Fantastic and innovative. Food is 5/5. Cocktails also delicious though I wish some could be a little less iced (4/5). Service is good but for such a uniquely flavored menu I think the staff should be more consistent in a detailed explanation of each dish (4/5). Location is average (3/5), ambiance is pleasant for level of cuisine (4/5). I hope they continue to rotate their menu to lean into their greatest strength which are fantastically flavored individual dishes.
Nice atmosphere and excellent service. The dishes were inventive and had potential. However- two of the dishes were so salty they were nearly intolerable and the crispy rice was soggy and swimming in oil to the point of being inedible. So much potential- but really missed the mark on execution of the food.
Side note - definitely NOT vegetarian friendly. One of our party was relegated to fries and a salad, altered to the point of pointlessness.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Michael Kanda
Wow, many different and innovative flavors (at least to me anyway)! We had a great time. Wonderful owners and staff!
I went in ready to love this place, but was a bit let down. Service was good, but the food was all over the place. Some dishes were great and flavorful (soft egg, pork shoulder) some were extremely salty to the point of giving me a stomach ache (fried catfish sandwich). All in all we tried 6 plates and loved two, felt so so about 2 and couldn’t even finish 2 due to the saltiness. I love Vietnamese and Asian foods in general so I’m used to the strong and unique flavors - that wasn’t what was happening here with some of the dishes that were more or less inedible. Restaurant atmosphere was a bit boring. Finally for such a well known place the bathrooms was in concerning shape. Toilet wouldn’t flush and the garbage can lid wouldn’t open with the foot lever so you had to touch it to lift it open. Overall I could name 5 better Asian/Asian fusion spots in Denver and probably won’t be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
William Hendley
I start this review by saying simply this: That was one of the best meals I’ve had in my entire life. Fat, flavor, salt, heat, and perfection. I literally cannot recommend this place enough. The service is amazing (Allison helped us and she was great!) There’s a lot on this menu that can be some combination of intimidating and intriguing but I say this as a man of sound stomach and mind: trust these geniuses to deliver you to food heaven. I tried 5 separate dishes with our order: Trung va trung - the soft fried egg dish. (It’s a daunting name and yet was one of the most wonderful surprises ever). Ga chien nuoc mam- the best fried chicken I’ve literally ever had. Better than a gas station in Louisiana levels. Perfection to the point that I will now be finding excuses to drive 20 minutes and find myself miraculously able to grab it more often. Bap cai luoc- charred cabbage (seasoned to perfection and a must not miss) Albacore tuna crudo - small but mighty, flavors that are Oscar worthy in their own right. The only dish that didn’t slap out of the park for me was the com ca chua- A fried rice dish that is delicious and wonderful but unfortunately was just over shadowed by all the other amazing meal components.
Beverage wise we got the snozzberrys and the black mamba. Both of these drinks could have easily deserved a higher price tag in their own right as they were a quality in flavor and taste that surprised myself and my fiancé.
This establishment has cemented its way into my heart and absolutely in to the list of restaurants I will be recommending to friends and family for months and years to come.
I'm not sure what the fuss is about. I had the pork shoulder and fries, which were good. My non-alcoholic drink was probably the best part of dinner. Our table also ordered the fried tofu, and it was literally like eating cardboard- bland and not crispy. We also got the caramelized hamachi collar, and the caramel sauce was just straight up burnt. Bitter and nasty. The flavors of the dishes did not inspire at all. I'm not expecting much from the Denver food scene, but this is below par.
Been living and eating in downtown Denver for over a decade and I believe that Sap Sua might be the best restaurant in the city. The menu seems to be updated quarterly and 90% of the dishes I have tried have blown my mind. From some kind of brothless pho to 100% the best soft scrambled egg dish that I have ever had (that trout roe tho!). If nothing else, the quality of food that you get for your dollar is second to none. Much love and if the kitchen sees this, thanks again for the tasting last time of the new berry dish! Glad to see something this impressive in the city
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kevin Wee
The food challenges your palette in the best way ever! The owner chef’s passion and creativity in culinary conveys perfectly via not how the food is cooked and served!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric Beatty
Excellent food that skillfully blends traditional styles and modern trends. Very friendly service. Highly recommend.
