Sap Sua — Restaurant in Denver

I was walking home a few months ago, when I ran into Anna, Ni, Heeji, and a group of their friends, as they had a sidewalk sale to get rid of some of the old dishes, glasses and items from Route 40, which used to occupy that space. They excitedly told me that they were planning on opening a "non-traditional" Vietnamese restaurant. And I'll admit, I was a little nervous hearing that because as a Vietnamese person myself, I'm always reluctant when I see places around town that take inspiration from Vietnamese food, but charge an arm and a leg for something that is honestly whitewashed and an appropriated culinary mess. Like, if you're gonna have Bánh mì, don't spell it baHn mi!

But as I chatted with Anna and Ni more, I knew this was going to be special. Anna acknowledged that she wanted to do right by Vietnamese cuisine, and Ni wanted to ensure that the food really reflected the things he ate himself growing up. They both wanted to present Vietnamese food in an elevated, unique way, and that's just not something you get very often. They were quick to acknowledge that they weren't trying to be like the Vietnamese staples on Federal or in Aurora, that Denverites have come to know and love. They wanted to be different and use their culinary experience and passion to pay homage to the wonderful world that is Vietnamese cuisine, and that's exactly what they are doing at Sắp Sửa.

My boyfriend and I visited the day after they officially opened, after we managed to snag a very coveted reservation.

We started off with the tàu hũ ky cuộn tôm (shrimp cake) and the bánh ngọt chiên (crispy veal sweetbreads). The sweet breads was unlike anything I've ever had before, subtly sweet and savory with a really nice fish sauce flavor to it. And the shrimp cake, it reminded me a lot of a shrimp dish my mom used to make when I was a kid, as she would ground up shrimp and other ingredients into a food processor and mould everything around a stick of sugarcane and fry it. So good!

We then had the thịt heo nướng sả (pork shoulder), and it was so incredibly balanced with the tamarind sweet/sour flavor profile and the herbs and crunchy English cucumber. Solid and definitely a nod to the flavors you find in many Vietnamese pork dishes.

We finished off with the chocolate gateau and chè sương sáo (grass jelly dessert). If you're a big lover of Vietnamese iced coffee, the chocolate cake is for you. They make the coffee with the Vietnamese -American classic, Cafe du Monde chicory.

But the star of the show for me, was really the grass jelly dessert, with coconut cream and guava granita.

You know that scene from Ratatouille when the food critic eats the ratatouille and his eyes just light up and it sends him back to his childhood? That was literally me when I ate the first spoonful. I was transported in time to my family's home in Georgia, where we would eat that kind of stuff on a hot muggy evening after dinner. I felt a big wave of warmth and nostalgia come over me, and I wanted to just scarf it all down. The many textures you get from each bite, oh my god. Insane. It was seriously that amazing, and I would literally go back there every day if I could just to eat that.

Even while the food is described as untraditional and elevated Vietnamese food, it never felt pretentious or out of reach. It was great and felt familiar with an added a d appreciated dose of creativity.

Heeji, the general manager was so sweet and checked on us to make sure we felt right at home. Our server was very kind and answered all of our questions. She was very honest about her opinions of the food and drinks, and she had the best things to say about the restaurant team and how they have really jived together so well and are all super appreciative of the people who have come so far and the people they hope to serve in the future.

I'm really excited to have Sắp Sửa in the neighborhood, and excited to see how the restaurant and its team grows over time. A big congratulations to the team, I know the journey is just beginning, but can't wait to see this...

We went here while visiting our in-laws, who recommended it. They’ve eaten here a couple times and it did not disappoint us newbies!!

I was first struck by how friendly the staff was and how everyone worked together really collaboratively and warmly. This is not to be confused with a nonchalant, casual vibe — no, rather, I got the impression that people genuinely enjoy working here and sharing about the delicious food, and that was really nice.

We ordered 10 dishes in total and we were definitely full as we left the restaurant. There were 4 of us with big appetites, and we were more than satiated. You could probably get away with ordering 8 dishes as a party of 4 but I suppose it depends on what you get!

We started with bevs. Three out of the four of us got alcoholic bevs while I had a mocktail. And let me tell you something — I think it’s the best mocktail I’ve ever had. It’s called “It’s alive! It’s alive! It’s alive!” It had depth, layered flavor, some herbaceous notes and bitter notes, with brightness. I couldn’t believe it was non-alcoholic. I enjoyed its complexity the way I do a Negroni. I highly recommend.

The other stand-out bev was the Tiger’s Milk. I think I liked it better than anyone at the table, but I also wasn’t drinking the whole thing. My brother in law, who ordered it, said it tasted like a “soup”. I could see that, but what I got was a more savory, herby, briny but bright medicinal drink — straight up my alley. Not to mention it is beautiful. Presentation was spot on. If you like unique, not very sweet drinks, you should try it.

