde when I asked for a dry white.”

“Chefs Anna and Ni pour their heart and soul into this place and have turned this little corner of Colfax into a foodie dream. I watched over the years as different restaurants tried and tested the area, eventually shuttering their doors (The Goods, Goodson). But then these two came along, with intention, creativity, and big hearts. And Sap Sua was born. I've been to Hanoi. There is a warmth there, despite the country's trials and tribulations. The Vietnamese love you with their cuisine - a bold, brilliant mix of savory (especially that fish sauce), sweet, sour (limes and tamarind), spicy (chili), and a little bitter. Now Denver has a little part of Vietnam in it. And that's special. It's worth the reservation and a little waiting. Sap Sua's food is the type you'll think of later because you'll miss it dearly (do not miss the Trúng Và Trúng or shrimp cakes, under any circumstances). The same staff are always there to greet you, a nod to the owners intent to take care of those who come to work for them. (They're even listed on the menu alongside the owners). I am disappointed to learn that others in the restaurant community are keen on attacking Sap Sua. The industry is not kind to those who are bold, creative, and their peoples having endured the brutalities of war and colonialism. But I love that Sap Sua is here, glowing in that Congress Park corner and serving up such beautiful, savory dishes night after night. After a while, the noise around a beloved joint fades and all you can hear is the loud laughter, clinking of empty bowls, and joy. Even writing all of this makes me think I should return sooner rather that later.”

“Sap Sua is a fantastic non-traditional Vietnamese restaurant where every plate tastes fantastic. The flavors are typically very bold and there are a lot of interesting ideas in their menu options. Also some really interesting textures that come together for the pleasing bite. We had a large party when we visited and we were able to try everything on the menu I. My favorite dishes are probably their scrambled egg always on the menu and their duck confit dish. The scrambled egg is like a blast of umami in your mouth - I haven’t tasted anything like it and I would get it every time. Second place dishes for me would be their fish sticks and their roasted cabbage which hit the spot with pretty simple, but delicious flavors. The only major miss was the mustard greens - don’t get those. Desert was some homemade ice cream, a banana bread pudding type thing, and some avacado ice cream... thing. All of these were superb in my opinion - just go for whatever sounds best to you. Cocktails are also great all around. Fairly priced for what they are. My biggest gripe is that we paid over $100 per person and we didn’t all leave full. This is a pretty big miss for me - I believe you should always leave full after paying that much. Service was also below par for paying $100/person in my opinion - not that it was bad - just average. It gets a 4/5 for being absolutely delicious but not being a particularly filling meal. Consider not getting drinks and getting another dish or two to be more economical. I recommend this spot for foodies if you have the budget.”