Went there for my Birthday. Great service and the food was amazing. Some of the most memorable dishes I had were the brown butter rice, curry fries, charred cabbage, and braised beef rib with gremolada. They even gave us some gremolada to take home after mentioning I'd put that stuff on everything. They deserve all the accolades they've been getting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Natalie Arriola
The staff here is very friendly. The food is just ok. I have to say this place is unbelievably overrated. I read about it in Bon Appetit and they’ve been featured in a lot of other magazines. I am a particularly harsh critic though as I lived in Los Angeles for twenty plus years and they have some of the best Asian food in the country there.
And because of that I would say I have had better fried chicken in Koreatown for $12 than what I had at this place. And I’d rather eat at Golden Deli and get legit Vietnamese food that real people eat for a quarter of the price.
We had the pork shoulder and the fried chicken thigh. The chicken was overcooked and the pork was chewy and tough. While crispy, the chicken was heavy and greasy. Not light and crisp the way great Asian style fried chicken typically is.
The flavors were good but not amazing and nothing I couldn’t whip together at home with a little fish sauce and lime juice. Nothing wowed me and at these prices with this rep I needed to be wowed. The Tuna crudo had nice flavor but the fish was not top quality which again it should have been given the price/reputation of the restaurant. And again the flavor was just nice. Nothing special.
My advice would be save your money. I certainly hope there are better options in Denver though I don’t know since this is my first time in the city.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Kathleen McInerney
Worth the hype! Good cocktails and really delicious food. Cabbage dish and shrimp cake were my favorites!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Jones
Top notch, eclectic and the tastes were superb! Definitely going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Cake
candan duran
Two of us went for dinner with high expectations. My happy hour cocktail-penicillin- had 0 alcohol whereas my friend's cocktail from the regar menu was fine. The tuna crudo was exceptional. The corn ribs were too charred. Pork larb tostada was fine but was dry without a sauce. The braised cabbage was very heavy and very difficult to eat (better knives are needed) and its egg yolk sauce was also extremely heavy. Hamachi collar collar was just OK. The service was really good. Sadly, we will not be back.
Fantastic and innovative. Food is 5/5. Cocktails also delicious though I wish some could be a little less iced (4/5). Service is good but for such a uniquely flavored menu I think the staff should be more consistent in a detailed explanation of each dish (4/5). Location is average (3/5), ambiance is pleasant for level of cuisine (4/5). I hope they continue to rotate their menu to lean into their greatest strength which are fantastically flavored individual dishes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Grass Jelly Dessert, Fried Chicken, Hamachi Crudo, Hamachi Collar, Grilled Pork Shoulder, Albacore Tuna Crudo
Nice atmosphere and excellent service. The dishes were inventive and had potential. However- two of the dishes were so salty they were nearly intolerable and the crispy rice was soggy and swimming in oil to the point of being inedible. So much potential- but really missed the mark on execution of the food.
Side note - definitely NOT vegetarian friendly. One of our party was relegated to fries and a salad, altered to the point of pointlessness.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Wow, many different and innovative flavors (at least to me anyway)! We had a great time. Wonderful owners and staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Cabbage, Shrimp Cake, Hamachi Crudo, Tiger’S Milk, Banana Pudding
I went in ready to love this place, but was a bit let down. Service was good, but the food was all over the place. Some dishes were great and flavorful (soft egg, pork shoulder) some were extremely salty to the point of giving me a stomach ache (fried catfish sandwich). All in all we tried 6 plates and loved two, felt so so about 2 and couldn’t even finish 2 due to the saltiness. I love Vietnamese and Asian foods in general so I’m used to the strong and unique flavors - that wasn’t what was happening here with some of the dishes that were more or less inedible. Restaurant atmosphere was a bit boring. Finally for such a well known place the bathrooms was in concerning shape. Toilet wouldn’t flush and the garbage can lid wouldn’t open with the foot lever so you had to touch it to lift it open. Overall I could name 5 better Asian/Asian fusion spots in Denver and probably won’t be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
I start this review by saying simply this:
That was one of the best meals I’ve had in my entire life. Fat, flavor, salt, heat, and perfection. I literally cannot recommend this place enough. The service is amazing (Allison helped us and she was great!)
There’s a lot on this menu that can be some combination of intimidating and intriguing but I say this as a man of sound stomach and mind: trust these geniuses to deliver you to food heaven.
I tried 5 separate dishes with our order:
Trung va trung - the soft fried egg dish. (It’s a daunting name and yet was one of the most wonderful surprises ever).
