A long overdue write-up, Sapp Coffee Shop is a place of lore for Angelenos in search of authentic ethnic cuisine. Jonathan Gold has given his stamp of approval many times, but it isn't necessary to prove that this place has culinary clout. Its soulful cooking and dirt-cheap prices are standard fare for struggling actors and poor college students, as well as adventurous eaters.
Adventurous eaters, you say? Try this, the star of the long menu at Sapp.
We affectionately call it "blood soup" but it's really Thai Boat Noodles, a warm, hearty broth of of ground coagulated pork's blood with rice noodles and a bevy of offal meat. Count in meatball (the ultimate question mark in contents), tendon, liver, and crackin' skin and you've got a party of an organ meat festival fit for gastronomical kings.
This perfect bowl of noodles and meat will make you forget about pho. Trust me.
We pair this with (a name I KEEP forgetting) a pickled lychee drink that tastes of chestnut and sweet honey. I got a bowl of their jade noodles, a philosophical counterpart to the Boat Noodles. This dish comes with green jade noodles with pork, duck (including glorious crackly skin), and crabmeat, submerged in a smooth pork broth. A spoonful of chile oil and chopped peanuts adds additional depth and kick. Fresh cilantro and scallion round out the burst of savory flavors in the bowl. The tender meats and tasty accoutrement make this a worthy competitor to Boat Noodles (or when you don't want something so heavy).
On a funny note, people often wonder why Sapp Coffee Shop is closed Wednesdays. I asked Jeanie, the nearly 2 decades owner of the place, and she said that initially they were open seven days a week. But having a restaurant open from 7:30AM to the mid evening was just too taxing, so she just QUIT on a random Wednesday. From that day forth, she just couldn't move the 'closed' day to a more logical Monday or Sunday because customers wouldn't have it. So Wednesday it is. Go anyday from 7:30AM to 8:30PM, but just not hump day.
Sapp Coffee Shop
5183 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-1035
4 comments:
Sounds good. Not a big fan of the blood broth, but I'd be willing to try it.
it's not as disgusting as it sounds. in fact, you probably wouldn't even know it has blood on it. it's mostly beef broth. definitely one thing to try if you're in LA.
Another vote for Sapp Coffee Shop..
oh ye, dont forget to bring CASH
My grandma had me try blood sausage when I was little and I just didn't like the taste of it. But if there isn't a lot of blood in the soup, it probably won't bother me.
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