The restaurant menu list its food on the menu in order of lightest to heaviest and that’s how it is served. Of course, some of the lighter items were some of the shining stars. For example, the gem lettuce salad was out of control delicious. The tomato toast was really tasty and a good option for vegetarians. The grilled carrots were tasty but seemed a bit of an afterthought, which was disappointing. I always order carrots on a good menu as it usually means they’re gonna crush. These were good but we picked at them, we didn’t devour.

Forgot to take a pic of the curry fries which were DELICIOUS. Stained my nailbeds for two days tho!

Ok. We need to talk about the fish cake. I was skeptical at first (not sure why), and thank god we got it. It is outstanding. Clumps of shrimp and fish in a seared, nearly burger-like design. It was so good; the flavors were out of control.

Speaking of out of control, the quail was wild. It was way too spicy for me and the two men at the table, but my sister in law said it was one of her favorite dishes. Be warned — it is not for the weak. This thing packs some HEAT.

Ok the grilled cabbage — so, I personally do not eat eggs outright. I eat them in things like cake or rarely mayo, but I really avoid them otherwise. So I didn’t go full out for the grilled cabbage on whipped egg yolk. However, the rest of the table lost their minds over this one. So if you like eggs, get it.

The trout was absolute perfection. The perfect crispy skin, perfectly tender and seasoned fish. The curry it sat atop was phenomenal and I basically licked the plate.

The mussels were tasty but forgettable. What wasn’t forgettable? THE FLOUNDER FISH SANDO. Wow. Basically a fancy filet-o-fish. 100% worth it — filling, delicious, and nostalgia triggering.

The final dish? Banana pudding. This is another thing I usually order if I see it on a good menu. Remember how I said I don’t like eggs? Well pudding is an exception. Just don’t tell me how much of it is eggs. The banana pudding was divine.

After my mocktail, I switched to lemongrass ginger tea. It was lovely, tasty, not overwhelming, and a great way to round out the meal.

Overall, super pleased with this dinner and would...

I was on a road trip with my gf & was craving Vietnamese food so we stopped here for dinner. I was hesitant at first because I’m from Little Saigon, a place where they have the BEST & most authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Let me tell you, Sap Sua blew my expectations out of the water!

The ambience is reminiscent of a traditional upscale dining experience - you don’t typically get this from Vietnamese restaurants. There is a bar area that is separated from the dining tables. The place was super clean & service was top notch. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, all the tables & bar area stools were taken when we dined. The place was packed the whole time we were there!

The food was amazingly scrumptious and every appetizer/entree had its own unique flavors that incorporated traditional Vietnamese food with a modern twist. I suspect the young chefs here have a large repertoire of culinarily skills attained from tutelage under many different disciplines. Basically like the MMA of food - a mix of all the various styles combined into one to create the ultimate cooking style that rules them all.

The cold appetizers:

1. Endive salad. Omg, never have I tasted such a fresh & mouth watering salad. You heard that right! They used pears & persimmon slices in the salad, with a tiny hint of fish sauce for the dressing. This one is a MUST try from the cold appetizers. My favorite cold appetizer.

2. Hamachi crudo. This dish fuzes the taste of “cha ca” which is a staple in Vietnamese cuisine. A must try for “cha ca” lovers!

Hot appetizers:

1. Charred cabbage. By far our favorite here! It is soft boiled cabbage, charred on the outside, topped with crispy bits anchovie bread crumbs, layed over a generous bed of egg yolk sauce. DEFINITELY the signature Sap Sua dish. A MUST GET HERE! It was our top pick of all the dishes at Sap Sua. My gf licked the plate clean. The chef who created this is a culinary genius.

2. Shrimp cake. Oh my lord, fresh shrimp cake drizzled in special sauce with trout roe. Based on a very popular Vietnamese dish. Another mouth watering piece!

Entrees:

1. Grilled pork shoulder. Wow. This dish reminds me of a classic rice dish that is extremely popular in the capital city of Vietnam. The fresh vegetables truly complement the yummy taste of the grilled pork. You can’t go wrong here!

2. Hamachi collar. This dish will definitely take you back to your childhood dish often cooked by your mom. The sauce is drizzled over rice, added with crispy rice pieces on top. How do they come up with this?! Anyway, you must get this too.

Dessert:

1. Banana pudding. My favorite dessert! My god, what a perfect way to end a delicious meal. No explanations here, just get it please.

2. Coconut panna cotta. My gf’s favorite. She hasn’t stopped talking about it since we left Denver. Another banger from Sap Sua.

We loved the food so much we decided to call the chefs out to congratulate them. Can’t believe how young they were! Such a lovely couple & they obviously care about their craft. To top it off, the service was impeccable. Such an amazing experience here. Possibly my top 3 dining experiences ever!

P.S. this restaurant was on Esquire Magazine’s top new/hot...