Ga chien nuoc mam- the best fried chicken I’ve literally ever had. Better than a gas station in Louisiana levels. Perfection to the point that I will now be finding excuses to drive 20 minutes and find myself miraculously able to grab it more often.
Bap cai luoc- charred cabbage (seasoned to perfection and a must not miss)
Albacore tuna crudo - small but mighty, flavors that are Oscar worthy in their own right.
The only dish that didn’t slap out of the park for me was the com ca chua-
A fried rice dish that is delicious and wonderful but unfortunately was just over shadowed by all the other amazing meal components.
Beverage wise we got the snozzberrys and the black mamba. Both of these drinks could have easily deserved a higher price tag in their own right as they were a quality in flavor and taste that surprised myself and my fiancé.
This establishment has cemented its way into my heart and absolutely in to the list of restaurants I will be recommending to friends and family for months and years to come.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Cabbage, Albacore Tuna Crudo
You must go and try Sap Sua.
Crudo and the egg with brown butter.
My goodness....
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Hamachi Crudo, Hamachi Collar, Braised Beef Rib, Spinach Salad
I'm not sure what the fuss is about. I had the pork shoulder and fries, which were good. My non-alcoholic drink was probably the best part of dinner. Our table also ordered the fried tofu, and it was literally like eating cardboard- bland and not crispy. We also got the caramelized hamachi collar, and the caramel sauce was just straight up burnt. Bitter and nasty. The flavors of the dishes did not inspire at all. I'm not expecting much from the Denver food scene, but this is below par.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Hamachi Collar, Grilled Pork Shoulder, Curry Fries
Been living and eating in downtown Denver for over a decade and I believe that Sap Sua might be the best restaurant in the city. The menu seems to be updated quarterly and 90% of the dishes I have tried have blown my mind. From some kind of brothless pho to 100% the best soft scrambled egg dish that I have ever had (that trout roe tho!). If nothing else, the quality of food that you get for your dollar is second to none. Much love and if the kitchen sees this, thanks again for the tasting last time of the new berry dish! Glad to see something this impressive in the city
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food challenges your palette in the best way ever! The owner chef’s passion and creativity in culinary conveys perfectly via not how the food is cooked and served!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent food that skillfully blends traditional styles and modern trends. Very friendly service. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Went there for my Birthday. Great service and the food was amazing. Some of the most memorable dishes I had were the brown butter rice, curry fries, charred cabbage, and braised beef rib with gremolada. They even gave us some gremolada to take home after mentioning I'd put that stuff on everything. They deserve all the accolades they've been getting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The staff here is very friendly. The food is just ok. I have to say this place is unbelievably overrated. I read about it in Bon Appetit and they’ve been featured in a lot of other magazines. I am a particularly harsh critic though as I lived in Los Angeles for twenty plus years and they have some of the best Asian food in the country there.
And because of that I would say I have had better fried chicken in Koreatown for $12 than what I had at this place. And I’d rather eat at Golden Deli and get legit Vietnamese food that real people eat for a quarter of the price.
We had the pork shoulder and the fried chicken thigh. The chicken was overcooked and the pork was chewy and tough. While crispy, the chicken was heavy and greasy. Not light and crisp the way great Asian style fried chicken typically is.
The flavors were good but not amazing and nothing I couldn’t whip together at home with a little fish sauce and lime juice. Nothing wowed me and at these prices with this rep I needed to be wowed. The Tuna crudo had nice flavor but the fish was not top quality which again it should have been given the price/reputation of the restaurant. And again the flavor was just nice. Nothing special.
My advice would be save your money. I certainly hope there are better options in Denver though I don’t know since this is my first time in the city.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Worth the hype! Good cocktails and really delicious food. Cabbage dish and shrimp cake were my favorites!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Top notch, eclectic and the tastes were superb! Definitely going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Cake
Two of us went for dinner with high expectations. My happy hour cocktail-penicillin- had 0 alcohol whereas my friend's cocktail from the regar menu was fine. The tuna crudo was exceptional. The corn ribs were too charred. Pork larb tostada was fine but was dry without a sauce. The braised cabbage was very heavy and very difficult to eat (better knives are needed) and its egg yolk sauce was also extremely heavy. Hamachi collar collar was just OK. The service was really good. Sadly, we will not be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Albacore Tuna Crudo
Loading...