We Love Takeout From Sapp Coffee Shop

Many LA restaurants have streamlined their pick-up process during COVID - even well-established, set-in-their-ways spots like Sapp Coffee Shop. Before the shutdown, this Thai Town classic only accepted cash, didn’t offer delivery, and required that you show up in-person to order takeout. Now, not only can you pay with a credit card, you can order online. Which you should. Preferably, as soon as you finish reading this.

The thing is, Sapp was well worth all those extra steps before the pandemic. Now, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be a regular part of your weekly delivery rotation. There are 92 items on the menu (it’s easy to count - they’re numbered), and we’re not exaggerating when we say you could order with a random number generator and still be happy. But there are some dishes we especially like, and are good intros to their fantastic - and fantastically spicy - menu. Once you’ve had them, you can start asking Siri to pick random numbers between one and 92.

You can call (323) 665-1035 for pick-up, or order online takeout and delivery here.

What to Order

photo credit: Jakob Layman

Yum Woon Seen - It’s summertime, and you want something cool. The yum woon seen (glass noodle salad) is the perfect place to start. It’s got pork, grilled shrimp, and squid, and is tossed with heaps of sliced red onion and cilantro. It’s as refreshing as sticking your face in the freezer, and exactly what you want after five-straight days pushing triple digits outside.

photo credit: Jakob Layman

Boat Noodle Soup - No matter the weather, you’re making a mistake if you don’t order this boat noodle soup. It’s the best one in the city, with a funky, sour, and salty broth that’s flavored with galangal, cinnamon, and anise, and cut with lime juice. You could get it with everything, meaning tripe, liver, and tendon, or just with tender beef sirloin strips. Either way, you’re correct.

photo credit: Jakob Layman

Jade Noodles - These green-tinted jade noodles are absolutely tremendous, and topped with a beautiful balance of BBQ duck and pork, peanuts, dried crab, and cilantro. Even though it’s a big portion, don’t expect to split this with anyone - you’re keeping it all to yourself.

Papaya Salad - The papaya salad is an ideal takeout dish at Sapp - you don’t have to worry about it getting cold, and though it’s tremendously spicy, it’s balanced out by the crunchy raw papaya and intensely salty dried baby shrimp.